Then and Now Part 2: The Passing Game | Syracusefan.com

Then and Now Part 2: The Passing Game

SWC75

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QUARTERBACKS and RECEIVERS

Then:
Overall, GS completed 123/234 (52.6%) for 1,445 yards, 9TDs and 4 picks while rushing for 781 yards and a robust 14 touchdowns on 173 carries (4.5). He’s a tough kid and shows good leadership and seems to have the loyalty of the team. But 52.6% would have been a good completion percentage when I first started following this sport 60 years ago, (Shrader kind of reminds me of Walley Mahle, who completed 46% in 1962), but it won’t do now. It’s been suggested that he suffered an injury taking so many hits and maybe he did: too many of his incompletions never got there or weren’t close to the target. He wasn’t helped by a young, if talented, receiving corps that didn’t do a great job of running routes, getting open, pulling down difficult balls or positioning themselves to be good targets when Garrett scrambled. A better line, better receivers and better health could help but Dino must win now and all those ‘freshmen’ will get a look if this season opens like the last one ended. That said, Dino did bring Garrett Shrader to ACC Media Day and has been referring to him as his #1 QB ever since spring practice.

Now:
Shrader’s passing improved tremendously: 206/318 (64.8) for 2,645 yards, (12.8 per completion, 8.3 per attempt), 17TDs and 7 interceptions. Actually those numbers are kind of slightly above average for a modern college quarterback but they were better than that in the 6-0 run to start the season. He was 106/152 (.697) for 1,434y, 13.5/c, 9.4/a) 12td 3int. But then multiple injuries, one to his ankle when he stepped on one of his own players in a scramble, caused him to miss one game and reduced his efficiency in others. He became much less mobile and had trouble throwing off his back foot. He recovered sufficiently to regain much of his effectiveness in the season’s final couple of games but, in a season full of injuries his was the biggest. (In the last 7 games, including the bowl, he was 100/166 = 60.2% for 1,211y = 12.1/c and 7.3/a and 5td and 4int.) Really, our injuries were the only thing that prevented 2022 from being as good as 2018 was.

His rushing stats fell from 173 carries for 781 yards (4.5) and 14TDs to 150/444/9. Some of that was the injuries but some of it was the offense. In 2021 Garrett ran a great two man game with Sean Tucker, either handing the ball off or keeping it and running to the other side of the line. It was really tearing up defenses until they realized we didn’t have a reliable passing attack and they could fill the box to stop both options. It should have been a devastating play in 2022 but Anae didn’t use it much: he preferred quarterback draws. It reduced both of their effectiveness.

Then:
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson – If there’s an SU savior in this group, he’s likely to be it. Carlos, like DeVito and Shrader, was a 4 star recruit, (we don’t get too many of them here), rated even more highly than them by 247: the #146 recruit at any position in the country and the #17 ‘QB”, (regardless of type). “Owns a solid build and average stature for the position. Should play in college around 215-220 pounds. Tests as a good athlete and backs that up on the field with rushing ability. Plays in one of the top classifications of Georgia High School football at a talented program. Has shown above average arm strength and ability to spin the ball in camp and 7-on-7 settings, perhaps more so than on video. Mechanically sound and has good feet in his drops and in moving throughout the pocket. Has some scheme versatility as he can operate in-structure within a pro-style, drop back offense while also running spread concepts. Can let his release get long at times and has a tendency to lock on his first read. Has shown some room for improvement with ball location in camp and 7-on-7 settings, missing low and behind at times. Projects as a Power Five starter.”

Now:
Carlos got his chance when he replaced the hurting and ineffective Shrader for the second half of the Notre Dame game. He showed a strong but accurate arm, even if his touch on the passes needed a bit of work. He was a big, strong kid like Shrader but they didn’t use him on running plays very much. CDW completed 11 of 22 passes for 190 yards in that half and threw both a TD pass and an interception. It was enough to get fans, (including me) excited about his potential. Then came the Pitt game and disillusionment: 8 of 23 for 120 yards and no TDs or picks. In the two games he ran for just 12 yards on 20 carries due to sacks. Shrader was back the next week. Carlos’ day is coming, although he’ll get competition from Justin Lamson, Jacobian Morgan and others. The only SU team in the last decade to have the same starting quarterback for every game was the 2018 team with Eric Dungey, who got hurt early in the Notre Dame game that year. So it’s good to have a deep quarterback room.

Then:
Ordonde Gadsden is another huge target 6-5 216. He has a strong pedigree. His namesake father played for 6 years for the Miami Dolphins, catching 227 passes for 3,252 yards and 22 TDs. The son caught two passes last year for 24 yards but could play a much bigger role going forward. Having the 6-6 Alford on one side of the field and the 6-5 Gadsden on the other side gives the 6-4 Shrader two big targets he can play catch with. 247 had OGII at 1,020/146. Nunes: “with his 6-foot-5 frame, he’ll be in contention to see valuable minutes to give Syracuse an explosive edge it’s been missing for the past couple of years.”

Now:
For years we’ve wanted SU to start throwing to the tight ends, the way everybody else seems to be doing. Anae put the 6-5 216 Gadsden in the tight end spot and used him like a third wide receiver. Does that count? Ordonde broke into stardom with 61r/969y/6td. He was the most reliable guy to get open, to catch the ball in a crowd and reach for the off-target throws. He seems headed for the NFL but if we can keep him here, he’ll be our #1 guy.

Then:
DeVaughn Cooper (from last year’ preview) is “a college football vagabond who landed here after stints at Arizona and UTEP. Thanks to a medical redshirt, a redshirt, (under the flabby new rules), and the Covid extension he still has two years of eligibility left, which would make for a seven-year career.
He’s 5-11, 175, not the sort of big, muscular guy we seem to be going for but a player with considerable experience at this level. …He has a lot of moves and speed and could be good in both the slot and on kick returns. I remember him making some big possession-type catches last year. He wound up with 21 catches for 199 yards (9.5) and no scores. In his first six years, caught 62 passes for 877 yards, (14.1) but only one scor
e.

Now:
Cooper became our second leading receiver, making a career-high 36 catches for 490 yards (13.6) and 3 scores. He showed the value of getting experience through the transfer portal and was a more reliable receiver that most of the bigger, younger guys we have on the roster.

Then:
Anthony Queeley is the upperclassmen who has spent his career here. (Are there four-year players anymore?) He was 1,081/160 on 247. He got his first chance to play in 2020 and had a solid year, mostly as a ‘possession’ receiver, (if you don’t have possession, are you still a receiver?), with 37 catches for 378 yards and 2TDs, one against Notre Dame. But he had a very shaky year last season, catching only 15 but for a higher average, 222 yards and two more TDs, but with some jobs. Hopefully he can return to the efficiency of two years ago and show some leadership for the younger guys. He could thrive in Anae/Beckers’ offense. Nunes: “Syracuse needs players like Queeley to step up and make key plays to keep drives alive.”

Damien Alford is my choice to be the break-out guy this year. He’s a huge target at 6-6 211, can catch the ball and has the speed to reach the end zone. The most underrated thing in football is wide receiver blocking. The casual fan thinks that all they do is catch passes but a good block by a wide-out, especially with someone like Sean Tucker behind him, can be the difference between a 5 yard play and a 50 yard play and big wideouts can make those blocks. It all came together on that pass from Shrader vs. Virginia Tech. He had 13 catches for 249 yards (19.2 avg.) and two touchdowns on the year, (the other was a 73 yarder vs. Albany). 247 had him at 772/120. Nunes: “He has the size and speed to win matchups on the outside, and if he gets himself into the open field, he's as good as gone. Both of his TDs last year were long ones and as long as Shrader or whoever is behind center isn't afraid to good deep, Alford could be the best shot at cracking some of the top secondaries the Orange will face this fall.”

Courtney Jackson is our slot guy. At 5-10 179 he doesn’t have the size of the wideouts but he does have speed and moves and can catch the ball. Last year he led the team with 37 catches for 389 yards and 3TDs. He also took a punt back 68 yards for a score against BC. 247 had him at 1247/98. Nunes: “Short routes gave Garrett Shrader an easy target to hit, and Jackson might be relied on heavily in the early part of the season and in the early part of games to establish some confidence in Shrader and his arm before going deep.”


Now:
The portal is a double-edged sword. Queeley, Alford and Jackson all had disappointing years and all are in the portal, looking for stardom somewhere else instead of working to become stars here. Alford remained a dangerous deep threat but was inconsistent in running his routes, catching the ball and staying in bounds. Dino Babers was always comparing him unfavorably to the physically similar Gadsden. He wound up with 21/429/2. I would have loved to continue to pair him with Gadsden on the outside to give our QB’s two tall targets to play catch with. Jackson’s output declined from 37/389/3 to 12/201/1 while Queeley in the three years has gone from 37/378/2 to 15/272/2 to 1/12/0. “May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

Then:
Trebor Pena Is our back-up slot guy and kick returner. He’s a real firecracker, having returned a kickoff 98 yards against NC State and caught a pass against Clemson for 62 yards, both for touchdowns. He got hurt halfway through last season. Trebor has averaged 22.7 yards per catch 26.3 per kickoff return and 7.7 per punt return. He’s a treat to go all the way any time he gets the ball. Jackson has been good but Pena could turn out to be even better in the slot. Pena’s shown big-play ability in his first two seasons. With a new offense in place could we see a bigger effort to get him the ball in space? He’ll still be returning kicks but it will be interesting to see if Robert Anae gets creative in finding new ways to put the ball in Pena’s hands.”

Isaiah Jones is another big target at 6-4 204. He wasn’t rated by 247 and came here after a year in junior college. He’s only played on the kicking teams since he came here. Nunes: “It’s hard to see him jumping over a number of receivers but as we’ve said before this is a new staff and a new opportunity for everyone to make their case for playing time. Maybe we see Jones used in red zone packages and contributing on special teams.”

Umari Hatcher isn’t as big as Alford or Gadsden but looking at his high school film, I thought he was our best talent at this position – and he’s not small. 247 had him 892/131. Nunes: “Hatcher made some plays in the spring game and with a new offensive game plan he’ll have an opportunity to find his way onto the field more this Fall.” At 6’3 he brings the size on the outside that help the Orange move the ball and convert in the red zone. He hasn’t really gotten his chance yet: he played in four games last year but with no stats. I predict stats in the future.

D’Marcus Adams originally went to Florida State where in two years he never played in a game but did run the 110 meter hurdles for the track team. The last two years he was at Florida Atlantic. He didn’t play the first year but last year had 3 catches for 94 yards, one a 46 yarder but no scores. He also returned 10 kickoffs for 236 yards. 247 had him as 420/70. Syracuse.com: “The 6-foot, 180-pound Adams has hit a 4.3 40 time and can leap close to 12 feet in the broad jump. He did it all on the track: long jump, high jump, triple jump, 110-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, 400 meters, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay, shot put. Adams holds or shares five school records, Anthony said, including a 13.82-second finish in the 110 hurdles during his senior year. At the time, it was the second-fastest time in the nation… Typecast as a burner, he’s among the fastest players on the roster but has had limited production over his first four college seasons. SU believes it can change that, using one of its final scholarships on an athlete with elite speed to help reboot a quick-strike offense.” It will be interesting to see if we can get more out of Mr. Adams than FSU or FAU did.


Now:
These are the guys who will move into the vacated positions and potentially upgrade them.

Pena’s a dangerous guy but so far it’s more on kick returns than passing plays. Still, your heart jumps to your throat when Trebor has the ball. Last year he caught 22 passes for 203 yards and 0TDs from the slot. If he can find a way past the first line of defenders, watch out!

Jones showed potential as another big target when injuries ended his season after just three games in which he caught 4 passes for 60 yards and a score. I was surprised his numbers weren’t greater as he always seemed to get open in the end zone, a good habit.

Hatcher didn’t play much (3/42/1) but I’ve liked him since I saw his HS highlight film:
Orangefizz: “Hatcher is the future at “z,” the boundary receiver. He’s primarily split out there even at the high school level. He does his best work when he has space to use and as the boundary receiver he has it. He is a very fluid route runner and sells his fakes well. At 6-3, he’s also a guy that can go up and get it and as the “z” he needs to be able to do that at the college level. He has incredible acceleration and straight line speed. He’s often used in the screen game and does a great job changing speeds once the blocks are set up and once he hits that top gear, he’s very difficult to catch. Going back to the route running, his footwork is incredible. A lot of wideout prospects tend to get open at the high school level with pure speed and acceleration. Hatcher can get open with speed as well, but what’s more impressive is the separation he gets on double moves and certain situations where it’s his agility that gets him open.”

Adams showed he was dangerous, catching 3 passes for 180 yards, (30.0!) and 2 scores.

Then:
Steven Mahar Jr. This could be the go-to tight end if Anae/Becker want to have one. He’s out of Rochester and was rated the 835th best recruit and the 36th best tight end in the country. CUSE.com: “As a senior, totaled 20 receptions for 340 yards (17.0 avg.) and four touchdowns to go along with 35 tackles and one sack”. He’s played 19 games here but all on the kicking team. Nunes: “We have two tight ends at this point in camp. He’s one of them, and the more likely to be a pass catching option if that’s the direction that Robert Anae and Jason Beck want to throw to. (The fact that we have two tight ends makes me wonder how important they are to this offense.) He’s likely to get some good run on the season and may even be the primary option as a receiving tight end.”

Maxmillian Mang is the other tight end, a big, rangy kid who learned to play the game in Germany. He would be our blocking tight end. In two years, he’s caught 1 pass for 12 yards. 247 rated him 3,038/137. Nunes: “If not, he performed admirably as a blocking option at tight end last season, and that should be considered his primary role. He’s likely the first one in when Rhino needs a rest if there are bodies that need to be moved out there.” ‘Rhino’ is Chris Elmore, our lead blocker, who is listed as a fullback but moves around where he’s needed.


Now:
These guys are our ‘real’ tight ends. Mang caught 3 balls for 31 yards and Mahar hardly played and got no catches at all. Meanwhile, the rest of football is in the age of the tight end.
 
Alford entered the portal but withdrew his name. So he should be in the plans still moving forward.
 
Alford entered the portal but withdrew his name. So he should be in the plans still moving forward.

I've been writing this up for a while so it may need some updating. Thanks.

And I'm glad Alford is back.
 

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