2009 Syracuse Orange Fantasy Preview
June 14th, 2009 by Vince Mullins
I admit to being excited about the 2009 Syracuse football team with its abundance of feel good stories and “phoenix-riing-form-the-ashes” feel.
I also admit that this excitement may be borne of nithing but (a) disturbingly low expectations and (b) one of my favorite blogs is the Orange-focused Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician. Despite five years of putrid football after the firing of Paul Pasqualoni in 2003, Troy works for me due its continual optimism in the early season which turn to self-effacing humor before the calendar hits October.
But back to fantasy college football – Syracuse hired a new coach from one of the most successful NFL offenses of all time, the quarterbacks battle for the starter position includes a former Duke point guard, their main running back returns from multiple leg injuries, and one of the country’s more dynamic wide receivers returns after academic suspension. I might smell more value here.
Below is my SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) and expected depth chart of our (you do not want to know) rated offense since 2006.
STRENGTHS
New coaching staff – for most teams a coach new to the college game would be a problem as the players progress slower while learning a new system. Push this idea aside since the Robinson regime finished a ravishing 3-24 in conference play. BLEECH! In comes Doug Marrone who built the gameplans for the New Orleans Saints for the previous three years, and in addition brings in Rob Spence from Clemson to run the offense. The infusion of new ideas to a program hungry for success should produce nice results, hopefully as soon as this year.
WEAKNESSES
Unproven skill positions – Only Junior WR Mike Williams has any history of fantasy-worthy production (as a soph in 2007 – 837T10), but there is hope. Whether Greg Paulus of Duke hoops fame (and 2004 Gatotrade HS Football POY) will unseat redshirt freshman Ryan Nassib at QB will be the talk of the summer practices, but I really lean to Paulus since he seemed to have his pick of schools and would have only chosen a team where he could use his one year of eligibility.
A good battle brews at RB with powerful junior Delone Carter returning after two years of injuries and red fresh Averin Collier. Add to the mix soph Antwon Bailey and the Orange have some horses. Marrone achieved great balance of the run and pass in his Saint offenses but also showed dexterity in managing RBBC (Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister).
OPPORTUNITIES
Low expectations = value – With the half-decade of detritus lining the floor of the Carrier Dome, questions at each position and a brand new staff, many will ignore the Orange on Draft Day. WR Mike Williams should be a great value in the WR 3 area and Greg Paulus and Delone Carter likely available very late.
THREATS
Tough schedule – Despite 8 home games and only four road games, this may be enough to hold down all the excitement as the OOC slate pits them against three good Big Ten defenses right out of the gate, then hosting the USF Bulls in Week 5. FCS Maine Black Bears present an interesting challenge as they were a playoff team and finished 8-5.
DEPTH CHART
QB – Paulus, Nassib, Charley Loeb
RB – Carter, Bailey, Collier
WR Williams, Marcus Sales, Lavar Lobdell
TE – Mike Owen, Andrew Robinson
see the Troy look at the post-spring depth chart here.
SCHEDULE
Sept. 5 Minnesota
Sept. 12 at Penn State
Sept. 19 Northwestern
Sept. 26 Maine
Oct. 3 South Florida
Oct. 10 West Virginia
Oct. 17 IDLE
Oct. 24 Akron
Oct. 31 Cincinnati
Nov. 7 at Pittsburgh
Nov. 14 at Louisville
Nov. 21 Rutgers
Nov. 28 at Connecticut
Dec. 5 IDLE
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