Why I’m Feeling Positive

[steve deberg]

• We are 3-2. In August, most on this board would have been very happy with 3-2. We would have assumed it meant we beat Duke and lost to Tennessee and Clemson, but we are still on the pace that many would have deemed a "good start."
• Rickie didn’t look great today, but there is a bigdifference between coaching players up based on their practice film and based on their game film. After SMU we have a bye, so the coaches will have two games worth of tape (and Rickie two starts worth of experience) to educate and develop off of.
  • The arm talent is clearly there. I expect Rickie to look better next week, and much better the rest of the way following the bye.
• We are playing (and getting production out of) a ton of True and Redshirt Freshman.
  • Jaylen Hornsby, Emmanuel Ross, Darien Williams, Demetres Samuels, Davien Kerr, Antoine Deslauriers, Kaylib Singleton, Jamie Tremble, Byron Washington (and I’m sure there are a few others I am missing).
  • These players typically make a much bigger jump in-season than an upperclassman will (whose growth is usually more about changing their body in the offseason).
• Unlike this board, Fran has the players locked in and believing in themselves. They aren’t going to stop fighting, and will leave this game behind them - on to the next one.
• We beat Clemson, but lost to Duke. Virginia beat #8 FSU, but lost to NC State who lost to Duke. Georgia Tech needed OT to beat Wake (who went for two on their first OT possession and didn’t get it). Point is, transitive property doesn’t mean anything, and we can win any game left on the schedule.
  • 6-8 wins is still on the table. We will go bowling.
• Recruits are excited about Syracuse football because of Fran Brown - who he is as a man, how he can develop them and prepare them for life, and what he is building here. They aren’t excited about Syracuse because of the product we have on the field today.
  • Meaning, they aren't going to be decomitting because of a bad loss. Fran is telling them he needs them and they will play early. Games like today confirm that to them.
• The sky remains where it was when we woke up this morning.
• Now (not that anyone in the world cares) I will be avoiding the board, and the ever so predictable negativity that follows a bad loss, until later next week. I suggest some of you do the same.

Go Cuse!

 

[Tony DeFranco]

We lost 38-3 to Duke (in football) at home

 

[anomander]

i swore when i opened this thread it was going to say “It can’t get worse than it was today”.

 

[Orangepace]

• We are 3-2. In August, most on this board would have been very happy with 3-2. We would have assumed it meant we beat Duke and lost to Tennessee and Clemson, but we are still on the pace that many would have deemed a "good start."
• Rickie didn’t look great today, but there is a bigdifference between coaching players up based on their practice film and based on their game film. After SMU we have a bye, so the coaches will have two games worth of tape (and Rickie two starts worth of experience) to educate and develop off of.
  • The arm talent is clearly there. I expect Rickie to look better next week, and much better the rest of the way following the bye.
• We are playing (and getting production out of) a ton of True and Redshirt Freshman.
  • Jaylen Hornsby, Emmanuel Ross, Darien Williams, Demetres Samuels, Davien Kerr, Antoine Deslauriers, Kaylib Singleton, Jamie Tremble, Byron Washington (and I’m sure there are a few others I am missing).
  • These players typically make a much bigger jump in-season than an upperclassman will (whose growth is usually more about changing their body in the offseason).
• Unlike this board, Fran has the players locked in and believing in themselves. They aren’t going to stop fighting, and will leave this game behind them - on to the next one.
• We beat Clemson, but lost to Duke. Virginia beat #8 FSU, but lost to NC State who lost to Duke. Georgia Tech needed OT to beat Wake (who went for two on their first OT possession and didn’t get it). Point is, transitive property doesn’t mean anything, and we can win any game left on the schedule.
  • 6-8 wins is still on the table. We will go bowling.
• Recruits are excited about Syracuse football because of Fran Brown - who he is as a man, how he can develop them and prepare them for life, and what he is building here. They aren’t excited about Syracuse because of the product we have on the field today.
  • Meaning, they aren't going to be decomitting because of a bad loss. Fran is telling them he needs them and they will play early. Games like today confirm that to them.
• The sky remains where it was when we woke up this morning.
• Now (not that anyone in the world cares) I will be avoiding the board, and the ever so predictable negativity that follows a bad loss, until later next week. I suggest some of you do the same.

Go Cuse!

I’m high too.

 

[Scooch]

I expect Rickie to look better next week, and much better the rest of the way following the bye.

Why do you expect this? I’m asking sincerely.

This isn’t like when McCord threw all those picks vs Pitt, but had been great prior to that, so we could say with some confidence that he’d be better the rest of the season.

Is there something you’ve seen from Collins that leads you to say he will be much better? Or is this sheer optimism? That’s fine, just curious.

 

[23Zone]

I'm feeling positive too. Positive that Collins is way over his head.

 

[DomeStranger]

The most positive thing from today is likely your fine use of bullet points. Well done.

 

[steve deberg]

Why do you expect this? I’m asking sincerely.

This isn’t like when McCord threw all those picks vs Pitt, but had been great prior to that, so we could say with some confidence that he’d be better the rest of the season.

Is there something you’ve seen from Collins that leads you to say he will be much better? Or is this sheer optimism? That’s fine, just curious.

It seemed to me that Rickie's biggest issue was not working through his progressions. The scheme was getting guys open, but he wasn't working through his reads properly to find them.

Is this an immutable quality in Rickie, or was this a young player with some first start nerves with the game falling out of reach early?

Maybe he's not the guy, but I think this is a very coachable trait and he will improve there - especially when they can dedicate time to this outside of game prep during the bye week.

 

[AZOrange]

Listen to how our players represent themselves to the media after the game. That tells you all you need to know about how HCFB is running the program

 

[dasher]

Listen to how our players represent themselves to the media after the game. That tells you all you need to know about how HCFB is running the program

Well, I wish the play on the field did that

 

[IthacaMatt]

We lost 38-3 to Duke (in football) at home

Yeah, it happens.

Angeli lost to Tennessee, only went 23-40 with 1 TD and 1 INT. He clearly wasn't good enough.

Three weeks later he's leading the country in passing and we beat Clemson at Clemson.

Against Pitt last year, Kyle threw 5 INTs, including 2 pick-sixes in the first quarter. He went on to have a great year anyway.

 

[IthacaMatt]

It seemed to me that Rickie's biggest issue was not working through his progressions. The scheme was getting guys open, but he wasn't working through his reads properly to find them.

Is this an immutable quality in Rickie, or was this a young player with some first start nerves with the game falling out of reach early?

Maybe he's not the guy, but I think this is a very coachable trait and he will improve there - especially when they can dedicate time to this outside of game prep during the bye week.

Rickie started his first game. He hasn't had many reps with the first team since Spring Ball.

He needs to work on his timing with receivers to start with. He'll hit better spots with more reps.

Yes, his reads are taking time, but he's getting blitzed and the line isn't holding up very well.

And it's his first start.

The biggest difference between practice and games: Guys are actually trying to hurt you. He got hit in the face with two hands on his first pass attempt. That part makes a BIG, BIG difference. It's a real thing.

Once he gets past that fear, and gets up to game speed, then he'll hopefully go through progressions. But also hopefully the line will give him time to do it. It's not entirely on the QB.

But a simple head fake should be employed right away, even if it tips the defense eventually that he looks off the main receiver, but quickly comes back to him. But let's just start with that, right?

 

[SUozzman]

It was a painful game to watch but I agree…. Things will get better. We are 3-2 with a lot of young guys who will have a game like this. Richie’s first start! After the bye week he’ll be sharper. We have some great coaches to work with him?

 

[wiseman3]

Not counting the Boca Raton Bowl debacle with no QB, this Rickie Collins led game was the first time we haven't scored a touchdown since October 14th 2023 at FSU...and this was against a terrible Duke defense. Angeli led multiple scoring drives vs. Tennessee and looked competent. You can't even compare the two

 

[IthacaMatt]

Not counting the Boca Raton Bowl debacle with no QB, this Rickie Collins led game was the first time we haven't scored a touchdown since October 14th 2023 at FSU...and this was against a terrible Duke defense. Angeli led multiple scoring drives vs. Tennessee and looked competent. You can't even compare the two

I'm not comparing the two as players.
I'm comparing the fan reaction.

Players get better over time.
Pretty much all of them do.

Will it be fast enough for what we need?
Maybe not.

But if you're a fan, you don't throw the kid away after his first game.
These are people.

The other kid, Carney, will get chances soon enough.
That doesn't mean Collins can't be an adequate QB for us.

We've won more with less.
We have great skills talent.
We need better line play.

That's not all on one player.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Another reason to not feel so bad - the defense has played well at times this year.

(Yes, I know statistically we're terrible, but we had positive moments against Tennessee and Clemson as well. That's as big a challenge as you get.)

There is a lot of young talent that is getting a lot of meaningful game time.

Samuels will probably go the NFL in a couple years. DeLauries (sp) is very talented. Tremble as the rush edge is dynamic and explosive.

I feel like we're getting pretty good talent, but we have to coach them better, or differently.

 

[IthacaMatt]

And we moved the ball for real on Tennessee, after spotting them that 17 point first quarter lead: after the 1st Quarter, we had several really solid offensive drives - 11 plays and 9 play drives in the 2nd Q, 12 plays in the 3Q and 14 plays in 4Q.

Now, of course that was with PB Angeli, but still, we have talent on our offense.

 

[CanadianSU]

Another reason to not feel so bad - the defense has played well at times this year.

Against a good offence they get lit up… SMU likely does that next week again and Collins won’t be able to keep pace.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Against a good offence they get lit up… SMU likely does that next week again and Collins won’t be able to keep pace.

OK, I guess you'll be happy that not too many leaves have fallen yet.
It'll keep you busy.

 

[VA Citrus]

Feels like the defense basically gave up once the offense started failing.

I think Ricky was productive on the first two drives because we spent all week scripting the offense and we were bailed out by penalties. Once Duke saw what we were doing they adjusted and it became very hard for him.

We really need a running QB and while he's athletic, Collins did not look comfortable or good at running. It's a natural quality and it's just not his skill set. He can certainly get better but not every highly rated recruit is going to be a successful starter.

It's easy to fall in love with backup QBs we've never really seen but at least mix in Luke Carney. The one play against Colgate he was fearless and aggressive running the ball. He put up video game numbers starting four years in Dallas, TX albeit at a smaller school.

Dungey played a little out of control but it opened up so many opportunities for big plays. We have all these stud receivers but if you can't get the ball to them quickly or accurately, drives just stall out. McCord was the king of 12 play drives with high percentage passes that would eat up the clock. Angeli was trending similarly. Now we're back to the Dino days where just completing a pass is work.

 

[llandz]

Listen to how our players represent themselves to the media after the game. That tells you all you need to know about how HCFB is running the program

THIS^^^^ And seriously the negativity is waring on me. Today was one game. One week of Rickie starting and playing the whole game and you all fall apart, but as AZ has pointed out, the players aren't defeated and folding.
Oh and we could be Clemson, so there is that.

 

[Roger N]

Rickie started his first game. He hasn't had many reps with the first team since Spring Ball.

He needs to work on his timing with receivers to start with. He'll hit better spots with more reps.

Yes, his reads are taking time, but he's getting blitzed and the line isn't holding up very well.

And it's his first start.

The biggest difference between practice and games: Guys are actually trying to hurt you. He got hit in the face with two hands on his first pass attempt. That part makes a BIG, BIG difference. It's a real thing.

Once he gets past that fear, and gets up to game speed, then he'll hopefully go through progressions. But also hopefully the line will give him time to do it. It's not entirely on the QB.

But a simple head fake should be employed right away, even if it tips the defense eventually that he looks off the main receiver, but quickly comes back to him. But let's just start with that, right?

Why doesn’t he know that already? It seems like that basic to being a QB

 

[AAM62]

It seemed to me that Rickie's biggest issue was not working through his progressions. The scheme was getting guys open, but he wasn't working through his reads properly to find them.

Is this an immutable quality in Rickie, or was this a young player with some first start nerves with the game falling out of reach early?

Maybe he's not the guy, but I think this is a very coachable trait and he will improve there - especially when they can dedicate time to this outside of game prep during the bye week.

Working through progressions is working though reads…

 

[TheHaze315]

All due respect to the original poster this has nothing to do with you and more so a pet peeve of mine, but I hate when the “If I told you this was our record at this point before the season we’d all be happy” take. Context matters, if I told you the context of us being 3-2, as in we were 3-1 and beat Clemson in death valley but Steve Angeli tore his achilles in that game and our offense put up 7 points total after that and then next time out against Duke at home we had a total of 3 points on the worst defense we’ll see the rest of the year and got flat out boat raced, I think the feeling changes.

 

[gmoney44]

• We are 3-2. In August, most on this board would have been very happy with 3-2. We would have assumed it meant we beat Duke and lost to Tennessee and Clemson, but we are still on the pace that many would have deemed a "good start."
• Rickie didn’t look great today, but there is a bigdifference between coaching players up based on their practice film and based on their game film. After SMU we have a bye, so the coaches will have two games worth of tape (and Rickie two starts worth of experience) to educate and develop off of.
  • The arm talent is clearly there. I expect Rickie to look better next week, and much better the rest of the way following the bye.
• We are playing (and getting production out of) a ton of True and Redshirt Freshman.
  • Jaylen Hornsby, Emmanuel Ross, Darien Williams, Demetres Samuels, Davien Kerr, Antoine Deslauriers, Kaylib Singleton, Jamie Tremble, Byron Washington (and I’m sure there are a few others I am missing).
  • These players typically make a much bigger jump in-season than an upperclassman will (whose growth is usually more about changing their body in the offseason).
• Unlike this board, Fran has the players locked in and believing in themselves. They aren’t going to stop fighting, and will leave this game behind them - on to the next one.
• We beat Clemson, but lost to Duke. Virginia beat #8 FSU, but lost to NC State who lost to Duke. Georgia Tech needed OT to beat Wake (who went for two on their first OT possession and didn’t get it). Point is, transitive property doesn’t mean anything, and we can win any game left on the schedule.
  • 6-8 wins is still on the table. We will go bowling.
• Recruits are excited about Syracuse football because of Fran Brown - who he is as a man, how he can develop them and prepare them for life, and what he is building here. They aren’t excited about Syracuse because of the product we have on the field today.
  • Meaning, they aren't going to be decomitting because of a bad loss. Fran is telling them he needs them and they will play early. Games like today confirm that to them.
• The sky remains where it was when we woke up this morning.
• Now (not that anyone in the world cares) I will be avoiding the board, and the ever so predictable negativity that follows a bad loss, until later next week. I suggest some of you do the same.

Go Cuse!

I avoided the board all day yesterday. I took my frustration out on my yard work and watched some good football last night.

Your post is the first one I read this morning. I feel better now. I’m going to see my way out now.

Thanks