|
WR/DB
Steve Gregory (PHOTO - Mike Okoniewski, Syracuse
University Athletic Communications) |
|
2004
Statistics
|
Coach:
Greg Robinson
1st
year |
2004
Record: 6-6
|
|
at
Purdue |
LOST
0-51 |
at
Buffalo |
WON
37-17 |
CINCINNATI |
WON
19-7 |
at
Virginia |
LOST
10-31 |
RUTGERS |
WON
41-31 |
FLORIDA
STATE |
LOST
13-17 |
at
West Virginia |
LOST
6-27 |
CONNECTICUT |
WON
42-30 |
PITTSBURGH |
WON
38-31 (2OT) |
at
Temple |
LOST
24-34 |
at
Boston College |
WON
43-17 |
CHAMPS
SPORTS BOWL
|
vs.
Georgia Tech |
LOST
14-51 |
|
2004 Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2005
Outlook
|
New
coach Greg Robinson has promised changes
at the Carrier Dome, and, for many Orange-faced
fans, that will be a good thing. Syracuse
has played woefully inconsistent football
in recent years, and their record has been
consistently mediocre. They won a share
of the most recent Big East title (no great
feat), but they also lost to Temple while
(seemingly) not even showing up versus Purdue
(51-0), West Virginia (27-6) and Georgia
Tech (51-14).
That
sequence was the last straw and lost longtime
coach Paul Pasqualoni his job. To be fair,
there were many other reasons the program
was sent into a tailspin, but it all ultimately
equals the current fresh approach. In comes
Robinson, who's got much talent on which
to build, plus 22 seniors who are hungry
to win now. Most importantly, though, is
how Robinson cleaned house and brought in
eight new coaches. Robinson's defensive
prowess assures developments are on the
horizon, but how quickly SU can show stopping
power will go long way toward defining the/his
'05 campaign.
Fortunately,
nine starters return on D, and it will be
among the Big East's top units. But the
offense is shaky, and Robinson's plans to
implement a West Coast system depend on
his ability to find the right QB to run
it. This, too, is a 'major' (Applewhite,
the new QBs coach) defining element for
where the Orange finish.
This
team again could easily rise near the top
of this diluted (but reinvigorated) conference.
But new Big East foes Louisville and Connecticut
are immediate threats, so jettisoning BC,
VT, and Miami have their consequences. The
schedule is about as tough as can be, with
non-conference visits to Florida State and
Notre Dame to accompany a home tilt against
Virginia. With Pittsburgh and Louisville
on the road, their work is cut out. The
good news is that every other game on their
schedule is quite winnable. So the 'Cuse
will likely make it two bowl games in a
row, but this time they will have a much
better chance to end the year (or begin
the next one) right. Orangetown will be
all a'buzz once again as winning returns
to Irving Street.
Projected
2005 record: 5-6
|
|
|
RB
Damien Rhodes (PHOTO - Mike Okoniewski, Syracuse
University Athletic Communications) |
SYRACUSE
*POWER RATINGS
|
Offense
|
Defense
|
QB
- 2 |
DL
- 3 |
RB
- 3.5 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 2 |
DB
- 3 |
OL
- 3.5 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS
|
Passing:
Perry Patterson, 289-168-10, 1851 yds.,
7 TD
Rushing: Damien Rhodes, 153 att.,
870 yds., 10 TD
Receiving: Steve Gregory, 38 rec.,
420 yds., 1 TD
Scoring: Damien Rhodes, 11 TD, 66
pts.
Punting: Brendan Carney, 57 punts,
42.8 avg.
Kicking: Brendan Carney, 0-2 FG,
7-7 PAT, 7 pts.
Tackles: Jerry Mackey, 106 tot.,
63 solo
Sacks: James Wyche, 5.5 sacks
Interceptions: Anthony Smith, 3 for
62 yds., 1 TD
Kickoff returns: Damien Rhodes, 11
ret., 20.1 avg., 0 TD
Punt returns: Landel Bembo, 14 ret.,
3.5 avg.
|
|
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 5
|
----RETURNING
STARTERS----
|
DEFENSE
- 9
|
|
KEY
LOSSES
|
OFFENSE:
Greg Hanoian-FB, Walter Reyes-TB, Andre Fontenette-WR,
Jared Jones-WR, Adam Terry-OT, Matt Tarullo-C,
Collin Barber-K |
DEFENSE:
Julian
Pollard-DE, Diamond Ferri-SS, O'Neil Scott-FS |
|
|
2005
OFFENSE
|
Quarterback
Well, there's no Donovan McNabb in this group.
For now, the starter is junior Perry Patterson,
who has feet of gold but an arm that needs polishing
(2004 TD: INT ratio of 7:10). Robinson has said
the helm of his offense is wide open, and that
he'll decide in/after spring ball who's best to
handle the West Coast offense. Patterson will
be competing for his job with athletic sophomore
Joe Fields, who started three times before being
benched for more seasoning, and with sophomore
Matt Hale. They've got depth, but no one who'll
dominate.
Running
Back
Damien Rhodes will be the man here, filling the
big shoes of Walter Reyes. Rhodes (10.5-sec 100
meter time) got reps when Reyes was hurt, and,
behind another strong line, this bull will get
many reps again. Expect his off-season training
regiment to show via a stronger, yet lighter frame.
He will, too, catch more balls as Robinson installs
his West Coast approach. Rhodes takes a few more
chances than Reyes did (for a better per carry
average, but also more lost yards), so our advice
has to do with instilling a north-south attitude.
Jeremy Sellers, who has donned safety and WR status
to help out where/when needed, returns to this
unit for solid depth. Coaches are hoping small-but-tough
junior Tim Washington can contribute (concussion
held him out in 2004). Don't be surprised if true
freshman Curtis Brinkley gets some meaningful
minutes, too. He was a 2003 Parade All-American
who did extra "post-graduate" work last
year, while being the only three-star RB of his
(recruiting) class. This is a strong unit, one
that will compete within itself well for reps
through one-upmanship.
Receiver
Like most of the offense, the receiving corps
is adequate, but it won't frighten many secondaries.
When the freshmen arrive, Robinson will have 12
scholarship receivers. With Steve Gregory switching
to defense and two major exits via graduation,
little-man Landel Bembo is the top returner. Bembo
is tough and experienced in short routes, though
a deep threat has to emerge. The best of the bunch
looks to be the lanky junior Rice Moss, who missed
half of last season with a thumb injury, but is
an open-field menace. Highly-recruited freshman
Lavarr Lobdell chose his hometown school over
USC and Miami, and is the same kind of tall, breakaway
type. Tim Lane is slated to start, and his ability
to block and be physical downfield means he sees
reps early and often. This is an underdog, no-name
unit that will surprise until revealed.
Tight
End
The team's best current receiver is here. Big
Joe Kowalewski will see action with continued
inside running in Orangetown. More importantly,
he will see a few more come his way deep over
the middle each week, and his emergence as a leader
will settle the young WRs. Behind him, depth exists,
especially with soft-handed hulkster Alex Shor,
a tireless engine who guarantees short-yardage,
two-TE formations will work. The Orange would
be wise in using Shor to also make foes (who focus
too keenly on Kowalewski) pay "deep".
Offensive
Line
This group needs some work, yet with three starters
returning, you may not realize why. Tackle Quinn
Ojinnaka and guards Jason Green and Steve Franklin
provide a core of seniors who've been around "the
block" on what was the 31st-rated rushing
offense. They'll have to blend with two new starters,
likely junior center Justin Outten and senior
tackle Kurt Falke. Falke has enough mobility to
become tackle-eligible on key plays, and Outten
moves well enough to be a feared special teams'
maven, too. Franklin, though, had a strong showing
at center this spring, so it is still unsettled
as to who will go where by fall. We'll see how
they all adjust to the West Coast's mobility demands,
so any ability to roll-out will only help. There
is only one upperclassman listed on the three-deep
for the rest of the beef, so injuries would become
soft spots on the Orange.
OFFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
This could be a tough year for new offensive coordinator
Brian Pariani. But his presence was demanded -
Syracuse was one of the worst passing offenses
as of late (average rank of SU's aerial efforts
over last four campaigns is 92nd). He's going
to install a West Coast attack, which will get
the ball out quicker while opening up the run
through spreading the field more. And he's going
to try all of this with just one proven receiver
- the tight end - and no great shakes at quarterback.
But Texas legend Major Applewhite follows Robinson
here as a first-time QB coach, while coordinator
Brian Pariani is the architect of the West Coast
here after his successful tenures with the NFL
teams in S.F. and Denver. We'll see how that goes
against Florida State and Louisville, for the
given subtleties of this scheme will take time
to emerge. Rhodes is a versatile, dangerous back,
and Kowalewski's a big, reliable target, so foes
know who to not let beat them. Luckily, with a
full dozen receivers, there's always going to
be another guy to throw to. This side of things
could be very dangerous, but will be more so in
a year or two - it's going to take some revving
up to get there, for the juice just won't flow
right away with such a sophisticated approach
via 2004's offensive genesis.
|
|
DE
James Wyche (PHOTO - Mike Okoniewski,
Syracuse University Athletic Communications)
|
|
|
|
SYRACUSE
2005 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players
|
OFFENSE
|
QB |
Perry
Patterson-Jr |
Joe
Fields-So |
FB |
Breyone
Evans-So |
Stephen
McDonald-Jr |
TB |
Damien
Rhodes-Sr |
Jeremy
Sellers-So |
WR |
Tim
Lane-Jr |
Quinton
Brown-So / J.J. Bedle-Fr |
WR |
Rice
Moss-So |
Landel
Bembo-So |
TE |
Joe
Kowalewski-Sr |
Alex
Shor-Sr |
OT |
Kurt
Falke-Sr |
Ryan
Ehrie-Fr |
OG |
Jason
Greene-Sr |
Carroll
Madison-Fr |
C |
Steve
Franklin-Sr |
Justin
Outten-So |
OG |
Ryan
Durand-Fr |
Mike
Sklarosky-Jr |
OT |
Quinn
Ojinnaka-Sr |
Corey
Chavers-Fr |
K |
Ricky
Krautman-Jr |
Brendan
Carney-Jr / Patrick Shadle-Fr |
|
|
2005
DEFENSE
|
Defensive
Line
This is a strong suit, but statistical realities
say that they have their work cut out both at
pressuring opposing QBs and stuffing the run.
Senior James Wyche has blossomed into one of the
conference's top defensive ends and led the team
in TFLs (15) and sacks (5.5). And sophomore DT
Tony Jenkins impressed as a freshman all-American,
outpacing senior linemate Kader Drame in tackling.
Junior Chris Thorner is the biggest Orange swath
on this line, making this one of the Big East's
best interiors. Ryan LaCasse will man the other
end admirably, and also brings the heat on the
rush. The problems come with the unproven depth
- besides Tommy Harris, there is little on which
to bank. This unit allowed 4.4 per rush and earned
only 17 sacks - with 10.5 coming from the two
ends we've listed - so the potential talent here
will cost them wins if not soon reached.
Linebacker
All three starters return and there's depth aplenty,
so much depth that Robinson has opened all three
positions to competition. But MLB Jerry Mackey,
team leader in tackles, will jump to that next
level. His size-speed combination makes stopping
him difficult with so much strength in the front-seven
- you can't double-team everyone. It is hard to
see Kellen Pruitt and Kelvin Smith, each two year
starters, being unseated, either. Smith is a demon
in coverage, and his mobility has him listed as
a possible middle guy until Mackey is again strong.
Sophomore Jameel McClain will use his size to
roam the middle also until Mackey can find his
groove again. Four three-star LB recruits dot
the underclass, so expect a well-rested corps
to earn this side of the ball a much better placement
than its recent 101st final total defensive ranking.
Defensive
Back
If the defense has a weakness, this is it. Free
safety Anthony Smith has impressed the new coaches
and will become this unit's new field general.
Smith is everywhere. Junior CB Tanard Jackson,
who has shown flashes of his potential, is likely
to start. He looks like the top-flight corner
Syracuse has been searching for. Senior DeAndre
LeCaille has manned the other corner serviceably
but may be displaced by Steve Gregory, a two-year
starter at CB who played wideout last year. Gregory,
also a senior, is fifth on the school's all-time
passes-defended list (with 35), and fourth on
the pass-breakups chart (21). Gregory is the smallest
of the DBs listed on the two-deep, with most 6'
or taller. SU ranked in the bottom quartile in
most pass defense categories, so all of these
returning starters need to step up, or step off,
and Robinson cannot let new DB's coach Jim Salgado
linger on proven defective parts if a faltering
scenario plays out (again).
DEFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
The front seven is nasty. Running on these guys
is going to be tough and they should be able to
bring more heat on pass plays. This will help
out the marginal DBs, and it will all take time
to adjust properly to the new personnel. But even
the secondary is appearing (marginally) solid,
with Smith and Jackson returning, and Steve Gregory
back on his preferred side of the ball. As Jackson
and Gregory perform well, coach Robinson can/will
get even more aggressive with the blitz. He's
a defensive specialist; it's where he made his
name for 14 years in the pros and he coached the
nation's 23rd-ranked unit last year at Texas,
so expect much. Robinson was the architect for
the Denver Ds that won two consecutive Super Bowls,
and he will build this unit the same way (like
he did in Austin): through aggressive, smart and
well-timed heat, all adding up to perhaps (one
of) the best defense in the conference by the
campaign's end.
|
|
FS
Anthony Smith (PHOTO - Mike Okoniewski,
Syracuse University Athletic Communications)
|
|
|
SYRACUSE
2005 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players
|
DEFENSE
|
DE |
James
Wyche-Sr |
Cornelius
Campbell-So |
NT |
Tony
Jenkins-So |
Chris
Thorner-Jr |
DT |
Kader
Drame-Sr |
Eugene
Brown-Sr |
DE |
Ryan
LaCasse-Sr |
Lee
Williams-So |
LB |
Kelvin
Smith-Jr |
Tommy
Harris-Sr |
LB |
Jerry
Mackey-Jr |
Jameel
McClain-So |
LB |
Kellen
Pruitt-Sr |
Luke
Cain-Jr |
CB |
Tanard
Jackson-Jr |
Thomas
Whitfield-Sr |
CB |
DeAndre
LaCaille-Sr |
Steve
Gregory-Sr |
SS |
Reggie
McCoy-So |
Dowayne
Davis-So |
FS |
Anthony
Smith-Sr |
Ben
Maljovec-Fr |
P |
Brendan
Carney-Jr |
.. |
|
|
|
2005
SPECIAL TEAMS
|
Kicker
This may be trouble. They'll have to replace Collin
Barber, who graduated last year. The only kicker on
the '05 roster with any game experience is punter Brendan
Carney, who went 0-for-2. Junior Ricky Krautman and
incoming freshman Patrick Shadle will each be considered.
Coverage will improve with the depth of their back-seven.
Punter
Carney, a junior, averaged a solid 42.8 yards per try.
But he takes his time getting the ball away. In two
years as Syracuse's primary punter, he's had 10 punts
blocked. If Robinson doesn't change the blocking scheme,
defenses will continue coming at Carney (even harder).
To balance things out, Anthony Smith blocked three kicks,
so follow his number to locate the origin of any bouncing
balls. Net coverage was not equal to Carney's efforts,
so getting more here will be what Robinson demands for
field-position wins.
Return
Game
This could be a trouble spot, too. The guy who got most
of the other runbacks (Rhodes) is now the starting tailback,
so Robinson needs to be careful about putting him deep
on kickoffs. And last year's main punt returner, Bembo,
averaged an anemic 3.5 yards per return. These jobs
are therefore wide open until proven filled. Speedy
CB Marcus Clayton may be the best option.
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|
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