Why 5-0?

[money3189]

Be careful of using Purdue to gauge the outcomes of future opponents. A lot of other factors determines these games like familiarity, adjustments, health, schemes we struggle with, game plans based on the weaknesses we've shown etc...

 

[GoSU96]

In the 30 games since Shrader has taken over, we have not lost to a team as bad as those last 5 teams. So losing one would be the worst lost and losing two the two worst losses over 35 games.

Yep

 

[GoSU96]

3-2 is best case scenario IMO. I feel like Dino waved the white flag with his NIL comments. If we lose Garrett it'll be 1-4 scenario.

I'm not sure what you guys have seen that provides this optimism. BC has improved a bit in the past few games. They aren't going to be a pushover. Castellanos will run free on us. Pitt at NYC is a weird game and at Tech is going to be very difficult.

Maybe i'm in an alternate universe but the performance at UNC showed me this team is sub sub par

Unless there are more/worse injuries than we know about 3 of the 4 guys that are out are practicing and on a path to be available for VT,

That is setting up the team to be as healthy and deep as any since 2018.

If there are deeper issues behind the scenes that changes the equation. But in-terms of inherent capabilities SU is significantly better than those five teams.

 

[elimunelson]

BC is awful, Pitt sucks (any team that played something called Jurkovec is terrible), and VT is pathetic.

I don't disagree but we're not Miami 2001 and we ALWAYS limp into November. This year will not be any different. The definition of insanity type stuff.

We have picked off teams in November that have been equally disfunctional and/or injured as bad as us. I could see these schools being in that scenario but I'm not chalking anyone up as an automatic win after watching the last two games.

I had us at 7-5 and I think it's the hope. However, a few trip ups and it's going to be 5-7.

 

[Scooch]

That is setting up the team to be as healthy and deep as any since 2018.

You should chat with Dino so he believes that.

 

[Cuse181]

I guess it's all based on winning against Purdue because the other 3 games were against very, very weak teams. Purdue had to replace their coaching staff as well as their great QB. Early in the season against midlevel teams with new staffs is not really a solid win. And as you said, BC and I would add, GT and VT are improving. I'm sure Pitt will get going as they have recruited real well and want to save their season. Wake is very well coached and a good football team. I would say all 5 of those teams are better than the first 4.

Pitt - Syracuse could easily be in "save their season" mode as well. Not sure it should help pitt more than anyone else.
BC - Just played army, barely won, looked terrible doing it. They're bad.
GT - Who knows, Jekyl and Hide
VT - Terrible, simply terrible. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't win another game this year.
Wake - thats the real wild card, they could be halfway decent but they will also be very banged up come time to play them

 

[djorange1989]

On paper we are better than every one of our last 5 opponents. The problem is based on Dino’s woe is me excuse ridden presser yesterday and the team playing dead against UNC, our last 5 opponents may not be as downtrodden and defeated as we could be. I just don’t trust Dino to pull a team up when they are really down, or motivate them if they don’t care as much as they should. We play hard like the first five games we will win anywhere from 7-9 games. But that’s very much to be determined

 

[RF2044]

On paper we are better than every one of our last 5 opponents. The problem is based on Dino’s woe is me excuse ridden presser yesterday and the team playing dead against UNC, our last 5 opponents may not be as downtrodden and defeated as we could be. I just don’t trust Dino to pull a team up when they are really down, or motivate them if they don’t care as much as they should. We play hard like the first five games we will win anywhere from 7-9 games. But that’s very much to be determined

That's where I'm at, as well.

If we can somehow avoid more key injuries, and springboard out of the bye week back to being offensively competent, we CAN go 5-0.

But Pitt, GT, etc. don't seem quite as "gimmes" as they did earlier in the year. So how likely that is, hard to say. I'm a lot less confidence after the UNC game about winning 4+.

Now, I agree that we are better [if healthy]. Hope it plays out that way. Because less than 7 wins is unacceptable to me after beating Purdue on the road.

And maybe we DO get our mojo back, and capitalize on a manageable back half. Impossible to say which direction it will go.

 

[Cuse181]

On paper we are better than every one of our last 5 opponents. The problem is based on Dino’s woe is me excuse ridden presser yesterday and the team playing dead against UNC, our last 5 opponents may not be as downtrodden and defeated as we could be. I just don’t trust Dino to pull a team up when they are really down, or motivate them if they don’t care as much as they should. We play hard like the first five games we will win anywhere from 7-9 games. But that’s very much to be determined

Would be nice to hear that the team held a players only meeting or something to pick themselves up, maybe the captains can show some leadership if Dino doesnt.

 

[CousCuse]

Pitt - Syracuse could easily be in "save their season" mode as well. Not sure it should help pitt more than anyone else.
BC - Just played army, barely won, looked terrible doing it. They're bad.
GT - Who knows, Jekyl and Hide
VT - Terrible, simply terrible. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't win another game this year.
Wake - thats the real wild card, they could be halfway decent but they will also be very banged up come time to play them

VT's OOC schedule; Old Dominion, Purdue, Rutgers, Marshall. That's so much harder than the SU OOC schedule, it;s not even comparable.

 

[orangefog]

VT's OOC schedule; Old Dominion, Purdue, Rutgers, Marshall. That's so much harder than the SU OOC schedule, it;s not even comparable.

They lost to Purdue at home while we beat the snot out of them at their place. But, what is your point? We can't sleep walk our way through VT, but we should beat them.

 

[Cuse181]

VT's OOC schedule; Old Dominion, Purdue, Rutgers, Marshall. That's so much harder than the SU OOC schedule, it;s not even comparable.

and they went 1-3 with their only win being over Old Dominion who is 112 in FPI?

You don't get credit for playing hard teams if you don't beat any of them.

 

[Newhouser]

the schedule was built for 8 wins - anything less is disappointing. None of it matters though as Dino isn't going anywhere.

 

[CousCuse]

They lost to Purdue at home while we beat the snot out of them at their place. But, what is your point? We can't sleep walk our way through VT, but we should beat them.

Colgate, Army and Western Michigan are gimmes for almost every P5 team. VT lost to Purdue at home but was tied with them late in the 4th quarter, and that's with B1G refs. I just don't get this idea that Syracuse is better than any of these last 5 teams. If they win 2 of them, I would be surprised.

 

[baggerbob]

BC is awful, Pitt sucks (any team that played something called Jurkovec is terrible), and VT is pathetic.

Pitt always beats us and playing in Yankee Stadium is a joke, just like the Yankees have become.
If George was alive he would have fired everyone this year.

 

[Orangello]

5-0 rhymes with Dino, Uh Oh and No Go. I see 3-2 assuming Shrader does not go down.

 

[SUDadx2]

One game at a time.

If we lose a couple of key players in the FSU game, then 2-3 could be more than acceptable.

A little less zero coverage from our defense and be ready for the no-huddle hurry up offense from FSU this week.

Let's show some fight and fire this week, then let's take it from there.

 

[Cuse181]

Colgate, Army and Western Michigan are gimmes for almost every P5 team. VT lost to Purdue at home but was tied with them late in the 4th quarter, and that's with B1G refs. I just don't get this idea that Syracuse is better than any of these last 5 teams. If they win 2 of them, I would be surprised.

That and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee

 

[Cuse181]

5-0 rhymes with Dino, Uh Oh and No Go. I see 3-2 assuming Shrader does not go down.

also rhymes with fo-sho, so we are in a bit of a conundrum.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

One game at a time.

If we lose a couple of key players in the FSU game, then 2-3 could be more than acceptable.

A little less zero coverage and be ready for the no-huddle hurry up offense this week.

Let's show some fight and fire this week, then let's take it from there.

I hope that isn’t the plan. Going fast will lead to a blowout. We need to shorten the game and hold it to a 34-10 type of game.

 

[CousCuse]

That and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee

It's relevant when your trying to determine a teams relative strength.

 

[orangefog]

It's relevant when your trying to determine a teams relative strength.

It's "you're" and them losing at home to a team that we beat soundly on the road speaks louder to the relative strength than anything else. I don't know how the same person can be so positive about UMass and UConn and so negative about the team he supposedly is a fan of.

 

[Cuse181]

It's relevant when your trying to determine a teams relative strength.

Almost beating a team? Not really. And lets say it is, they have a common opponent, they played that common opponent at HOME, they LOST to that common opponent.

 

[CousCuse]

It's "you're" and them losing at home to a team that we beat soundly on the road speaks louder to the relative strength than anything else. I don't know how the same person can be so positive about UMass and UConn and so negative about the team he supposedly is a fan of.

Both of those teams have second year coaching staffs and are in a building stage. They look to me like they are making progress, however slow and choppy. You know the story here at Syracuse. There is a reason why every time Syracuse football is talked about anywhere else in the country, it is with contempt or laughter.

 

[dasher]

Colgate, Army and Western Michigan are gimmes for almost every P5 team. VT lost to Purdue at home but was tied with them late in the 4th quarter, and that's with B1G refs. I just don't get this idea that Syracuse is better than any of these last 5 teams. If they win 2 of them, I would be surprised.

You just said that B.C. is improving and they just rallied in the last minutes to beat Army. But Army is weak and B.C. is improving? I'm hoping for 7-5 with a shot at 8-4. Is 6-6 or ugh 5-7 in play? Sure. But if we are somewhat healthy, 7-5 is in my opinion, most likely. Va Tech at night will be a tough game coming off the 3 butt whippings.