Here is what I am seeing (sorry this is long)…
*First of all, I am more than thrilled about the impending move to the ACC. Yes, the challenges will be greater most seasons than we’ve faced, but this invite was truly a life-line for our football program. I don’t like the notion of what Villanova and Georgetown represent. Hoops only is very shallow existence. And that was an all-too real scenario for SU going forward because teams that are not in BCS Conferences are going to really have a tough time selling their programs, both to recruits, fans and television networks. I wish the ACC invite had gone through in 2003, but as someone much smarter than me once told me, "all's well that ends."
*On the field, I firmly believe that we are competing at a much much higher level down for down, series for series, quarter for quarter and game for game than we have in the last decade or so. This is a tangible as it can be measured in various statistical outputs. Yards for/against being the primary stat. This is encouraging, but as we have seen, does not guarantee results in W-L columns. But don’t fool yourself, this is Marrone's greatest contribution to date and it should not be taken for granted.
*The offense is dramatically enhanced compared to where it was 2-3 years ago. And it is light years ahead of where it has been for the last decade (really since McNabb graduated). Now, we have very real issues in the red zone. No doubt this has to be addressed. Personally, I think this is going to take some time. For coordinators, coaches and players alike. We have ostensibly installed a new offense in ‘12. Sometimes these things do not “take” instantaneously. Almost everything is a theoretical at this point (what works, what does not). I also think the eventual implementation of a dual-threat quarterback will go a long way here. I am firmly behind Nassib as the starter for the remainder of the 2012 season. But in the future, the threat of a running quarterback is going to pay off. That is why, personally, I would not put the idea of Broyld behind center to bed. I know many here are excited about some of our other quarterbacks (Allen, Wilson, Hunt, Kinder, etc). I place my total faith in Marrone on this front because he is there in the trenches every day. I do think that with time Broyld will be a rare offensive force for the program. At which position I am not sure.
*One more note on the offense. In looking back over the last decade, our #1 deficiency came on the OLine. At least from my seat. I believe that change is coming here and I like what I am seeing. Am I also crazy to think that Pugh could use another season at SU to his advantage? Time will tell. But I like what I have read and the very little I have seen from Hickey, Foy, Trudo, Palmer, Sloan, Robinson, Knapp. We should be adding at least 3 to the OLine every season. Since the mid-80s, whenever SU has been strong, they've had an above-grade offensive line. Perhaps some can name an exception or two in that span, but I think this is an accurate depiction of the correlation between SU winning and our OLine play.
*I am encouraged by what I am seeing on kick coverage. Definitive steps forward. Our kickers (outside of Norton) have some work to do (Krautman is perplexing, very similar to his brother from what I remember). Personally, I wish Marrone would "revert" to the special team's formula employed by SU in the 80s and 90s. Namely, athletes get the time no matter their standing on the 2-deep. I think this is one of the gambles that need to be taken as a private school in the northeast. It can potentially close the gap between conference leaders and a middle of the pack school. Sure, we will lose a player or two to injury along the way. But the enhanced depth within the program should, in theory, make this notion plausible. Marrone should at least consider it.
*There is NO DOUBT that turnovers have been and continue to be an issue. Unlike many here, I do not think that this turnover problem is a direct condemnation on Marrone’s ability to run a program or coach. I just don’t. I think that Marrone’s willingness and ability to reflect upon his program will render improved results in time (hopefully starting Friday vs. UConn). I am also of the belief that there is a decent degree of luck (good and bad) involved in turnovers. The SU program appears to be, at the very least, in a rut when it comes to turnovers. But that can and should change over time. So, to sum up, I think that a renewed emphasis on offensive ball security and defensive gang tackling from Doug/staff coupled with a regression to the turnover mean should render solid results over the next few years.
*The defensive side of the ball appears to be very healthy. Not without flaw, but healthy. I don't see that changing in the coming years. Like almost every program but for an elite few, we could stand to get some more speed of the edge of the DLine. And I think we are shallow at the linebacker position, especially in the middle.
*Recruiting is on a subtle upswing (or at least was during July and August). We have a small class this year. So, we are not being hit over the head with verbals. That is fine. Marrone and Co. will have some work to do in Dec and January.
*Program building is not a science, but it is a process. At least for the vast majority of schools, head coaches and coaching staffs. There are thousands of variables, most of which we as fans have no knowledge of or control of. While I wish that Marrone could have come in back to SU in 2009 and turned things around nearly instantaneously, my personal viewpoint is that this was unlikely. And sure enough, that quick fix is not our reality. Some might argue that the Pinstripe Bowl season (8-5 in 2010) set some expectations in place that are unrealistic. Maybe. Maybe not. But what keeps me watching every Saturday is hope and belief that Marrone is making progress within this program-building process. If this is accurate, the results will come and we’ll be better for it.
Here is to a big win on Friday over the Huskies and continued progress...
*First of all, I am more than thrilled about the impending move to the ACC. Yes, the challenges will be greater most seasons than we’ve faced, but this invite was truly a life-line for our football program. I don’t like the notion of what Villanova and Georgetown represent. Hoops only is very shallow existence. And that was an all-too real scenario for SU going forward because teams that are not in BCS Conferences are going to really have a tough time selling their programs, both to recruits, fans and television networks. I wish the ACC invite had gone through in 2003, but as someone much smarter than me once told me, "all's well that ends."
*On the field, I firmly believe that we are competing at a much much higher level down for down, series for series, quarter for quarter and game for game than we have in the last decade or so. This is a tangible as it can be measured in various statistical outputs. Yards for/against being the primary stat. This is encouraging, but as we have seen, does not guarantee results in W-L columns. But don’t fool yourself, this is Marrone's greatest contribution to date and it should not be taken for granted.
*The offense is dramatically enhanced compared to where it was 2-3 years ago. And it is light years ahead of where it has been for the last decade (really since McNabb graduated). Now, we have very real issues in the red zone. No doubt this has to be addressed. Personally, I think this is going to take some time. For coordinators, coaches and players alike. We have ostensibly installed a new offense in ‘12. Sometimes these things do not “take” instantaneously. Almost everything is a theoretical at this point (what works, what does not). I also think the eventual implementation of a dual-threat quarterback will go a long way here. I am firmly behind Nassib as the starter for the remainder of the 2012 season. But in the future, the threat of a running quarterback is going to pay off. That is why, personally, I would not put the idea of Broyld behind center to bed. I know many here are excited about some of our other quarterbacks (Allen, Wilson, Hunt, Kinder, etc). I place my total faith in Marrone on this front because he is there in the trenches every day. I do think that with time Broyld will be a rare offensive force for the program. At which position I am not sure.
*One more note on the offense. In looking back over the last decade, our #1 deficiency came on the OLine. At least from my seat. I believe that change is coming here and I like what I am seeing. Am I also crazy to think that Pugh could use another season at SU to his advantage? Time will tell. But I like what I have read and the very little I have seen from Hickey, Foy, Trudo, Palmer, Sloan, Robinson, Knapp. We should be adding at least 3 to the OLine every season. Since the mid-80s, whenever SU has been strong, they've had an above-grade offensive line. Perhaps some can name an exception or two in that span, but I think this is an accurate depiction of the correlation between SU winning and our OLine play.
*I am encouraged by what I am seeing on kick coverage. Definitive steps forward. Our kickers (outside of Norton) have some work to do (Krautman is perplexing, very similar to his brother from what I remember). Personally, I wish Marrone would "revert" to the special team's formula employed by SU in the 80s and 90s. Namely, athletes get the time no matter their standing on the 2-deep. I think this is one of the gambles that need to be taken as a private school in the northeast. It can potentially close the gap between conference leaders and a middle of the pack school. Sure, we will lose a player or two to injury along the way. But the enhanced depth within the program should, in theory, make this notion plausible. Marrone should at least consider it.
*There is NO DOUBT that turnovers have been and continue to be an issue. Unlike many here, I do not think that this turnover problem is a direct condemnation on Marrone’s ability to run a program or coach. I just don’t. I think that Marrone’s willingness and ability to reflect upon his program will render improved results in time (hopefully starting Friday vs. UConn). I am also of the belief that there is a decent degree of luck (good and bad) involved in turnovers. The SU program appears to be, at the very least, in a rut when it comes to turnovers. But that can and should change over time. So, to sum up, I think that a renewed emphasis on offensive ball security and defensive gang tackling from Doug/staff coupled with a regression to the turnover mean should render solid results over the next few years.
*The defensive side of the ball appears to be very healthy. Not without flaw, but healthy. I don't see that changing in the coming years. Like almost every program but for an elite few, we could stand to get some more speed of the edge of the DLine. And I think we are shallow at the linebacker position, especially in the middle.
*Recruiting is on a subtle upswing (or at least was during July and August). We have a small class this year. So, we are not being hit over the head with verbals. That is fine. Marrone and Co. will have some work to do in Dec and January.
*Program building is not a science, but it is a process. At least for the vast majority of schools, head coaches and coaching staffs. There are thousands of variables, most of which we as fans have no knowledge of or control of. While I wish that Marrone could have come in back to SU in 2009 and turned things around nearly instantaneously, my personal viewpoint is that this was unlikely. And sure enough, that quick fix is not our reality. Some might argue that the Pinstripe Bowl season (8-5 in 2010) set some expectations in place that are unrealistic. Maybe. Maybe not. But what keeps me watching every Saturday is hope and belief that Marrone is making progress within this program-building process. If this is accurate, the results will come and we’ll be better for it.
Here is to a big win on Friday over the Huskies and continued progress...
