This is COLLEGE football not PRO football our fanbase really needs to understand

[OrangeDW]

I mean we are talking about 18-22 year old kids not pros.
They always going to have lapses and we don’t have the elite talent of the country.
Dino is fixing what was our biggest problem a lack of talent.
Our roster is trying to get to the level of talent that the team we played yesterday has in Pitt.
If we had the players Pitt has had the last last decades I could understand the frustration.
We lost a game that we shouldn’t have in extremely tight game in OT.
Jeez can we stop losing our minds.
Anyone claiming to be a realist and has watched the 6 games this year and doesn’t see an automatic bowl team is either a troll or just extremely frustrated.

I hope you’re right, but I fear that you may be downplaying the inability to stop the run.

I think we have a better overall team than UNC, LVille, and Wake.

That said, what if they just pound the ball every play and we can’t stop them either? It sounds ridiculous, but we 100% knew Pitt was running on all those plays and they still ran all over us. Those teams are about the same as Pitt.

It’s a legit concern IMO. What can we do about it?

Frankly, I think nothing - so I hope our offense gets better in the second half and we’re able to outscore them.

* We were so close to getting the type of early lead that probably would’ve forced Pitt to throw a lot. If that happens, we probably blow them out. The line between winning, losing, and close games or blowouts can be so thin sometimes.

 

[FreakTalksAboutSU]

I was replying more to the “there’s no reason Syracuse is the only one that can’t change QB’s” thing because I’m not sure anyone else out there has anything like our scenario.

The 3 runs and a punt was weird, because Dungey had just made some plays in the passing game on our 17-0 run to take the lead. That was the best he’d looked all game along with the first drive. So it was weird if they didn’t want him throwing at that point, if that was the reason for all the runs.

This is my issue. Ive never seen a star senior QB not allowed to throw in a tie game, especially when the expected result of not throwing is the opposition with the ball, at home, at midfield, with a D that has been shaky at best porous at worst. If there is a reason for that which is not injury or lack of trust, then I am fine with sticking with him.

 

[Alsacs]

I hope you’re right, but I fear that you may be downplaying the inability to stop the run.

I think we have a better overall team than UNC, LVille, and Wake.

That said, what if they just pound the ball every play and we can’t stop them either? It sounds ridiculous, but we 100% knew Pitt was running on all those plays and they still ran all over us. Those teams are about the same as Pitt.

It’s a legit concern IMO. What can we do about it?

Frankly, I think nothing - so I hope our offense gets better in the second half and we’re able to outscore them.

* We were so close to getting the type of early lead that probably would’ve forced Pitt to throw a lot. If that happens, we probably blow them out. The line between winning, losing, and close games or blowouts can be so thin sometimes.

I would rather have problems stopping the run than pass.
As if the team can get better filling gaps they will get better at stopping by the runs.
The LBs aren’t filling the holes.
Run D is easier to correct.

 

[OrangeDW]

This is my issue. Ive never seen a star senior QB not allowed to throw in a tie game, especially when the expected result of not throwing is the opposition with the ball, at home, at midfield, with a D that has been shaky at best porous at worst. If there is a reason for that which is not injury or lack of trust, then I am fine with sticking with him.

It was weird. Dungey certainly hurt us at times. At the same time we scored 37.

We can look at the passes he put into the ground or that he misses the Mark with to the sidelines and say DeVito would put those on the money. But does DeVito escape those sacks and find people downfield the way Dungey was? Does he turn nothing into a long TD run? I’d say probably not.

Do we score more than 37 with TD? Not sure, but doubt it. With our mediocre (at best) backs and WRa, we still need Dungey’s legs and ability to turn nothing into huge plays. The offense has been productive, as frustrating as it can be when Dungey is making poor throws.

Like I said, I would’ve liked DeVito to get a series or two in the second quarter to see if he could’ve sparked us because we had a long stretch of doing nothing in the first half. Way too long.

 

[FreakTalksAboutSU]

It was weird. Dungey certainly hurt us at times. At the same time we scored 37.

We can look at the passes he put into the ground or that he misses the Mark with to the sidelines and say DeVito would put those on the money. But does DeVito escape those sacks and find people downfield the way Dungey was? Does he turn nothing into a long TD run? I’d say probably not.

Do we score more than 37 with TD? Not sure, but doubt it. With our mediocre (at best) backs and WRa, we still need Dungey’s legs and ability to turn nothing into huge plays. The offense has been productive, as frustrating as it can be when Dungey is making poor throws.

Like I said, I would’ve liked DeVito to get a series or two in the second quarter to see if he could’ve sparked us because we had a long stretch of doing nothing in the first half. Way too long.

Fair enough. I dont think we are too far off in a similar continuum. Although I still maintain that it is not insane to at least ask if a switch would help. This is bye week, its now of never. If the answer is no, its no, but let Dungey throw the ball if he plays

 

[OrangeDW]

Fair enough. I dont think we are too far off in a similar continuum. Although I still maintain that it is not insane to at least ask if a switch would help. This is bye week, its now of never. If the answer is no, its no, but let Dungey throw the ball if he plays

If we had better WRs and RBs - guys who are a home run threat every time they get the ball and just need a QB to efficiently deliver them the ball, then I’d probably really be asking some questions. Ultimately, from what I see, Dungey is the only dynamic playmaker that scares anybody on our offense and we need his playmaking ability despite his flaws.

 

[FreakTalksAboutSU]

If we had better WRs and RBs - guys who are a home run threat every time they get the ball and just need a QB to efficiently deliver them the ball, then I’d probably really be asking some questions. Ultimately, from what I see, Dungey is the only dynamic playmaker that scares anybody on our offense and we need his playmaking ability despite his flaws.

Fair enough. But from what I can tell, we are trying to get him to run less because of injury-risk, and throw less because of ________? Im just saying, RB runs, QB runs, QB throws, 3 play series needs at least 2 of those before a punt. If he cant do that, its a problem.

 

[phil77]

I am just disappointed. Not melting down just disappointed. Seems we are able to get ourselves to a point where you can see and feel the program are about to change and then we always seem to take a step back. For whatever reason we just can't seem to get the momentum going where the casuals are interested and want to show up to the dome. Just seems we are so close then we take a step back. Regardless of how many points we were favored or how many points we were underdogs by we are a better football team than PITT and the program needed that victory.

Do I think we have a free fall like past years?? NO I think we will get to the taget of 6 wins like I said at hte beginning of the season. But we missed a massive oppurtunity as a program to take a step forward.

If we won we would be ranked in the top 25 going into a bye week against another lesser opponet that we should beat. Those are the chance we seem to always come up short as a program. So no meltdown just disappointed.

 

[cusefan88]

It was play calling by committee, last year. Same as this year. It's entirely possible that the play calls are based on available personnel, this year, and not based on last year's personnel... ED's decision on the last play? Yeah. Not his best.

Maybe it's time to end the committee and have Dino do it.

 

[Alsacs]

I am just disappointed. Not melting down just disappointed. Seems we are able to get ourselves to a point where you can see and feel the program are about to change and then we always seem to take a step back. For whatever reason we just can't seem to get the momentum going where the casuals are interested and want to show up to the dome. Just seems we are so close then we take a step back. Regardless of how many points we were favored or how many points we were underdogs by we are a better football team than PITT and the program needed that victory.

Do I think we have a free fall like past years?? NO I think we will get to the taget of 6 wins like I said at hte beginning of the season. But we missed a massive oppurtunity as a program to take a step forward.

If we won we would be ranked in the top 25 going into a bye week against another lesser opponet that we should beat. Those are the chance we seem to always come up short as a program. So no meltdown just disappointed.

Very reasonable take.
A decent portion of this fanbase is in meltdown mode now though:

 

[dollarbill44]

Don't see how you can be so sure. The only games we have that are favorable are NC (which beat Pitt) and Louisville. And those will take everything this team has. The rest are sure losses.

Bwahahahah. Sure losses??? I've known some true pessimists in my day, but your hot take would make them shake their heads.

 

[OrangeinBoston]

Bwahahahah. Sure losses??? I've known some true pessimists in my day, but your hot take would make them shake their heads.

I will be more than happy to change my opinion...when they solve the run defense problem.

 

[Eric15]

I would say 40% of this board is melting down.
We lost a game yesterday we were a 3.5 Point favorite.
My god that isn’t even a WTH loss.
We should have won.
Our weakness is we lost LBs from last year who were really good in Bennett and Franklin.
The LBs this year aren’t as good and with Cordy out we lost a guy who could have played LB as a safety.
Watching Evan Foster it looked to be his he was playing hurt. He most likely has an upper body injury as he wasn’t trying to wrap up any tackles he was looking to flip tackle low every time.

We were underdogs at home to Florida State and we were favorites at Pitt.
We split.
We are exactly were the odds say we should be.
This team is a 7-5/8-4 this year.
If you are worried about bowl eligibility it’s because of the past and not this years performance.
UNC- W
NCSU- 50/50 game
at Wake 50/50 game
Louisville- W
Notre Dame 33/67 game
at BC 40/60 game

Our LBs need to get better. That only happens by playing and film study getting better.
It is what it is. We were never going to be an elite team this year. Dino is upgrading the roster. We have flaws.
Yesterday sucked but wasn’t a mid major team we lost too.
It was a game we showed our flaws in but still could have won.

Enough self loathing. We don’t suck.

Good post. Pitt beat us 11 out of 13 and 7 straight at Heinz Field before today. We were a field goal favorite yesterday. The idea that this was a "bad" or "horrendous" or "unacceptable" loss is just delusional. We got beat by a peer school in what is more or less a 50/50 game.

 

[Alsacs]

It’s almost like people don’t realize how poor the roster was when Dino came in.
Our best offensive weapons were ignored by the NFL Draft.
We had one defensive player drafted in the 7th round. The rest were ignored.
Until we start wasting NFL talent and underachieving our fans have to realize the roster we have had.
Pitt has had Shady McCoy, Dion Lewis, James Connor, Tyler Boyd.

All go in the last decade. What offensive weapon have we had?
Ryan Nassib?
Pitt has been the proverbial 6-6/7-5 team.
People stop losing your freaking minds.
We are going to win 7-8 games this year.

 

[Briancuse]

We lost out on having a special season. Sorry 6 and 6 isn't all that exciting. Pitt is trash you have to beat them.

 

[Eric15]

We lost out on having a special season. Sorry 6 and 6 isn't all that exciting. Pitt is trash you have to beat them.

I think 8-4 with a bowl win is a very realistic expectation right now. ND will be tough, split NC State and BC, and win the rest.

 

[OrangeDW]

I think 8-4 with a bowl win is a very realistic expectation right now. ND will be tough, split NC State and BC, and win the rest.

I think we will be minor underdogs against both N.C. State and BC. We could beat them though.

I think we will be minor favorites against LVille and UNC. Pick ‘em against Wake. Big underdogs against ND.

 

[007]

I would rather have problems stopping the run than pass.
As if the team can get better filling gaps they will get better at stopping by the runs.
The LBs aren’t filling the holes.
Run D is easier to correct.

Long time season ticket holder, not in meltdown mode, still believe this is a bowl team, very strong believer that Dino will get us "there."

I posted about LB concerns before the season started, so my stance is not a reaction to what has transpired. I don't think it's necessarily true that run D is "easier" to fix than pass D. The LB are attempting to fill their run fits - it is not missed assignment or scheme related. The issue is the personnel, IMO. More often than not, the LB are being pushed around big time at the point of attack or they are step slow to recover after shedding an OL.

We played 8 in the box at Clemson during that 90+ yard win killing drive, and again at Pitt and still got gashed.

It will be interesting to see what changes are made after the bye week.

 

[phil77]

I think 8-4 with a bowl win is a very realistic expectation right now. ND will be tough, split NC State and BC, and win the rest.

After yesterday I don't look at the rest of the games and pencil in any wins. I am not going to be tricked anymore. Each game will be a dog fight can't pencil in any ACC wins. I am hoping for 6 wins anything above that will be a bonus.

 

[Briancuse]

I think 8-4 with a bowl win is a very realistic expectation right now. ND will be tough, split NC State and BC, and win the rest.

8 and 4 would be great after yesterday not sure how realistic it is.

 

[Alsacs]

8 and 4 would be great after yesterday not sure how realistic it is.

Beat UNC, UL, Wake and split BC/NCSU.
That is how.
Do even know anything about those teams?
Wake lost it’s starting QB against Clemson for the season yesterday.

 

[Cusefan0307]

8 and 4 would be great after yesterday not sure how realistic it is.

Take a break. You need it. We will be rested after the bye.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Beat UNC, UL, Wake and split BC/NCSU.
That is how.
Do even know anything about those teams?
Wake lost it’s starting QB against Clemson for the season yesterday.

Wait, which one? I thought they were starting the freshman because the other guy was suspended?

Also, did their good WR get hurt?

 

[SaltLakeOrange]

It’s almost like people don’t realize how poor the roster was when Dino came in.
Our best offensive weapons were ignored by the NFL Draft.
We had one defensive player drafted in the 7th round. The rest were ignored.
Until we start wasting NFL talent and underachieving our fans have to realize the roster we have had.
Pitt has had Shady McCoy, Dion Lewis, James Connor, Tyler Boyd.

All go in the last decade. What offensive weapon have we had?
Ryan Nassib?
Pitt has been the proverbial 6-6/7-5 team.
People stop losing your freaking minds.
We are going to win 7-8 games this year.

Hope you're right...But unless the run defense is fixed, I don't think we do

 

[Ish88888]

We were also playing without Butler and Pierce, two contributing starters (no matter how much people want to look at stats and say ‘no big deal’).

I know it’s football and injuries happen all over. But for SU to be a great team we’re going to need some luck in that department. We’ll almost never be able to go 2nd level or 3rd level and play as well as we want to.

That said there was a real problem in the passing game yesterday with accuracy. I think Dino can put up with some bad D because he knows our pass rush will get us some stops or turnovers, and our offense will keep scoring. That would win us games (in theory). I don’t think Butler and Pierce explain away 20 incompletions, many on safe, easy passes. Has to get fixed. Fast.

I also think we go away from the run game too quickly. That 3rd and 1 where we go empty and have Strickland motion out wide? And Dungey Mahoneys a pass out to him? Head scratcher.

We have been lucky in the injury department this year. Just cant call RP and DB difference makers in being out of the lineup. . Not fair to the kids that actually contribute. as for the lbs, watching film and playing isnt going to correct the fact that whitner is a safety being asked to hit and stop runs in the trenches and the other 2 just dont have the talent.

In some of this analysis, i dont see any comments on the staffs inability to make some schematic and personel changes including our front 7 on D standing still at every snap and refusing to blitz a gap or show a different look. As bad as the D is, this is on the O and there is cause for concern bc we haven't sustained drives all year, haven't played with tempo and our expectations were heightened after the first 5 games bc everything broke out way for a change.