Spring Football Notes...

[CuseOnly]

hodge and cam together for a lot of snaps scares me in pass coverage just from a height perspective. I wish those guys were a few inches taller

If they each a few inches taller they would be playing in the SEC.

 

[JackBauer44]

If, and this is a big if, that's true, wouldn't that grade out to essentially just hoping Ward can be a road grader, since I doubt he gets the tackle assignments memorized in just the fall practices? I don't know if I want to sacrifice pass protection, even if it would make Ward a likely 3 or 4 year starter. Lasker might be the way to go, and let Ward compete next year at LT or RT.

I honestly think Ward will redshirt next year (or get slim playing time) and then take over for Hickey the year after. He's got LT written all over him.

 

[JackBauer44]

Johnson will be a float along the defensive line. He will see reps at DT, just needs to bulk up and get stronger.

I'm excited about Donnie Simmons. Kid was a beast last spring before he got hurt and Daoust and Shaf both love his explosiveness.

Ditto. Simmons would have started last year and would have had a really good number of sacks. He brings explosiveness off the edge.

 

[memcorsu]

If he is going to be wasted as 3rd string DE you might as well get him in the mix. He'd find far more playing time inside

He won't be wasted trust me. He is going to be a brute at DE. This is a spring depth chart and players like Johnson, Flemming, Eskridge, etc... are coming off of injuries and thus listed further down the chart. I see Flemming getting some nice run come fall if he can stay healthy. I remember posting about how impressed I was with him at the spring game 2 years ago. Kid has a great body and moves very well. I think a lot of what your seeing on this depth chart is precaution for guys with injuries and room for some other players to show who they are. That is what spring ball is all about.

I think the more telling thing will be how the coaches do with developing players and how they mesh as a unit. We know they can recruit, now can they ...

 

[RMH44]

That's crazy I thought he looked great as a true freshman.

I agree, Johnson played great last year.

Maybe the coaches aren't happy with his winter training efforts and listed him as 3rd team to send a message.

 

[RMH44]

A couple of things from the spring depth chart.

Terrel Hunt is up to 233 pounds! TJ Batten is now listed at 227 lbs.

Thompson is listed at 250 lbs compared to 268lbs last year. If accurate, I wonder if this was strategic to increase his mobility?

Provo is listed at 6'3" this spring compared to 6'0" last year.

 

[FAL]

A couple of things from the spring depth chart.

Terrel Hunt is up to 233 pounds! TJ Batten is now listed at 227 lbs.

Thompson is listed at 250 lbs compared to 268lbs last year. If accurate, I wonder if this was strategic to increase his mobility?

Provo is listed at 6'3" this spring compared to 6'0" last year.

Yow! I hope that doesn't slow him down any! Don't want him to lose his elusiveness.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

Provo is listed at 6'3" this spring compared to 6'0" last year.

What ever training he did to grow three inches, I want to do the same.

 

[cuseincincy]

A few random thoughts. Players not participating in Spring practice are for good reasons not on the depth chart at all. So all the conjecture about Foy, Arcinega etc. and whether they start will have to wait until the fall. Proof of this is the absence of Eskridge, I guarantee you he will be starting when healthy. Seems a little odd to say we're "thin at DT" when we have players listed at 320, 320 and 330 on the depth chart. I also think we're a little thin at LB so I'm thinking a 3-4 is out of the question. We're going to have to be an attacking speed based defense based on how light our DE's and LB's are. A healthy and productive Arcinega would be a great help. I like both Hodge and Vigille but would like to see more muscle in the middle. That would enable us to work 3 DE's into some sets.

WR/TE - Geez I don't know what to think. Our WR's are big, the H-backs are small, and the TE's are not really pass catchers. This is the area that Mac will have to mold to what he wants to do on offense. If the current depth chart holds true I don't see much different from last year (not a good thing). Custis and Enoicy may not fill the tradition TE role but they may eventually fill the TE spot. Love to see a 4 wide with one of those 2 in the slot with a speed WR on the outside, Estime in the other slot and one fo the big possession WR's that we seem to have a ton of at the other wide. What happens here will define the Syracuse offense in 2014.

 

[RMH44]

Yow! I hope that doesn't slow him down any! Don't want him to lose his elusiveness.

TH never was very fast...I think his reported forty time is 4.9. As you mentioned, it's his elusiveness and his pocket presence that make him dangerous. Hopefully he retained his quickness with the added weight.

 

[Doc5120]

What ever training he did to grow three inches, I want to do the same.

Ask Jerami Grant. I believe he's 7'4' now.

 

[Noexcuse]

Not that you want to burn a red shirt if you don't have to, but both of the DT recruits have an opportunity to contribute immediately if they follow their s and c routines and come in ready to go.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Brian Higgins ‏@BrianHigginsSU 5m
Cuse TV @CuseFootball Spring football offense preview: @Coach_Shafer: http://ow.ly/uweeq and OC George McDonald: http://ow.ly/uweb7

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

The offense staff has slimmed things down? Thank goodness.

I feel like McDonald's playbook to start last season put War and Peace to shame in size and complexity.

 

[anomander]

amazing for not really agreeing with a bunch of his fundamental philosophies of building a program I really love that he is our HC

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Nate Mink ‏@MinkNate 5m
Some leftover Syracuse football notes: Brisly Estime and Quinta Funderburk are in the 3.0 GPA club

Adonis Ameen-Moore is back at running back, and DeAndre Smith hopes he can contribute this year.

Tim Lester's focus this spring will be on developing the back-ups. It's a very young quarterback room.

I allude to this in upcoming Acosta story, but goal on offense is to average 400 yards and upper 30s in points per game. Last yr: 22.7 ppg

 

[orangepassion]

Nate Mink ‏@MinkNate 5m
Some leftover Syracuse football notes: Brisly Estime and Quinta Funderburk are in the 3.0 GPA club

Adonis Ameen-Moore is back at running back, and DeAndre Smith hopes he can contribute this year.

Tim Lester's focus this spring will be on developing the back-ups. It's a very young quarterback room.

I allude to this in upcoming Acosta story, but goal on offense is to average 400 yards and upper 30s in points per game. Last yr: 22.7 ppg

Good stuff there. Pretty impressive for Funderburk and Estime considering they were ? marks at one point there. I think AAM should have a great shot to contribute as a short distance/goal line back with Smith gone. I wonder how much Kimble's injury sets him back.

 

[timkay99]

If, and this is a big if, that's true, wouldn't that grade out to essentially just hoping Ward can be a road grader, since I doubt he gets the tackle assignments memorized in just the fall practices? I don't know if I want to sacrifice pass protection, even if it would make Ward a likely 3 or 4 year starter. Lasker might be the way to go, and let Ward compete next year at LT or RT.

Ward mentioned he didn't want to redshirt, so I am sure he is beginning to memorize the assignments now.

If someone were to play as a true frosh at OL, it is someone with the size of Ward.

Honestly, from seeing Lasker in his time last year, I don't see him as more then a road grader who will have some limitations in pass protection. RT is the typical spot for a lineman to play right away.

Foy is the wild card in this. I thought he was pretty solid at RT last year, but a lot of people have mentioned he may be a better fit at guard.

 

[supp]

Glad to hear Dave Rahme's voice in the background during these press sessions. I hope that means that he's now definitely writing about football for the ACC Sports Journal as he hinted he would last year. It's also good for the young journos in the room to interact with a real reporter.

 

[Moontan]

hodge and cam together for a lot of snaps scares me in pass coverage just from a height perspective. I wish those guys were a few inches taller

If Cam was taller, then the GA defensive player of the year would be playing in Athens.

 

[CanadianSU]

Cool kids O is gonna be unstoppable.