Reply to thread

Message

[QUOTE="RF2044, post: 3825882, member: 40"]
I think so -- mostly due to vastly improved depth.

So, nothing is set in stone -- spring practice hasn't concluded.  But last year, we couldn't even field a legitimate one-deep due to massive injuries.  This year, it is shaping up to be a completely different situation.  Let's just say [for argument's sake] that the starting OL unit is like this:

LT  Bergeron
LG  Bleich [Florida transfer]
 C  Vetterello
RG  Davis
RT  Servais

That's a group of experienced starters, with guys who have a lot of starts under their belts.  I readily acknowledge that some of those personnel might shift around after spring / fall camps -- but I'm just penciling in names to show the depth changes.

Second unit might look something like this:

LT  Cruz [top OL recruit we've landed in a long time, up to 290 reportedly]
LG  Tisdale [starter for most of last year]
 C  Froumy [coaches loved him heading into last year, might have started if he hadn't gotten injured]
RG  Ialoa
RT  Red [coaches loved him heading into last year, might have started if he hadn't gotten injured]

Okay, so now we have a viable two-deep, with two guys who played last year, one guy who started, and two others who were strongly positioned to play, only to get injured and miss the entire year.

And that two deep hasn't even mentioned:
[LIST]
[*]Barclay  [OT prospect who redshirted last year]
[*]Bradford [JUCO transfer]
[*]Tyler [Texas transfer]
[/LIST]

And outside of Cruz, I expect all of the incoming frosh to redshirt.

But what a difference -- to go from having to convert a fullback to OG as a stop-gap, to now having 13 guys with a viable chance to see the field.

Best depth, size, athleticism, and position versatility we've had in awhile at OL.  That's the reason I'M optimistic.
[/QUOTE]

Verification

What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?