INSIDE SLANT
Syracuse went 4-8 in Doug Marrone’s first season as coach, a slight improvement over the depressing 3-9 record Greg Robinson produced in his fourth and final season with the Orange.
In the process, the Orange made huge strides in such areas as total defense, rushing defense, sacks and third-down defense. They also gained 60 more yards per game on offense, finishing at more than 300 yards per game for the first time since 2004.
On the flip side, they committed 10 more turnovers, took a small step backward in rushing offense and made only modest gains in scoring offense and defense. Considering the roughly 30 scholarship players Marrone lost to defections and injuries, his honeymoon season was certainly more encouraging than Robinson’s 1-10 first season in 2005, and not just because of the numbers.
Despite the depleted roster, the 2009 Orange fought hard from start to finish. The games were generally more competitive and entertaining than the torment that was the preceding four years.
Still, 4-8 is, well, 4-8, and it represents only a slight ascent from the deep hole in which Syracuse currently resides. The seniors who departed following the team’s season-ending 56-31 loss at Connecticut believe they helped establish a foundation that will turn around the record soon.
NOTES, QUOTES
Game Of The Year: Syracuse 31, Rutgers 13—The result is still shocking. The Orange were coming off a tough loss to lowly Louisville, and Rutgers just popped into the top 25. The Scarlet Knights admitted they were looking past the Orange, but it certainly helped that the win came during a heavy recruiting weekend at Syracuse. Some of the recruits, who also had Rutgers on their list, made verbals to the Orange.
Player Of The Year: QB Greg Paulus—The team bids farewell to Paulus, who set single-season school records for completions (193) and completion percentage (.667). There were periods of up-and-down play, but overall, the experiment of starting the former Duke point guard seemed to work.
Fast Forward: The offense returns redshirt freshman Ryan Nassib, who played in nine games and saw his role increase as the season progressed. The team is in great shape at tailback with 1,000-yard rusher Delone Carter, dual-purpose back Antwon Bailey (4.7 yards per carry) and Averin Collier back. The loss of nose tackle Arthur Jones, who will likely be a high NFL draft pick in April, is huge. Depth will remain a big issue at linebacker, but all three starters from the most improved unit on the team are back, and all should be much more comfortable after a season of playing a new position. Derrell Smith and Doug Hogue blossomed into stars as the season progressed, and E.J. Carter showed signs of joining them toward the end. Overall, this is the best trio of linebackers Syracuse has fielded in a long time. Safety should be in great shape next season with the return of Mike Holmes, Max Suter and Shamarko Thomas, who started at three different positions (strong safety, cornerback and outside linebacker) as a true freshman.
Recruiting Trail: Syracuse is up to 21 commitments with the announcement that TE Beckett Wales of Venice, Fla., has decided to play for the Orange. ESPN.com’s evaluation of Wales calls him “a solid receiver” in need of a college weight program in order to “add serious bulk.” The site indicates Iowa, Duke, UAB, Toledo and Florida International were all recruiting Wales. Rutgers, Troy and Indiana were also involved.
Quote To Note: “The one thing great about our school is the university really sells itself and does a great job. The community is also involved in this. Our team and the players we have here. That’s what gets us recruits and the direction of our football program. So we’re excited about getting on the road and talking to recruits about that.”—Syracuse coach Doug Marrone.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Players To Watch In 2010:
QB Ryan Nassib—Nassib completed 36-of-68 passes (.529) for 422 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
RB Delone Carter—The Orange have tremendous depth at tailback, but Carter is the best of the bunch.
SS Shamarko Thomas—Played nearly everywhere as a true freshman, but his future is at strong safety. He has playmaker written all over him.
Pro Prospects:
WR Mike Williams—There’s no doubting the talent, but Williams enters the draft as a talented enigma. He was booted out of school after his promising sophomore season, but he worked his way back and was having another solid season as a junior when he left the game with a month remaining. Scouts are going to ask him some tough questions about his dependability.
DT Arthur Jones—Should be a high-round pick because he’s a dominant run stuffer.
Roster Report:
• Marrone fired offensive coordinator Rob Spence, defensive line coach Derrick Jackson and wide receivers coach Jaime Elizondo. The move came one day after the Orange concluded the 2010 season with a 56-31 loss to Connecticut.
• Sophomore DB Grant Mayes has requested and received a release from his scholarship with the Orange football team. Mayes, who is from Roselle, N.J., played in nine games this season, mostly, if not all, on special teams. He recorded five tackles. Mayes found himself listed last among cornerbacks on the final depth chart prior to the Connecticut game last Saturday. He had been bypassed by true freshmen Phillip Thomas, Shamarko Thomas and Rishard Anderson this season. Mayes is the 22nd player to leave the program since the arrival of head coach Doug Marrone last December. He is looking into North Carolina, Arizona and Illinois as possible schools to transfer.
• The football career of OT Jonathan Meldrum at Syracuse University is over. Team physician Dr. Irving Raphael has disqualified Meldrum from further participation in football because of arthritis in the player’s right knee.
