PS: Improved Syracuse football front five could unlock offense (OL preview)

[TheCusian]

You could run behind a guy who has never been on the field for Syracuse? Who, I guess because he had no pro prospects, is now a fifth year player at Syracuse? Look, he could be great. The whole OL could be great. But, there is a whole lot of orange-colored-glasses opinion on an OL that was, as someone said earlier, "mediocre" last year. We will likely not know anything until game 3 of the season - FSU.

Koda Martin is very good. Not sure we need to act too “he’s never played here tho” ... there is lots of tape of him vs SEC DL’s. If our line isn’t more than mediocre it won’t be on him.

 

[SoBristol]

….. there is a whole lot of orange-colored-glasses opinion on an OL that was, as someone said earlier, "mediocre" last year. We will likely not know anything until game 3 of the season - FSU.

Fair point, and one that applies to every position on the team (in particular, WRs and LBs). Fans won't know what we have until W. Mich game, and then that big test against FSU.
We know the OL has good size and more starting experience than what we have had in the past 4 seasons, and more depth (Heckel and Byrne on the bench). The OTs are the best pair since Pugh & Hickey in 2012. It is similar in the DL. Comparing what we have pre-season against what we had entering the past seasons, that unit is much improved. Improved enough? With orange-colored glasses, maybe so.

 

[upperdeck]

martin might not be the full answer. he wa TAM weight room MVP last year so he should add strength to the oline. he was an SEC starter and he was their 6th oline dude as a FR . So he does have talent. time will tell

 

[cusefan88]

I'm very bullish on the OL. Lots of experience and another year of S&C for guys like Servais, Heckel etc. Roberts/Heckel to me is a fun battle. Roberts is good but hasn't played in one year. It's all about the competition and quality of the group as a whole.

 

[cuse62]

I believe the key to winning games is a balanced attack. That doesn’t mean it has to be 50/50 run pass; but an offense shouldn’t be too reliant on either run or pass. Keep a defense “thinking” and not reacting is the key. RPO’s and play action are less effective if the defense doesn’t have to account for one of the options. I also believe there are times when a team has to be able to run When the other team knows it is coming. Hopefully this year, we have the elephants to do it. I believe we do.

 

[Dino2112]

I'm not so much concerned with yards. I'm hoping an improved line means we finish more drives with TDs. That may include more yards though.

we run ...we score more its not even a maybe If you don't fear the run thats 33-50% if the game plan you don't have to worry about ...Baylor was a better run than pass team but you'd never know if you did not look .

 

[RMH44]

You could run behind a guy who has never been on the field for Syracuse? Who, I guess because he had no pro prospects, is now a fifth year player at Syracuse? Look, he could be great. The whole OL could be great. But, there is a whole lot of orange-colored-glasses opinion on an OL that was, as someone said earlier, "mediocre" last year. We will likely not know anything until game 3 of the season - FSU.

Koda Martin was selected the preseason number 2 LT in the SEC. It's not a stretch to imagine he'll be an early round draft selection...if not a 1st rounder.

As usual, you're so far off it makes me wonder if trolling.

 

[shu 49]

I'm very bullish on the OL. Lots of experience and another year of S&C for guys like Servais, Heckel etc. Roberts/Heckel to me is a fun battle. Roberts is good but hasn't played in one year. It's all about the competition and quality of the group as a whole.

I think Roberts wins that battle hands down due to him being our best run blocker 2 years ago at almost 20 pounds lighter. Kid is tough as hell. He will start without a doubt.

 

[OrangeinBoston]

Koda Martin was selected the preseason number 2 LT in the SEC. It's not a stretch to imagine he'll be an early round draft selection...if not a 1st rounder.

As usual, you're so far off it makes me wonder if trolling.

I guess you didn't understand the post. But, that's typical.