Syracuse Spring Game Recap
A team full of young, unknown players with new coordinators on both sides of the ball and yet this scrimmage proved something right away: This squad is hungry, fast and motivated.
It became pretty clear losing six of the last seven games a season ago has not been forgotten by anyone wearing orange on this roster. After an impressive 6-0 start for the first time since 1987, the momentum and national prowess dipped game after game as the winning formula began to vanish.
Like a bad taste left on your tongue, an 11-on-11 scrimmage allowed past memories to be wiped away in an intense Orange and Blue matchup.
Fans did not have to wait long to be introduced to their potential quarterback of the future, redshirt sophomore Justin Lamson. With Garrett Shrader being out all spring with an injury, Lamson and Carlos Del Rio Wilson have been sharing the repetitions 50/50 during the previous 14 spring practices.
Lamson got the start on the first possession and had a calming presence under center. In a drive of 10 plays, consisting of eight passes and two rushes, he completed 6/8 in tight pockets to go-to names like Oronde Gadsden and LeQuint Allen. On his second time around leading the charge, he dropped a dime into the arms of Isaiah Jones for a 33-yard touchdown. Finishing the game 16/23 for 183 yards and a touchdown toss. With Jones healthy after a season-ending injury early last season and back in the lineup along with the return of Gadsden, Damien Alford and Trebor Pena, it’s safe to say the offensive weapons are not lacking for this upcoming fall.
Down in the trenches were some familiar names despite the big hole left by NFL prospect tackle Mathew Bergeron. Josh IIaoa, Enrique Cruz Jr., Jakob Bradford, Kalan Ellis and Joe More manned the starting offensive line duties. The blue defense was feisty, but the starting five only allowed one sack on Lamson when he was throwing the pigskin.
Flip to the other side of the ball without star players Mikel Jones and Garrett Williams, each level of the defense showcased new guys flying around to swarm the offensive game plan. It may take some time to adjust, but the defense is well-equipped to handle the ACC come this September without some of their usual suspects.
Although the majority of the 11 starters from last season came back, double-check the roster online because a few numbers were changed. To name a few, defensive lineman Caleb Okechukwu is sporting no. 4 instead of no. 93. Defensive back Justin Barron also drops to single digits from no. 23 to no. 8. One more, wide receiver Damien Alford moved from no. 88 to no. 5. Something about those single digits.
By halftime of the scrimmage, the defense only allowed one touchdown and recorded three sacks on the three quarterbacks Syracuse put out on the field. With a fresh defensive coordinator in Rocky Long, who has over 50 years of coaching, his impressions of this core is full of confidence.
“I was pleasantly surprised when I got here because even the young guys were understanding the concepts of the defense," said Long. “This has been great for the young kids to understand their spots in the defense and better fit within the team this spring.”
Syracuse ranked sixth in total defense in the ACC last season. Eighth in total sacks and interceptions. Holding five opponents to 20 points or below all while causing hearing loss during the teams seven home games in the JMA Wireless dome.
Head coach Dino Babers addressed the flexibility of this year's defense. “You know, the cool thing about this defense is it can be a whole lot of defenses,” Babers said. “When it is moving, it is hard for people to figure out what it is.”
Despite a slow start for quarterback Carlos Del Rio Wilson, he finished the night throwing 10/16 for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He didn't have to split his scoring throws to different wide receivers because Umari Hatcher had him covered. The redshirt sophomore snatched four balls for 56 yards which trumps his performance from all of last year only hauling in three catches, but has the potential to break out in a talented wide receiver group.
A few new names stood out during the game and certainly after checking the box score. The first being Juwaun Price who rushed for 34 yards on five carries. Even though Babers didn’t mention a lot about who stood out to him, he did mention Price.
“I thought Juwaun Price looked good, I thought he did some things. But outside of that, that is probably as far as I will go.”
Another running back in redshirt sophomore Mario Escobar had great speed out of the backfield for three receptions for 19 yards. Sophomore defensive lineman Denis Jaquez Jr. was accredited with one sack and it was hard not seeing no. 58 cause havoc near the quarterback on each play he was in. Lastly, sophomore cornerback Jeremiah Wilson played stout defense and was lockdown on his receivers for the majority of the game.
One big factor that loomed following the contest was the poor field goal kicking. Sophomore place kicker Brady Denaburg did not look like the man who was going to fill Andre Szmyt’s shoes. He went 4/9 from field goals where he was one of three from 49 yards, one of three from 46 yards and two of three from 39 out. A lot of time left to hone his skills, but one of this team's surefire factors was the impressive kicking by Szmyt and hopefully by September, Denaburg has it figured out.
Babers also joked about Rocky Long’s history in just how efficient he has been throughout his career. “He’s really good, I mean check his record. Ask Alexa, Siri how good he is, okay?
From the offensive side of the ball to the defensive, those that trickled in on a Friday night to watch a team with a long way to go before the real season left the doors of the dome with optimism. It was clear tonight that although there are new pieces and big changes, the direction of this team is going up and it is only April.
“It was fun to see the young guys play… just seeing guys out there making plays, got big smiles on their faces, little different than practice with fans in the stands, but it was good,” said Babers.
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