Syracuse Predictions

[ZachTheZip]

Secondly, I'm wondering when we suddenly became a team with good talent several guys deep. We've struggled with that ever since our arrival as a 1-A school. And even if that situation has improved, I'd still question whether our talent on the bench is topping BCS level programs.

We're not a team with good talent several guys deep. But Syracuse is not fielding close the max number of scholarship players yet. It will take one or two more recruiting classes to replenish the depth lost due to the coaching change forcing players out last season.

[Zipmeister]

More discussion on the freshmen and other new faces who will play for the Orange on Saturday.

Link

Among the interesting quotes:

The true freshman running back is one of several new players to earn a spot in the starting lineup for the opener. Gulley is penciled in as the kick returner for the Orange, who open their 2010 campaign at 6 p.m. in Akron’s InfoCision Stadium.

In addition to playing a key role in his first game, the 5-foot-9, 17-pounder will be performing in his hometown. Gulley attended Garfield High School in Akron, Ohio, blocks away from where he’ll play in his first collegiate game.

I'll just sit back and let Zipmeister conjure up something good for this.

Another Hofstra transfer, senior Jose Cruz, was named the starter at tight end over senior Nick Provo.

“He’s been by far the most improved player in camp,” Marrone said of the 6-5, 250-pound Cruz. “Every part of his game has improved.”

Ironically, Cruz was an Akron Zip for three years, playing two seasons, 2007 and 2008, before transferring to Hofstra in 2009. When that school dropped football, Cruz came to Syracuse.

Cruz ALWAYS had the talent. I'm sure he'd love to play well against the Zips.

Here's three possibilities:

Ironic that Gulley would be penciled in as the kick returner. At 5'9" and 17 pounds He should be nicknamed "The Pencil."

One pound less and they could also call him the bowling ball.

Bet his body fat percentage is the lowest on the team.

[johnnyzip84]

More discussion on the freshmen and other new faces who will play for the Orange on Saturday.

Link

Among the interesting quotes:

The true freshman running back is one of several new players to earn a spot in the starting lineup for the opener. Gulley is penciled in as the kick returner for the Orange, who open their 2010 campaign at 6 p.m. in Akron’s InfoCision Stadium.

In addition to playing a key role in his first game, the 5-foot-9, 17-pounder will be performing in his hometown. Gulley attended Garfield High School in Akron, Ohio, blocks away from where he’ll play in his first collegiate game.

I'll just sit back and let Zipmeister conjure up something good for this.

Another Hofstra transfer, senior Jose Cruz, was named the starter at tight end over senior Nick Provo.

“He’s been by far the most improved player in camp,” Marrone said of the 6-5, 250-pound Cruz. “Every part of his game has improved.”

Ironically, Cruz was an Akron Zip for three years, playing two seasons, 2007 and 2008, before transferring to Hofstra in 2009. When that school dropped football, Cruz came to Syracuse.

Cruz ALWAYS had the talent. I'm sure he'd love to play well against the Zips.

Here's three possibilities:

Ironic that Gulley would be penciled in as the kick returner. At 5'9" and 17 pounds He should be nicknamed "The Pencil."

One pound less and they could also call him the bowling ball.

Bet his body fat percentage is the lowest on the team.

"Classy" Freddie Blassie might have referred to him as the "pencil-necked geek" (as he did to a very young, pre-roid Vince McMahon a long, long time ago).

[Lee Adams]

Cuse will try to run the ball. They'll try to keep it entirely on the ground through out the game in the hopes of wearing out our defense. But they don't realize that 1) we don't run a 3-3-5 defense any more so it won't be so easy (Anyone reading this could have run for 100 yards a game against that formation) and 2) we have far more depth than they do. Our D-line is three-deep with great talent and behind them is a linebacking corps that is tops in the MAC.

I'll follow up on those two points...

First, I don't care what 11 guys are on the field for us defensively, and what their position says in the program. We just better be a lot better at tackling than we've been with many of these same guys on the field the last couple of years.

Secondly, I'm wondering when we suddenly became a team with good talent several guys deep. We've struggled with that ever since our arrival as a 1-A school. And even if that situation has improved, I'd still question whether our talent on the bench is topping BCS level programs.

there has been a lot of talk about how this defense has a lot of talent in some places. But,they have just not been able to stop people and take over a game when its been needed. Unless the entire unit plays at a significantly higher level the offense won't be able to score enough points. Syracuse won last year with a bad team. With Carter at RB this will give a good indication as to whether the Zips have progressed on the defensive side of the ball...

[johnnyzip84]

Cuse will try to run the ball. They'll try to keep it entirely on the ground through out the game in the hopes of wearing out our defense. But they don't realize that 1) we don't run a 3-3-5 defense any more so it won't be so easy (Anyone reading this could have run for 100 yards a game against that formation) and 2) we have far more depth than they do. Our D-line is three-deep with great talent and behind them is a linebacking corps that is tops in the MAC.

I'll follow up on those two points...

First, I don't care what 11 guys are on the field for us defensively, and what their position says in the program. We just better be a lot better at tackling than we've been with many of these same guys on the field the last couple of years.

Secondly, I'm wondering when we suddenly became a team with good talent several guys deep. We've struggled with that ever since our arrival as a 1-A school. And even if that situation has improved, I'd still question whether our talent on the bench is topping BCS level programs.

there has been a lot of talk about how this defense has a lot of talent in some places. But,they have just not been able to stop people and take over a game when its been needed. Unless the entire unit plays at a significantly higher level the offense won't be able to score enough points. Syracuse won last year with a bad team. With Carter at RB this will give a good indication as to whether the Zips have progressed on the defensive side of the ball...

I agree, Lee. We'll find out, one way or another, if the defense has improved as much as some (including myself) think. BTW, here is an interesting article on the switch to the 4-3.....courtesy of The Daily Orange. I know.......kinda crazy when the opponent's media can provide better information than our own.

Link

[K92]

Cuse will try to run the ball. They'll try to keep it entirely on the ground through out the game in the hopes of wearing out our defense. But they don't realize that 1) we don't run a 3-3-5 defense any more so it won't be so easy (Anyone reading this could have run for 100 yards a game against that formation) and 2) we have far more depth than they do. Our D-line is three-deep with great talent and behind them is a linebacking corps that is tops in the MAC.

I'll follow up on those two points...

First, I don't care what 11 guys are on the field for us defensively, and what their position says in the program. We just better be a lot better at tackling than we've been with many of these same guys on the field the last couple of years.

Secondly, I'm wondering when we suddenly became a team with good talent several guys deep. We've struggled with that ever since our arrival as a 1-A school. And even if that situation has improved, I'd still question whether our talent on the bench is topping BCS level programs.

there has been a lot of talk about how this defense has a lot of talent in some places. But,they have just not been able to stop people and take over a game when its been needed. Unless the entire unit plays at a significantly higher level the offense won't be able to score enough points. Syracuse won last year with a bad team. With Carter at RB this will give a good indication as to whether the Zips have progressed on the defensive side of the ball...

I agree, Lee. We'll find out, one way or another, if the defense has improved as much as some (including myself) think. BTW, here is an interesting article on the switch to the 4-3.....courtesy of The Daily Orange. I know.......kinda crazy when the opponent's media can provide better information than our own.

Link

Daily Orange is going a great job. Another great Akron piece link

[MDZip]

I agree, Lee. We'll find out, one way or another, if the defense has improved as much as some (including myself) think. BTW, here is an interesting article on the switch to the 4-3.....courtesy of The Daily Orange. I know.......kinda crazy when the opponent's media can provide better information than our own.

Link

I learned that Wagner has been with us for three years, which even incorrect is still more than I've gotten out of the local bloggers. It is kind of nice when an opponent puts this much effort toward you. Makes you feel just a little more important.

[Dr Z]

I agree with the guys, The Daily Orange is doing a good job of pumping out opponent articles.

Ianello’s 4-3 defense is the third defensive formation Akron has played in the past three years??? 4-3, 3-3-5 and....????

JD quote when he got hired "I'm bringing a defense to the Mac that they have never seen (3-3-5)" What is this third defense? Don't say "stack" either, same as 3-3-5.

PS There is a Mac team playing the 4-2-5 this year (serious).

[skip-zip]

I agree with the guys, The Daily Orange is doing a good job of pumping out opponent articles.

Ianello’s 4-3 defense is the third defensive formation Akron has played in the past three years??? 4-3, 3-3-5 and....????

JD quote when he got hired "I'm bringing a defense to the Mac that they have never seen (3-3-5)" What is this third defense? Don't say "stack" either, same as 3-3-5.

PS There is a Mac team playing the 4-2-5 this year (serious).

Much like our own situation in previous years, I still wonder why people make such a big deal out of these number alignments. I'm sure this defense will feature a Rover in the middle of the field who can play both the run and the pass. And that differs dramatically from having a 4-3 where a 3rd linebacker would have to carry basically the same responsibility?

[MaxZIP]

I agree with the guys, The Daily Orange is doing a good job of pumping out opponent articles.

Ianello’s 4-3 defense is the third defensive formation Akron has played in the past three years??? 4-3, 3-3-5 and....????

JD quote when he got hired "I'm bringing a defense to the Mac that they have never seen (3-3-5)" What is this third defense? Don't say "stack" either, same as 3-3-5.

PS There is a Mac team playing the 4-2-5 this year (serious).

Much like our own situation in previous years, I still wonder why people make such a big deal out of these number alignments. I'm sure this defense will feature a Rover in the middle of the field who can play both the run and the pass. And that differs dramatically from having a 4-3 where a 3rd linebacker would have to carry basically the same responsibility?

It shouldn't matter all that much though our no player in our starting secondary is over 5-9. I think it was obvious last year that the 5 backs on the field were not big enough to effectively stop anything and the three linemen were not able to pressure the QB. Put some beef on the field this year and see what happens.

[Blue & Gold]

I'm predicting Akron 21, 'Cuse 14.

Zips D looks solid against a mediocre 'Cuse O. Cuse has one nice, sustained drive for a TD & hits a big play for their other.

Akron's O keeps it mostly on the ground, eats clock & moves the chains behind a good OL & strong running from AA. At least once tomorrow, as 'Cuse packs the box, Patrick Nicely hits Jeremy LaFrance for a long 6.

[GoZips88]

Syracuse 38

Akron 13

It's going to take some winning to help me get rid of this hangover.

[Lee Adams]

show me...nothing that indicates that the players who were here last year on the defensive side will perform any better as a unit this year at least not in the first month of the season....offensively,don't see this unit scoring a ton of points at this point in the season and thats what it would take for a win...syracuse will at least cover...hope i'm wrong...the crowd? labor day weekend,questionable weather,apathetic students,losing team...unless syracuse brings several thousand maybe 15-18K...tops

[zippy5]

people worry more about the crowd than the actual game. win some damn games, and there will be fans.

[Dr Z]

Syracuse 28

Akron 10

Winner?