Color me as disappointed Ron Thompson could be switching to defense. The Post-Standard ran a piece saying Sugar Bear is getting a look at defensive end. I realize there are depth issues along the front seven for the Orange. It’s nice that Thompson played well on defense back in high school. But the reason he was a 4-star recruit out of high school was for his soft pass catching ability, and his size/speed combination.
He’s a matchup nightmare for defensive backs. Who’s big enough to bring him down, yet fast enough to stay with him?
In April I wrote about how unfortunate it was he wasn’t going to play in the Spring Game. He was returning off hip surgery, so I understand why SU wants to be careful with him. But the matchup problem Thompson presents would be an enormous advantage for this offense.
Look at just a handful of highlights from a football camp he participated in.
His burst off the line separates him from corners. His size allows him to fight through every defensive back for the football. His leaping ability means he can snare a pass at the highest point. His hands are terrific for a big man.
I’m looking at the highlight where he nabs a tight spiral in the end zone with his finger tips and makes it look easy. How is he going to use that talent at defensive end?
One of the most highly touted defensive ends coming to SU recently was Max Beaulieu. He was a washout on the line, so coaches moved him to tight end. He never ended up contributing. How weird is it that a top-tier tight end is now being moved to defensive line?
This switch also makes me wonder if it ever would’ve happened under the old regime. Tyrone Wheatley worked tirelessly to win a rare 4-star recruit to a program still in the early stages of rebuilding. Doug Marrone was an offensive coach, and Nate Hackett prized the tight end in his passing schemes. Now, defensive-minded Scott Shafer takes over, already worried about his lack of depth on the d-line. Is it possible the new staff just doesn’t have the same hopes and patience invested in Sugar Bear?
It’s great that Sugar Bear has a good enough attitude to not fight the position change. But if he shifts there permanently, I’ll be disappointed we never saw the pass-catching, field-stretching potential of Thompson. I think he can be a star… on the offensive side of the ball.
Posted: D.A.
91 responses to “Why is Syracuse Thinking of Switching Sugar Bear Thompson to Defense?”
This is a dumb article. “Thinking” of a “possible” move to defense? He’s been moved there. The release from SU Athletics stated as much and the depth chart shows as much. This isn’t something they are toying with. It’s something that has happened. You can express your disappointment, but let’s not act like this hasn’t already happened. Once again, the Fizz misses the point.
He apparently was a beast at defensive end in high school
It’s possible he could be moved back, so it does seem like something they’re toying with. I think the staff sees what the new DE’s bring to the table, and also see what Thompson does before making a final decision. It would be nice to hear Shafer tell us what his thinking was here.
Just put him on both sides of the ball.
He reminds me of Ashton Broyld. The coaches need to get the best athletes on the field to compete in the ACC. Even when they are out of their natural position they are better than the rest… So when do we expect to hear that Ashton has been moved to LB.
Ashton would probably be a DB over LB… and I wouldnt be opposed to it.
This is out of the Greg Schiano school…take a HS star and change their positions and even IF IT works it takes time to get accustomed to the new position!!Playing DE in HS and at “Cuse” arent exactly the same thing!!From Rons reports he was a beast in practice untill now at TE and it took 2/3 guys to bring him down!?!I’ll take Rons report like with G.Morris 3rd RB turning into a star RB this year….thats not to sat it wont work with Thompson as maybe HCSS see’s a weakness at the position or lack of real speed!?!btw I could see AB be a killer SS or OLBer!
He looks good in that camp vid. going against a bunch of small children by the looks of it lol.
@Russell MacEachern;
Switching Ron Thompson to a DE as a stop gap measure for one year is ridiculous. His strenght is at tight end and he should be used there.
But what do I know? I’m only a fan(fans don’t know a thing) and I am not going to second guess the coaching staff.
Huge mistake is all I got to say.
Ron I agree with you!! He’s that TE SU hasn’t had in years. Even though he hasn’t played any downs yet. Stupid move mainly because the QB(who ever it is) will need Thompsons athletic abilities to dominate smaller DBs!! Love HCSS, but not this move. I like to hear his reason behind this move!!
I agree with DA..this move, on paper, makes NO sense. We’ve got 2 JUCOs coming in and a 6’4″ 270lb(Isiah Johnson) coming in as DEs.
Look at the hands/routerunning of Thompson. After Beckett Wales, who do we have at TE??
I have no doubts that Thompson looked good as a DE 2-3 years ago.uhhh How many D1 tackles was he up against when he “looked good?”
I’m not buying this move as legit. I look for Thompson to be back at TE by Aug 12th.
It may be the case that Thompson might be a better TE than Wales as no one has seen Thompson play TE in nearly a year and back then he had a bad hip.
The coaches know best. That is why they are aid big bucks to win in whatever arrangement they devise. Personally, I like Sugar Bear at TE but perhaps there are good reasons for the switch. Anyone know of any? And what of Ashton Broyle? Can’t we settle him in permanently some place?
Everything that I had heard was this kid was a beast at TE. Surprised by this move but trust the coaches. They’re at practice everyday and see the ins and outs. If we find someone to put pressure on the QB this defense will be very good.
My opinion on Ron Thompson is based solely on his performance during the 2011 Spring Football Scrimmage. When I can watch a TE catch the ball over the middle with three defensive players drapped over him from the shoulders down and couldn’t bring him down,they blew the whistle to stop the play. That play alone told me that we had a giant of a man playing the game and was toying with the kids that was trying to defend him. On another play Nassib threw to him over the middle and after catching the ball went the distance for a TD,and now we’re being told he accomplished all of that with a bad hip.
I was surprised that we didn’t see
Ron Thompson and George Morris III play during the 2012 season and concluded that if these two players got on the field of play during the 2013 season,they would dominate the game. Lets all hope that Ron Sugar Bear Thompson is put back at TE where I know he’s going to be more comfortable playing and will dominate a game.
Just my wishes guys,
For what it’s worth, it’s probable that they gave him several reps at DE during Spring Practice and he immediately showed he’s worthy of being in the rotation. The coaches want to play two-deep with constant rotations on the DL. Assuming that’s the case, and Wales is locked in as the starting TE, why not put Thompson where he’ll get 30 plays a game instead of 7-8? He’s got great vertical and lateral speed, so at the least he could be a 3rd down rush specialist.
Actually bgogo we could probably also rotate him in in double TE sets to open up the RG and 3rd down plays to give opposing Defs something to worry about!This way we get maximum use of this 4*talent!!
Ron Thompson outgrew the TE position, it is as simple as that, I am hearing that he is around 270 lbs now. It happens with 17-19 year old kids who are not done growing yet. He is also a RF and has even more room to grow in the weight room.
Also, we have plenty of tight ends. Behind Wales there is Parris (who might be the best on the roster including Thompson), Provo and Batten.
@Frank – as Bgogo says, they have said he could be moved back, so there’s nothing set in stone. I just dont understand taking a beast at TE and converting him to a diff. position. Am I wrong when I say the previous staff recruited him as a TE, not a possible DE? Why mess with a good thing? Look at what great TEs can do in this offense? I dont like the move – and I dont trust the coaches until I see them win games. Shafer is unproven at this moment as a HC. I hope they move him back to TE.
@D.A.
I agree with your response to Frank. I don’t like the move either,but if what CuseOnly is saying is true,that he out grew the TE position,wouldn’t that make Ron Thompson more formidable at TE? I know if I was 6′ 185 lb safety or corner,I wouldn’t want to be the one responsible for trying to bring down a 270 lb TE coming full bore at me carring the ball.
If Ron is that big and he stays at TE,I see defensive players bouncing off of him like rubber balls bouncing off a wall.
Ron is a player that I was really interested in watching him play this year, and I thought would help Syracuse reach a bowl for the 2nd year in a row. I don’t understand the move,but I’m not going to second guess the coaching staff either.
He’s had a ton of hip issues. Tight ends repeatedly take blows to the hip. This move might be necessary.
I just hope this move is made out of strength and not weakness. In the glory days, players like Qadry Ismail and Jim Turner could sit for a few years because we had enough talent ahead of him on the depth chart. Ideally moving players around should be done because that is where they can best impact the game and not to shore up positions of weakness. Having said that, big men who can run and catch are hard to find. Perhaps the TE is not going to play as big a role in McDonald’s offense? Only time will tell.
My concern is that our new OC told us that he was going to have an offense that was going to be fast and high scoring. Losing a TE with speed doesn’t seem to fit the scenero that’s he’s trying to build here.
@Big Blue/Marroniac; you guys make some good points in your posts. Thank you.
@Ron – What if they keep him at TE as a redshirt freshman and he continues to grow and possibly hits 280, 290 possibly 300 lbs.?
Make the move next year and waste another year?
I would also bet that adding the extra weight has affected his speed and running ability. This move makes sense, he was a beast at DE in HS as well as TE.
TE’s run more as they run routes, rush ends have to run 4-6 yards to the QB and Strongside Ends anchor the corner. Not as much running at DE. This could extend his career and keep him from taking hits to the lower body/hip area.
@CuseOnly;
Your points are well taken and you may be right on point with all of them. During the 2011 spring scrimmage we saw a small part of what this manchild was capable of doing in a game. If he can play as good or better at DE,then I will agree the change was good for all concerned. Until I see that happening,it’s a concept hard for me to accept.
If he grows to 280-300 lbs,I agree the coaching staff would have to make the change.
GO CUSE;
Right now SU,RU and BC are in a fierce recruiting battle for a 6″3″260 TE out of a HS in E.Pa!!I cant think of his name right now but Im sure one of you can remind me?He’s very agile for a big man and also plays DL in his HS…Coatesville,Pa?I think?Viscious blocker!!In the Pro sets these guys are valuable!!
@Russell MacEachern;
These are two of the palyers that Coach Shafer is after from Pa.
6’4″ 260 lb TE Trey Klock out of Lower Dauphin High School Hummelstown PA.
6’4″ 240 lb ILB Tyler Burke out of Coatesville High School Coatesville PA.
@Russell MacEachern;
I believe Trey Klock is the one your talking about Russell.
According to different websites Tyler Burke is listed as an ILB.
Hope this helps Russell.
Hey guys I just read an article on Troy Nunes website;
“RB Jerome Smith has been granted a retroactive redshirt for his injury-shortened freshman season. That means he now has two more seasons to join Syracuse’s RB elite in the record books”.
If this is true,it changes the dynamics for Syracuse University. If he stays healthy the running game is going to be real fun to watch.
Yeah thats the kid I hear GaTech is going hard after him yesterday too!!
Ron,we want this kid Klock to clockem!!RU,BC and Temple along with us and GT now are trying to get his verbal!!Dont let the 2*s fool ya…he’s a solid 4* blocker!!
@Russell MacEachern;
Never have and never will be a big fan of the star rating system. All I say is Russell for any kid to be that size(6’4″ 270 lbs) in his senior year of high school that loves to hit any player from the opposing team has to be alright in my book. A TE with size and strenght is a tool that should be used quite a bit and respected by other teams defenses.
I hope we get him Ron he sound’s like a rare kid!!He seems to want to commit soon too!
@Russell MacEachern;
I honestly believe that we(Syracuse Fans) are going to be pleasantly surprised come NLOI signing day.
Regular position might be DE, but would not prevent the use at TE on occasion. His future due to increased size may actually be at DE, either way I hope he becomes a monster for the cuse.
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