Follow the Fizz on Twitter for the latest SU basketball news
Last year, something became obvious: the Syracuse offense would struggle, and the defense was the strong unit. However, in the red zone, the offense was pretty good, while the defense was well below average. Basically, the red zone caused the units to do a role reversal. This year, it looks like both units could improve and based on last season, and small improvements could be enough to make both units top 50 in the nation. 
Offense
Last year, on 46 trips into the red zone the Orange scored 37 times, or 80.4 percent. Twenty-nine of the scores were touchdowns.
While it doesn’t rank in the top 50 in the nation, that is a good percentage. The problem is that teams on the list of top 50 red-zone offenses in the country got inside the 20s way more often than the Orange. The Orange did just fine in the red zone, but need to get there more often.
This year, SU also needs to overcome the loss of Jerome Smith, who played a huge role in the red-zone offense last year. Adonnis Ameen-Moore, who had a very limited role last year after having success in the “tank package” in 2012, could fill that role. Ameen-Moore could be that power back the Orange needs in short-yardage and goal-line situations, even if it isn’t with a linebacker leading the way as fullback.
Another way the Orange could succeed is through the growth of Terrel Hunt. If Hunt is more accurate through the air, and picks his times to run a little better, then the red-zone efficiency could be even better this year.
Defense
The Syracuse defense was not good in the red zone last year, a big change from the rest of the field when they had success. Opponents scored 34 times in 40 chances inside the 20s. This gets a little better for the SU D when you consider that it allowed 25 touchdowns in those 40 chances. This is a big fall from a team that ranked 48th in the nation in overall defense. With the leaders in the country stopping teams in the red zone between 60 and 80 percent of the time, the Orange falls at about 85 percent.
As noted, the Orange does not fall too outside the range of the nation’s top 50 red-zone defenses, but that five percent can make a huge difference over the course of the year. For the Orange, it is hard to see this unit getting better this season with the losses of Jay Bromley and Marquis Spruill as run-stoppers up front. At this point, it remains to be seen who replaces Bromley along the defensive line, though it looks like Marquez Hodge will take over for Spruill. The defense as a whole maybe a little stronger with a better and more consistent secondary, but spots along the defensive line remain a bit of a question mark, as does Marquez Hodge at the middle linebacker position.
Posted by: Seth Goldberg
7 responses to “Syracuse’s Production in the Red Zone”
Seth..no one comments …get it!
Maybe real estate….
I don’t want the tank package to be the only time we see big boy Moore, but I wouldn’t mind seeing some sort of big man short yardage package. Its the videogame world, but I put one of my DT in at fullback a la Fridge for the goal line sets/short yardage. But in the redzone outside of the goal line, I think Custis will factor in and gasp……Flemming. I’m going way out on a limb because he has yet to show us anything really tangible. But I think his height and jumping ability can help us down there. Had he not gotten hurt last year, I think he would have become a very good possession and redzone target.
For anyone who doubted Austen Wilson’s talent should read the following article.
http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2014/08/syracuse_quarterback_austin_wilson_back_into_race_backup.html#incart_river
I’ve said all along that he should be the backup and possibly before the end of the season taking over as the starting Qb for the Orange. If he gets the starting role this season,(barring injury)Austin Wilson will be our QB for the next 4 years. Mitch Kimble will move into the backup spot at some point in his career if he doesn’t transfer out first.
Read the article gentlemen.
GO CUSE,GO Austin Wilson.
For the first time,I met and talked with WR Alvin Cornelius and CB Wayne Morgan last night. They both seemed to have positive attitudes toward Syracuse having a great year this year.
With that tid bit of knowledge I’m hoping my 9-3 prediction becomes reality.
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story.
I leave a leave a response when I appreciate a article on a site or if I have something
to contribute to the discussion. It is a result of the fire communicated in
the article I looked at. And on this post Syracuse
Fabulous articles! I professionally appreciate the effort along with the energy you placed in the exploration plus writing. I endure in understanding on just about any point.