OttoinGrotto
2023-24 Iggy Award Most 3 Pointers Made
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
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Hi team,
I know some of my faithful readers have been disappointed with the delay in getting my annual "keys to success" report out on the board. Summer has been a little busier than I expected, so I apologize for making you wait.
Without further ado, here are the key questions that must be answered for the University of Syracuse to have a successful offense in 2015 -
1. Can the offensive line perform as one cohesive unit?
There's a lot that goes in to answering that question affirmatively. You need a mix of health, complimentary talent, scheme that plays to the line's strengths and hides weaknesses, and comradery. Right now, it isn't easy to predict how things should go. Players should be healthy. People should be playing the right positions. The offensive scheme we're told should be geared to what our players can do best. It sounds like the linemen should be a close knit group. It wasn't that long ago that the line was a real strength for the team, and some of the upperclassmen on the team now played big roles on those lines. For a lot of reasons (coaching/injuries/mismatched positions, etc.) the line had big issues last season. If things go as planned, the line could be a team strength.
2. Which T. Hunt lines up under center?
According to the pay board, we actually have two T. Hunts on our roster - Terrel Hunt, architect of the best passer rating in college football after his performances against Wagner and Tulane in 2013 and late-game hero against Boston College and Minnesota that same season, and his evil twin brother Tamarind Hunt, who has thrown 12 career interceptions and was ejected from a game last season. Due to NCAA shenanigans they refuse to recognize that these are two different individuals (that Emmert, man. You know? *** that guy) so we can only ever have one on the field at the same time. Sometimes the coaches get confused about which one they've put in, and, well, sometimes Terrel and Tamarind are confused about it too. Look, it's complicated, that's why it was on the pay board.
Bottom line - if Tamarind sees more snaps than Terrel, we're in for a long season.
3. Do we take our shots when we have them?
There's a group of fans that has expressed a lot of frustration over the choices HCSS makes to punt the ball when we're in the opponent's territory and face what seems to be a manageable distance on 4th down. Some say it's no big deal and can see why the reasons for those decisions. Others fear that those decisions indicate a faulty mindset that suggest bigger problems. Either way, we played close to the vest last season and had historic troubles scoring. While making seemingly "riskier" decisions won't always lead to scoring, there's good statistical reason to believe that the team could convert some of those 4th down opportunities and put themselves in better scoring decisions. If HCSS shows a little more aggression the results hopefully follow, and it will hopefully signal more confidence in both his offense and defense. Offense, because he believes they can make it, and defense, because he believes it doesn't matter where the opponent gets the ball, his defense will stop them.
4. Who will emerge as playmakers?
The offense has a lot of players with upside, including Ish, Custis, Enoicy, Lewis, Estime, McKringleberry and Cornelius at WR, and Run DMC, Morris, Strickland and the other freshmen at RB, and Irv at whatever the Hell H-back is. Are they nice players, or are they gamebreakers? If multiple guys step up as ready for the big time, can we use them in complementary ways?
5. Is Dunkelberger an Ubermensch?
Tight End Produktion kann bei Syracuse Vorhersagenschwierigsein. Einige Jahreszeiten, gleichtes, haben wir wirklich talentierte Spieler, die nie den Ball zu sehen. Anderen Jahreszeiten wird der Tight End ein großer Teildes Spielsübergeben. Dunkelberger ist einer der interessanter Spieler in unserem Team nicht nur, weil er beweisen kann, ein großes spät blühenden Talent, sondern auch sein, denn er scheint zu bieten die Möglichkeit, sowohl dienen als eine wirksame Blocker und Matchup Probleme im Spiel vorbei. Ist Dunkelberger der Held, was wir denken, dass er ist?
6. Is Lester the guy?
We need him to be. Recruiting has some momentum, there are some pieces to work with, and the schedule is favorable. If Lester shows he has the chops to modernize our offense, the future is bright. If he's not up to it, it's hard to say where the program goes to improve.
As an added bonus, here are fake PMs from actual posters on the board:
OiG, I've heard that you're Mormon and don't drink. Is that true? If so, could you spare a liver for a man that defends our country?
Sincerely,
JarHeadJim
Dear Jarhead, yes I am Mormon, and I do not drink alcohol. While I appreciate your service... no. Just no.
OttoinGrotto, is Doug Marrone a great Syracuse football coach, or the greatest Syracuse football coach?
Warm regards,
GoSU96
Dearest Go, I would say that by the end of his tenure, Doug Marrone was a good Syracuse football coach. We won't ever know how high or low the ceiling may have been. Probably best to just move on.
Mr. Grotto, you've been pretty adamant that Syracuse won't be successful unless they embrace a pass heavy offensive identity. Are you that committed to that idea, or do you really fall in the camp of "just give me whatever works."
Your brother in Orange,
Scooch
Scooch, it can be tempting to say that as fans we should be happy with whatever works, and that's valid to a point. There's a lot to be said to playing towards the unique advantages you have. Otherwise, you're like a baseball team with a short right field porch that loads up on right handed hitters. We are the only P5 team that plays in a Dome - fact. It should be a QB's dream. And yet, we opt for run heavy offenses. I'm not saying if we go pass heavy we immediately enter the Top 10, but long term, I think it's the right play. If "whatever works" carries the day, it eases the pain, but doesn't heal the wound.
Great teacher, what does Lester need to do to prove that he has what it takes to push Syracuse's offense to be above average in college football?
Your admirer,
Millhouse
You mean, other than your mom? Great question Millhouse. I don't think it's going to take long to know. If the offense shreds our first three opponents, the future is bright. If the offense struggles at all it isn't likely to get better against tougher opponents. Lester is going to have to have his offense ready to roll from the start. Setting the tone those first three games is huge for the team and the fans.
And that just about wraps it up. Here's to a fun filled 2015!
I know some of my faithful readers have been disappointed with the delay in getting my annual "keys to success" report out on the board. Summer has been a little busier than I expected, so I apologize for making you wait.
Without further ado, here are the key questions that must be answered for the University of Syracuse to have a successful offense in 2015 -
1. Can the offensive line perform as one cohesive unit?
There's a lot that goes in to answering that question affirmatively. You need a mix of health, complimentary talent, scheme that plays to the line's strengths and hides weaknesses, and comradery. Right now, it isn't easy to predict how things should go. Players should be healthy. People should be playing the right positions. The offensive scheme we're told should be geared to what our players can do best. It sounds like the linemen should be a close knit group. It wasn't that long ago that the line was a real strength for the team, and some of the upperclassmen on the team now played big roles on those lines. For a lot of reasons (coaching/injuries/mismatched positions, etc.) the line had big issues last season. If things go as planned, the line could be a team strength.
2. Which T. Hunt lines up under center?
According to the pay board, we actually have two T. Hunts on our roster - Terrel Hunt, architect of the best passer rating in college football after his performances against Wagner and Tulane in 2013 and late-game hero against Boston College and Minnesota that same season, and his evil twin brother Tamarind Hunt, who has thrown 12 career interceptions and was ejected from a game last season. Due to NCAA shenanigans they refuse to recognize that these are two different individuals (that Emmert, man. You know? *** that guy) so we can only ever have one on the field at the same time. Sometimes the coaches get confused about which one they've put in, and, well, sometimes Terrel and Tamarind are confused about it too. Look, it's complicated, that's why it was on the pay board.
Bottom line - if Tamarind sees more snaps than Terrel, we're in for a long season.
3. Do we take our shots when we have them?
There's a group of fans that has expressed a lot of frustration over the choices HCSS makes to punt the ball when we're in the opponent's territory and face what seems to be a manageable distance on 4th down. Some say it's no big deal and can see why the reasons for those decisions. Others fear that those decisions indicate a faulty mindset that suggest bigger problems. Either way, we played close to the vest last season and had historic troubles scoring. While making seemingly "riskier" decisions won't always lead to scoring, there's good statistical reason to believe that the team could convert some of those 4th down opportunities and put themselves in better scoring decisions. If HCSS shows a little more aggression the results hopefully follow, and it will hopefully signal more confidence in both his offense and defense. Offense, because he believes they can make it, and defense, because he believes it doesn't matter where the opponent gets the ball, his defense will stop them.
4. Who will emerge as playmakers?
The offense has a lot of players with upside, including Ish, Custis, Enoicy, Lewis, Estime, McKringleberry and Cornelius at WR, and Run DMC, Morris, Strickland and the other freshmen at RB, and Irv at whatever the Hell H-back is. Are they nice players, or are they gamebreakers? If multiple guys step up as ready for the big time, can we use them in complementary ways?
5. Is Dunkelberger an Ubermensch?
Tight End Produktion kann bei Syracuse Vorhersagenschwierigsein. Einige Jahreszeiten, gleichtes, haben wir wirklich talentierte Spieler, die nie den Ball zu sehen. Anderen Jahreszeiten wird der Tight End ein großer Teildes Spielsübergeben. Dunkelberger ist einer der interessanter Spieler in unserem Team nicht nur, weil er beweisen kann, ein großes spät blühenden Talent, sondern auch sein, denn er scheint zu bieten die Möglichkeit, sowohl dienen als eine wirksame Blocker und Matchup Probleme im Spiel vorbei. Ist Dunkelberger der Held, was wir denken, dass er ist?
6. Is Lester the guy?
We need him to be. Recruiting has some momentum, there are some pieces to work with, and the schedule is favorable. If Lester shows he has the chops to modernize our offense, the future is bright. If he's not up to it, it's hard to say where the program goes to improve.
As an added bonus, here are fake PMs from actual posters on the board:
OiG, I've heard that you're Mormon and don't drink. Is that true? If so, could you spare a liver for a man that defends our country?
Sincerely,
JarHeadJim
Dear Jarhead, yes I am Mormon, and I do not drink alcohol. While I appreciate your service... no. Just no.
OttoinGrotto, is Doug Marrone a great Syracuse football coach, or the greatest Syracuse football coach?
Warm regards,
GoSU96
Dearest Go, I would say that by the end of his tenure, Doug Marrone was a good Syracuse football coach. We won't ever know how high or low the ceiling may have been. Probably best to just move on.
Mr. Grotto, you've been pretty adamant that Syracuse won't be successful unless they embrace a pass heavy offensive identity. Are you that committed to that idea, or do you really fall in the camp of "just give me whatever works."
Your brother in Orange,
Scooch
Scooch, it can be tempting to say that as fans we should be happy with whatever works, and that's valid to a point. There's a lot to be said to playing towards the unique advantages you have. Otherwise, you're like a baseball team with a short right field porch that loads up on right handed hitters. We are the only P5 team that plays in a Dome - fact. It should be a QB's dream. And yet, we opt for run heavy offenses. I'm not saying if we go pass heavy we immediately enter the Top 10, but long term, I think it's the right play. If "whatever works" carries the day, it eases the pain, but doesn't heal the wound.
Great teacher, what does Lester need to do to prove that he has what it takes to push Syracuse's offense to be above average in college football?
Your admirer,
Millhouse
You mean, other than your mom? Great question Millhouse. I don't think it's going to take long to know. If the offense shreds our first three opponents, the future is bright. If the offense struggles at all it isn't likely to get better against tougher opponents. Lester is going to have to have his offense ready to roll from the start. Setting the tone those first three games is huge for the team and the fans.
And that just about wraps it up. Here's to a fun filled 2015!
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