Our class of 2011 has turned out really well

[Rocco]

Eskridge - top 5 projected safety in 2015 draft

Reddish - jam corner who was a stud before injuries. Hoping he rebounds this year.

Trudo - 3 year starter. Ridiculous road grater on runs.

Foy - has had issues, but overall turned out to be a good talent. He and Lask will battle this year.

Desir - been a key contributor since he's been here.

Robinson - 2 year starter on the line, big nasty at guard.

Diabate - turned out to be a very good Mike and was a vocal leader in the locker room. Hopefully lands on his feet coaching.

Broyld - prepped so he is really class of 2012, but you get the point

Crume - starting at NT this year and has looked good in the spring and so far in summer camp

Lynch - great blitzer, great leader

Hunt - our 2nd year starter who will turn heads this year, you watch.

Davis - stud LB who will get a shot in the NFL IMO

Others:

Kobena
Sloan
Simmons - injuries bogged him down, hoping for him to show his potential this year
Vigille
Rodgers
Hale
Kris Curtis - that was a tough blow for the kid
Shu Mungwa - decided rap was better than hitting people
Kyle Foster - had great potential, got hurt then that was it


Marrone & Co knew what they were doing, they just didn't truly love doing it. All in all, pretty damn good class.

 

[Crusty]

Excellent post. I have always felt that talent evaluating was one of his greatest strengths. That is why I think he will make a great GM some day.

 

[Rocco]

Excellent post. I have always felt that talent evaluating was one of his greatest strengths. That is why I think he will make a great GM some day.

That staff was also good at identifying talent, and early on. Alot of the guys above barely had any offers from P5 schools. Goes to show that with a good eye and good coaching, you can begin to build a pretty good team. Add a few elite talents and that's how you get to the next level.

 

[billsin01]

Marrone & Co knew what they were doing, they just didn't truly love doing it. All in all, pretty damn good class.

This has always been the bottom line on DM and company as far as I'm concerned. Really solid coaches, solid if unspectacular recruiters but much better fits for the nfl. Never understood the hard feelings here.

 

[Rocco]

This has always been the bottom line on DM and company as far as I'm concerned. Really solid coaches, solid if unspectacular recruiters but much better fits for the nfl. Never understood the hard feelings here.

I think there are hard feelings here because people don't like change. especially when it is abrupt. He could've handled his exit differently, but there was really no way to IMO.

 

[OrangeMojo]

#51 class in the nation per Scout.

13 - 3*s
13 - 2*s

 

[RF2044]

This has always been the bottom line on DM and company as far as I'm concerned. Really solid coaches, solid if unspectacular recruiters but much better fits for the nfl. Never understood the hard feelings here.

I think that a lot of the hard feelings had to do with him raiding the staff. That, and him leaving so quickly after proclaiming it to be his dream job, when the program was still in such a precarious position.

But I've believed all along that Marrone's legacy [right, wrong, or indifferent] would hinge on how well Shafer performs as HC. If the program had [or still could] drop off of a cliff and backslide, then the fan base's perception of Marrone would be tainted more negatively, because he left too soon and left the program in a bad spot. If Shafer succeeds, then eventually most of the above bad blood will be forgotten and he'll be [correctly] applauded for taking the worst B5 team and turning the program around quickly, in a sustainable way that Shafer was able to build upon.

I wasn't sure what to expect last year, but its looking more and more like the latter is what is going to come to pass.

 

[Crusty]

For me it wasn't the manner of the exit or even the staff he took. It was the way he sold himself coming in - or should I say oversold. I admit that I drank the Kool-Aid but isn't that what fans do?

After suffering through the trough and defending him, it was a kick in the pants (the front of the pants) to see him leave when we were on our way.

I am pleased for the former staff and as we all know know, Shafer wanted his own guys anyway.

I have high regard for DM (and the old staff) abilities but I am confident he best fits the NFL. I actually think he might have the Bills turned around this year. Shafer, on the other hand, probably only could have happened the way it did. We got lucky and so did he because he is perfect for SU and SU is perfect for him

So, my mother was right after all - all's well that ends well.

 

[Rocco]

It was the way he sold himself coming in - or should I say oversold.

Good post.

I will ask this though... who doesn't oversell themselves in a job interview that would be a big promotion in their respective career? Everybody oversells in those situations.

 

[Pyle]

Forget stars, forget rankings. These guys are good because DM and now this staff as well are pretty good at identifying potential and making football players out of it. Grob got more 4 stars and we stank. That staff ruined football players. Andrew Robinson had all the makings to be a decent QB, he showed us his stuff against UL and then the staff destroyed him. I have full confidence in our staff to continue building this program the right way. It starts with culture, I read an article the other day about players feeding off the work habits of others. This is how programs are built. Not a flashy recruiting class, culture is what's important. 3 bowl games in 4 years, these guys are expecting to win, not just wishing like Grob's guys did.

 

[SUFan44]

For me it wasn't the manner of the exit or even the staff he took. It was the way he sold himself coming in - or should I say oversold. I admit that I drank the Kool-Aid but isn't that what fans do?

After suffering through the trough and defending him, it was a kick in the pants (the front of the pants) to see him leave when we were on our way.

I am pleased for the former staff and as we all know know, Shafer wanted his own guys anyway.

I have high regard for DM (and the old staff) abilities but I am confident he best fits the NFL. I actually think he might have the Bills turned around this year. Shafer, on the other hand, probably only could have happened the way it did. We got lucky and so did he because he is perfect for SU and SU is perfect for him

So, my mother was right after all - all's well that ends well.

Always believed Shafer had more upside as a college coach than Marrone, and nothing I have seen has changed that opinion. His passion and charisma are easy to see in every interview he does, and I think he can create a buzz that Marrone couldn't. That's not taking anything away from Marrone - but Shafer's approach is more suited to college.

 

[Rocco]

Always believed Shafer had more upside as a college coach than Marrone, and nothing I have seen has changed that opinion. His passion and charisma are easy to see in every interview he does, and I think he can create a buzz that Marrone couldn't. That's not taking anything away from Marrone - but Shafer's approach is more suited to college.

Without question. DM was always better suited for the NFL. The jury is still out on Shafer, but he certainly embraces all things college football.

 

[Todd Gack]

Good post. I will ask this though... who doesn't oversell themselves in a job interview that would be a big promotion in their respective career? Everybody oversells in those situations.

Not to lump you into this camp, Rocco, but this is an easy place to plant my "dream job" rant -- which, put simply, is anyone who makes it is an idiot. There's nothing inconsistent with Syracuse being your "dream job" and then showing up to realize it isn't. Marrone is wound exceedingly too tight, but he put more into this program than any poster on this board could ever "dream" of -- all the while having better and/or more lucrative options. I'll go as far to say he "saved" Syracuse football. People who are hurt by his exit simply have nothing better to talk about in their life.

 

[Crusty]

Good post.

I will ask this though... who doesn't oversell themselves in a job interview that would be a big promotion in their respective career? Everybody oversells in those situations.

Of course you are correct but he pulled on our heart strings and you shouldn't do that unless you mean it. I guess that is what I see as the difference. But again, as you say, everybody oversells.

 

[Crusty]

Not to lump you into this camp, Rocco, but this is an easy place to plant my "dream job" rant -- which, put simply, is anyone who makes it is an idiot. There's nothing inconsistent with Syracuse being your "dream job" and then showing up to realize it isn't. Marrone is wound exceedingly too tight, but he put more into this program than any poster on this board could ever "dream" of -- all the while having better and/or more lucrative options. I'll go as far to say he "saved" Syracuse football. People who are hurt by his exit simply have nothing better to talk about in their life.

For the record, I do think DM saved the program. We might never have been asked to join the ACC if we had continued our decline.