2008 Syracuse Orange Preview

The pressure has never been greater. The task never larger. Somehow, some way, the Syracuse University football team must shed the shackles of the worst three-year run in program history, fight its way out of the void and get back to being competitive.

Two Minute Drill

A Quick Look at the Orange

The non-conference schedule includes Northwestern, Penn State and Notre Dame, and four of the seven Big East games are on the road. Combine that with a team that has glaring issues at several key positions, and you have a Syracuse club that will have a difficult time escaping the Big East cellar. For Syracuse, the issues could boil down to one unit — the offensive line. It’s been a three-year train wreck that will cost Greg Robinson his job unless major improvements are made. Robinson brought in Mitch Browning from the University of Minnesota to fix the line. Browning is Robinson’s third offensive coordinator in four years. He installed a new offense with the goal of establishing a legitimate running game to complement a quick passing attack designed to take pressure off of Syracuse’s protection problems. The Orange have the skill players to make it work. They just need the line to make it go. Robinson returned to his role as co-defensive coordinator to resolve issues with that unit. The defense is inexperienced at several key positions, including linebacker and in the secondary. It’s a stop-unit that has few playmakers beyond tackle Arthur Jones. But even if the Orange are improved, it’s difficult to envision them finishing any better than eighth place in the Big East.

That’s a starting point for the 2008 Orange and head coach Greg Robinson, who most believe is facing his last season at Syracuse unless significant progress is shown. Robinson survived to coach another season after the Orange finished 2–10 because the school believed it was the fair thing to do. This will be Robinson’s fourth season. The team fielded will be comprised mostly of players recruited and developed by Robinson. That’s why this team must succeed, or at least show that Robinson and his staff are finally pointing the Orange in a different direction.

Despite the stakes, there is plenty of evidence that suggests the Orange won’t be able to make a move. The team remains forever young, particularly on defense. The offensive line is an ongoing albatross that has yet to show signs of becoming functional. The Big East Conference might be coming back to the pack a bit, but it remains a league that by and large looks down on the Orange. That does not go over particularly well with players.

“We’re definitely tired of losing,” says senior defensive end Vincenzo Giruzzi. “It’s about getting it right. Just getting it right. To do that, we have to make some changes sometimes. I’m sick of losing. We’ve got to turn this thing around. There’s a sense of urgency about it. It’s not just me, but other guys on the team, talking in the locker room, talking during workouts, after workouts. We wake up every morning in the winter ... we want to win. Sometimes it occurs to us, we’ve just had enough.”

Quarterbacks

Andrew Robinson enters his second season as the starter and is the unquestioned leader of the offense. Robinson does not lack confidence, even after the pounding he took last season behind Syracuse’s woeful offensive line. Near the end of the season, Robinson had to deal with a cracked rib. Yet he is a resilient player who proved that when given time in the pocket, he can be accurate and productive. He passed for 423 yards in a breakout performance last season against Louisville and closed the season with a 419-yard passing effort against Cincinnati. The Orange have yet to establish a backup. Senior Cameron Dantley has an experience edge over redshirt freshmen Cody Catalina and David Legree. Dantley, the son of NBA Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley, has a big-time arm and major league cool that make him an appealing No. 2 quarterback. Freshman Ryan Nassib arrives this fall and gives the Orange their deepest, most settled quarterback picture in years.

Running backs

Sophomore Doug Hogue emerged in the spring as a powerful, dominating tailback and will likely go into the season as Syracuse’s starter. Yet the storyline for the Orange is the improbable return of Delone Carter and Curtis Brinkley. Both are expected back from major injuries — Carter from a dislocated hip, Brinkley from a broken leg. The Orange may finally have depth, if not holes to run through. Freshman Averin Collier proved in spring practice he could be a factor, too. Fullback Tony Fiammetta, like Hogue, was impressive in the spring. Robinson called Fiammetta “a runaway freight train” who can “do it all.”

Receivers

Mike Williams might be the most talented receiver at Syracuse in a decade. He makes the spectacular catch look routine and would be a national name if he played on a better team. Unfortunately, Williams has been suspended for the 2008 season for academic reasons. Junior Lavar Lobdell has the pedigree and athletic tools to be a force, but he needs to overcome his inconsistency catching the ball. With defenses forced to pay so much attention to Williams, Lobdell will get his chance to be a factor. Donte Davis returns after missing last season with a hand injury. After that, it’s muddled. Dan Sheeran, Van Chew and perhaps true freshmen Marcus Sales, Trey Fairchild and DeAndre Preaster will be in the mix. The two tight ends are both converted defensive players. Mike Owen has settled in as the starter. Former outside linebacker Ben Maljovec was moved in the spring and seems to finally have a home.

Offensive linemen

Syracuse gave up 54 sacks and finished next-to-last nationally in rushing last season. It’s not pretty and it’s nothing new. No single position within the offensive line has struggled more than the tackles. And still, the Orange head into preseason camp unsettled. That’s because Jonathan Meldrum sat out spring practice after having microfracture surgery on his knee last winter. He’ll try and step in at right tackle, which was held down this spring by Corey Chavers, who played at left tackle last season. Tucker Baumbach is the left tackle, though he could be unseated by Chavers depending on how things play out in camp. Senior right guard Ryan Durand is the unit’s best player. Center Jim McKenzie is emerging as a solid contributor. Ryan Bartholomew steps in at left guard, though he’s inexperienced. The depth is scary, and not in a good way.

Defensive linemen

Defensive tackle Arthur Jones is a disruptive, dominating force, and exactly the kind of piece you build a unit around. Jones was second-team All-Big East last season and ranked second in the league in tackles for a loss with 17.5. Jones is a former wrestler who has a variety of moves that make him difficult for offensive linemen to block. Coaches are high on sophomore tackle Bud Tribbey, who along with Jones, gives the Orange a formidable inside presence. Depth is a problem, which is why defensive end Brandon Gilbeaux might slide inside on occasion. Giruzzi is a former linebacker being converted to end. Jared Kimmel returns from ACL surgery, though his availability is a question.

Linebackers

Starting middle linebacker Jake Flaherty is a plugger who overcomes his small size with grit and bulldog tenacity. Like so many other positions, the two outside linebacker positions remain unsettled going into preseason camp. And it comes a year after a revolving door approach with the group. In fact, the two players who started at outside linebacker a year ago — Giruzzi and Maljovec — are now playing different positions altogether. At one outside spot, sophomore Parker Cantey and converted tailback Derrell Smith are competing. On the other, it’s sophomore Mike Mele and redshirt freshman Chad Battles. There is no dominant player; Robinson may find himself continuing to move the pieces around until he finds something that works.

Defensive backs

Mike Holmes was one of the rare revelations from the 2007 season, stepping in and earning a starting position as a true freshman. He gives the secondary a building block. The rest of the defensive backfield is still waiting to be resolved. The safety positions are in flux headed into preseason camp. There are no guarantees that Bruce Williams and A.J. Brown will get the jobs based on seniority. Kevyn Scott, Max Suter and Randy McKinnon continue to push Williams and Brown for the starting roles. Nico Scott looks like he’ll be the other starting corner, though converted wide receiver Da’Mon Merkerson is more the prototype corner because of his size and speed. It remains to be seen if 2007 starter Nick Chestnut, who was dismissed from school in January for academic reasons, will rejoin the team.

Specialists

The Orange have a solid, dependable and slimmed down placekicker in Pat Shadle, who has made 26-of-32 field goals the last two seasons. Punter Rob Long and kick returner Max Suter earned freshman All-America honors last season. What Syracuse needs are deeper kickoffs, a new long snapper and an ability to cut down sending the kickoff return team onto the field. Opponents sent 78 kickoffs at the Orange last year, a number underlining SU’s defensive woes.

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