Quick SU-Wake and end of season thoughts

[DuxburyO]

Wake was the best NC team this year. They beat UNC, Duke, and NC St.

I was speaking in terms of historical standings and in no way meant diminish this win. Oh and Duke sucks too.

 

[supp]

What I'd support is finding a guy who is a runner first but capable of throwing the ball. I mean, we all know we love to run that little read/option play. I really wonder what that will ever do with Tommy at the helm. If he is at the helm, we need to reconsider what type of offense we're running.

As far as your earlier post -- couldn't agree more. You need coaches at OC/DC/OL and maybe QB, though I'm a little less concerned there. If they recruit, great, but you need guys who can coach kids up. the other positions should be recruiters first.

I don't know if we need a runner just someone who can see the field better. Maybe Devito can improve that aspect of his game but I'd like to have some insurance just in case he can't. If they don't make a bowl game next year with that schedule, the pressure should rightly go up.

 

[Chip]

He waved his hands on a long pass when he was open over the middle. Stood there for a while and just waved his hands a while after the pass fell incomplete. He was open for a first down if Welch saw him.

He did this at least 3 times. After the first one, I started watching him on all plays. If he's open (and he was), he doesn't just come back to the huddle and tell you. He stands there and does jumping jacks so you can see it.

 

[SUalldway]

As Promised:

• Obviously, the first priority has to be to find a good DC and figure out the rest of the staff. While getting a DC who can recruit is a bonus, I believe that when it comes to this position, the priority has to be just getting the best DC in relation to player development and calling a good game. If he can also recruit, that's a great tiebreaker. On the other hand, we need to get the best recruiters possible for our position coaches (excluding OL and possibly QB). Think Ohio has been overlooked as a recruiting area for us, as we've had great success there in the past and they only have 1 P5 school in the entire state (Ohio State) and they recruit nationally. Right or wrong, I'm betting he keeps most, if not all of the Offensive staff, as he seemed to be more disappointed with the Defense this year. Lynch has been w/ him from the very beginning and it's hard to follow your daughter's Father-in-law. If I had to pick a few that I would prioritize keeping, it would be Monroe, Ferri, Lustig, and Stanard.
• In terms of 2020, Fortin is going to be our most important recruit. Not because I think Devito is so bad, but because we have no one behind him Babers trusts. He has basically said that straight out. This makes us scared to let him ever run, for fear of an injury, and limits our offensive threat.
• In regards to Devito specifically, they need to have him focus on throwing on the run under pressure. We all know he can sling it from the pocket w/ time, but that's not the way Football works anymore, even with a good OL. Everyone blitzes and there's going to be time where there's a need to make a play on the move under pressure and he greatly struggled w/ that this year. I actually think he would benefit from watching some film of Welsh from this game. Devito has much more arm talent than him, but Welsh was able to make some of these plays and also was able to allow his guys to get some YAC. We have struggled all year with this and needs to be a major focus.
• They should also lock Taj in a room with Devito this offseason and not let them out until Fall Practice. there are 2 talented players that weren't on the same page all year and needs to be fixed.
• I see 2 guys on the team who are matchup nightmares-Jawhar Jordan and Luke Benson. We need to figure out how to maximize their talents and keep DC's up figuring how to defend them. I would personally like them to use Jordan in a Reggie Bush-like role, moving him everywhere-Sweeps, short drop offs out of the backfield, screens, slot. Make them try to run after him. I don't care if he has upperclassmen ahead of him-He needs to be on the field early and often. Need to isolate Benson with LB's who will generally not be able to keep up w/ his speed and if they put a smaller, faster guy on him, run the ball down their throat behind him.
• Need to find a way to get our best athletes on the field on Defense. If that means playing Richards at DE, so be it. Need to find a way to get Cantin-Arku on the field. he is a freak. Like our other young backers, but they all look like safeties. This leaves us vulnerable to power running teams.
• Our other young LB's need to bulk up some over the offseason in order to tackle some of these bigger backs
• We need to look anywhere and everywhere for some big DT's. They are the first line of Defense and I barely noticed them this year. We need to look transfer porter, Junior College, Prep school etc. These guys don't have to be able to rush the passer necessarily, but take up space and blockers and stop the run.
• Need to make it clear to the players, even the stars, that there will be accountability for multiple mistakes next year. This includes multiple penalties and not wrapping up fundamentally on Defense. There has to be increased discipline on both sides of the ball.

Both of your posts

As Promised:

• Obviously, the first priority has to be to find a good DC and figure out the rest of the staff. While getting a DC who can recruit is a bonus, I believe that when it comes to this position, the priority has to be just getting the best DC in relation to player development and calling a good game. If he can also recruit, that's a great tiebreaker. On the other hand, we need to get the best recruiters possible for our position coaches (excluding OL and possibly QB). Think Ohio has been overlooked as a recruiting area for us, as we've had great success there in the past and they only have 1 P5 school in the entire state (Ohio State) and they recruit nationally. Right or wrong, I'm betting he keeps most, if not all of the Offensive staff, as he seemed to be more disappointed with the Defense this year. Lynch has been w/ him from the very beginning and it's hard to follow your daughter's Father-in-law. If I had to pick a few that I would prioritize keeping, it would be Monroe, Ferri, Lustig, and Stanard.
• In terms of 2020, Fortin is going to be our most important recruit. Not because I think Devito is so bad, but because we have no one behind him Babers trusts. He has basically said that straight out. This makes us scared to let him ever run, for fear of an injury, and limits our offensive threat.
• In regards to Devito specifically, they need to have him focus on throwing on the run under pressure. We all know he can sling it from the pocket w/ time, but that's not the way Football works anymore, even with a good OL. Everyone blitzes and there's going to be time where there's a need to make a play on the move under pressure and he greatly struggled w/ that this year. I actually think he would benefit from watching some film of Welsh from this game. Devito has much more arm talent than him, but Welsh was able to make some of these plays and also was able to allow his guys to get some YAC. We have struggled all year with this and needs to be a major focus.
• They should also lock Taj in a room with Devito this offseason and not let them out until Fall Practice. there are 2 talented players that weren't on the same page all year and needs to be fixed.
• I see 2 guys on the team who are matchup nightmares-Jawhar Jordan and Luke Benson. We need to figure out how to maximize their talents and keep DC's up figuring how to defend them. I would personally like them to use Jordan in a Reggie Bush-like role, moving him everywhere-Sweeps, short drop offs out of the backfield, screens, slot. Make them try to run after him. I don't care if he has upperclassmen ahead of him-He needs to be on the field early and often. Need to isolate Benson with LB's who will generally not be able to keep up w/ his speed and if they put a smaller, faster guy on him, run the ball down their throat behind him.
• Need to find a way to get our best athletes on the field on Defense. If that means playing Richards at DE, so be it. Need to find a way to get Cantin-Arku on the field. he is a freak. Like our other young backers, but they all look like safeties. This leaves us vulnerable to power running teams.
• Our other young LB's need to bulk up some over the offseason in order to tackle some of these bigger backs
• We need to look anywhere and everywhere for some big DT's. They are the first line of Defense and I barely noticed them this year. We need to look transfer porter, Junior College, Prep school etc. These guys don't have to be able to rush the passer necessarily, but take up space and blockers and stop the run.
• Need to make it clear to the players, even the stars, that there will be accountability for multiple mistakes next year. This includes multiple penalties and not wrapping up fundamentally on Defense. There has to be increased discipline on both sides of the ball.

Both of your posts here, looking back and forward, are absolutely spot-on!

 

[PhatOrange]

I think we're going to have some roster turnover, just a hunch. we're already set to take up to 25 guys as is, the additional room will allow for transfers. the portal is growing by the day. it's fascinating. and really going to change how people operate.

 

[Orangeman]

I think the ACC refs have been wildly inconsistent and I say this as a whole, not just for SU.

I will say...it's very noticeable that there is an axe to grind with our players and their behavior. I don't know if it's "earned" by experience/reputation or what, but every team jumps around celebrates big plays...in the WF game and many others, you can see Referees yammering in our players' faces to cut it out, almost immediately, even though they're generally not doing anything illegal, and other teams do same or more but don't get this treatment.

I'm not referring to some of the idiotic things our guys pulled off, like the taunting penalty by Cordy, I'm talking about the run-of-the-mill stuff, like you're close to a foul even though you're not.

Maybe our guys are edgier, although I don't think so across the board.

I do think Syracuse players make some dumber plays/reactions overall, which needs to be corrected.

 

[Ozcuse]

I think we're going to have some roster turnover, just a hunch. we're already set to take up to 25 guys as is, the additional room will allow for transfers. the portal is growing by the day. it's fascinating. and really going to change how people operate.

Do we have 25 guys to take? Last I saw we were going in the wrong direction.

 

[orangepassion]

Agree with this but I'll take it a step forward at QB. They need to bring in someone who can conceivably start b/c I'm not sure what Tommy is. Maybe he's OK but I really don't know how we'd know that right now. I'd argue part of the reason he isn't running much is because he also looks really awkward running. He doesn't throw on the move well or under pressure. He couldn't find a slot receiver all year. Taj was invisible when Tommy was on the field. There are a TON of red flags, IMO.

I can't argue w/ this. Think Tommy is a great passer with time and in the pocket, but that's not enough w/ the way football is nowadays. He might develop the skills of throwing under pressure and on the run, but he also might not.

 

[orangepassion]

I will say...it's very noticeable that there is an axe to grind with our players and their behavior. I don't know if it's "earned" by experience/reputation or what, but every team jumps around celebrates big plays...in the WF game and many others, you can see Referees yammering in our players' faces to cut it out, almost immediately, even though they're generally not doing anything illegal, and other teams do same or more but don't get this treatment.

I'm not referring to some of the idiotic things our guys pulled off, like the taunting penalty by Cordy, I'm talking about the run-of-the-mill stuff, like you're close to a foul even though you're not.

Maybe our guys are edgier, although I don't think so across the board.

I do think Syracuse players make some dumber plays/reactions overall, which needs to be corrected.

I've noticed the refs talking to Lakiem after he made big plays the last few games. Wasn't clear what that was.

 

[Ringostar57]

I can say in all confidence that Trill's play at the end of the game was the greatest season ending play in SU history followed by technically not a season ending play by Michael Owens in 87 i.e last play in the Dome.

 

[Chip]

they can sure as hell ignore them, left tackle for wake got a head start on every pass play

I hadn't seen this mentioned yet (I didn't read the game thread), but yeah it looked like that left tackle had a jump start on so many plays. Was never called.

 

[Chip]

It is particularly frustrating for fans because it is the one part of the job that any of us could do.

I do appreciate upperdeck's point about it being more difficult amongst all of the other decisions that need to be made within a few seconds from a chaotic sideline. I will confess that I occasionally got rattled working the drive-thru at McDonalds.

It might be hard in the moment, but it's not really that hard. Someone on the staff, or a GA should be assigned to lead it and either be in the headphones or right next to him when it's getting to that time each half.

 

[OburgOrange]

I hadn't seen this mentioned yet (I didn't read the game thread), but yeah it looked like that left tackle had a jump start on so many plays. Was never called.

My son and I were taking about this during the game. Very frequent occurrence