USA Today-SYRACUSE

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INSIDE SLANT

Syracuse's offseason was filled with change. The Orange start 2005 with a new coach, Greg Robinson, new uniforms, and even a new carpet in the Carrier Dome. Whether this adds up to a winning season after last year's 6-6 campaign ended with an ugly 51-14 loss to Georgia Tech in the Citrus Bowl remains to be seen.

Quarterbacks Perry Patterson and Joe Fields will battle in fall camp to see who gets to run Syracuse's new West Coast offense. Patterson, a junior, played in all 12 games a year ago, starting nine. Fields, a sophomore, is still a work in progress after completing just 13 passes in 2004 for 192 yards and a touchdown.

Syracuse's defense returns nine starters after giving up a whopping 426.8 yards per game last year. Things should improve under Robinson, who will serve as defensive coordinator after working in the same capacity at Texas and in the NFL with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs.

Syracuse's schedule features just five road games. Too bad they're all tough. Games at Florida State (Oct. 1), at Connecticut (Oct. 7), at Pittsburgh (Oct. 22), at Notre Dame (Nov. 19), and at Louisville (Nov. 26) will test anyone, let alone a program that's 16-20 over the last three seasons.

Robinson brings a sleek new offense, a commitment to aggressive defense, and a fresh attitude to Syracuse. But with a brutal schedule and glaring holes on both sides of the ball, Syracuse will do well to improve on last year's .500 finish.

NOTES, QUOTES

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAME: vs. West Virginia, Sept. 4  No honeymoon period for Robinson. His first game with the Orange is an important Big East clash in the Carrier Dome.

THE ORANGE WILL GO 7-4 IF: The West Coast offense takes flight. New offensive coordinator Brian Pariani spent 10 years coaching under Mike Shanahan with the Denver Broncos. The Orange will be fun to watch if Patterson and Fields prove to be quick studies.

THE ORANGE WILL GO 3-8 IF: Syracuse's inexperienced receivers don't catch on. With Steven Gregory moving back to defensive back, the Orange's top returning receiver, sophomore Landel Brembo, caught just 14 passes last year.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Preparation, and how we teach [our players] to prepare  the methods that we believe in  are very important. We work very hard at teaching our guys how to prepare."  Coach Greg Robinson.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

HEAD COACH: Greg Robinson, 1st year at Syracuse, 0-0.

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER: RB Damien Rhodes  The senior should be a perfect fit for the new West Coast offense. Last year, Rhodes earned second-team Big East honors after rushing for 870 yards and 10 touchdowns and making 18 receptions for 246 yards and a touchdown.

BREAKOUT STAR: DE James Wyche  A senior, Wyche has all the tools to be a special player in Robinson's attacking defense. Wyche made 68 tackles last fall and recorded 5.5 sacks. Expect those numbers to increase this fall.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH: WR Richard Abney  The true freshman has the size - 6-foot-1, 197 pounds - many of his counterparts lack. He could get a chance to play right away.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP: Offense  QB Perry Patterson, TB Damien Rhodes, FB Breyone Evans, WR Landel Brembo, WR Tim Lane, TE Joe Kowalewski, LT Kurt Falke, LG Jason Greene, C Steven Franklin, RG Mike Sklarosky, RT Quinn Ojinnaka.

Defense  DE James Wyche, DT Chris Thorner, DT Kader Drame, DE Ryan LaCasse, LB Kellen Pruitt, LB Kelvin Smith, LB Tommy Harris, CB Tanard Jackson, CB DeAndre LaCaille, SS Reggie McCoy, FS Anthony Smith

ROSTER REPORT: Junior linebacker Jerry Mackey, who led the Orange with 106 tackles last year, missed all of spring practice with an injury. He's expected to ready for the season-opener.