Quick thoughts

[Finwad32]

After a bit of a rough start, the team pulled together and executed as they should for the vast majority of 3 quarters.

Things are never as good, or bad, as they seem at first glance. That being said, I'll say the following:

1) We handled a team today that I feel is significantly better than the one we gave a W to last week.
2) We were the more physical team today.
3) Coaching staff deserves credit for getting these guys ready to roll this week.
4) Dungey still needs to settle a bit, but, execution was better today.
5) Strickland does not make the first guy miss often or break tackles. That's not good. The answer at RB is yet to be found.
6) I still believe this team is capable of competing with most of the schedule. Today made me feel much better about that.
7) The defense showed more signs of life today than in any game this season. Including CCSU.
8) I thought J-Mart had a nice showing.
9) Hofrichter is the next in a long and good line of Syracuse P's.
10) We have athletes, contrary to some opinions. But, we will need to execute at a very high clip to hang in some games. Today was a step in the right direction.
11) As talented as R. Pierce is, he needs to get himself under control. Three games in a row he's showed mental weakness.

At the end of the day, I'm impressed at how the team bounced back. Especially with some early game adversity, which could've been used as an excuse to go in the tank. Credit where it's due, I think the staff had a strong gameplan this week and got the team in a position to execute it at a reasonably high level. The needle inches higher North, at least for today.

 

[StopCoolio]

Dino has said the offense clicks in game 4 of year 2. Maybe he was off by a half?

 

[Finwad32]

Dino has said the offense clicks in game 4 of year 2. Maybe he was off by a half?

It was the first thing I thought of after the game. Dungey's going to need to trust the protection more and the protection is going to have to improve in order to run at full tilt.

 

[javadoc]

It looked like in the film sessions the coaches told the RB's "this is how you let the hole develop" and they all got a little light bulb over their heads and said, "oh!"

Good mix in the run game, attacked across the field, not just between the tackles.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Yeah, I feel like we still have a pretty thin margin of error. Erasing Strickland's first TD by Peirce, the dropped passes and interceptions, other dumb penalties... we'll never be flawless but if we just stay out of our own way we can really get something interesting going.

I do think the defense has improved a lot. I still think we haven't even scratched the surface of what this offense can be. If I squint I can see the makings of a competitive team.

We need to find a way to punch above our weight class and we can't have any letdowns. It's not an easy road. It's not an impossible road though either.

 

[Trueblue25]

Strickland made the first guy miss on that TD! Loved it too.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Strickland made the first guy miss on that TD! Loved it too.

I think he can make it happen in the passing game.

I've got a dumb theory that he's much more natural getting the ball on the move than from a standstill.

 

[upperdeck]

the RB did a much better job of letting the hole form and hitting it but i think the tackles also did a better job of not giving the DEs free passes to disrupt the plays from the backsides..

There are hold though if the RB can just stay on their feet a bit. I think the FR shows the best wiggle hitting the hole but he cant stay on the field.

the Fr RB and WR that have a chance now to make plays have dropped or fumbled too much to be a bigger part of the offense.. hopefully that goes away soon.

 

[sdhall01]

Any word on Josh Black?

edit: I think someone said they saw him in a brace walking on the sidelines, but I didn't see him go back in.

 

[Trueblue25]

I think he can make it happen in the passing game.

I've got a dumb theory that he's much more natural getting the ball on the move than from a standstill.

He looked spectacular in open space. I hope that's something the O works towards.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

He looked spectacular in open space. I hope that's something the O works towards.

He always has. Even as a freshman the dude made plays in the passing game.

 

[OrangeTarheel]

The O Line opened some holes and gave Dungy some time to check down on his reads. That was huge. Strickland looked to have better vision as well today. Saw some new faces in the backfield today but didn't see Elmore crushinating anyone. Did he get a carry?

 

[Cheriehoop]

The O Line opened some holes and gave Dungy some time to check down on his reads. That was huge. Strickland looked to have better vision as well today. Saw some new faces in the backfield today but didn't see Elmore crushinating anyone. Did he get a carry?

I was surprised too - didn't see him get a carry all day.

 

[baggerbob]

I think he can make it happen in the passing game.

I've got a dumb theory that he's much more natural getting the ball on the move than from a standstill.

Both Strickland, and Neal, would be better as receivers, they have speed, and can make people miss in space.

 

[sdhall01]

I was surprised too - didn't see him get a carry all day.

Dungey definitely rebounded after a sub par first half. That takes grit; good for him.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Both Strickland, and Neal, would be better as receivers, they have speed, and can make people miss in space.

I agree 100%. I think Neal is badly out of position. Strickland has his struggles at RB, but Neal really shouldn't be in the backfield.

I'm really hopeful that the incoming freshmen can take over backfield responsibilities right away.

 

[FAL]

The O Line opened some holes and gave Dungy some time to check down on his reads. That was huge. Strickland looked to have better vision as well today. Saw some new faces in the backfield today but didn't see Elmore crushinating anyone. Did he get a carry?

No.
Saving him for next week?

 

[sdhall01]

No.
Saving him for next week?

That's my thought. I kinda feel like we haven't opened up the playbook on purpose. Kind of a "if we can't beat these teams with the first page of the playbook, then so be it." I kinda wonder if we're going to be running some of the trick plays from last year next week.

 

[Deuga]

That's my thought. I kinda feel like we haven't opened up the playbook on purpose. Kind of a "if we can't beat these teams with the first page of the playbook, then so be it." I kinda wonder if we're going to be running some of the trick plays from last year next week.

I've been thinking as well that Babers went into the season intending to open up the playbook at a certain pace and was willing to let the results be what they are.

You can really see the difference in Dungey's strength over last year. I like how he muscled out of a sack just enough to throw the ball away. Most college QBs couldn't do that. You could also see his strength on that long run, when he wants to be he's that big runner who's a little tough to bring down.

Once again we held an opponent to under 400 yards. That's a huge improvement for this D. I know they're a G5 team, but we'll face more than one ACC team this season with inferior QBs. I like how Moore rarely had time to throw. That was impressive.

 

[Killdozer]

After a bit of a rough start, the team pulled together and executed as they should for the vast majority of 3 quarters.

Things are never as good, or bad, as they seem at first glance. That being said, I'll say the following:

1) We handled a team today that I feel is significantly better than the one we gave a W to last week.
2) We were the more physical team today.
3) Coaching staff deserves credit for getting these guys ready to roll this week.
4) Dungey still needs to settle a bit, but, execution was better today.
5) Strickland does not make the first guy miss often or break tackles. That's not good. The answer at RB is yet to be found.
6) I still believe this team is capable of competing with most of the schedule. Today made me feel much better about that.
7) The defense showed more signs of life today than in any game this season. Including CCSU.
8) I thought J-Mart had a nice showing.
9) Hofrichter is the next in a long and good line of Syracuse P's.
10) We have athletes, contrary to some opinions. But, we will need to execute at a very high clip to hang in some games. Today was a step in the right direction.
11) As talented as R. Pierce is, he needs to get himself under control. Three games in a row he's showed mental weakness.

At the end of the day, I'm impressed at how the team bounced back. Especially with some early game adversity, which could've been used as an excuse to go in the tank. Credit where it's due, I think the staff had a strong gameplan this week and got the team in a position to execute it at a reasonably high level. The needle inches higher North, at least for today.

I'm holding judgement until next week. If SU looks lost then they are the same team as last year else I may have hope... something I haven't had in 15 years.

 

[sdhall01]

I've been thinking as well that Babers went into the season intending to open up the playbook at a certain pace and was willing to let the results be what they are.

You can really see the difference in Dungey's strength over last year. I like how he muscled out of a sack just enough to throw the ball away. Most college QBs couldn't do that. You could also see his strength on that long run, when he wants to be he's that big runner who's a little tough to bring down.

Once again we held an opponent to under 400 yards. That's a huge improvement for this D. I know they're a G5 team, but we'll face more than one ACC team this season with inferior QBs. I like how Moore rarely had time to throw. That was impressive.

It's also CMU. While people on this board sometimes think G5 teams are G5 teams, CMU has recently been a pretty good G5 team.

 

[RICuse44]

I thought their qb Morris looked really good in the second quarter. Then he got hit a couple of times and started throwing off his back foot and across his body.

Really like Martin and Frederick in the defensive backfield. And then Robinson and black on the pass rush (slayton goes without saying- he's a war daddy).

 

[SmilinBob]

Fredrick made a wonderful read and go to the ball interception instead of the ball gets thrown to you type, it was a thing of beauty. The DB's got beat at times but also had some really good coverage as well.

I was so happy for Strickland on the TD (I know called back) and hopefully he can learn how that happened and figure out a way to get to 4 per carry as he seems to be the guy for the moment. He bounced once and got caught but maybe the light will turn on for him as the OL improves and grows as they did give Dungey more time in the passing game.

The freshman wr's (Butler and N.Johnson) have to learn how to run catch a long throw (short ones too). It's not easy (long) I know but once they do...wow...we will have some nicely stretched fields to work with because they can get open long.

 

[tbonezone]

I thought their qb Morris looked really good in the second quarter. Then he got hit a couple of times and started throwing off his back foot and across his body.

that morris sidearm sling passing motion is the worst delivery i have seen in many years.

 

[DMDMD]

I thought their qb Morris looked really good in the second quarter. Then he got hit a couple of times and started throwing off his back foot and across his body.

that morris sidearm sling passing motion is the worst delivery i have seen in many years.

It was like he was making fun of Phillip Rivers