The Syracuse football team gets back into action on Saturday against FSU. Before we get there we sat down with sister site Chop Chat to break it down.
I said it before the bye week and I reiterate those comments. That bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for the Syracuse football team. Through the first 66.6% of the season the Orange are 4-4.
In that first eight games of the season, the Orange got one of the biggest wins in program history and had several close outings with the upper echelon of college football. Dino Babers loves sayings and funny phrases, well here’s one, lets leave the moral cookies in the oven.
The bye week signals a turn of the page not only literally but also figuratively for this team. I’m not saying forget the Clemson game and it definitely wasn’t “just another game”, but the team has to move on and live in the present.
Speaking of, SU presently has a huge ACC tilt this Saturday against the Florida State Seminoles. While this team isn’t what it usually is, it’s still a very game opponent that has historically given the Orange trouble. To break it all down, we sat down with our sister chapter, Chop Chat, to breakdown this huge game and talk about some of the sexy storylines.
Paul A. Esden Jr. (@BoyGreen25):
FSU has struggled mightily this season. Does this go beyond Deondre Francois? Or was he truly the difference maker in terms of how this season could’ve gone?
Jason: I wrote a column on Wednesday about how this season showed that the redshirt sophomore quarterback truly was the most valuable player this season seeing what has taken place since his injury. I’m not saying FSU would have been 6-1 with him under center, but they damn sure would not have been 2-5 heading into this weekend’s game.
That being said, you can’t just pin this season on the injury to Francois. This season has been lost in part due to a variety of injuries that range from running back Jacques Patrick going down with a knee injury to a wide receiver room that, at time, has looked more like a MASH unit this season. The Seminoles have also dealt with a defense that looks like the best ever at times and a group that can’t stop a high school team at other points. The loss of Francois was huge, but it isn’t the only reason the Noles limp into this one.
Kelvin: Well, anytime you lose the leader of your offense and replace him with a true freshman that’s 18 years old and wasn’t an early enrollee there’s going to be a huge drop off. Also, FSU missed three consecutive weeks due to the hurricane and played some good defenses in NC State and Miami. They should have won both games and that caused the team to lose confidence and it’s been downhill ever since.
Paul A. Esden Jr. (@BoyGreen25):
What FSU players are headed to NFL after this season? The Seminoles always seem to churn out great talent to the pros.
Jason: This is an area that has a lot of Seminole fans worried because there is a loss of talent after this season. Obviously, safety Derwin James isn’t living up to the preseason hype but will more than likely be a top five or ten pick in the first round so you can say goodbye to him at this point.
Several seniors will likely get scooped up, including defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi and linebacker Matthew Thomas. Now comes the question – which underclassman will test the waters? CB Tarvarus McFadden might have gone pro, but his stock has plummeted. Players like DE Josh Sweat and WR Nyqwan Murray might also declare, but both would be better off staying.
Two names that might go late round but would be valuable are CB Nate Andrews and TE Ryan Izzo. They aren’t household names, but they will make some team very happy.
Kelvin: Jimbo Fisher signed a huge extension last season and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon unless he chooses too.
Paul A. Esden Jr. (@BoyGreen25):
There were a lot of rumors in the offseason of Jimbo Fisher to LSU and elsewhere – after this tumultuous season is his job security still in tact?
Jason: Well, there are 40 million reasons why FSU can’t get rid of him after he signed a new deal
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that came with a major buyout following the 2013 title and all the flirting with LSU. Honestly, the problem most people have with the way things have gone this season isn’t as much Fisher – though he is catching flack – but some of his assistants who are living on borrowed time at this point.
The main targets of ire are defensive coordinator Charles Kelly and offensive line coach Rick Trickett. Both are coaches you could argue have been living off that 2013 title and are being exposed since the units since have been terrible once those players left.
In all honesty, you can expected staff changes this season but Jimbo Fisher will be the coach for a while, barring him deciding to move on. He may not be in Tallahassee for 30+ seasons like Bobby Bowden, but it won’t be eight years and done.
Kelvin: Derrick Nnadi, DeMarcus Christmas should be big factors for the Cuse offensive line to deal with.
Paul A. Esden Jr. (@BoyGreen25):
Tell us about players that the media doesn’t talk about that could have a huge impact on this game?
Jason: Well, I mentioned Andrews and Izzo. Izzo has become a reliable target for true freshman quarterback James Blackman and as Fisher simplifies the offense for his new signal caller, simple passes to Izzo have been part of the game plan since.
Another name to look out for would be defensive end Brian Burns. Last year, the five star recruit from the Fort Lauderdale area as a true freshman had two and a half sacks against the Orange – part of an eight and a half sack year. Burns will be a part of a unit tasked with keeping Syracuse QB Eric Dungey in check.
Kelvin: Before the season I would have said Derwin James and Tarvarus McFadden would have been locks to be first rounders followed by Josh Sweat, Derrick Nnadi, Matthew Thomas and DeMarcus Christmas being drafted at some point. Who knows what will happen now that most of them have not had great years aside from Josh Sweat and probably Derrick Nnadi.
Paul A. Esden Jr. (@BoyGreen25):
Finally how does this game play out and a score prediction?
Jason: After last week’s embarrassing loss to Boston College, its become a lot less confident for fans of the Seminoles to think that they will win with ease any of the remaining four games this regular season. Heck, some people on our own website are picking the Orange in this week’s game.
Does Syracuse have the talent to come down to Tallahassee and give FSU their first losing season since 1976? Of course they do. At the same point, I wonder what Syracuse team is going to show up. Is it the one who handled Clemson last month or is it the one who lost to Middle Tennessee State earlier this season?
I may be one of the last ones who will wave the flag of my alma mater with the confidence of the world, but I think the Seminoles fight for another week and keep their postseason hopes alive. I’ll go FSU 24-17.
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Kelvin: Who knows which FSU team will show up. They absolutely quit against Boston College last week. Maybe they’ll show some fight this week..maybe not. They have more talent across the board than Syracuse and that’s the main reason they are the betting favorites…if Syracuse gets up a couple of scores it will be real easy for FSU to quit again. I’m say 31-27 FSU for sh*ts and giggles.