One for the thumb - My 5 takeways URI

[Consigliere]

Had a chance to get through most of the replay on ESPN3 and here are a few things that stand out.

Offense: We've got some playmakers in the house. Phillips, Fredericks and Strickland are as good a trio as we've put on the field in quite some time. Add in McFarlane and that's a full house of explosive talent. Not forgetting "B Button" (love that nickname) but not sure he will see much opportunity on offense when the competition strengthens and McFarlane hits the field again. Lusting to see him on KO returns though.

Defense: Any doubt that the relative inexperience would mean a downturn in aggressiveness disappeared quickly. We've been hearing about Simmons the last three years coming out of camp but he just looks ready to play this year. Must have had an extended stay reservation in the URI backfield because he spent most of the night there. Z is a pure stud. He will leave Syracuse as one of the best to ever play here and shows leadership between and outside the lines. Saw him at least three in the first have adjusting other players positioning and was constantly in the ears of the youngsters long after he left the game.Hodge, Winfield and Rodney Williams also stood out to me. Add a healthy #13 and the anticipated performance drop off may end up being an unfounded rumor.

QB: As mentioned in another thread, not ready to anoint Dungey yet, but guessing he may want to change his major to pre-med. As a true freshman backup pressed into action ridiculously early he really embraced the Hippocratic Oath - "First do no harm." Showed very good pocket awareness and decision making. Knew when to throw the ball away, when to take off and try to make something positive happen with his feet and didn't seem to force many throws. Anxious to see what happens when the game speeds up in the next several weeks but with the aforementioned playmakers we hopefully won't need ED (pretty unfortunate initials there, Eric) to win games. Just avoid losing them.

The eXpress Back: I sense we didn't see all of the wrinkles here, but what we did see was an increased opportunity to put the ball in the hands of the playmakers and get them to the edge or in space. Erv epitomizes the position, but not sold on Lewis. Really seems like with his size and hands he might be better utilized as the third down possession guy. Seems so apparent I wonder Lester decided to go this way rather than switching roles between him and Brisly. Going to be a lot of fun to see Moe join the depth chart here next year.

Atmosphere: Maybe I'm getting old(er), but that was the most uncomfortable I've ever been in the Dome. Heat was absolutely stifling in the upper deck and I broke my number one rule - "Never leave a game early" - with about 10 minutes left when we started to get a bit light headed. Heard that the Dome personnel treated over 100 people for heat related maladies. Rumors of renovations or a new facility with A/C or open air couldn't have been timed any better.

We're 1-0 and we can't be any better than that.

 

[OrangeAl]

It was much hotter on opening night in 1980 with 50,000+ squeezed in like sardines. Probably smelled like sardines, too.

 

[Consigliere]

It was much hotter on opening night in 1980 with 50,000+ squeezed in like sardines. Probably smelled like sardines, too.

Probably was but I was only 20 ish back then and likely much more lubricated.

 

[Shenexon]

Had a chance to get through most of the replay on ESPN3 and here are a few things that stand out.

Offense: We've got some playmakers in the house. Phillips, Fredericks and Strickland are as good a trio as we've put on the field in quite some time. Add in McFarlane and that's a full house of explosive talent. Not forgetting "B Button" (love that nickname) but not sure he will see much opportunity on offense when the competition strengthens and McFarlane hits the field again. Lusting to see him on KO returns though.

Defense: Any doubt that the relative inexperience would mean a downturn in aggressiveness disappeared quickly. We've been hearing about Simmons the last three years coming out of camp but he just looks ready to play this year. Must have had an extended stay reservation in the URI backfield because he spent most of the night there. Z is a pure stud. He will leave Syracuse as one of the best to ever play here and shows leadership between and outside the lines. Saw him at least three in the first have adjusting other players positioning and was constantly in the ears of the youngsters long after he left the game.Hodge, Winfield and Rodney Williams also stood out to me. Add a healthy #13 and the anticipated performance drop off may end up being an unfounded rumor.

QB: As mentioned in another thread, not ready to anoint Dungey yet, but guessing he may want to change his major to pre-med. As a true freshman backup pressed into action ridiculously early he really embraced the Hippocratic Oath - "First do no harm." Showed very good pocket awareness and decision making. Knew when to throw the ball away, when to take off and try to make something positive happen with his feet and didn't seem to force many throws. Anxious to see what happens when the game speeds up in the next several weeks but with the aforementioned playmakers we hopefully won't need ED (pretty unfortunate initials there, Eric) to win games. Just avoid losing them.

The eXpress Back: I sense we didn't see all of the wrinkles here, but what we did see was an increased opportunity to put the ball in the hands of the playmakers and get them to the edge or in space. Erv epitomizes the position, but not sold on Lewis. Really seems like with his size and hands he might be better utilized as the third down possession guy. Seems so apparent I wonder Lester decided to go this way rather than switching roles between him and Brisly. Going to be a lot of fun to see Moe join the depth chart here next year.

Atmosphere: Maybe I'm getting old(er), but that was the most uncomfortable I've ever been in the Dome. Heat was absolutely stifling in the upper deck and I broke my number one rule - "Never leave a game early" - with about 10 minutes left when we started to get a bit light headed. Heard that the Dome personnel treated over 100 people for heat related maladies. Rumors of renovations or a new facility with A/C or open air couldn't have been timed any better.

We're 1-0 and we can't be any better than that.

First, you skipped over our great tailgate organizers, including yourself. That's what really started things right. Other than that, I'm too giddy to offer good analysis other than to say that we have playmakers, a much-coveted place to be.