2011-2012 Football Previews – Big East Conference – Syracuse Orange
Syracuse had a very strong football program until the middle of the last decade, when the school hired Greg Robinson and he made the switch to a West Coast offense.
Big East 2011-12 Football Previews: Syracuse Orange
Coach: Doug Marrone
2010 Record: 8-5
Syracuse Gambling Odds from Sportsbook.com to win BCS: +5000
Syracuse Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2011 Schedule –>
From 2004-09, Syracuse was quite pathetic, but the hiring of Marrone has the Orange headed in the right direction again.
Last year, the Orange were surprisingly quite good, especially on defense.
Several of the team’s best defenders depart in 2011, however, so Marrone must have his offense pull its weight if the Orange is to continue to be a respectable Big East competitor. Positively, the offense is a more veteran unit than the “D”, particularly at the important skill positions.
Even if it takes time to amass more talent in upstate New York, Syracuse is decidedly out of the Greg Robinson Era – and that’s the best news of all.
Team Strengths
The Orange should have a more effective attack led by junior pivot Ryan Nassib. He has taken his lumps to this point and has a better wide receiver corps to utilize in ’11. He put up 2,334 yards and a decent 19-8 ratio last season and the likelihood is that Nassib is one of the better QBs in the conference this year.
Upperclassmen Van Chew, Marcus Sales and Alec Lemon present a solid trio of wideouts. The passing game will be buttressed by excellent TE Nick Provo.
Marrone’s offensive line is both experienced and talented in 2011; the unit only must replace its center. The brightest stars are LT Justin Pugh and RG Andrew Tiller.
Senior tackle Michael Hay, a highly-regarded junior college transfer, could really make strides as his assistant coach also coached him as a freshman in junior college.
Team Weaknesses
Syracuse loses three of its top five tacklers from last season. Linebackers Derrell Smith and Doug Hogue were both first-team all-Big East and Hogue was a draft choice of the Detroit Lions. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Needless to say, the LB unit will take some steps back; after the duo’s departure, the only player with experience is true sophomore Marquis Spruill.
The defense also must replace both its defensive tackles, though ends Chandler Jones and Mikhail Marinovich should provide pressure off the edge.
Special teams must replace punter Rob Long, who is a former semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. Junior Shane Raupers has the first crack at the job.
2011-12 Syracuse Football Prediction: 6-6
Last year, Syracuse’s trend was a great defense pulling along a rather limping offense; but this season the opposite may be true. Nassib should pilot a talented passing attack, and senior RB Antwon Bailey is fast, even if he doesn’t have the power of the departed Delone Carter.
The O-line will do its job and the biggest concern truly is replacing a glut of defensive production.
The Orange draw USC from out-of-conference, travelling to Los Angeles in Week 3.
Marrone’s men also get scrappy Wake Forest to start the season and must travel to Pittsburgh to finish the regular season. Coach Marrone is steadily improving the roster’s talent, but the losses on defense should be acute and Syracuse probably won’t match 2010’s eight wins.
If the Orange finish at .500 and can squeeze in a bowl game, that would be a fairly successful campaign.
2011 Syracuse Orange Schedule
9/1/11 8:00 PM ET WFRST
9/10/11 1:00 PM ET RHODE
9/17/11 12:00 PM ET @USC
9/24/11 12:00 PM ET TOL
10/1/11 12:00 PM ET RUTG
10/8/11 8:00 PM ET @TULNE
10/21/11 8:00 PM ET WVIRG
10/29/11 12:00 PM ET @LOU
11/5/11 12:00 PM ET @CONN
11/11/11 8:00 PM ET SOFLA
11/26/11 12:00 PM ET CIN
12/3/11 12:00 PM ET @PITT
