NCAA Football Preview - Syracuse Orangemen

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NCAA Football Preview - Syracuse Orangemen

Last Update: 8/18/2004 9:04:50 AM

From The Sports Network

By Pat Taggart, College Football Staff Writer

2003 SEASON IN REVIEW: In his 13 years as head coach of the Syracuse football program, Paul Pasqualoni has posted nearly twice as many wins (135) as losses (70). Many seasons have been memorable, but 2003 is one of the lone exceptions. The team showed a great deal of heart in the opener en route to a thrilling 49-47 triple-overtime victory over North Carolina. That excitement quickly turned into disappointment, however, as the Orangemen suffered a 30-20 loss to Louisville the next week. The following two weeks, Syracuse posted easy victories over UCF and Toledo to improve to 3-1, but the team was unable to put together back-to-back wins the rest of the campaign. Late in the regular season, the Orangemen suffered three consecutive losses against Miami- Florida, West Virginia and Rutgers, leaving the team with a 2-5 Big East mark and 5-6 overall record. Fortunately, the season finale against Notre Dame resulted in a resounding 38-12 victory, giving SU fans, players and coaches a reason to smile.

2004 ANALYSIS:

OFFENSE: Without question, the most important player on offense for the Orangemen this year is Walter Reyes, a sensational senior tailback who has a chance to become the school's all-time leading rusher with a monster season. Reyes, a legitimate Heisman candidate, is capable of putting up huge numbers every time he takes the field. The offensive line should be in pretty good shape as it is experienced and has guys with tremendous ability. While Reyes will clearly depend heavily on his line, he will also be helped tremendously if the team can generate a solid passing attack. Perry Patterson is a strong- armed sophomore who has had a pair of knee surgeries, and he has been pushed hard by super freshman recruit Joe Fields. It is possible that Pasqualoni will wait until the week of the opener to name his starter. Considering that Reyes is the leading returning receiver for the squad with 38 grabs, it is clear that there aren't many proven options on the outside.

DEFENSE: There are only five starters back on the defensive side of the ball, but still the unit is expected to be solid. One player to watch up front is Tony Jenkins, a freshman tackle who will be key to stopping the run. On the outside, James Wyche is a 6-5 junior with 4.4 speed and he has a terrific motor. He is clearly one of the most physically gifted defensive ends in the nation and could finish with double-digit sacks. Kelvin Smith and Kellen Pruitt, a sophomore and junior, respectively, are back as starting outside linebackers. Both players possess a solid combination of size and speed, and they will sandwich middle linebacker Jerry Mackey. The sophomore is a relative of Syracuse legend John Mackey, and he has the talent to make a name for himself. As for the defensive backfield, Diamond Ferri and Anthony Smith are both back at the safety position. They will be counted on to give assistance to Marcus "Gator" Clayton, a receiver-turned-cornerback who figures to go through some growing pains.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Syracuse kicking situation is strong, as punter Brendan Carney and placekicker Collin Barber are back in place after Second Team All- Big East seasons. Carney has tremendous leg strength, but he needs to work on speeding up his motion after having five punts blocked a year ago. As for Barber, he nailed 12-of-16 field goals in '03 with a long of 43 yards.

OUTLOOK: The passing attack remains a major mystery, as it is unclear who will lineup under center in the opener against Purdue. Still, Syracuse will have a chance to upset many of the teams on its schedule thanks to the brilliance of Reyes. He is the type of player who can offset weaknesses on his own team while exploiting those of the opposition. It seems unlikely that Syracuse will compete for a Big East title, but a surprise at quarterback and receiver could have the Orangemen near the top.

©2004 Sports Network.