When Doug Marrone took over Syracuse football, he was billed as a no-nonsense coach who would instill a toughness in the team that was lacking for years under Greg Robinson. Rebuilding the interior strength of the ‘Cuse was considered one of the most immediate priorities to turn the Orange back into winners. Heading into Year 3 of the Marrone Era, The Dougie seems to have done just that.
- Follow The Fizz on Twitter Live from Big East Media Day Next Week
The Syracuse offensive line exceeded expectations in ’10 after coming into the season as an inexperienced question mark. This year the Orange O-Line is ranked by ESPN as the top unit in the Big East, adding to an increasing amount of national spotlight being shone on Central New York.
“The Orange have four returning starters, including two seniors. You have Justin Pugh, who made second-team All-Big East last year as a freshman. You have a more mature and experienced unit than the one last year, which had to replace four starters. There also is depth to have a nice eight-man rotation. The concern is at center, where Macky MacPherson is undersized. Actually, when you look at the entire group, it is undersized. Andrew Tiller is the only one who tips the scales at more than 300 pounds.”
It shouldn‚Äôt come as a surprise that Marrone has been able to turn SU‚Äôs line play around so quickly since it is his expertise. The Dougie was a three-year starter on the offensive line during his playing days at Syracuse and made a brief NFL career out of banging heads with the big guys. Before becoming the Offensive Coordinator for Sean Payton‚Äôs Saints, Marrone spent four years as on offensive line coach in college, and served as the O-Line coach for the New York Jets from ’02-’05.
Marrone has used that expertise to make the Orange significantly tougher up front. With a ground-first attack, a dominant offensive line is required. SU also hopes to have a more explosive offense this season and it all starts in the trenches. For the attention given to skill players like Ryan Nassib, Antwon Bailey and Van Chew this offseason, the Syracuse offense may go as far in ’11 as the big guys up front can carry it.
Not only does the Orange have a formidable frontline heading into this season, but Marrone has made sure it’s a strength for the program into the future. SU is projected to start three underclassmen on the offensive front this year (Pugh, MacPherson, Zach Chibane), and this summer’s recruiting effort has emphasized bringing in depth on the O-Line and infusing the defensive front seven with young talent.
Commits like Jason Emerich, James Washington, LeRoy Owens, and several others promise to bring that Marrone-brand toughness to future Orange teams. SU has gotten commitments from four offensive lineman and seven defensive front seven players so far in the ’12 class.
Marrone’s plan is ahead of schedule at SU with a bowl victory in Year 2, and the Orange now looks poised to compete for a Big East title behind the strength of its O-Line. The Dougie is building a winner in Central New York the best way he knows how Рfrom the inside out.
Posted: Steve Niekam
7 responses to “Marrone’s Baby: ESPN Ranks Syracuse Offensive Line Best in Big East”
Steve, for the last 10 years the offensive line at Syracuse was the laughing stock of the Big East and other teams would use that against us(Rutgers comes to mind here) in their recruiting process.
For years everyone was hoping for Syracuse to get stronger so that the Big East could regain some of it’s respect back. Well the time has come,Syracuse is no longer the laughing stock of the league. Watch out everyone, here we come.
Steve your article was just awesome,and I mean really awesome. Keep the good news coming. Boy I wish we had a game tomorrow, can’t wait.
GO CUSE!
Ron, first of all thank you, I really appreciate it.
Line play is one of the most cruicial aspects of the game, and in my opinion it might be the one that coaching can have the biggest impact on. Marrone has taken what was a weakness, and turned it into a strength. Keep bringing the enthusiasm…hasn’t been this much excitement for Orange football in a LONG time.
Pat Killorin a 2 time All American at SU and a second round pick of the 1967 Steelers always said that the O Line will dictate a winning ior a losing season. Coach M is as good as they come and he is bringing in athletes to this program with some unheard of talent. If they have the skills then he will mold this team into winners both on and off the field. GO CUSE
But HCDM still is lacking top local state talent. The Cuse needs the top 3 NYS players at least to verbal. The talent is really not proven yet that is coming. He just can’t talk the local NYS players to stay home. So I’m still wondering about his effectiveness.
Year in and year out the same thing is said about the recruiting of players by Syracuse. Always to start the discussion is that they are all unproven, not ranked, not a 4 or 5 star athlete and syracuse will never be in the upper echelon of college football.
Well why don’t some of you who think that Syracuse will never bring in talent ask Ryan Bartholomew who signed with Baltimore,Mike Holmes who signed with Chicago,Derrell Smith who signed with Tampa Bay and Doug Hogue a converted running back who played ILB at Syracuse and just signed with Detroit?
Go ask these guys that question and please let us all know what their response was. I’d like to hear them.
GO CUSE!
I definitely wanted to develop a remark to appreciate you for these superb tactics you are sharing at this website. My time intensive internet investigation has finally been paid with incredibly good knowledge to go over with my guests. I would suppose that many of us website visitors actually are rather blessed to be in a great community with so many brilliant individuals with interesting pointers. I feel somewhat privileged to have encountered your entire web page and look forward to some more cool minutes reading here. Thank you once more for everything.
Hey there! I just wish to give you a big thumbs up for your excellent
info you have got right here on this post. I’ll be returning to your website for more soon.