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TB
Curtis Brinkley (PHOTO - Syracuse University Athletics) |
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2006
Statistics |
Coach:
Greg Robinson
5-18,
2 years |
2006
Record: 4-8 |
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at
Wake Forest |
LOST
10-20 |
IOWA |
LOST
13-20 (2OT) |
at
Illinois |
WON
31-21 |
MIAMI
OH |
WON
34-14 |
WYOMING |
WON
40-34 (2OT) |
PITTSBURGH |
LOST
11-21 |
at
West Virginia |
LOST
17-41 |
LOUISVILLE |
LOST
13-28 |
at
Cincinnati |
LOST
3-17 |
at
South Florida |
LOST
10-27 |
CONNECTICUT |
WON
20-14 |
at
Rutgers |
LOST
7-38 |
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2006
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
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2007
Outlook |
In
breaking down both the Orangemen’s
improved record and NCAA category rankings
from ‘06, one can see trends that
signal things are getting a little better.
Still, the league rankings reveal how much
farther they have to go to get back into
the Big East mix. Now in head man Greg Robinson’s
third campaign, the team’s hand was
parlayed in the offseason by hiring new
position coaches for both lines after SU’s
horrific showings up front on both sides
of scrimmage. But solid team efforts have
been promised upstate every year since their
last winning season in 2001, so a work-still-in-progress
has to again be our description of Syracuse
football. How much this team can/will improve
is highly debatable. This is especially
true with a new starter under center. One
of the keys to why they didn’t lose
11 out of 12 was their great turnover margin
– the defense has the potential to
again produce such opportunistic results,
but the TO-margin if QB Andrew Robinson
struggles could instead tip that scale of
luck against Syracuse. Luck is already working
counter to the Orange when you consider
their top back, Delone Carter, is out for
the year due to injury (hip), and three
major cogs have been suspended (academics),
though, each is eligible to return by the
first game against Washington. Predictions
about exactly where this team might finish
cannot be taken seriously until coaches
finish making adjustments and we see how
those changes play out against some real
foes. That means the four worthy non-cons
lined up for September (along with powerhouse
Louisville) should let us know quickly whether
Syracuse can even challenge for a finish
in the top half of the Big East. The great
football and scholastic traditions established
at this small school (11,000) speak of the
commitment to return their Orangemen to
respectable pigskin status, and we give
them a slim chance to finish over .500.
But in this ever-improving conference and
with their rough overall slate, Syracuse
will earn any wins they get. Consistency
within their fundamentals needs to be the
goal before they think on a grander scale,
so win totals won’t tell just how
much better this team should be for 2008.
Projected
2007 record: 5-7
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DE
Jameel McClain (PHOTO - Syracuse University Athletics) |
SYRACUSE
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 2.5 |
DL
- 3 |
RB
- 3 |
LB
- 2 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 2.5 |
OL
- 2 |
.. |
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RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Andrew Robinson, 3-8-1, 20 yds., 1 TD
Rushing: Delone Carter, 156 att.,
713 yds., 4 TD
Receiving: Tom Ferron, 30 rec., 351
yds., 2 TD
Scoring: Patrick Shadle, 16-18 FG,
21-21 PAT, 69 pts.
Punting: None
Kicking: Patrick Shadle, 16-18 FG,
21-21 PAT, 69 pts.
Tackles: Joe Fields, 76 tot., 40
solo
Sacks: Jameel McClain, 9.5 sacks
Interceptions: Joe Fields, 4 for
6 yds.
Kickoff returns: Curtis Brinkley,
21 ret., 21.3 avg., 0 TD
Punt returns: Max Meisel, 13 ret.,
7.9 avg., 0 TD
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OFFENSE
- 7 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 4 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Perry Patterson-QB, Stephen McDonald-FB, Tim
Lane-WR, Brandon Darlington-TE, Mike Sklarosky-OG,
Justin Outten-C |
DEFENSE:
Chris
Thorner-DT, Luke Cain-SLB, Kelvin Smith-MLB,
Jerry Mackey-WLB, Tanard Jackson-CB, Terrell
Lemon-CB, Brendan Carney-P |
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2007
OFFENSE |
One
of the many reasons coordinator Brian White was
lured from Wisconsin seemingly had to do with
the superior rushing results he produced there.
After his first year here (2006), his ground game
ranked 97th and the total offensive effort came
in at 110th. His line went from giving up 37 sacks
in ’05 to 45 last year, and when you factor
in their struggle to earn the Orange backs just
3.1 yards per carry, you see why OL coach Chris
Wiesehan was brought in from (I-AA powerhouse)
James Madison. Only one lineman started every
game at the same position in ’06 –
junior guard Ryan Durand also shows consistency
as SU’s most imposing blocker. Another boon
sees senior Carroll Madison land back inside after
playing both tackle positions and center. Classmate
Marvin McCall seems to still be fine tuning his
approach after moving to center in ‘05,
while just as much extra focus is needed from/on
athletic LT Corey Chavers if the line is to make
any worthwhile improvements. JUCO standout Larry
Norton bolsters the other tackle spot, though,
with four green freshmen as backups, Wiesehan
has a mountain to climb. The backs aren’t
weak or lacking, but losing top returning back
Delone Carter during spring ball (hip) will impact
this year’s rushing production since Cumberland-produced
Jeremy Sellers has to move back here from his
LB spot to compensate. Curtis Brinkley has both
speed and strength between the tackles, so hopefully
Philadelphia’s top career rusher can make
his junior campaign a breakthrough one. Junior
Breyone Evans (or any of their many fullbacks,
like Chiara) needs to be used more as a ball carrier,
and, along with the running talents of new starting
QB Andrew Robinson, we feel both could be the
keys to jump-starting this unit’s production.
No relation to the coach, Robinson has struggled
at this level (and in high school) to complete
even half of his passes, so his feet (keeping
LBs honest) become important to opening up the
passing game, too. Coach says spring ball has
shown the Baltimorean to be much improved, but
being steady (limiting mistakes, as his predecessor
did) under center in a BCS-aligned league has
to be proven in SU’s first few games to
avoid seeing extra hats crowd the box. A former
walk-on, backup Cameron Dantley (father is NBA
legend Adrian) doesn’t quite seem ready,
though, we won’t be surprised if he is seen
early and often in a scramble to find the best
producer if Robinson gets in trouble. New starters
Taj Smith and Mike Williams will have to decide
which one becomes more of a possession guy after
these two deep-threats proved their (breakaway)
speed last year. Senior Rice Moss (seems his parents
knew how good he would be when they named him,
huh) works well as a solid ‘go to’
third option - his number will be called a lot
with Robinson’s need to keep things basic.
The biggest and best receiver is still-developing
junior TE Tom Ferron, and with depth amongst all
of the snarling positions, White just has to hone
his hurler(s) to get this offense humming. This
should be a decent showing for the Orange O, but
it’s looked this good several times in recent
memory only to resolve into something else.
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K
Patrick Shadle (PHOTO - Syracuse University
Athletics)
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SYRACUSE
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Andrew
Robinson-So (6-3, 222) |
Cameron
Dantley-Jr (6-1, 218) |
FB |
Tony
Fiammetta-Jr (6-1, 235) |
Paul
Chiara-Jr (5-11, 210) |
TB |
Curtis
Brinkley-Jr (5-9, 203) |
Delone
Carter-So (5-10, 214) (inj.)
Jeremy Sellers-Sr (6-0, 211) |
WR |
Taj
Smith-Sr (6-1, 188) |
Rice
Moss-Sr (6-2, 207)
Donte Davis-So (6-0, 169) |
WR |
Mike
Williams-So (6-2, 204) |
Lavar
Lobdell-So (6-3, 200) |
TE |
J.J.
Nesheiwat-Sr (6-4, 251) |
Tom
Ferron-Jr (6-3, 244)
Arthur Kapalanga-Sr (6-1, 258) |
OT |
Corey
Chavers-Jr (6-5, 295) |
Ryan
Ehrie-Jr (6-6, 287) |
OG |
Carroll
Madison-Sr (6-2, 316) |
Ryan
Bartholomew-Fr (6-3, 290) |
C |
Marvin
McCall-Sr (6-2, 292) |
Jim
McKenzie-Fr (6-4, 280) |
OG |
Ryan
Durand-Jr (6-5, 310) |
Adam
Rosner-Fr (6-6, 308) |
OT |
Larry
Norton-Sr (6-3, 320) |
Jonathan
Meldrum-Fr (6-5, 327) |
K |
Patrick
Shadle-Jr (5-8, 201) |
John
Barker-Jr (5-8, 155) |
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2007
DEFENSE |
New
coordinator Steve Russ has been promoted from
within, and the LBs coach takes over SU’s
107th-rated defense already familiar with their
system. Similar to what we saw on offense, the
line failed to affect foes’ running games
(110th-ranked) enough to be an asset, so assistant
Derrick Jackson was hired away from Michigan State
to bolster this troubled unit. His results in
East Lansing were inverse to those here –
the MSU line was decent at stopping opponents’
ground attacks, but failed to get many sacks.
This is only Jackson’s second year at the
BCS level, so his impact has to be a wait-and-see
proposition. The line returns its two main weapons
– seniors Jameel McClain and Tony Jenkins
– to form this year’s nucleus. We
didn’t see DE McClain coming last year (see
our 2006 preview), but as the Big East’s
top sack producer (and league’s second best
for TFLs), this guy is sure to get many more double-teams.
Jenkins plays light and fast for a tackle, as
does well-broken-in (new) starter Arthur Jones.
Brandon Gilbeaux also proves to be worthy of his
first-team status after last year’s strong
freshman campaign, so the line seems improved.
Depth up front also looks decent even with the
suspension of starting end Lee Williams and tackle
Cornelius Campbell. Though the size of the line
is decent at end, the tackles being mostly sub-300-pounders
could prove problematic against the conference’s
biggest/best interiors. The LBs are a new trio
of juniors with lots of reps already, and they
have the potential to elevate the defense to that
next level if they can live up to their collective
potential(s). Weaksider Vincenzo Giruzzi had a
great spring and this Utican looks ready to maximize
his size-speed combo. Ex-safety Ben Maljovec is
excellent in coverage (two INTs) and will also
use his knowledge as an ex-option QB to stay sharp
against the trickery of spread offenses. Jake
Flaherty may not be Kelvin Smith, but he can work
effectively within this system to make the entire
defense click better than it did last year. The
depth here is green and would struggle if any
injury rashes broke out, but four-star prospect
Jermaine Pierce from the incoming class (along
with three other three-star LBs) should see the
field this year to hedge the reserves. The secondary
won’t have to come nearly as far as the
front seven after finishing 76th. Still, they
dropped drastically from 2005’s results
(21st), and they especially have to cut down opponent’s
65% completion rate to impact SU’s win total.
The two returning starters at safety give hope
of improvement – ex-QB Joe Fields is still
adjusting to the switch while Dowayne Davis sets
the standard for Orange DB quality. Ex-WR Bruce
Williams and A.J. Brown are also keen and make
this area a real strength. The corners are both
new as starters, though, Nick Chestnut knows the
system well after finishing seventh on the team
in tackles as an oft-seen nickel. Senior SUNY-transfer
Jason Tanner may be the weak link – athletic
and quick, he has yet to prove he can play consistently
at this I-A level. The two-deep on the outside
is not as strong, but is promising. The Orange
D held seven of last year’s opponents to
21 points or less, so marginal improvements should
be enough to make Syracuse more competitive.
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DB
Joe Fields (PHOTO - Syracuse University
Athletics)
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SYRACUSE
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Brandon
Gilbeaux-So (6-3, 271) |
Andrew
Lewis-Fr (6-3, 282) |
NT |
Arthur
Jones-So (6-4, 289) |
Nick
Santiago-Jr (6-3, 302) |
DT |
Tony
Jenkins-Sr (6-3, 286) |
Anthony
Perkins-Fr (6-4, 268) |
DE |
Jameel
McClain-Sr (6-1, 256) |
Mike
Owen-So (6-4, 255) |
SLB |
Ben
Maljovec-Jr (6-3, 223) |
Parker
Cantey-Fr (6-3, 216) |
MLB |
Jake
Flaherty-Jr (6-1, 228) |
Mike
Stenclik-So (6-0, 225) |
WLB |
Vincenzo
Giruzzi-Jr (6-3, 232) |
Oliver
Fernandez-Jr (6-1, 220) |
CB |
Jason
Tanner-Sr (5-11, 205) |
Quinton
Brown-Sr (5-11, 180) |
CB |
Nick
Chestnut-Jr (5-11, 184) |
Matt
Reid-Fr (6-1, 165) |
SS |
Dowayne
Davis-Sr (6-0, 200) |
A.J.
Brown-Jr (6-0, 201) |
FS |
Joe
Fields-Sr (6-1, 210) |
Bruce
Williams-Jr (6-0, 200) |
P |
Kyle
Muir-So (6-3, 196) |
Niko
Rechul-Jr (6-2, 195) |
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2007
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Walk-on
Nikodemus Rechul has a foot from hell with the speed
to match for fakes and tackling pursuit, but Kyle Muir
seems to have the inside track for taking over the punting
duties. Net results (21st in the nation) should stay
strong. Junior Pat Shadle is one of the top place kickers
in the nation – he only missed two of his 18 attempts
in ’06, both from beyond 40 yards. Max Meisel
may be too short at 5’4 to see the field well
on punt returns (shortest player in I-A last season),
but his wrestling background proves he has the toughness
to go with his speed. Brinkley at KR works well, too,
so special teams look solid for when things get hairy.
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