SYRACUSE - Greg Robinson is at a point he hoped he wouldn't reach in his second year as head coach at Syracuse - the Orange have two games remaining and he's already thinking about next season.
Any faint hopes Syracuse (3-7, 0-5 Big East) might have harbored of being invited to a bowl game evaporated with their 12th straight conference loss on Saturday to South Florida. And Robinson again won't have the luxury of an extra month of practice that comes with a postseason appearance.
Now, it's two - Connecticut (4-5, 1-3) at home and No. 7 Rutgers (9-0, 4-0) on the road - and then the Orange are done.
“It's the last home game (of the year) in the dome, and the last ever for our seniors,” Robinson said Tuesday. “There's a lot there at stake.”
Especially a measure of self-esteem.
“Do we have to win?” said junior defensive end Jameel McClain, who leads the team with 8.5 sacks. “We had to win a lot of games. We had to win a couple of games that went past us. Winning any game is great. Winning a game in the Big East is definitely something important that we always strive for, something that we have to do.”
Syracuse hasn't won a conference game since the final game of the 2004 season under Paul Pasqualoni. In losing its first five Big East games this year, the Orange: have not exceeded 100 yards rushing (the totals: 92, 81, 74, 61, 76); scored one touchdown - all in the fourth quarter - against Pitt, Louisville and South Florida; managed just one field goal in the second half against West Virginia after trailing 17-14 at the break; and scored just three points at Cincinnati.
Overall, the offensive line has allowed 41 sacks for 317 yards in losses, more or less negating the 29 sacks by the Syracuse defense for 171 yards. And the line's erratic play has led to an offense that has averaged just 267 yards per game. That places the Orange at No. 112 in the nation among 119 teams in Division I-A.
Robinson has tried five different starting combinations, and the results have pretty much been the same. Nothing has worked consistently.
“There's been breakdowns here and there,” sophomore guard Ryan Durand said. “There's been improvement in certain areas, but overall we haven't played how we should be able to play.”
While Saturday is important for the team's 16 seniors, Robinson said he would play several underclassmen with an eye toward next season.
“They're going to get some experience in the game. What the numbers are, I don't know,” Robinson said. “The season isn't over. We have to show that we are still building.”
And despite the losing and the ascendance of Rutgers as a budding power in the Northeast, capable of signing quality players away from Syracuse, Robinson maintained that recruiting hasn't suffered.
“I like the group we have committed to this point,” Robinson said. “A year ago's class I'm very pleased with. This group will rival that, if not moreso. I think people can see the development. Sometimes, it's not that clear-cut. You have to see where the program is headed.”
Note: Senior wideout Tim Lane was still sore but rejoined practice Tuesday.
Now, it's two - Connecticut (4-5, 1-3) at home and No. 7 Rutgers (9-0, 4-0) on the road - and then the Orange are done.
“It's the last home game (of the year) in the dome, and the last ever for our seniors,” Robinson said Tuesday. “There's a lot there at stake.”
Especially a measure of self-esteem.
“Do we have to win?” said junior defensive end Jameel McClain, who leads the team with 8.5 sacks. “We had to win a lot of games. We had to win a couple of games that went past us. Winning any game is great. Winning a game in the Big East is definitely something important that we always strive for, something that we have to do.”
Syracuse hasn't won a conference game since the final game of the 2004 season under Paul Pasqualoni. In losing its first five Big East games this year, the Orange: have not exceeded 100 yards rushing (the totals: 92, 81, 74, 61, 76); scored one touchdown - all in the fourth quarter - against Pitt, Louisville and South Florida; managed just one field goal in the second half against West Virginia after trailing 17-14 at the break; and scored just three points at Cincinnati.
Overall, the offensive line has allowed 41 sacks for 317 yards in losses, more or less negating the 29 sacks by the Syracuse defense for 171 yards. And the line's erratic play has led to an offense that has averaged just 267 yards per game. That places the Orange at No. 112 in the nation among 119 teams in Division I-A.
Robinson has tried five different starting combinations, and the results have pretty much been the same. Nothing has worked consistently.
“There's been breakdowns here and there,” sophomore guard Ryan Durand said. “There's been improvement in certain areas, but overall we haven't played how we should be able to play.”
While Saturday is important for the team's 16 seniors, Robinson said he would play several underclassmen with an eye toward next season.
“They're going to get some experience in the game. What the numbers are, I don't know,” Robinson said. “The season isn't over. We have to show that we are still building.”
And despite the losing and the ascendance of Rutgers as a budding power in the Northeast, capable of signing quality players away from Syracuse, Robinson maintained that recruiting hasn't suffered.
“I like the group we have committed to this point,” Robinson said. “A year ago's class I'm very pleased with. This group will rival that, if not moreso. I think people can see the development. Sometimes, it's not that clear-cut. You have to see where the program is headed.”
Note: Senior wideout Tim Lane was still sore but rejoined practice Tuesday.
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.