I feel like I have a pretty good idea what is going on. I know coach Marrone is seperating the men from the boys with his tough practices and conditioning drills, so they don't peter out halfway through their games like they did last season. But we're still talking about a team who has been a losing program for quite a while and are changing systems yet again. I think Marrone is definitely the right man for the job. I just don't think he can get it done in this first game. I look for improvement though as the season moves along and these kids get on the same page. The WR's also need to stop dropping balls in practice, because Minny will have a pretty good experienced secondary that will be all over those young receivers.
I wasn't talking about you in particular - let alone many people on here...but just browsing different forums/blogs/reading preseason mags have made me want to explode. People underestimate just how bad of a HC Greg Robinson was. What college football coach doesn't allow tackling in practice! And people wondered why we were such a poor tackling team.
WR is actually going to be our strength this season. Especially with Mike Williams returning. He can't do it all himself but he's good for a score or so a game. Was worried he'd be rusty but he looked phenomenal in the spring game and at fan fest. Donte Davis returns (#1 last year - good complement to Williams) and Sales really showed great hands as a FR last year...just wish he'd gain a few lbs. Lobdell has been a bust though - FSU and Miami are probably happy he decided to stay in Syracuse. That report about the dropsies last Tuesday in practice didn't concern me much and Marrone kind of threw that out the window on Wednesday.
Good luck with the pick though - I do think its a good one. Obviously I hope the Orange prevail (but know the odds are low) and I'll be at the game doing what I can. I just think some people are giving Minny overall a little too much credit...their OOC schedule wasn't much of a barn burner last year (albeit great for a rebuilding team.) Decker is a stud though.
I think Syracuse is in big trouble if a 4 year starter in hoops can come out of the woodwork and win the starting QB spot. That alone, is reason enough for us to now seriously look at Minny as a play in week one. Was Dantley that bad? Are you trying to sell us that Paulus, who has not played in 4 years, is the next coming? Oh well, we shall see.
All right fellas down to the last week!!!
MARYLAND / CALIFORNIA
LY Cal went to the east coast and got owned. They had to score late TD's just to make it respectable. BUT....If have to take into consideration that the game was 9:00 AM Pacific Time. Cal came out very slugish. This year will be very different. I really love this Cal time also...IMOP they win the Pac 10 period. They are a very good team with talent on both sides of the ball. Jahvin Best probably one of the best RB's in the country will have a very soild year. They have talent at the WR's and the passing will be better than LY with Riley. D-Front is soild the only week spot on the team is i think the LB's. Maryland on the other hand.....Well lets just say they will not match there 8 wins they had LY. I see about 4 maybe squeaking out 5. IMOP its a rebuilding year for the Terps. They do have a very good RB in Scott if he can stay healthy.
CAL.....42.....TERPS....10
CAL -21 1/2
Looking at about one more....Be back later on
GL
BEER GUY$$
MARYLAND / CALIFORNIA
LY Cal went to the east coast and got owned. They had to score late TD's just to make it respectable. BUT....If have to take into consideration that the game was 9:00 AM Pacific Time. Cal came out very slugish. This year will be very different. I really love this Cal time also...IMOP they win the Pac 10 period. They are a very good team with talent on both sides of the ball. Jahvin Best probably one of the best RB's in the country will have a very soild year. They have talent at the WR's and the passing will be better than LY with Riley. D-Front is soild the only week spot on the team is i think the LB's. Maryland on the other hand.....Well lets just say they will not match there 8 wins they had LY. I see about 4 maybe squeaking out 5. IMOP its a rebuilding year for the Terps. They do have a very good RB in Scott if he can stay healthy.
CAL.....42.....TERPS....10
CAL -21 1/2
Looking at about one more....Be back later on
GL
BEER GUY$$
