Thoughts on Syracuse's Win Over Virginia Tech?


Sly35

Active member
I thought Babers 1st half coaching was awful, especially the end of the half. There was no reason not to go for it on the 1 yard line. I think in the 2nd half Shrader took over and was able to throw the ball and do whatever he wanted. Good Win, should really be 7-1 or 8-0
 

MikeMcAllister

Administrator
Staff member
I thought Babers 1st half coaching was awful, especially the end of the half. There was no reason not to go for it on the 1 yard line. I think in the 2nd half Shrader took over and was able to throw the ball and do whatever he wanted. Good Win, should really be 7-1 or 8-0
Surprised Tech ran the ball as well as they did. I didn’t think Dino’s first half was terrible overall, but the end of the first half was a disaster. At least he admitted it was his fault after the game. Punting is my main area of concern moving forward.
 

Sly35

Active member
Surprised Tech ran the ball as well as they did. I didn’t think Dino’s first half was terrible overall, but the end of the first half was a disaster. At least he admitted it was his fault after the game. Punting is my main area of concern moving forward.
special teams is a big problem for this team. I have no clue why our punter is so bad, plus what happened to our FG kicker?
 

Orange44Pride

Active member
I just think the coaching has been terrible and really has taken points off the board. Special teams has just been terrible. The defense was terrible today, we didn’t hear some of the names we normally hear making plays. They ran all over SU, with not very good running backs. I think some of that was SU dropping their line backers back in coverage and playing a lot of zone, allowing the RB’s to go off. Just stop the run and let our line get after that QB. I didn’t like the game plan on the defensive side. They weren’t aggressive, a lot of dropping back. That’s not SU defense!
 

MikeMcAllister

Administrator
Staff member
special teams is a big problem for this team. I have no clue why our punter is so bad, plus what happened to our FG kicker?
The kicker situation is baffling. I think Szmyt has let the struggles beyond 40 yards get into his head in situations he was normally automatic. The blocked extra point was not his fault, but the missed field goal was. I do think the kick coverage and punt coverage units have been pretty solid. And Pena did break off a long return on Syracuse's second to last touchdown drive that cut the lead to two. That return was critical as it saved enough time to allow for the game winning drive.
 

MikeMcAllister

Administrator
Staff member
I just think the coaching has been terrible and really has taken points off the board. Special teams has just been terrible. The defense was terrible today, we didn’t hear some of the names we normally hear making plays. They ran all over SU, with not very good running backs. I think some of that was SU dropping their line backers back in coverage and playing a lot of zone, allowing the RB’s to go off. Just stop the run and let our line get after that QB. I didn’t like the game plan on the defensive side. They weren’t aggressive, a lot of dropping back. That’s not SU defense!
I agree with you on the defensive game plan. When Syracuse has been at its best, it is aggressive. Blitzing. Pressuring the quarterback. I know you defend different teams differently, but man I would've gone back to that after the first half. They did get the stop when they needed to late in the fourth though.
 

Orange44Pride

Active member
I’ve been watching that TD pass from Garrett to Alford. What was up with Davis on that play, he let the VT linemen run right by him and wallop Garrett. There was only 4 guys rushing, with 5 blockers. This was obviously Dakota’s guy and he never even tried to block him. That’s one of the worse jobs I’ve seen him do. Luckily, Garrett wasn’t hurt and SU got the win but that was BAD!
 

OrangeExtremist

Well-known member
We have some serious issues on offense that was masked this week by the win. When we should be getting up to the line and going fast, especially because the clock is not on our side we are barely getting the play off because the call is getting in so slowly.

it’s becoming an every week deal where we have clock management blunders. Garrett gets a first down on the 1 with 8 seconds left. We have 2 time outs. The clock stops to reset the chains. We should have been trying to get up to the line and clock it. We were set before the chains were. Yet we call a time out to burn 1. Then Courtney Jackson is on the sideline when he’s supposed to be out there following a time out. How does that happen? We burn through 2 timeouts and that makes us have to pass.

this is stuff that costs us close games. Mistakes we can’t make. And it’s every week. We should be undefeated.

Special teams has been a disaster too.

I think Gilbert is about worthless. And we need to find a way to squeeze in a special teams coordinator because Reno is not cutting it.

on the bright side Kalan Ellis has been really good filling in for Bleich. He’s a big boy. Shrader had his best game too. which is very encouraging. Tucker continues to be a problem. Kinda quietly Justin Barron has been rock solid. I love how he is always aware of the situation and knocks the ball down when he’s in the path. I know people really like Rhino but I don’t know if they understand how big of a foot print he has on this offense. He’s probably the best blocker on the team, he’s good at blocking in the open field and he’s always in front of the play.

the VT offensive line is pretty well coached. Didn’t look like our scheme was too much for them or confusing. When we were able to get in the backfield it was usually from a great individual effort by our guys. Most of the time.

We can’t continue to accept the clock blunders and special teams woes. They need to be fixed this week.
 
We’re winning despite the coaching, not because of it.

Every game it seems we’ve left enough points due to coaching indecision, time management or personnel issues that could have won us the game, or made it easier. that’s not even including the massive fall-off of ST play that used to be a strength.

While I love the moxie of Shrader and this team and love the win, it doesn’t give me too much hope for the future if this stuff is happening 5 years into this staff. I hope we grab two more wins this season but history is not on this staff’s side.
 

OrangeExtremist

Well-known member
We’re winning despite the coaching, not because of it.

Every game it seems we’ve left enough points due to coaching indecision, time management or personnel issues that could have won us the game, or made it easier. that’s not even including the massive fall-off of ST play that used to be a strength.

While I love the moxie of Shrader and this team and love the win, it doesn’t give me too much hope for the future if this stuff is happening 5 years into this staff. I hope we grab two more wins this season but history is not on this staff’s side.
Right you really want to see the in game problems fixed not compounded. Our penalty issues earlier in the year seem to be corrected. Now the coaches need to fix themselves and get the game management right.

that said I’m more than thrilled with the win!
 

MikeMcAllister

Administrator
Staff member
They definitely have to fix the time management issues, getting play calls in quickly, etc. No doubt. I will also point out, however, that correcting penalty issues, improvement in the offense, team playing hard, having depth to overcome injuries are part of coaching as well.
 

zilla44

New member
IMO the team has to be at least 7 points better than the opponent to win. They fritter away points every game. I get there's no 'perfect' game, but the team is 9 points away from 7-1. Improvement- yes, bowl eligible - questionable.

Signed,
Capt. Obvious
 


Top