Syracuse Football: Unpeeling the 3-0 Orange entering week 4

Your Syracuse football Orange are now 3-0 after defeating Purdue 32-29 in a hard-fought battle that many expected them to lose.

And since my notes can be long sometimes, I’ll keep this brief and get to “unpeeling” the Orange starting 3-0 heading into Friday against Virginia. Go Orange!

Let’s look back and look ahead for Syracuse football as the ‘Cuse enters week four.

It’s The New Purdue Review

Don’t Underestimate These Wins

I know there are those fans who are saying Syracuse football only won because (your answer here) but they won and that’s what matters. And I’ll agree with Syracuse Orange football head coach Dino Babers’ assessment that Purdue will likely be a bowl team. This is a huge win so don’t sell it short and don’t just think “they got lucky” because I think most times during successful seasons also sometimes they have a little luck on their side as well and they still made plays when they had to and never gave up. I’d bet some even tuned out or just considered it over when Purdue was up 29-25 with little time left. This team is special and won’t go down without a fight.

Ted Lasso And The Express Reference Alert

One of the biggest plays in the Purdue game was the 4th down TD pass from QB Garrett Shrader to wide receiver/tight end Oronde Gadsden II (who is becoming Garrett’s go-to guy when it counts). But this play doesn’t work if the Purdue defense isn’t swarming Sean Tucker expecting him to get the ball. Shrader either notices the coverage and checks down to notice Gadsden open or it was a brilliant play call using Tucker as a decoy. Either way it worked and is a big reason Syracuse football won.

It reminded me of my favorite show lately Ted Lasso when Nate gives Ted a play involving using star player Jamie Tartt as a decoy and the play works (though thankfully I think Tucker approved of that role more than Tartt did). Something tells me though against Virginia that we might see Tucker they might reference The Express more than Ted Lasso. What I mean is there is a scene where they draw up a play to let 44 legend Ernie Davis run to the weak side because “if you have a thoroughbred, you let him run.” I think Virginia will be Tucker’s biggest game this season so far.

Jason Beck – Quarterback Whisperer

During Coach Babers’ Monday press conference, he was asked about quarterbacks coach Jason Beck. Coach jokingly refers to his relationship with QB Garrett Shrader as “The Odd Couple” because he says Jason is the calming balance to an energetic Shrader.

For those not familiar, Jason Beck under Syracuse offensive coordinator Robert Anae, who’ve worked together at multiple stops, seems to have a knack for being a positive mentor and coach for the quarterbacks he has worked with at BYU and Virginia respectively. And I don’t know if it’s Shrader not sharing snaps with Tommy DeVito or Beck continuing his streak but I think it could be both and the hiring of Anae and Beck have proven to be a fun tandem for Syracuse football fans to root for.

The MOB Squad

Caleb Okechukwu, Ja’Had Carter and Marlowe Wax have formed The MOB which is now a YouTube podcast and a great group of defensive leaders who had some great plays against Purdue.

I mean Caleb’s pick 6 was a huge play. The podcast is a great way for fans as well to get to know three defensive leaders of this team and learn more about the team.

Virginia Preview

ESPN On Friday Night At 7 PM

This is another big and important game! Beating Louisville, UConn and Purdue matters and so would a win on national television against a program like Virginia. It’s at home at night with the nation watching and starting 4-0 would be something that keeps bowl game dreams alive especially when some experts thought before the season that was unattainable and Coach Babers was “on the hot seat.”

Whose House????

Speaking of which, this game is at home in the JMA Wireless Dome. The fans who have attended games this year have been amazing and if you can attend and want to get loud, head to the Dome Friday night and show the world why the Loud House is something opponents have to overcome. Dress loudly! Yell loudly! Maybe get on TV and show the world, including potential recruits, bowl executives and other fans why this is a great place to play.

Brennan Armstrong

Virginia QB Brennan Armstrong is no slouch. Syracuse football has faced quality opponents at the position already and it won’t get any easier against Brennan either. He’s set records at Virginia under current Syracuse coaches Anae and Beck and will likely walk out there Friday night wanting to prove himself against them now. He’s been on award lists and had almost 300 yards passing in his last game against Old Dominion.

Don’t Sleep On The Cavaliers

Syracuse football is favored it seems but this won’t be easy. As fans, many of us are already talking about the possibilities of this Syracuse team possibly starting 5-0, myself included (especially the possibility of getting ESPN’s College GameDay on campus for the first time). Fans are excited and optimistic but every game comes with the possibility of winning but also the possibility of losing. Virginia head coach Tony Elliott is in his first season since leaving Clemson and taking over and will be looking for an impactful win. Illinois beat them 24-3 and they struggled but eventually won 16-14 against Old Dominion but that does not mean they won’t walk into the Dome with a game plan and wanting to win in prime time on ESPN themselves.

Virginia Secondary May Be A Key To Victory

In doing some research for this game, it seems that Virginia’s secondary is having injury issues. Will this be a weakness Syracuse football can use to its advantage or will Virginia have the depth to overcome it if Shrader and the staff are aware and test it? I’m thinking this could be a “breakout game” for RB Sean Tucker but if there really are issues here, look for Shrader to watch the receivers, especially Gadsden since they seem to have already established a pretty good tandem.