Inside the Loud House
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Could 2017 Syracuse Football Team Actually Be Led By Their Defense?

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

Sep 24, 2016; East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut quarterback Bryant Shirreffs (4) is upended by Syracuse defensive back Daivon Ellison (19) and linebacker Zaire Franklin (4) during the first half at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut quarterback Bryant Shirreffs (4) is upended by Syracuse defensive back Daivon Ellison (19) and linebacker Zaire Franklin (4) during the first half at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Syracuse football team is looking to get back to a bowl game in 2017. It starts with their defensive efforts, particularly at linebacker.

The narrative with Dino Babers at the helm is that this is a really good offensive team with a Swiss cheese defense. Well according to Zaire Franklin they’re ready to flip the script in 2017.

The Syracuse football stats on the defensive side of things were pretty atrocious in year one under Babers. Which explains why national pundits look upon the Orange defense with disgust.

ESPN College football reporter, David Hale, labeled SU’s linebacking group as the “under-the-radar-group in the entire conference.”

Although it almost seemed like a back-handed compliment because SU was absent from the top-five power rankings in that same article. Something that seemed to place an additional chip on the shoulder if you will of two of SU’s playmakers in Franklin and Parris Bennett via Syracuse.com:

"“If your team didn’t play as well as you wanted it to, and especially your defense didn’tMore from Inside the Loud HouseSyracuse Football: Cuse boils Purdue, turns attention to Army on SaturdaySyracuse football only team in country with top-5 scoring offense, defenseSyracuse Basketball: 4-star Elijah Moore not in top 100, and I don’t get thatSyracuse basketball 4-star west-coast recruit, in new rankings, into top 20Syracuse basketball is hitting D.C. market hard in pursuit of 4-stars, 5-starsplay as well as you wanted it to, how could you sit here and say, it would be extremely selfish to say, ‘Oh, we were the bright spots.’ I would never ever even say that; however, I would say, if you watch, the eye in the sky don’t lie.”"

Franklin and Bennett both garnered a lot of hardware and accolades last season

  • In 2016, Franklin teamed with Parris Bennett to become the first set of Orange teammates with 100+ tackles in a season since 2003, via Cuse.com
  • Franklin was named to the All-ACC Third Team by the media and earned All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition from the league’s head coaches, via Cuse.com
  • Bennett was All-ACC Honorable Mention, via Cuse.com
  • Plus Bennett also led the Orange with 110 tackles, the most for an SU defender since Derrell Smith had 114 in 2010, via Cuse.com

Babers has already prognosticated that this thing is going to come together in the middle of next season, offensively speaking. So if the defense can play better than last year (shouldn’t be that hard), this team could end their bowl drought.

Believe it or not, Franklin and Bennett both haven’t had the opportunity to play in a bowl game in their Orange careers.

One problem that can’t be fixed is that Babers offense is always capable of going three-and-out. Even more so than regular teams because of his fast-paced offense, which typically puts his defense in bad positions.

We saw that numerous times last season and simply the team was gassed and blew assignments. If you want a highlight reel on that tune into the SU-Notre Dame game at MetLife Stadium.

Next: Syracuse Football Recruiting Sitdown: Markenzy Pierre

Although to quote former Orange coach, Scott Shafer, “control the controllables.” Get off the field on third downs, wrap and profile tackle, and execute your role.

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