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Syracuse Football: Week 5 Holy Cross Crusaders crystal ball predictions

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

CHESTNUT HILL, MA - SEPTEMBER 08: Quarterback Emmett Clifford #13 of the Holy Cross Crusaders hands off to Domenic Cozier #1 of the Holy Cross Crusaders during the game against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
CHESTNUT HILL, MA - SEPTEMBER 08: Quarterback Emmett Clifford #13 of the Holy Cross Crusaders hands off to Domenic Cozier #1 of the Holy Cross Crusaders during the game against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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Ryan Lee, Contributor (3-1)

After getting back into the win column against Western Michigan Syracuse has their lone FCS opponent in Holy Cross before their bye week. The Orange opened the flood gates offensively against the Broncos and hope to keep it going with the Crusaders.

The Crusaders have had a rough start to the season with losses coming to Yale and Navy and their lone win up against New Hampshire. Their most points this season was 13 in their win with an average of 9 per game.

The SU defense, even with the losses of Andre Cisco, Ifeatu Melifonwu, and McKinley Williams, should be set up in a big way to find some success in Week 4. If Cisco or Melifonwu does return then the defense should look as imposing as they were Week 1.

Even with the favorable matchup for Syracuse, this is a big week for the offense. With 55 points a week prior they need to find some semblance of consistency because when they hit the field next it will be on the road in a Thursday Night matchup at North Carolina State and the rest of their ACC schedule.

Last week I mentioned hitting the big plays in the passing game and keeping quarterback Tommy DeVito clean as keys to the game and they were met with mixed results. The Broncos sacked DeVito 3 times but Syracuse still managed to complete the big play.

Going into last week the Orange had only six pass plays on the season to go for 20 yards or more. Last week they had three with several other plays on the ground that would have qualified as well. Trishton Jackson had two of those three big passes when he hauled in a 59-yard and 46-yard scores in the third quarter.

Under head coach Dino Babers there has always been one receiver who put up monster numbers and Jackson seems to the go-to man this year. Jackson is 30th in the nation with 335 yards on 18 receptions in four games. Coming into this season Jackson totaled 259 yards on 20 catches through 3 seasons with the Orange and Michigan State.

Also mentioned last week was the ineffectiveness of Nykeim Johnson. Last week was no different after he caught three passes for four yards. The guys who have the ability to catch the ball is not limited in SU’s offense with multiple talented receivers, tight end Aaron Hackett and running backs Moe Neal and Abdul Adams.

With all of this depth, Johnson has been mostly reserved as the bubble screen target this year. Jackson has taken a lot of the deep routes with Johnson only being used to open up the underneath options when he stretches the field. This might be the perfect time to use the young receiver to give other teams another scouting focus point when preparing for the Orange.

After a rocky first month for Syracuse, they will still head into ACC play with a winning record and the opportunity to control their own destiny. They won’t be playing for a National Championship or anything on that level but the chance to get the program to heights we haven’t seen this century are there. SU beats Holy Cross 49-13.

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