Doug Marrone - Celebrating the Rebirth of SU Football
The Syracuse OrangeMEN -- and there's no other description for this team right now but MEN, shocked the 20th ranked West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday, winning 19-14. In the process, Syracuse put the rest of the Big East on notice that its five years of doormat status are officially over. Those who underestimate this team, and it's coaching staff so ably led by Doug Marrone, do so at their own peril.
None of the people that write in this space thought SU had a shot. Coming off a beating at the hands of the Pitt Panthers, all we were hoping for was for SU to keep it close and leave with their heads held high. Well being wrong never felt so good. Behind a tenacious defense and an offense that was just good enough, the Orange knocked off a ranked opponent for the first time since 2007.
The win as all the more remarkable when you consider the following facts:
- Ryan Nassib completed two more passes to SU players than Geno Smith did.
- Doug Hogue tied Van Chew and Antwon Bailey for the most receptions in the game with two - and he was SU's leader in receiving yardage. Not too bad for a linebacker who didn't take a snap on offense.
- Delone Carter was injured in the first half and never returned.
If I would have told you all those things before the game, and then told you SU would win, you'd call me an idiot and demanded I take a drug test. With that said, let's get to some extremely happy observations.
- The aforementioned Doug Hogue had been having a quiet, solid season. He hadn't played poorly, but he he just hadn't kicked it up a notch from a good junior year. Well Mr. Hogue picked a fantastic day to put together an NFL highlight reel, and we'd like to thank West Virginia for providing the venue. Two interceptions, 10 tackles, 1.5 of them for losses, the creator of general mayhem and a national defensive player of the week honor -- yeah, that'll do.
- Give Scott Shafer a TON of credit. West Virginia's first two drives cut through the Syracuse defense like Joey Chestnut cuts through hot dogs. Shafer made some adjustments, kept attacking and got his blitzers in spots to harass Geno Smith. The result - a shut out the rest of the way. The turn around was simply amazing. Especially given the performance against Pitt the week before.
- Speaking of Smith, it was clear the Orange had him rattled. The constant pressure and changing looks they presented took him out of his game. I think this kid is going to be really good, but yesterday an aggressive defense and really smart defensive coordinator figured out how to stop him.
- Likewise, the performance was equally admirable as the Orange contained Noel Devine. With a 5 point lead all second half, raise your hand if you were expecting Devine to make a back-breaking run and take it all the way to the house. If your hand isn't up, you're lying, or delusional.
- Phillip "Michael" Thomas changed the momentum of the game with the end zone interception of Smith late in the first quarter. The Orange were reeling, and Tubbs came in and saved the day. Crocket would have been proud. It was a different game after that pick.
- I love the athleticism and relentless attacking style Sharmarko Thomas and Jeremi Wilkes bring to the back 4.
- Rob Long might have truly saved the game for the Orange - and not with his foot. He made two great holds on shaky snaps on SU's first two field goals. In a game SU won by five, he saved two field goals - you the math. He had a good day punting as well, as he really changed field position several times.
- Delone Carter was rolling towards a 100 yard day when got injured in the first half. Antwon Bailey stepped in for him and almost put 100 up himself. We already know the Orange have two talented running backs, it was fun to see them both at their best, against the league's best.
- Van Chew ran a nice route on Syracuse's only truly successful passing play of the game.
- West Virginia's last drive down the field was so slow Andy Reid called Bill Stewart and told him to hurry up. That was really odd.
- While the game plan wasn't exciting, it was clear that the Orange thought they could run on the mountaineers and run they did - to the tune of 183 yards. As the game progressed and it was also clear the passing game wasn't going to get much done, the staff chose to grind it out -- and it worked.
- Speaking of which, Ryan Nassib and the Orange aerial attack had a rough, rough day. Nassib didn't play particularly well, but you can't put it all on his shoulders. He never had a clean pocket or any time to throw all day. The line did a terrible job at identifying pressure and getting it blocked. One positive though, no turnovers, which was huge in a game like this.
- The good news for the Orange is that next week's opponent, the Cincinnati Bearcats, have been a mess defensively and this game will give the SU a chance to get back on track, and establish some confidence in the passing game.
- Doug Marrone has won as many Big East games in a year and half as Greg Robinson did in four.
- After 8 long years, the Schwartzwalder trophy is back where it belongs -- in Syracuse, in the arms of Chandler Jones.
- There's only one way to feel after a program-changing win like this - good. James Brown good.
None of the people that write in this space thought SU had a shot. Coming off a beating at the hands of the Pitt Panthers, all we were hoping for was for SU to keep it close and leave with their heads held high. Well being wrong never felt so good. Behind a tenacious defense and an offense that was just good enough, the Orange knocked off a ranked opponent for the first time since 2007.
The win as all the more remarkable when you consider the following facts:
- Ryan Nassib completed two more passes to SU players than Geno Smith did.
- Doug Hogue tied Van Chew and Antwon Bailey for the most receptions in the game with two - and he was SU's leader in receiving yardage. Not too bad for a linebacker who didn't take a snap on offense.
- Delone Carter was injured in the first half and never returned.
If I would have told you all those things before the game, and then told you SU would win, you'd call me an idiot and demanded I take a drug test. With that said, let's get to some extremely happy observations.
- The aforementioned Doug Hogue had been having a quiet, solid season. He hadn't played poorly, but he he just hadn't kicked it up a notch from a good junior year. Well Mr. Hogue picked a fantastic day to put together an NFL highlight reel, and we'd like to thank West Virginia for providing the venue. Two interceptions, 10 tackles, 1.5 of them for losses, the creator of general mayhem and a national defensive player of the week honor -- yeah, that'll do.
- Give Scott Shafer a TON of credit. West Virginia's first two drives cut through the Syracuse defense like Joey Chestnut cuts through hot dogs. Shafer made some adjustments, kept attacking and got his blitzers in spots to harass Geno Smith. The result - a shut out the rest of the way. The turn around was simply amazing. Especially given the performance against Pitt the week before.
- Speaking of Smith, it was clear the Orange had him rattled. The constant pressure and changing looks they presented took him out of his game. I think this kid is going to be really good, but yesterday an aggressive defense and really smart defensive coordinator figured out how to stop him.
- Likewise, the performance was equally admirable as the Orange contained Noel Devine. With a 5 point lead all second half, raise your hand if you were expecting Devine to make a back-breaking run and take it all the way to the house. If your hand isn't up, you're lying, or delusional.
- Phillip "Michael" Thomas changed the momentum of the game with the end zone interception of Smith late in the first quarter. The Orange were reeling, and Tubbs came in and saved the day. Crocket would have been proud. It was a different game after that pick.
- I love the athleticism and relentless attacking style Sharmarko Thomas and Jeremi Wilkes bring to the back 4.
- Rob Long might have truly saved the game for the Orange - and not with his foot. He made two great holds on shaky snaps on SU's first two field goals. In a game SU won by five, he saved two field goals - you the math. He had a good day punting as well, as he really changed field position several times.
- Delone Carter was rolling towards a 100 yard day when got injured in the first half. Antwon Bailey stepped in for him and almost put 100 up himself. We already know the Orange have two talented running backs, it was fun to see them both at their best, against the league's best.
- Van Chew ran a nice route on Syracuse's only truly successful passing play of the game.
- West Virginia's last drive down the field was so slow Andy Reid called Bill Stewart and told him to hurry up. That was really odd.
- While the game plan wasn't exciting, it was clear that the Orange thought they could run on the mountaineers and run they did - to the tune of 183 yards. As the game progressed and it was also clear the passing game wasn't going to get much done, the staff chose to grind it out -- and it worked.
- Speaking of which, Ryan Nassib and the Orange aerial attack had a rough, rough day. Nassib didn't play particularly well, but you can't put it all on his shoulders. He never had a clean pocket or any time to throw all day. The line did a terrible job at identifying pressure and getting it blocked. One positive though, no turnovers, which was huge in a game like this.
- The good news for the Orange is that next week's opponent, the Cincinnati Bearcats, have been a mess defensively and this game will give the SU a chance to get back on track, and establish some confidence in the passing game.
- Doug Marrone has won as many Big East games in a year and half as Greg Robinson did in four.
- After 8 long years, the Schwartzwalder trophy is back where it belongs -- in Syracuse, in the arms of Chandler Jones.
- There's only one way to feel after a program-changing win like this - good. James Brown good.
3 comments:
James Brown good...it doesn't get any better than that.
Agree on your assessment of the passing game... I think most of the problem is the line. Nassib was getting hit, literally, about 2 seconds after the snap... almost impossible to pass in that situation. I think if he gets time he can get the job done.
On the other hand, I am amazed how far the line has come in run blocking. I can't believe how well they have knocked two of the best d-lines in the league off of the ball. Great job in the run game.
Too hot in the hot tub... Heeaaaa! Gonna getcha hot Hey! Hot Tub...!
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