Post Standard: Malcolm Cater accused of South Campus burglary

From Robert A. Baker of Syracuse.com:

A Syracuse University student is accused of burglarizing three apartments on the university’s South Campus, Syracuse police said.

Malcolm Cater, 19, of 130 Lambreth Lane, is charged with three counts of burglary and one count of grand larceny, all felonies, and two counts of petit larcenty, both misdemeanors.

Click here for the full story from Syracuse.com.

Sorry, Ryan, but it's time for a change

Syracuse.com

Just made it back from Syracuse after watching the Orange drop their second straight and third of their last four to close out the 2010 regular season. 7-5 was the goal at the beginning of the year, but the way these last two games went down, it’s easy to be just a little disappointed.

Which brings us to the point of this post: Ryan Nassib. Honestly, the kid can make the throws. That bullet to Marcus Sales in the first quarter on Saturday was a thing of beauty – Nassib released the ball while Sales was still one step away from making his cut. Sure, he misses some throws over the middle from time to time, but he clearly has the arm strength and the ability to be a starting quarterback in the Big East.

The problem with Nassib, however, is pocket presence. He has none. And on a team with an offensive line as inexperienced (read: terrible) as the Orange, you need a quarterback who can sense the rush and make adjustments. At the beginning of the year, it was excusable – he’s never started before, and the line doesn’t give him any time to make his reads. It seemed easy to fix with time and experience in the pocket, but the fact is, over 12 games, Nassib’s ability to recognize the rush and get rid of the ball seems to have actually regressed.

Nassib has been sacked 31 times this season (not all his fault) and fumbled the ball 10 times (all his fault). Ten fumbles is nearly one per game. That's inexcusable. 

When he’s not picking himself up off the dome turf, he’s getting happy feet and scrambling out of the pocket, trying to make something happen with his feet rather than standing in there and trying to make a throw. Or he’s making ill-advised (and illegal) double passes on tipped balls like last week against UConn. Louisville showed the rest of the Big East the blueprint when they brought the house against Nassib and dared him to find the open receiver under pressure. He simply couldn’t make the reads he needed to make them pay. Defensive coordinators will not forget this.

The fact is the O-line isn’t getting any better between now and the bowl game. And if you look at it honestly, the line probably won’t get any better next year either (if there was a stud waiting in the wings, he probably would have seen the field by now). Nassib could turn into a good quarterback some day, as long as he’s on a team that could protect him and give him the chance to show off that cannon of an arm. But that team is not Syracuse in 2010. And it’s probably not Syracuse in 2011 either.

It’s time to see what the young guns can do at quarterback. They may not have the skills Nassib has – the arm strength or the ability to throw the deep ball down the sidelines – but they have to be more aware in the pocket (or at least have the ability to develop that skill). I’ll take my chances with the less-talented guy who can make better decisions and make up for the many deficiencies in the offensive line.

If Marrone doesn’t take that chance, get used to more offensive performances like these past four weeks.

And don’t get used to going to bowl games.

Bowling!!! ZOMFG!!

It's not hyperbole when I say I wasn't sure this day would ever come again. The powerhouse state schools can have a few off years and bounce back, but a private school in the Northeast? I wasn't so sure. This is just a great day for the school, the team and all its fans. Everything else is a bonus from here on out this year. I'll have to leave it at that for tonight, before I start crying all over my keyboard. We'll reflect more on this tomorrow.

The No. 1 way to NOT do that again: Shotgun

Let me start this by saying I love Ryan Bartholomew. He is the best player on the offensive line, their leader and the rock in the middle. When he was temporarily injured on Saturday, I feared the O-line would not be able to recover without him.

That being said, Syracuse needs a shotgun snapper. Nassib was taking hits before he even set up his drops yesterday, and that could have been easily solved by going into the shotgun. If Big Bart can't do it, Marrone needs to find someone who will.

Relax now ... I'm not saying you bench the best player on a mediocre offensive line. That would just be foolish. There's a precedent for this though, with the 2001 New England Patriots. Damien Woody was a fantastic center at the time, who could not snap the ball in the shotgun. The Patriots didn't want to lose that part of their offense, and they also didn't want to take one of their best players off the O-line, so they would slide Mike Compton (a guard) over to center for shotgun plays and move Woody to guard. They did this all season, including in a 20-17 win over the Rams to earn the franchise its first of three super bowl titles.

Bartholomew has played guard before, so it wouldn't be much of a challenge for him to slide over a spot occasionally during the game. The question is, can one of the guards move over to center and snap shotgun. Frankly, it's not that hard to do. The shotgun snap is nowhere near as difficult as a long snap, but sometimes players like Bart get the yips and simply can't do it.

It's worth a try, because opposing teams will follow the Louisville blueprint the rest of the season and bring the heat on Nassib. If he can't get a head start into his drops, he won't stand a chance to be successful.

5 things to watch on Saturday

1. Delone Carter's hip
The hip looked fine as DC3 was cruising to another 100-yard game at Cincy last week. But with the Prince out for the next few weeks with mono, and Carter's history of hip issues, the SU running game is one awkward fall away from consisting of just Antwon Bailey. I love Bailey as much as anyone, but he's far more valuable as a change of pace back than as your only back.

2. Opening drives (on each side)
What went wrong against Pittsburgh? Well, many things, but the first thing to go wrong was SU starting out with a three-and-out. Then when the Orange punted to the Panthers, they promptly gave up a TD on the first play. You could just about see the Dome physically deflating. If SU can put points on the board early against Louisville, the crowd will hopefully carry them through the rest.

Syracuse has been upgraded to "Don't Buy"

It seems at least eight writers (just three coaches) actually noticed Syracuse's big win yesterday at West Virginia. And in case you were wondering if SU is truly relevant again, the polls reflect that.

No, we're not ranked, yet, but we are in the "others receiving votes" category. After all we've been through since 2004, I'd say that's a victory around these parts. We'll take it.

Here are some fun tidbits to hold over your friends based on the newly-released polls:

1. Syracuse has more votes than Florida, Texas and Clemson, to name a few.

2. SU has as many votes in the AP poll as West Virginia and as many votes in the Coaches Poll as California.

3. If you go by others receiving votes, SU is tied with WVU as the HIGHEST RANKED BIG EAST TEAM. That says more about the Big East than Syracuse, but I'll take it.

A few more wins for the Orange, and they might even be upgraded to "Risky."

Doug Hougue named National Defensive Player of Week

Guess it's safe to say Hogue is your MVP from yesterday's game. Hard to argue that with his 10 tackles and two huge INTs. SUathletics.com has the story.

Glass-half full stat of the week

10-3

Haven't had one of these in a while. I guess I'll have to give back some of my sponsorship money to the Dairy Farmers of America. Wish I didn't buy that boat with Joe Fields' picture on the side.

The last time Syracuse started the season 5-2, was in 2001. The Orange went on to finish 10-3 and capped it off with a 26-3 drubbing of Kansas State in the Insight.com bowl. Something to keep in mind.

Who scares you? A look at the rest of the 2010 slate

Now that SU proved it could win a game on the road against a ranked opponent, it's only logical to start buying Fiesta Bowl tickets and book that hotel in Tempe. Right?

Syracuse.com

OK, we're not that crazy ... yet. Pittsburgh holds the tiebreaker over SU anyways and will probably go undefeated in the conference, so the Big East title is far from ours. But it is time to start looking at the schedule to see who SU can beat and who it probably can't. Remember, two more wins is all it takes to be bowl eligible for the first time since 2004.

Cincinnati (3-4, 1-1)
The Bearcats eeked out a win over Louisville and have signature wins against Miami (OH) and Indiana St. They also just lost to South Florida at home, and have given up fewer than 28 points just once to an FBS team (Miami). The only problem is, this one's on the road, but SU already has two key Big East road wins so far. The other problem though, is Cincy needs this win after last week. I like the Bearcats ... barely.
Odds of SU winning: 45 percent

Louisville (4-3, 1-1)
The Cardinals are not all that different from Syracuse. They're a better team than the past few years, and they crushed UConn on Saturday. They even hung in with Cincy at home last week. They're certainly not a pushover, but SU has matched up well against the Cards even when they had more talent. I'm taking the Orange at home.
Odds of SU winning: 60 percent

Where am I? SU is 5-2 (2-1) and in the hunt!

I haven't posted in a while, because, frankly, I've been depressed. Depressed that I drove a total of 18 hours to watch SU get dismantled on its home turf. Depressed that the crowd was pathetic, even after the game was tied at 7-7 and the defense needed a lift. Depressed that the Orange still hadn't made "the leap."

But now, I don't know how to feel. Who are these guys? Are they the team that demolishes offenses like Akron, South Florida and even West Virginia? Or are they the team that gets scored on at will by Washington and Pittsburgh?

What can't be debated is that SU is 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big East. After USF pulling the upset at Cincy last night, the Big East is still up for grabs. It's probably Pitt's to lose now, and the Panthers have the tiebreaker over the Orange, so the Big East title is still a bit of a pipe dream, but after today, anything is possible.

With five games left, and just two wins needed to qualify for the first bowl berth since 2004, the question is starting to turn into which bowl are we going to? Syracuse is a legitimate team again, capable of beating anyone in the Big East, and that's all we've really been asking for around here for a long time.

I'm going to be happy tonight, but I'm also still very confused. And I'm hoping I don't wake up in a few seconds and realize this was all just a dream.

5 reasons Syracuse will beat Pitt on Saturday

Ahh, the fabulous world of Twitter, where it becomes painfully obvious that you forgot the name of Pittsburgh's running back, twice ... you know, the one who you said would dominate SU's running game (this has been fixed, thanks to @obscuredv1sions). It's also a world where SU football players actually read my tweets, but don't get to the part where I say I will give five reasons the Orange will actually win the game, tomorrow.

Anyways, before Andrew Lewis tries to hunt me down and kill me, let's get to the five reasons Syracuse will be celebrating on Saturday ... a little earlier than originally scheduled.

1. Defense, defense, defense
SU allowed just 219 yards to South Florda, on the road, in its first Big East test of the season. Now factor in a bump to the defense from a hopefully sold-out Carrier Dome crowd cheering them on, and a Syracuse offense that's still looking for an identity. All that adds up to a big day for the Orange defense on Saturday.

2. Syracuse learned how to win
Doug Marrone said the team needed to figure out how to win games before last week's big road victory. The Orange did just that, growing up in a 98 yard drive that could alter the course of the program. They'll take that newly-found confidence into this game, and it should make a huge difference. The sky is the limit, and the Orange won't be afraid of anyone.

5 reasons Pitt will beat Syarcuse on Saturday

Syracuse.com

Today we look at the Syracuse/Pitt game from a pessimistic point of view. Fear not, however, because tomorrow we'll give you five reasons why Syracuse will upset the Panthers in the Dome. But for now, let's take it down a notch ... for America (copyright: Jon Stewart).

1. Pitt would be at least 4-1 with SU's schedule
I'm not sure if they would have beaten Washington on the road, after dropping games to Utah and Notre Dame already this season. But it's hard to argue the Panthers would have lost to any one of Akron, Maine, Colgate or South Florida. So let's not go too crazy when comparing records here.

2. They're not intimidated by the Dome
The last time Pitt lost to the Orange in the Carrier Dome was 2004. They won each of the last two games in Syracuse by double digits. Saturday should be a different environment than the current Panthers are used to seeing in the Dome, but they've been on bigger stages before.

Awards, awards, awards

When you win a game like that, you deserve some awards. So let's give the people what they want.

Syracuse.com

MVP - Max Suter
This is a tough one. It could go to Delone Carter for his 105-yard performance. Ryan Nassib had a miserable three quarters, but he did lead the team on the game winning touchdown drive. Or how about Antwon Bailey who racked up 81 yards on just nine carries and was the lone spark for the offense for most of the game? But this one has to go to a defensive player, and no one stood out quite as much as Suter in Tampa. The safety piled up a team-high eight tackles, including a big sack on a safety blitz. He also recorded three tackles for loss and chased B.J. Daniels out of the pocket on multiple occasions. Cast your vote in the poll at the left for who you think the MVP was Saturday.

Best offensive player - Antwon Bailey
Already touched on briefly above, but Bailey made the Syracuse offense tick on Saturday. He finally got the touches he deserves, and took advantage of them to rack up 129 all-purpose yards on nine carries and three receptions. When Bailey gets the ball, the offense moves forward. Hopefully Doug Marrone and Co. have finally learned that lesson.

The morning after: wait, we actually won??

SU players flip the USF banner at Varsity for the first time ever

Syracuse is 4-1. It's still a little crazy to think about. The Orange has a better record than Florida, Miami, Texas and USC. That's pretty shocking, to say the least. But the most shocking thing about yesterday's landmark road victory in Tampa was the fact that SU found a way to win the type of game it always found a way to lose for the last six years.

It just had that feeling yesterday. Syracuse was good enough to win, without question, but they just kept missing out on opportunities. You couldn't help but think of previous failures that looked exactly like this one - Virginia (2005), Cincinnati (2005), Wake Forest (2006), Iowa (2006), Pittsburgh (2006), Miami (2007), Louisville (2009).

The SU defense looked like world beaters, but to be honest, we've seen this before. In 2005, the Orange defense could match up with anyone - remember, there were eight guys on that defense that had at least a cup of coffee in the NFL - but the pathetic offense continually hung them out to dry, giving them short fields to defend after about 45 seconds of rest.

Going Bowling

Guess what? ESPN.com has Syracuse in its bowl projections right now. Obviously, it means absolutely nothing at this point in the season. But let's enjoy it while it lasts, and start looking up prices for flights to Birmingham (OK, maybe not just yet).

Quick thoughts on a 3-1 start

Going into the season we all talked about starting the season 3-1. The schedule was in our favor, and frankly, it would be pretty disappointing if SU had lost to Akron, Colgate or Maine. You don't throw parades for teams that do simply what they're supposed to do, but I think we can take a moment to enjoy the situation a little bit. Here's a look at the good, the bad and the optimistic from a mostly-positive first month of football in Syracuse.

Syracuse.com

The Good
Syracuse is 3-1 for the first time since 2003
Sure there were no signature wins in there, but 3-1 is still 3-1. Let's hope when HCDM makes those recruting calls, the poor young saps on the other line don't have any idea who the Orange actually played in those three wins. Plus, there's the possibility the momentum could carry on into the Big East season and lead to some upsets.

The defense looks good
Again, we're talking about taking care of business as expected. We thought the defense would be good, and it has lived up to expectations, with the exception of three awful quarters of pass defense in Seattle. They'll need to keep improving to match up with the Big East teams, but so far, so good.

Nassib has been a pleasant surprise
It was tough to tell what to expect from Nassib in his first season as a starter, but the sophomore has exceeded nearly all expectations to this point. With nine TDs and just two INTs, Nassib has probably been the most impressive performer in the young season.

4 players to watch on Saturday

We like lists here at the Joe Fields Era ... in case you couldn't tell already. Nobody reads long stories any more, so I'll just keep it short and simple for you.

1. Delone Carter
Did you know he's averaging 82.3 yards per game? At that pace, he'll fall just short of 1,000 yards, which sounds pretty good. But has he done anything to impress you yet? Probably not. This is mostly on the O-line for not opening up holes, but let's hope that changes today and we see a breakout game from DC3, which hopefully carries on into the Big East slate.

2. Any WR not named Lemon or Chew
Who's going to step up in Aaron Weaver's absense? The answer last week: no one. That's troubling. Thought we'd see more of Marcus Sales last week, but he barely touched the field against the Black Bears. No WR other than Lemon or Chew caught a pass on Saturday, and that has to change at some point.

3 goals for SU against Colgate

We're just a few hours away from another exciting SU matchup against an FCS team. Like last week, let's hope this proves to be a chance to work on some key issues more than a struggle to win a game. Not that we're taking anything for granted, but if you can't beat Colgate handily, the season's pretty much lost anyways.

1. No more penalties
Listen, I've watched Colgate play before. There is absolutely no reason for the Orange to waste anyone's time by holding, blocking in the back or jumping offsides. You can wait a full second after the snap, block with your facemask and tackle with your elbows and still win by 30. SU has racked up 29 penalties in three games this year, with two of those games against Akron and Maine. Time to cut that out.

2. Put the game away early
If you watched the Maine game last week, you know that 38-14 score doesn't really tell the whole story. Syracuse let the Black Bears stay in the game way too long for comfort. Odds are, all 17 Colgate fans will be in the Dome on Saturday, so crushing their little hopes and dreams early would be for the best.

3. Play a complete game
Akron was the closest SU has come to putting together a complete game. Tough to say 29-3 wasn't total domination. But there were points in that game, especially early, where the Orange was showing that first-game rust, which is to be expected. Syracuse came out hot against Washington before falling apart in quarters 2-4, and the first half of the Maine game was already discussed. There's no excuse to let off the Raiders in all 60 minutes of this game. Even with 3rd string players in there, they should run up the score against their CNY neighbors.

Glass-half-full stat of the week

8 TDs

Ryan Nassib's 8 touchdowns through three games this season is already more than Perry Patterson threw in either of his first two seasons as SU's starting quarterback (7 in 2004, 6 in 2005). It's also as many as Troy Nunes threw in two of his seasons on the hill (2000 and 2002), and his 5 scores on Saturday equaled RJ Anderson's total in 2001.

5 players to keep an eye on Saturday

Like I just mentioned in the last post, this game SHOULDN'T be too much about how SU wins the game, as much as it should be about how it executes and fixes the early-season problems. So that means this is an important game for some individual players on the Syracuse roster.

1. Marcus Sales
This is a no-brainer. Aaron Weaver gets knocked out for the season, and we are reminded that Marcus Sales is, in fact, still on the team. He's a junior now, and if he doesn't take advantage of this opportunity, there may not be another one waiting for him. Please catch the ball, at least.

2. Charley Loeb/John Kinder
Hopefully Ryan Nassib can come out of this game with a big lead in the second half. At which point, it will be interesting to find out who gets the call. Both quarterbacks looked good in the offseason, and this should be the first opportunity for at least one of them to get some game action.

4 things to watch against Maine

Sorry this was kind of a lost week at the blog. The first full week of grad school proved a little more busy than I had expected. But there's no time for excuses, because it's game day, and nothing gets me going like a marquee matchup against ... Maine? Well, at least SU should get the win, right?

Just a quick note before we jump into the preview. What a tough break for Aaron Weaver and SU, as the wideout will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Weaver was one of the pass droppers in Seattle, but he also looked like a stud against Akron. I was expecting something in between for the rest of the season, which is certainly enough to miss him dearly this year. Rob Moore really should have gotten the live chicken.

Now, let's move on to Maine. Despite the recent developments with Va Tech and Ole Miss, Syracuse should roll over the Bears in the Dome. So this isn't really about what the Orange needs to do to win, but more about what we want to see from them. This should be a great opportunity to work on all the areas that have been troublesome so far.

1. Hold on to the G'Damn football
SU has fumbled the ball eight times this season. EIGHT TIMES!!! They've only lost three of those, but still, that's just ridiculous. SU needs to figure this out over the next two games, or the tougher teams will make them pay.

2. Wrap up the ball carrier
This is a cultural problem throughout the nation, and even going up into the NFL. Everyone's looking to make the big stick and end up on SportsCenter. And it just needs to stop. Syracuse missed several tackles at Washington, which turned short passes into long touchdowns. Make the sure tackle, and you will win more games.

Glass-half-full stat of the week

18.0

Van Chew's receiving yards per catch. It's obviously a small sample size, with just nine catches for 162 yards. But Chew is showing signs he could potentially stretch the field for the Orange in 2010.

Sorry Doug, this one's on you

We like to be positive at the Joe Fields Era, as you already know. But we also have to be truthful, to some degree. And while all Syracuse fans can pretty much agree HCDM has the Orange moving generally in the right direction, we also have to be critical at times. Marrone is a very good coach, but Saturday was not his best game.

Syracuse.com

Hey, I get it. It's tough to go on the road to the west coast and pull off a win against a team that's probably more talented. It's not so much that SU lost, but the way it lost. The Orange looked unprepared in several areas that should have been pretty obvious heading into the game. Let's break them down ...

1. What was the plan in the secondary?
You can harp on execution all day, but the gameplan to cover the Washington receivers looked downright terrible, if not non-existent. SU corners were seemingly giving a 10-yard cushion on every pass. With a poised quarterback like Jake Locker, that's simply not going to work. Plus, when a team has a star receiver who it targets regularly, you'd think it might be a point of emphasis for the defense. So letting Jermaine Kearse put up nine catches for 179 yards and three TDs is unacceptable.

Quick thoughts from a disappointing night in Seattle

Jut a few quick hits on yesterday's game. Not exactly what we hoped for, obviously. Maybe Syracuse isn't ready to take the next step. Maybe the Orange just had a bad day. Let's hope it's the latter more than the former. But who knows.

First, let's just touch on some of the key points heading into the game. And tomorrow we'll break down the game in some more detail, before moving on to the soft underbelly of the 2010 schedule.

Syracuse.com

1. Keep Locker in the pocket
This one actually worked. Five carries, for just 18 yards for the Heisman hopeful is pretty solid. So what went wrong. Oh yeah ...

Who's coming with me?

Tonight's game is a good reason to get out and watch at a bar with some 'Cuse people. Mostly because that's probably the only way you can see it, without actually being there. So, anyone who's in D.C. be sure to swing by the Sign of the Whale for the game. I'll be there, in the patented orange Joe Fields jersey. If you see me and tell me you read the blog, I'll buy you a beer.*

*Not that this blog is that popular, but I reserve the right to cut it off at five people. I'm a broke grad student ... gimme a break. If you want better perks, start clicking on the ads.

5 SU players to watch on Saturday

Photo from Syracuse.com

1. Da'Mon Merkerson
SU's defense will have to contain Jake Locker to have a chance in this game. The Heisman hopeful will certainly test the SU cornerbacks and the biggest challenge will likely be in Merkerson's direction. Not saying Mike Holmes is Darrelle Revis just yet, but Merkerson will certainly have more of a bullseye on his back. If the senior steps up to the challenge, the Orange has a chance.

2. Antwon Bailey
Syracuse was fantastic on third down last week (10-19), and they'll need to continue that success against the Huskies to pull off the upset. Bailey will be a big factor in that area, with his ability to slip out of the backfield and catch and run, like he did with a nifty grab in the first series against the Zips.

Photo from Syracuse.com

3. Chandler Jones
You're probably always watching Jones, since he's becoming the star of the defense, but this week is where he'll earn his fame. Someone has to get to Locker or he will destroy the SU secondary. A lot of that responsibility falls on Chandler's shoulders. He looks up for the challenge.

4. Prince-Tyson Gulley
You always need a big play to key an upset. The freshman might be able to provide one in the kicking game. Let's hope.

5. Ross Krautman
He launched a 47-yarder through the wind that was a thing of beauty. But he also missed an extra point. Which Krautman is real? We might find out in Seattle.

4 ways to beat the Huskies

Photo from Seattle Times

1. Keep Locker in the pocket
Locker rushed for almost 600 yards last season, not counting yards lost on sacks. He can be almost as dangerous with his feet as he is with his arm, so SU has to limit his opportunities. Make him a one-dimensional player, and you have a chance to limit his damage.

2. Slow dow Jermaine Kearse
The junior piled up 866 yards last year and 108 yards in the season opener at BYU. Devin Aguilar can make defenses pay as well, but he's nowhere near as dynamic and dangerous as Kearse. If SU can contain Locker's number-one option, the odds of winning go up dramatically.

3. Get another career day out of Nassib
It's pretty unlikely SU will hold Washington to three points, like it did with Akron last week. Nassib will need to make up the difference with another big game against a much tougher foe. He showed he had the tools in the opener; now he needs to put it all together on a bigger stage.

4. Score first to set the tone
It would be an upset if the Orange pull off a win in Seattle. Usually, the underdog needs to jump out to an early lead or make a big play to steal the momentum early from the home crowd. Score a quick TD, and the doubt might sink in on the other sideline. Remember, Washington is not used to winning (they were 5-7 last year), and may not respond well to trailing for the second-straight week.

Big East Picks +1 (Week 2)

Everyone knows at this point last week wasn't a great week for Big East teams. It wasn't so great for me either, as the big favorites didn't cover the spread (thanks Rutgers and WVU) and Cincy and UConn slipped up on the road in my upset picks. Let's try to do a little better in week 2.

West Virginia (-13.5) over MARSHALL
It's a rivalry game, on the road, so two TDs is a lot of points. But the Mountaineers are a much better team and should run away with this one.

FLORIDA (-17.5) over South Florida
This would be a HUUUGE win for both USF and the conference. Based on last week's showing in games like these for the Big East, the smart money's on the Gators.

CINCY (N/A) over Indiana St
Couldn't find the spread for this one yet, but does it really matter? Bearcats by a lot.

UCONN (N/A) over Texas Southern
Don't let a Husky fan ever insult you for playing Colgate. Randy forgets UConn is actually an FBS school sometimes.

Early morning links - 9/9/10

Just a few links to get you started today. Check back in by about lunchtime for the Big East picks heading into the weekend.

Photo from Syracuse.com

Unbeaten Syracuse a confident bunch - Associated Press
When's the last time you saw unbeaten, Syracuse and confident in a headline for Syracuse football?

Cody Jamieson is top pick in NLL draft - Syracuse.com
Last year was a bit of a disappointment for No. 22, but his game is perfectly suited for the indoor league. Plus, we'll never forget the game winner on Memorial Day in '09.

Week 2: Syracuse vs. Washington preview and picks - Capperspicks
They pick the Huskies ... but don't seem confident with all those points in the spread.

SU freshmen get past opening-game jitters - Syracuse.com
Nice job last week, young guys. Now go maim Jake Locker.

What the F is Bud Poliquin talking about? - 9/8/10

Photo from Syracuse.com

In case you missed last week's installment of WTF Bud, here it is. Didn't have to go far for this week's quote from the "king of concise;" this one's in his first paragraph. In journalism school, one of the first things they teach you to is try to suck the reader in right from the beginning of the story/column. About that ...

It takes a while, sure. In fact, you might identify with that guy sitting up a tree, waiting . . . waiting . . . waiting for a deer to wander by. But if you have the time (and you’ll need a lot of it), you will sooner or later see Trent Jewett smile.

Like always, get out your Bud-to-English dictionaries and let me know what the F you think he's talking about. Post away in the comments.

Lots of links - 9/8/10

Guess what? Syracuse if relevant again, at least a little. So we have lots of links to get to ...

Key Matchups: Syracuse vs. Washington - Otto's Army
The boys at Otto's Army break down where the game will be won and lost on Saturday

Syracuse seeks breakthrough win - espn.com
Just ignore the stat in the first paragraph (it's depressing), and read about how confident SU looks.

Big East stock report - espn.com
Nassib earns highest praise and even sneaks into the player of the year race.

Washington vs. Syracuse game week - SB Nation Seattle
You know you like to read what the enemy is saying behind your back.

SU secondary takes a step toward turning the corner - syracuse.com
Rahme has the report on the secondary. And when Rahme talks, you listen.

SU game to be offered in high definition to CNY customers - syracuse.com
Welcome to the 21st century, Time Warner Sports.

The Syracuse vs. Washington experience - TNIAAM
Sean's got a front-row seat for the Syracuse/Washington festivities. If you're making the trip, or are just curious, check this out.

Syracuse ranks 111 on 2010 best drivers report
Out of 200 ... sounds about right.

4 reasons to not fear the Huskies

In case you haven't noticed yet, this blog is all about being optimistic. Maybe to a fault. But maybe, just maybe, it's time to get optimistic around here.

 

Syracuse is riding high after its 29-3 thrashing of the mighty Akron Zips on Saturday, and the Orange face their toughest non-conference foe of the year this week. But fear not, 'Cuse fans; the Huskies may actually be more bark than bite (yeah, I went there).

1. Washington was 5-7 last year
That's right, 5-7. Just one win better than your Syracuse Orange. Honestly, with all the hype surrounding these guys, and Jake Locker, you'd think they're a perennial bowl team. In fact, they haven't been to a bowl game since 2002, and haven't won one since the 2000 season. Let's all just relax a little bit.

2. Jake Locker has a lot of hype behind him
You've heard of Jacke Locker. Washington just unveiled a campaign to boost Locker's Heisman chances this season. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it, but how many quarterbacks have actually lived up to the preseason hype and gone on to win the Heisman. That's a lot of pressure on a young QB to carry a previously 5-7 team (see above) to new heights.

Glass-half-full stat of the week

7.75

It's pretty easy to be optimistic after last week. But here's another stat that might make you feel even better. Since 1980, SU has won its season opener 12 times. In those 12 seasons, the Orange(men) averaged 7.75 wins per year. They also averaged just 3.83 losses per season. Only once did Syracuse finish with a sub .500 season after winning the opener: in 1982 when they went 2-9. The best record: obviously, 11-0-1, in 1987.

Coffee and links

Bleacher Report - Week 1 Review
Syracuse has the marquee win for the Big East in week one. Rough week for the conference, but we'll take it.

Bleacher Report - Big East Power Rankings
We're #1 ... seriously. It's not a type-o. Read it and cherish it, because it probably won't last.

Terry lands with Chargers - Times Union
Good tee see the big fella still has a job out there after he got cut by the Colts. Curtis Brinkley's on the Chargers practice squad now, and Steve Gregory is still contributing on special teams. Syracuse West.

Ross Krautman to kick while Lichtenstein heals - Post-Standard
Looks like Krautman might be kicking for a while. Keep booming those 47-yarders, but try to make an extra point every now and then too.

Do you have a question for Dwight Freeney? - Post-Standard
Well, Bud Poliquin can help you out. And you might even win a prize.

Beasts of the East - Nassib, Holmes

As many of you already know, Ryan Nassib and Mike Holmes were named Big East offensive and defensive players of the week for their performances against Akron. It's the first time SU won both awards since 2004, as Sean from TNIAAM pointed out this afternoon, when Diamond Ferri took them both home himself.

The hunch here is this will be the first of many sentences that include "since 2004." Hopefully "most wins ... ," "highest attendance... " and "fewest cursing fans" are included.

But hats off to those guys. Now Marrone just has to teach Holmes how to catch a punt, and they'll be all set.

A look back and some awards

Photo from: syracuse.com

Orange fans are holding their heads a little higher this week than they were last season. The hope and optimism were there heading into the opener, but most fans had that little bit of doubt creeping in that we were getting a little over-confident.

Sure, it was just Akron, so let's not make those BCS bowl plans just yet. But it's always nice to see your team play well in the opener. And hey, Syracuse is above .500 for the first time since 2006 (let's not talk about how that one ended).

Let's take a little look back at the season opener and see how SU fared in the key areas we addressed heading into the weekend, and give out some much-deserved awards.

Gain more than 150 yards rushing
The Orange technically rushed for 202 yards, but 45 of those came on a long run from Nassib in the final minute, which really wasn't necessary. The running game was solid, but didn't have the huge impact we expected.

Don't give up big plays
Pretty much mission accomplished here. The SU defense didn't allow a single play over 30 yards, and stifled the Akron offense for all 60 minutes. The only slip up was the Nassib fumble nearing the end of the half, which led to the only points for the Zips.

Don't throw any INTs
You certainly can't say Nassib played it safe on Saturday. He threw one INT, and it easily could have been three if the Akron DBs didn't have stone hands. Didn't expect him to throw 2 TDs either though, so it all evens out.

Make one big play
SU made two huge plays, which completely swung the momentum in the game. After giving up the first points of the game following a foolish Nassib fumble, the young QB made ammends with a perfect pass to a diving Van Chew in the end zone to close out the first half. It reminded Akron who the better team was heading into the break. Then, with the Zips on the doorstep of another field goal, which would have cut the lead to 17-6, Doug Hogue blocked the kick and Mike Holmes ran it back for the touchdown. Game. Over. That's how it's done.

The morning after - 'Cuse is undefeated!

Just a few quick thoughts from yesterday's game. Come back tomorrow for the full report and awards from SU's thrashing of Akron.

Nassib can sling it
He made some dumb mistakes, and I mean really, REALLY, dumb mistakes. Seriously, he probably should have thrown three INTs to go along with his fumble. But he also made some really nice throws, including a perfect pass to Van Chew at the end of the first half, and some bullets to Alec Lemon and Aaron Weaver. For his first career start, it's hard to be disappointed with young Nassib. Now it's time to cut back on those mistakes going forward.

The defense is as good as advertised
This game should have been a shutout. If it weren't for a Nassib fumble deep in the SU end, Akron wouldn't have scored a point. In fact, on that scoring drive, the Zips actually lost five yards before kicking the field goal. More to come on this tomorrow.

Mike Holmes - Good God
What an up and down game for the defensive back. Some great plays in coverage, some muffed punts, some dumb decisions on punts, some remarkably dumb decisions on punts, and then a touchdown off a blocked field goal. Just when you have no idea why he'd be on special teams at all, he makes the play of the game and shows off those wheels, which is why he returns punts in the first place.

Wait, we don't have to punt on 3rd down?
In the 2005 season opener, SU went 1-14 on 3rd down in a horrendous loss to West Virginia (a fitting start to the Greg Robinson Era). Those days appear to be over, as the Orange converted 10 of 19 third downs on Saturday. It helps to have a competant quarterback and some surprisingly reliable receivers.

Live Blog - #Fail

Looking pretty good for HCDM and Co. despite my massive #fail at live blogging. Check back in tomorrow for some more analysis and links following what appears to be the first opening-day win for SU since 2003. In the meantime feel free to vote in the poll on the left for who you think SU's MVP was in today's game. Lot's of good candidates to choose from. Nassib with two TDs, Weaver and Chew with one apiece, solid ground game from Carter and a huge play from Mike Holmes, after what could have been a disastrous game for him with those shaky punt returns.

2nd Q - 5:05
DESIGN CHANGE! OK, so live blogging is not-so-surprisingly difficult with this format. Not really giving me a lot of time to watch and digest the game. Instead, keep an eye on the twitter (temporarily above for the game). Let's see how this goes instead.


2nd Q - 11:21
That's definitely Ross Krautman booting that FG, not Lichtenstein (looks like Krautman got the PAT too). Nice to see a kicker with a 47-yard leg. That will help a lot.


2nd Q - 13:07
Not a perfect pass by Nassib, but WOW, what a catch by Van Chew. First big play of the game for either side.

2nd Q - 13:32
Another good stand by the defense forces an Akron punt, but the one worrisome thing is that SU hasn't really generated much pressure. Even on the throwaway, the QB had all the time in the world to get rid of the ball. Good passing teams probably exploit that.

End 1st
Good start for the 'Cuse. 7-0 after one and looking like the better team. Just need to get a little more crisp with the deep passing game and not make any big mistakes. Offensive line was the one glaring weakness though, especially in the passing game. Time to make some adjustments up front.


1st Q - 1:00
Nassib misses Weaver, but it looks like the new wideout really has some wheels. He had a step on his man, but Nassib was under duress and couldn't hit him. Good sign if he can emerge as that deep threat for the Orange.

1st Q - 3:38
Exactly (Holmes muffs punt)

1st Q - 3:55
Mike Holmes: "Outstanding." Not so sure about that. Let's start with decent.


1st Q -  4:48
Well, we weren't expecting this team to be the '07 Patriots on offense were we? 3-and-out. To be expected.

1st Q - 8:11
That Revis Island commercial is getting less funny every time.


1st Q - 8:11
The Orange do a nice job of wrapping up tackles on that drive and force the 3-and-out. Good sticks, very disciplined. So far so good.


1st Q - 10:03
Lot's of great signs on that drive: Nassib went 4/6. Four different receivers caught a pass. DC3 racked up 20 yards on five carries. New WR Aaron Weaver capped it off with a TD. Can't ask for much more than that to start.


1st Q - 10:03
Another perfect read and pass from Nassib, and SU is on the board. Aaron Weaver with the great catch and run for the easy TD. Syracuse goes 3/3 on 3rd downs on the drive, all three coming from the pass. Nassib does everything right except one risky pass that almost got picked off right before the TD.


1st Q - 12:30
Two big conversions for the young QB. One really nice read, and one really nice catch by Antwon Bailey. Looks like SU is dead set on establishing balance early on.


6:08 - 1st Q (14:09)
Big 3rd down conversion by Nassib to Alec Lemon right there. Good sign for SU.


6:05 - 1st Q (15:00)
And we're off. Nice visor, Marrone.

6:01 - Pregame
Former New England Patriots safety Je'Rod Cherry in the booth ... nice.


5:59 - Pregame
Other things to keep an eye on today: How Ryan Nassib spreads the ball around. Young, inexperienced QBs have a tendency to fall in love with a few targets and go to them over and over. Fortunately (I think), there's no one on this team good enough to lock on to. So he'll probably be forced to spread the wealth. Also, watch how the offensive line handles pressure early on with three new starters in there.


5:51 - Pregame
We're live from the Carrier Dome ... wait, the game's in Akron? Damnit. That's probably why it was so easy to get a press pass. Well, let's get the blogging going anyways. If you want a refresher on what to keep an eye on during this game, here are the keys to the game (in my not-so-humble opinion).


Swing by for a little live blogging during the SU/Akron game. Feel free to leave your comments or send me an e-mail while we watch 'Cuse #BeatAkron.

A million bajillion links to get you through the day

Too many links to explain them all. But you have time between now and the 6 p.m. kickoff. So read up.

Syracuse vs. Akron will be televised in Syracuse (And Seattle!) - TNIAAM

2010 Big East Prospectus - Orange44

The Fizz's Preseason Prediction - Orange Fizz

Official Idiotic Predictions - Three Idiots on Sports

Daily Orange Football Guide - The Daily Orange

SU Expects Big Things From Carter - Utica Dispatch Observer

SU TE Jose Cruz finds his comfort level in offense - Post Standard

Syracuse's Delone Carter will feel right at home at Akron - Post Standard

Dave Rahme talks Syracuse-Akron football - Post Standard

Excitement starting for Zips - American Chronicle

Bailey ready for breakout season - Watertown Daily Times

How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way To Brainwash Your Child Into Becoming A Syracuse Fan

4 ways to beat the Zips

1. Gain more than 150 yards rushing
Delone Carter ran for 170 yards by himself last time against Akron, so this one shouldn't be much of a stretch. Without a strong ground game on Saturday, it will put a lot of pressure on Ryan Nassib to carry the team, and I'm not sure he's ready for that just yet.

2. Don't give up big plays
We're talking about plays over 30 yards, big special teams plays and turnovers in your own end. SU is more talented than Akron, so the Orange need to make sure the Zips have to earn every point they score. Big plays can level the playing field pretty quickly.

3. Don't throw any INTs
Along the same lines as the previous key, the Orange can't afford to make mistakes in the passing game. Syracuse will win this one with a strong running game and a solid defense. Even if Nassib finishes with 0 TDs, a 0 INT perfromance might be good enough. Think Mark Sanchez in the playoffs last year.

4. Make one big play
SU can probably grind out a TD or two with some hard-nosed running, but overall, the offense will likely take its lumps. One big play could be the difference, whether it's an interception in Akron's end, a big kickoff return or a broken play that turns into a long touchdown. Playmakers need to make plays, as they say.

Grab your coffee and links

Here are some links to start you morning right, and a mea culpa for my lack of ettiquite yesterday on twitter. Yeah, I suck apparently.

Hoya Suxa's #BeatAkron Tutorial
It's Friday, which means it's #BeatAkron time on the twitter. Pay attention to the rules, or the Glaude will find you and kill you. Trust me. My bad.

With Syracuse Football, Seeing is Believing
Leave it to Sean from Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician to set us all straight for tomorrow. Akron is worse than two years ago, and Syracuse is better. This is pretty indisputable.

Coach Marrone Knows What to Expect from the Zips
Dave Rahme is way too excited right now. Someone hose down off before Saturday or we're gonna lose him for the season.

SU Linebackers set for even bigger season in 2010
Everyone loves the Syracuse linebackers. Trust me, I do too. I just hope they can stay healthy.

Tops Named Syracuse Sports Sponsor
Does anyone still collect baseball cards? I have a box of 1992 Fleer's somewhere in my parents house, but it's been a long time since I actually bought a pack.

Big East Picks +1

Every week we'll try to pick the Big East games heading into the weekend and pick a bonus national game. Let's kick off week one right here, right now (home teams in CAPS).

RUTGERS (-38.5) over Norfolk State (Thursday)
This game already started, but I was taking Rutgers no matter what. Way to schedule tough Scarlet Knights ... although 'Cuse probably shouldn't talk this year.

UTAH (-3.0) over Pittsburgh (Thursday)
Homefield advantage for the Utes probably makes the difference, but if Pitt can steal the road win it would go a long way towards boosting the Big East's image.

Connecticut (+3.0) over MICHIGAN
Another key game for Big East pride. The Huskies seem to improve every year and Michigan is looking for a reason to fire Rich Rodriguez. This game will help move the process along.

Kentucy (-3.0) over LOUISVILLE
Tough game to call with two bad teams battling it out in a rivalry game. Kentucky probably sucks less though, so let's make them the pick.

WEST VIRGINIA (N/A) over Coastal Carolina
Couldn't find a line on this game yet, but does it really matter? I'll take the Mountaineers and 100 if that's what it takes.

SOUTH FLORIDA (N/A) over Stony Brook
Same deal. No way Stony Brook comes close.

Cincinnati (+2.5) over FRESNO STATE
Can't decide if I think Cincy's better than Pitt or I think Utah's better than Fresno State. Either way, I'm taking the Bearcats in the road upset.

BONUS: Boise State (-1.5) over VIRGINIA TECH
I'm surprised the Broncos are favored in a virtual road game in Landover, Md. Still, the Hokies, and the ACC, always come up small in games like these. I'll take the boys in blue.

SYRACUSE (-7.5) over Akron
Stay tuned for tomorrow's preview to find out why ...

Grab your coffee and links

Marquis Spruill will listen to tunes to calm his nerves before first start 

Would you fight this man?

Pretty impressive to see an 18-year old kid starting on a Big East defense. Kid looks like a beast in that picture too. Preaseason optimism at its finest.

Man vs. Food comes to Syracuse

Watched this last night. It was OK. Solid cameos by an awkward Jim Boeheim and faceless Syracuse lacrosse players. I'd never heard of most of the places featured in the show though.

Will College Football Sell in NY?

Doc Gross certainly hopes so. Apparently so does Notre Dame. The Wall Street Journal breaks down everyone's chances of attracting the golden goose.

 

What the F is Bud Poliquin talking about?

Let's play a little game. Each week, I'll post a sentence or paragraph from a Bud Poliquin column on Syracuse.com. If you're not familiar with his handywork, here's a solid example from a few years back. It's not hard to find good material with this man, trust me.

Anyways, here's the question: If anyone is actually reading the blog, try to come up with what the F Bud is talking about here and post it in the comments section (Note: you can cheat by looking for the story and figuring out the context, but what fun is that?).

If we get enough people playing along, maybe we'll give out some prizes at some point, so tell your friends. Maybe you'll win a sweet Syracuse Orangemen (yes, it says "Orangemen" in the ad) throw blanket. Is that something you might be interested in? But I digress ...


"Forget, in order, how the shoe, horse, rider, battle and kingdom were lost for want of a nail."

You can't make this stuff up.

2010 chances for success/failure

Ask yourself something, Syracuse fans. Do you feel lucky? Well, it's time to break down the chances of SU finishing above, below or at expectations for this season. Feel free to give me your own predictions in the comments.

4 wins or less
The lack of depth proves to be too much for the Orange, who lose key contributors on both sides of the ball and have no suitable replacements. QB Ryan Nassib struggles in his first year as starter and the lack of a deep threat stalls the running game as well as defenses load up in the box. The exhausted SU defense struggles late in games against top teams, and shocking losses to Akron and Louisville are the story of a season that fails to meet expectations.
Chances - 30 percent

5-6 wins
SU makes a big step forward in year two of HCDM's tenure, thanks to an improved pass defense and a 1,200 yard season by Delone Carter. The Orange start the season 3-1 and carry that momentum into the Big East slate, knocking off Louisville and Rutgers to climb out of the conference's basement. The team stays healthy and Nassib shows enough promise in his first year starting to build optimism heading into the offseason.
Chances - 60 percent

7 wins or more
Syracuse caps off a remarkable turnaround season with a resounding victory over the hated BC Eagles on senior day to clinch its first bowl bid since 2004. Alec Lemon and Aaron Weaver emerge as reliable weapons for Nassib, who enjoys a breakout season in his first running the offense. Nassib leads the Orange to upset wins over Rutgers, UConn and BC, to go along with wins over Akron, Maine, Colgate and Louisville. Chandler Jones, Derrell Smith and Doug Hogue are all off to the NFL after leading SU's much-improved defense. Delone carter is sure to play on Sundays as well. The Orange is back. Blogger runs onto field ... hugs Marrone ... cries.
Chances - 10 percent

5 Keys for SU to get back to a bowl

Why five keys? Clearly you haven't been paying attention. Or you're new; in which case, welcome. So here's the deal: it's going to be incredibly difficult for Syracuse to reach seven wins and qualify for a bowl berth. Everything is going to have to fall into place, meaning failure in any one of these five areas will probably leave them watching bowl games from home.

1. Get after the quarterback
Syracuse's run defense was the pleasant surprise of the '09 season. The pass defense, however, disappointed, giving up 235 yards per game and 24 TDs. SU's pass rush didn't do its defensive backs any favors, only recorded 3.5 sacks per game last year. Nine of those came in the Orange's most impressive performance of the year against Rutgers, leading to an 8 for 18 performance with just 104 yards and two INTs from the Scarlet Knights. If that could become the rule instead of the exception this year, the secondary will fare much better.
Key players - Doug Hogue and Chandler Jones
Hogue was a monster in that Rutgers game, recording 3.5 sacks, and Jones will have to emerge as the D-Line's top pass rushing threat.

2. A WR must emerge as a deep threat
The Orange only averaged 9.4 yards per catch last season when you erase Mike Williams' totals. Alec Lemon proved he could catch it with the best of them when he racked up nine grabs against UConn in the season finale, but without a deep threat, defenses will load up in the box. This will make life difficult for both the running and passing games.
Key player - Aaron Weaver
I have no idea if Weaver can be that guy in 2010. He may be the slowest guy on the team for all I know ... I've never seen him play. What I do know is that none of the guys from last year's roster can stretch the field, so I'll make Weaver the pick out of nothing but blind optimism for the unknown.

3. Play above their talent level
There's just no way Syracuse is more talanted than seven teams on its schedule this year. That means they will need to overachieve and create at least one or two true upsets to earn a bowl bid. They did it last year against Rutgers and Northwestern (don't laugh, they were a bowl team last year). This year, SU will probably need at least two (maybe three) wins against BC, Washington, Rutgers and USF.
Key player - Ryan Nassib
Remember what happens when your mediocre QB has a monster game? Think Louisville in '07 when Andrew Robinson led a huge upset for the Orange on the road. Maybe Nassib has one or two of these in him.

4. Can't miss layups
With that being said, SU simply cannot afford to give away any games against the easiest competition on the schedule. The Orange gave away games against Minnesota and Louisville last season that should have been W's, and that proved to be the difference between bowling and not. Plus, if Syracuse can run off three of their first four, it could build momentum to carry throughout the season. Must win against Akron, Louisville, Maine and Colgate.
Key player - Doug Marrone
It's up to HCDM to keep the Orange on task every week. This team is simply not good enough to look ahead past anyone.

5. Stay healthy
Here's a little secret: The SU starters are actually pretty good this year. There are a lot of talented players on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately, there's a big drop off from the starters to the reserves. That means every injury will hurt that much more.
Key players - Linebackers
The LBs are probably the most talented group ... at the top. It's also probably the thinnest. An injury to Smith or Hogue could be devastating.

Glass-Half-Full Stat of the Week

3-8

Rich Rodriguez finished his first season at West Virginia with a 3-8 record. The Mountaineers finished 1-6 in the Big East, good for 7th place. The next year, RichRod and WVU put together nine wins, including a 6-1 conference mark, en route to an appearance in the Continental Tire Bowl. Keep that in mind when considering SU's chances coming off a 4-8 season.

Early Morning Links

Sean over at Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician does a much better job than me with the links, so you should probably make a habit of going to his site for those. I'm not going to try to immitate him too much (you know, besides making a similar name, layout and general idea of a blog), but I was up early this morning and saw these guys on the interwebs. Enjoy ... 

Best Case/Worst Case: Syracuse

Not surprisingly, the best and worst cases involve the Big Ten, Rutgers and Yankee Stadium.

Collier Back at Syracuse 

Don't be fooled ... he's still on the team, but won't be suiting up any time soon.

College Football Odds

15-1 odds to win the Big East seems surprisingly optimistic. I'll take it.

Rosner helps Orange get line on success 

Another profile on an offensive lineman. I think it's just about time to start the season now ... please. 

Rice commits to play for Syracuse lax 

It's always hard to tell if these recruits are actually any good. Gotta think 82 goals is worth something though.

Preseason Awards

The NCAA loves preseason awards. They give out All America nods during the preseason. They make a list of Heisman hopefuls. They even pick who the best team is before the season starts with a preseason poll. Frankly, I'm not sure why we even waste our time playing the games if we've already given out all the awards.

So, since I, like the NCAA, have all the answers before the season even begins, I feel confident in telling you EXACTLY what's going to happen this year. So here goes ...

Offensive MVP - Delone Carter
This one's pretty obvious. The only true playmaker on the offensive side, Carter has to be the man to carry the load literally and figuratively. As long as someone tells him the opposing team's linebackers threw a snowball at his car, SU's running game should be just fine.
-Runner up - Ryan Nassib
You'd hope the quarterback would be the most valuable player on a good team. It's just tough to tell what Nassib is capable of if the ball is in his hands in crunch time.

Defensive MVP - Derrell Smith
Another no-brainer for MVP, Smith is the unquestioned leader on the defense. He made tremendous leaps and bounds last season, and the expectations are high for the redshirt senior.
-Runner up - Doug Hogue
Hogue mirrored Smith in taking a big leap as a converted running back to linebacker. He has the speed, but can he add the strength to be a star?

Impact Frosh - Prince-Tyson Gulley
Looks like Marquis Spruill is the only freshman who will start, but Gulley looks to make the most impact, filling in for Averin Collier as a backup to Carter and Antwon Bailey and seeing time as a returner on special teams. Plus, that name is awesome.
-Runner up - Spruill
He's going to start ... that puts him ahead of everyone else.

Pleasant Surprise - Alec Lemon
There's not a lot of confidence in the SU receivers, and that's probably fair based on their production last year. But Lemon came on strong at the end of last season with nine catches and 140 yards in the finale against UConn. If he steps up, the entire offense will improve.
-Runner up - Mikhail Marinovich
The focus will be on Chandler Jones on the defensive line this season. That should give Marinovich more favorable matchups on the other end.

Biggest Letdown - Chandler Jones
Everyone's high on Art's brother, and I'm not saying he's a bust. It's just asking a lot for the junior to suddenly become Dwight Freeney or even his brother. He certainly has the skills and the pedigree, but at just 250 pounds, he might still have some growing to do.
-Runner up - Doug Hogue
Hogue could be defensive MVP (see above) or he could be a giant disappointment. Hogue's big numbers were boosted by one monster game against Rutgers which could have been the exception more than the rule.

Most Important Game - Rutgers
Tough call for this one, but SU has the chance to steal back the fertile New York/New Jersey recruiting ground by upending Rutgers on its own turf for its second-consecutive win against the Scarlet Knights. With a win over Louisville as well, Syracuse could finally escape from the Big East basement, too.
-Runner up - Boston College
Hopefully it's the game that seals a bowl win (hopeful), or at least a .500 season (possible). No matter what, it always feels good beating these guys.

As always, leave your comments below.

Welcome to The Joe Fields Era

Maybe you remember Joe Fields as a competent free safety; a solid player who racked up eight interceptions and almost 200 tackles in his last two seasons. He really wasn't bad ... I swear.

The truth is, most of us remember Joe Fields as something else. Upon arriving at SU in the fall of 2004, one of my first purchases was an Orange No. 5 jersey. Pretty standard. Many great Syracuse QBs had donned the Orange cinco: Donovan McNabb and Marvin Graves come to mind. But I wasn't buying No. 5 for either of them. My jersey was going to be for the NEXT great SU QB ... that's right ... Joe Fields.

Needless to say, this one didn't really go as planned for me. Fields played just 13 games at quarterback, many of those in relief of the uncomparable Perry Patterson. He completed just 22 of his 57 passes (38.6 percent) and piled up a train wreck TD/INT ratio of 1/6. His introduction to Division I athletics came as the losing quarterback in a 51-0 beatdown against Purdue on national television to open the '04 season - setting the tone for Coach P's final season at the helm.

So why name a blog after an underachieving QB? Because, the truth is, I always believed the Joe Fields Era was just around the corner. Even after 51-0. Even after Perry Patterson. And kind of even after he was intercepting passes on defense. The Joe Fields Era was going to bring SU back to the glory days, where they would compete for Big East dominance and make runs at national titles. And now, years after Fields left the Carrier Dome, I'm here to tell you that the Joe Fields Era is still coming.

We'll cover more than the history of Joe Fields in Syracuse Orange here at The Joe Fields Era. This blog will strive to be your one-stop shop for 'Cuse football, basketball and lacrosse. From now through memorial day (god-willing, lax fans), you can look forward to constant updates and analysis. We'll dissect the week's games and try to come up with ways to destroy all things Georgetown, UConn and BC, whenever possible.

This is sure to be a work in progress, so if you have any comments, recommendations or criticisms, feel free to leave them in the fan posts or e-mail me at brian.tahmosh@gmail.com.

Thanks for stopping by ... I hope it's as fun for you as it is for me.

-Brian