Syracuse’s defense prided itself last season on not allowing a single 100-yard rusher. Friday night, Villanova’s quarterback John Robertson made sure the 2014 Orange would not continue the trend. He finished with 115 yards on 34 carries. SU’s front four had no answer for the Wildcats elusive QB. The majority of talk following this game surrounded Terrel Hunt’s ejection; the incident overshadowed the poor performance from SU’s defensive line.
The Orange started the game with Robert Welsh and Micah Robinson at the defensive end spots with Eric Crume and Ron Thompson in the middle. This front four unit was able to get to Robertson, but struggled to finish pl (only Robinson had relative success; he recorded 2.5 tackles for loss). The missed tackles and lack of speed from this group was very disheartening. Robertson would repeatedly be pressured and flushed out of the pocket but then gain yardage with his feet when he should have been sacked.
Over the last month defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough told the media not a single player had impressed him enough to earn the second starting defensive tackle position and it showed against Villanova. After Thompson, Marcus Coleman, Isaiah Johnson and Ryan Sloan (in the goal line package) were all given opportunities but failed to slow the Wildcats rushing attack. Friday night’s game served as a rude awakening to the SU coaching staff that Jay Bromley is no longer on this team. Someone new must step up.
Struggling to defend the run against Villanova is not a good sign for a team that faces off against Notre Dame, Florida State and Clemson later this season. While the front 4 eventually did save the game in stopping the Wildcats two-point conversion for the win, it was a rare stop for this group. This level of performance is unacceptable against an FCS team, especially when Scott Shafer’s goal for this team is 8 wins.
Posted: Connor Morrissette 
207 responses to “Failure Up Front: Syracuse Defensive Front Four is a Problem After Nova”
Good honest look at what happened and what is likely to happen!
Add lack of o-line performance, lack of talent in the defensive backfield!
4-8 probably a good outcome.
Our lack of D-line will be a serious issue @ ND, Fl State and Clemson!
Good observations!
The punch didn’t matter!
34 carries…..
On top of that 27 pass attempts. So 61 times Robertson had the ball in his hands.
61 times the CUSE defense had a shot at
“blowing this ‘Cat up”.
I am not saying play dirty, I am not saying or implying CUSE should take cheap shots at players. I am saying it is amazing after 60 times with the ball in his hands and possibly being hit by the CUSE defense, on the last play this guy was still the best option to win the game in NOVA’s eyes.
I remember a quote from Shafer when he first was HC about taking down the opposing QB hard…and of course we’re always treated to “hardnosed”.
Nice sentiments coach, you may want to pass them along to this year’s roster.
I’m not yet willing to throw Shafer under the bus! I know he owns the
Whole Program.
I do think his loyalty to Mc and the offensive staff is
poorly placed. Calls an awful game!
This is Shafer’s second year..if he lands the 2015
Class and plays these kids like Louisville and Miami..next year tells
the tale. They shouldn’t have or we shouldn’t have believed
the hype.
Going to be a long season!
Cuse17..agree with most of what you said and in no way am I arguing…
But you look at last year’s team…how they finished and…
Oh Boy Hickey’s back/staying another year.
YAY!! Brisley is faster.
We’ve got 7 starters back on D!!
Wow…9 starters back on offense and the kicking game is intact!!
I mean this isn’t hype. We ought to be as good or gooder than last year. We stunk in many phases of the game.
It is going to be a long long season.
This little QB danced and danced in the backfield and our D Line could not penetrate.
What a miraculous win… 3-9 record I am really miffed
orangeinva
follow the logic.. I was all excited myself….
Nothing would make me happier.. BUT
they were awful the other night!
As they say..
lots of football to be played!
ASo Bullough isn’t impressed by any of the others for the front four. Wayne Williams isn’t in th rotation so why was he given a scholly? Something is not adding up . I’ve never I ‘ve never been impressed by Bullough and his in-game adjustments. Did anyone see anything that resembled an adjustment by the defense to counterRobinson? Bull might think its OK to point his finger at his D-line.but its his call on how to handle what he has. It can only be described as BS.
A little perspective goes a long way. Syracuse kept the Wildcats to an average of 3.3 yards per carry. Even Robertson was held to 3.4 yards per carry. It’s just that he ran the ball 34 times so eventually he racked up 115 yards. He never ran for more than 12 yards on any one carry. I’m not that concerned about our run defense going forward. I do believe an adjustment may be needed with respect to having the ends not lose contain and not rush past the QB and maybe keeping a spy on any other “running” QBs, but overall, the run defense didn’t play badly. I’m much more concerned about the offense, but running and passing.
The scholarship thing isn’t based on being in the rotation, but I’m not so sure what the deal is with big Wayne. I believe we will see him more as the season progresses. I hoped for him to fight his way into the spot next to Crume. Big athletic DT would seem to fit what we want.
I didn’t see the game but I have to agree with cuse1105. TO me, the defense was not the problem as much as the offense. I said before the game that SU needs to control the clock and keep Robertson off the field. Our OLine should be able to control Villanova’s DLine any day on any field. Between Moore, Gulley, Estime, Morris, McFarlane, Broyld and Hunt SU should give enough different looks to have holes to move the chains on every possession. Granted, without Hunt, defending our offense was easier for Villanova. I am not taking anything away from Wilson. He is a different QB than Hunt. Wilson came in and didn’t lose the game in his first appearance. That was good enough for me. The OLine wasn’t and that’s what kept our DL’s on the field all day. The weight is on the OLine’s shoulders.
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