Doug Marrone has the Orange 6-2 for the first time since 2001The Syracuse Orange took revenge on the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday, beating a team that had dominated them for the last four years by the score of 31-7. Based on the effort this Syracuse team gave last year, I was optimistic the Orange could put together a decent season this year. Something like 6-6 would have represented real progress and a brighter future ahead.
Well the Orange have 6 wins already - and they got those wins in their first 8 games. Those 8 games happened to include the toughest part of their Big East schedule. Frankly, I'm speechless. It's like I've just seen a double rainbow. How does one react to such a stunning turnaround? If you're Doug Marrone - you forge ahead and act like the win isn't special at all - because that what you did after beating West Virginia and it paid off. For the rest of us, we start dreaming of bowl games and absurdities like a 9 or 10 win season. While we're doing that, let's bang out some quick observations on yesterday's game.
- The announcers on ESPNU brought up something I was completely unaware of, yet highlights just how good the Syracuse defense has been as of late. In 5 of the 8 games this year, SU has shut out their opponent in the second half. Scott Shafer can't get enough credit for the job this unit has done.
- Speaking of ESPNU, here's a picture of the worst two announcers on the planet. Rob Stone and David Pollack really enjoyed calling a game featuring Ryan Nossib, Max Sutter, and Alex Lemon. Here's some advice fellas -- get some Pam Ward game tapes and study them. Even she's better than the both of you.
- Playing an aggressive defensive scheme, Syracuse has done an excellent job of limiting explosive plays against USF, WVA, and now Cincy. Obviously Pitt was the exception, but it's remarkable that a team that's attacking so much, isn't getting beat more down the field. It's a formula for victory obviously.
- This is a different game -- a closer game -- if Zach Collaros plays, but hey, those are the breaks. The Orange have certainly had more than their fair share of injuries over the years.
- Delone Carter is getting better as the season progresses. There have been a few stories noting how he's more patient now waiting to hit the hole and that's true. He's also running with a sense of purpose that makes Jimmy McMillan seem unfocused. No one wants to tackle this bowling ball of a running back right now.
- The offense did enough to win, but certainly lacks explosive play capabilities. That puts an emphasis on not turning the ball over, and while the Orange had two turnovers, neither was a killer.
- I don't know what the ceiling is on Ryan Nassib, he's still in his first year starting and the team is winning which is the only thing that matters, but he is leaving some plays out of the field. He's got a big arm and seems to fit the ball in well on throws between the hash marks. On deep balls and stuff towards the sideline, he's unpredictable.
- While I don't how Nassib's career will ultimately shake out, I know his first name doesn't begin with B.
- With the Orange leading big in the fourth quarter, I was surprised to see so many passes being attempted. That was odd, especially given the situation and the play calling all year.
- Van Chew with another TD. Who DOESN'T love Van Chew? If that person exists, let us know, we'll correct the problem.
- D.J. Woods has a lot of tattoos.
- Chandler Jones and Mikhail Marinovich are playing very well on the edges right now. SU has two great weapons in those two guys.
- Let's take a minute and acknowledge the season Ross Krautman is having. The freshman kicker has been clutch all year. Most of his field goals haven't been long, but they are true. This is college football - kickers are notoriously inconsistent. Not Ross. I'm excited he's going to be here for another 3.5 years.
- I'm sure you've seen the stat a ton of times already -- but Doug Marrone has won as many games in a year and half as Greg Robinson did in 4........and he's already won more conference games. If SU keeps winning, he has to be the national coach of the year. He has to be.
- Go Orange, bring on Louisville.
Well the Orange have 6 wins already - and they got those wins in their first 8 games. Those 8 games happened to include the toughest part of their Big East schedule. Frankly, I'm speechless. It's like I've just seen a double rainbow. How does one react to such a stunning turnaround? If you're Doug Marrone - you forge ahead and act like the win isn't special at all - because that what you did after beating West Virginia and it paid off. For the rest of us, we start dreaming of bowl games and absurdities like a 9 or 10 win season. While we're doing that, let's bang out some quick observations on yesterday's game.
- The announcers on ESPNU brought up something I was completely unaware of, yet highlights just how good the Syracuse defense has been as of late. In 5 of the 8 games this year, SU has shut out their opponent in the second half. Scott Shafer can't get enough credit for the job this unit has done.
- Speaking of ESPNU, here's a picture of the worst two announcers on the planet. Rob Stone and David Pollack really enjoyed calling a game featuring Ryan Nossib, Max Sutter, and Alex Lemon. Here's some advice fellas -- get some Pam Ward game tapes and study them. Even she's better than the both of you.
- Playing an aggressive defensive scheme, Syracuse has done an excellent job of limiting explosive plays against USF, WVA, and now Cincy. Obviously Pitt was the exception, but it's remarkable that a team that's attacking so much, isn't getting beat more down the field. It's a formula for victory obviously.
- This is a different game -- a closer game -- if Zach Collaros plays, but hey, those are the breaks. The Orange have certainly had more than their fair share of injuries over the years.
- Delone Carter is getting better as the season progresses. There have been a few stories noting how he's more patient now waiting to hit the hole and that's true. He's also running with a sense of purpose that makes Jimmy McMillan seem unfocused. No one wants to tackle this bowling ball of a running back right now.
- The offense did enough to win, but certainly lacks explosive play capabilities. That puts an emphasis on not turning the ball over, and while the Orange had two turnovers, neither was a killer.
- I don't know what the ceiling is on Ryan Nassib, he's still in his first year starting and the team is winning which is the only thing that matters, but he is leaving some plays out of the field. He's got a big arm and seems to fit the ball in well on throws between the hash marks. On deep balls and stuff towards the sideline, he's unpredictable.
- While I don't how Nassib's career will ultimately shake out, I know his first name doesn't begin with B.
- With the Orange leading big in the fourth quarter, I was surprised to see so many passes being attempted. That was odd, especially given the situation and the play calling all year.
- Van Chew with another TD. Who DOESN'T love Van Chew? If that person exists, let us know, we'll correct the problem.
- D.J. Woods has a lot of tattoos.
- Chandler Jones and Mikhail Marinovich are playing very well on the edges right now. SU has two great weapons in those two guys.
- Let's take a minute and acknowledge the season Ross Krautman is having. The freshman kicker has been clutch all year. Most of his field goals haven't been long, but they are true. This is college football - kickers are notoriously inconsistent. Not Ross. I'm excited he's going to be here for another 3.5 years.
- I'm sure you've seen the stat a ton of times already -- but Doug Marrone has won as many games in a year and half as Greg Robinson did in 4........and he's already won more conference games. If SU keeps winning, he has to be the national coach of the year. He has to be.
- Go Orange, bring on Louisville.
Little Champ and I enjoyed tonight's episode "Return of the Ridge Raiders." Break it down wiki:
