Connecticut News, Raphielle Johnson, Syracuse News, Uncategorized

CONNECTICUT – SYRACUSE FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Orange boast solid defense to challenge Huskies

By Raphielle Johnson

While the football series between Connecticut and Syracuse isn’t on the level of the basketball version in terms of vitriol there are still things to be gained in Saturday’s meeting (Noon on the Big East Network). The Huskies are looking for one more win to become bowl eligible (two wins would essentially guarantee them a bid) while the Orange will be staying home for the holidays.

Look for head coach Doug Marrone to sell his players on their season finale being their bowl game with Syracuse aiming to finish the season on a positive note. With both teams rejuvenated by recent victories this should be a game that doesn’t lack energy. Below is a quick scouting report on the Syracuse two-deep.

Offense

QB 2 Greg Paulus (Sr.)
12 Ryan Nassib (So.)

RB 3 Delone Carter (Sr.)
29 Antwon Bailey (So.)

U TE 48 Carl Cutler (So.)
27 Averin Collier (So.)

Quarterback has been an issue for the Orange this season but they did get better play from the position in their beating of Rutgers last week. Paulus, who has completed 66.8% of his passes despite a ratio of 11 TD/ 14 INT, tends to be asked to make quick reads and rely on the receivers to make a play after the catch. Despite the criticism of the former Duke basketball player he hasn’t been the train wreck that some have made him out to be.

Nassib will also see time and he’s completing less than half his passes to this point in the season. Carter is the feature back and is closing in on a 1,000-yard campaign (currently at 919 yards) and Bailey is usually the first option when the senior needs a break. Averin Collier is another back that you may see carry the ball although that won’t be very often. Cutler is the closest player to a fullback on the roster.

Z WR 5 Marcus Sales (So.)
11 Lavar Lobdell (RSr.)

A WR 15 Alec Lemon (Fr.)
7 Donte Davis (Sr.)

X WR 82 Van Chew (So.)
22 Torian Phillips (Fr.)

Y TE 85 Mike Owen (RSr.)
9 Andrew Robinson (Sr.)

In regards to big-play ability this position took a hit when Mike Williams quit the teams. However, if you have questions about how much you can count on a guy do you really lose that much? The issue for the Orange on the outside is their youth; Lavar Lobdell and Donte Davis are the elder statesmen of the unit. Davis and Marcus Sales are tied for the position lead in receptions (21), three fewer than RB Antwon Bailey. And none of the receivers are averaging more than twenty-five yards per game. It will be interesting to see how the Huskies’ young corners Dwayne Gratz and Blidi Wreh-Wilson match up on the perimeter when called upon.

LT 74 Nick Speller (So.)
77 Tucker Baumbach (Sr.)

LG 70 Ryan Bartholomew (Sr.)
72 Nick Lepak (So.)

C 60 Jim McKenzie (Sr.)
72 Nick Lepak (So.)

RG 71 Adam Rosner (Sr.)
66 Andrew Tiller (Jr.)

RT 78 Josh White (Jr.)
77 Tucker Baumbach (Sr.)

The only group that may surpass the Syracuse offensive line when it comes to bad play may be their special teams; the front line has improved but there’s still much work to be done. Overall this is an experienced group, which has made their errors all the more maddening for Coach Marrone (a former offensive lineman at SU). The Orange are last in the Big East in both total and rushing offense, and seventh in passing offense. The line hasn’t consistently opened up holes for the running backs or kept the quarterbacks upright. Could be a good day for DE Lindsey Witten if he’s on his “A” game.

Defense

DE 54 Mikhail Marinovich (So.)
95 Torrey Ball (So.)

NT 94 Bud Tribbey (Jr.)
52 Ollie Haney (Jr.)

DT 51 Andrew Lewis (Sr.)
55 Anthony Perkins (Sr.)

DE 99 Chandler Jones (So.)
53 Chad Battles (So.)

The Syracuse defense is rather solid, ranking second in the conference in total defense while leading the league in rushing defense. Chandler Jones leads this group with forty-six tackles and eight tackles for loss. Marinovich, the younger brother of Todd Marinovich, leads the front four in sacks with three. Overall this is a stout group that does a good job in clearing areas for the linebackers to make plays.

SLB 32 Doug Hogue (Jr.)
33 Dan Vaughan (So.)

MLB 58 Mike Stenclik (RSr.)
33 Dan Vaughan (So.)

WLB 34 E.J. Carter (Fr.)
41 Ryan Gillum (Jr.)

Arthur Jones and Derrell Smith were lost for the season and many wondered who would step up. The answer: Doug Hogue, who totaled 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in Syracuse’s 31-13 win over Rutgers. Hogue is the leading tackler at this level with sixty-six but the loss of Smith could be an issue this week given Connecticut’s desires to run between the tackles. Outside of Hogue this unit lacks experience, combining for forty-one tackles on the season. If the Huskies can take care of the front four in the running game they may be able to find some holes with Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon.

H 13 Phillip Thomas (Fr.)
26 Kevyn Scott (Jr.)

SS 43 Shamarko Thomas (Fr.)
20 Randy McKinnon (Jr.)

FS 35 Mike Holmes (Jr.)
20 Randy McKinnon (Jr.)

CB 6 Da’Mon Merkerson (Jr.)
28 Nico Scott (Sr.)

The secondary is where the Orange have struggled defensively, ranking seventh in the Big East in pass defense. Mike Holmes leads the team with three interceptions, equal to the total for defensive backs Kevyn Scott (2) and Phillip Thomas (1). Max Suter is out for the season so they’re short an experienced playmaker and Syracuse has intercepted just eight passes on the season. They also rank last in the Big East in pass efficiency defense; this could be a good Saturday for Frazer provided he continue to not turn the ball over.

Special Teams

K 19 Ryan Lichtenstein (Fr.)

P 47 Rob Long (Jr.)

PR 7 Donte Davis (Sr.)

KR 29 Antwon Bailey (So.)
27 Averin Collier (So.)

Special teams have been below par for the Orange all season with unit coordinator Bob Casullo drawing the ire of fans as a result. Syracuse ranks sixth in the conference in both punt and kickoff return coverage but they do have an all-conference candidate in kicker Rob Lichtenstein. The freshman has made twelve of fifteen field goals, including all six attempts from a distance of 40+ yards. Long is averaging just under forty-four yards per punt and the return game hasn’t been terrible. As mentioned earlier it’s been the coverage, and with Jordan Todman running back a kickoff last week and Robert Vaughn owning a punt return TD this season the Huskies could break one on Saturday.