Between SU’s quarterback situation, injuries, the tension between the Orange’s coaching staff, and the dominance of Florida State, today’s contest looks like one of the most daunting tasks Syracuse football has faced. The Seminoles are a 24-point favorite, and after ugly losses to Notre Dame and Louisville, a drubbing at the hands of FSU might kill off more hope that SU can salvage something from this season. Scott Shafer, new offensive coordinator Tim Lester, and the Syracuse staff must rally the troops today to keep this game close.
To accomplish this Lester’s offense must find a way to stay on the field. This will be a tough task with young backups Austin Wilson and AJ Long likely to see time at quarterback today in place of the injured Terrel Hunt.
SU’s defense has proven this season that it can force turnovers and get stops; the Orange has created seven turnovers in the last two weeks alone. If the offense gives the ball right back to the Seminoles after a big defensive play or goes 3-and-out however, there’s only so much Cam Lynch and the Syracuse D can do.
Lester has a tricky quarterback situation on his hand,s but his biggest challenge today is establishing a successful run game, something George McDonald was not able to do. In the last two weeks the Orange has only managed 150 yards on the ground from its running backs and quarterback. McDonald’s offense relied too much on the short pass when the run game has failed in the last two games. Opposing defense’s recognized that and shut SU down.
The Orange’s season has taken a turn for the worst since the team started 2-0. The chances of Syracuse keeping this respectable may be slim, but something encouraging will be necessary for the fans to keep some hope for the rest of the season.
Posted: Connor Morrissette
9 responses to “What Syracuse’s New Offense Must Do in Debut vs. National Champs”
Syracuse is a 24 point underdog,I’m surporised I thought it would have been higher.. I want to see the Orangemen play good honest football,and stay respectable in this game. I hope tha Austin Wilson plays well and moves the team up and down the field and scores Syracuses first TD through the air,something that hasn’t been done in the first 5 games of the season. Will history repeat itself? The last time a #1 team came to the dome(Nebraska) the fans reacted the same way,the local media reported the same type of messages that we the SYRACUSE ORANGEMEN didn’t have a chance in hell of ever winning that game. The game was a defensive low scoring battle won by the Orangemen that shocked the football world 30 yrears ago. I’ve always been told that history does repeat itself,I hope the people that’s told me that was correct.
GO ORANGE,good luck today,I hope you beat the Seminoles.
FSU 49 SU 3!!! Sorry!!
DO NOT FORGET THE KIDS OF PSABUSEDU!! THE NCAA DID!!
There is no denying the glaring difference already , on the offense . Good call HCSS !
Let’s keep running up the middle ….. every goal line play . That is almost ‘original’ , ah well , 1 step forward … 2 backwards . You either trust the offense to throw the ball , or you don’t . I guess .
The funny thing is …. SU is just 2 or 3 plays from it currently being a tied game . So they are playing much better than the score indicates , in my opinion .
Great TD Ishmael ! Please , please , nix that risky sideline screen . That is the worst play in football , as it’s a sitting duck waiting for a DB/S to grab a pick six . Dump it now !!!
Looks like Cuse might have found themselves a QB!!!! For a true freshman, Long looked really good. Long appears to have some play making ability, which you need at QB…and his accuracy was good. The play calling was much better and we made some plays…Ismael looked good as well. Much improved play. Go Cuse!!!!!!!!
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