Simon

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I am in full agreement that his receivers didn't give him a lot of help. Or his OLine for that matter. If they made hay it was because he was sticking wide-outs, not them making plays for him. I watched a couple from each of the last two years but didn't pick up on the K-Gun. Probably because I didn't see an #84 out there running around causing trouble. Also, I glossed over the ground game because I really wanted to focus on the passing attack and Nassib; if I had seen them killing people with counters over and over again, that might have turned the light bulb on. Although thinking back on it, they were running a TON of 3 wide/1 back sets that do conjure up some grainy images in my fading attic.

They didn't seem to try to get over the top a lot. I'm not convinced they trusted their OLine to protect deeper drops. The few times he did go up top, he seemed like he wanted to feather it in there with a lot of touch and I thought his accuracy suffered for it.

Not being a native NY’er I haven’t watched Syracuse since I used to occasionally tune in late in a tight game to see D McNabb puking on his shoes in the huddle. Well, I had some time today so I went ahead and looked at some film (errrr, sorry Samara) video of the Cuse offense. No detail or specifics will follow from just watching a handful of games, but here’s some vague observations for folks who maybe haven’t had a chance to take a look. Disclaimer: I know nothing about Marrone or Hackett and as a result have virtually no feelings, positive or negative, about the hires. As such, I’m trying to look at this from a neutral standpoint with a completely open mind. I’m not trying to promote anybody or tear ‘em down, just give a general impression of what I saw. > This a fairly diversified offense that attacks all parts of the field > It’s very well-coached, very well executed and very, very crisp > They don’t seem to make a lot of effort to go uptempo but when the ball is snapped it moves fast. > It doesn’t rely on hardly any pre-snap motion to provide reads or create confusion for either unit. > It also doesn’t rely on bigger or faster personal to constantly win one-on-one matchups; I don’t know much about the skill level of the Syracuse personnel but they’re not bigger or faster than their opponents and scheme and execution are its primary assets. > I thought the use of route combinations were extremely well-considered and really effective > They like to use bunch formations as they approach the red zone and were very successful in creating significant confusion among opposing secondaries. > I’d like to have seen more of the 2 minute drill in the games I watched, but what I did see was very well-controlled and efficient with no hint of panic anywhere. > Use of the TE was very limited; sitting in underneath zones for quick hitters was about the extent of it. > A lot of shotgun, typically with a back as a sidecar > They never, ever used empty sets; regardless of down/distance there was always a back on the field; usually to provide protection but occasionally they would flare him out or curl him in to good effect. > There were some protection issues but they never seemed to feel the need to go maxprotect; this is likely because the offense is designed to get the ball out very quickly, and it nearly always does. > There is virtually no screen game to speak of but it could be a result of an OLine that isn’t overly skilled or athletic > It appears to need operating room as there were some struggles inside the 10 when space became limited Will this translate well to the NFL? We’ll know a lot more in about 8 months but I was impressed with what I saw and feel more positive about both of these hires than I did before today. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I also jotted down some initial impression of Ryan Nassib since I had never seen him play. Again, not trying to promote or demote, just relaying what caught my eye. > He seems like an excellent decision maker. He gets the ball out really quick (and I mean really) and almost always makes the right read. Occasionally on 3rd/longer he tries to force it into places it doesn’t belong when he’s trying to make the sticks, but for the most part he puts it where it’s supposed to be, when it’s supposed to get there. > When it’s necessary his pocket presence is solid and he moves around well inside the pocket and keeps his eyes downfield where they belong > He doesn’t seemto have any glaring accuracy issues and is absolutely deadly inside 15-20 yards. When he tries to take a little off the ball, his accuracy sometimes suffers and his touch could be better. But he is money on the midrange stuff, from either hash to either sideline. > He seems to do a decent job protecting the ball, but can get himself in trouble when he’s trying to make plays on the move. His ball security is good and his ball handling is very good. > He’s got a really live arm and his throws have a lot of zip on him. He doesn’t push it downfield like an Elway or Vick but you get the sense he could if he wanted to. His release is lightning quick and he puts a serious spin on it. He might not throw it out of the stadium but between the great release and the zip, he can throw the 25 yard out before good DB’s can get under it. > He will take sacks, but not necessarily bad ones. He doesn’t walk into them and will occasionally eat the ball if he doesn’t like what he sees. > He will never be a mobile QB and is not a natural athlete. While he can move well enough in the pocket, he doesn’t have great feet and is never going to pick up yards on the ground in the pro game. > His sound decision making is a result of great anticipation and he’s very good at hitting guys right out of their breaks. If you’re a WR, you better get your head around early or you’ll get earholed. > Got the distinct impression that he does not like to be hit. Maybe it’s just a well-developed and intelligent sense of self-preservation, but he avoids contact when possible and when he does get hit, he doesn’t enjoy the experience. > He will move defenders around with his eyes to create opportunities on a given play > Seems to be in full control of his offense at all times and understands what he wants to do and does it without hesitation. Is he a #8 pick? I don’t know, that’s for somebody else who’s watched a lot more than I have to decide. My guess is that he will not be available with our second pick; I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw and would have no problem seeing him in a Bills uniform.

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It's a good start, but it needs to be in an Olde English verse and have a better ending.

Perhaps you should re-read what he actually said

If he just arrived from forming a Quaker militia in the Norhteast for the Continental Army, I'll be glad to call him Nathaniel. Otherwise, are we allowed to call him Nate?

I am likely buried somewhere in that photo within 50' from where it was taken.

Dude. Brian Kelly? Seriously ??? There is not a coach that has ever walked planet Earth that could have taken that ND squad and kept them in a game against Alabama.

Ouch!!!

We got us a ballgame now, baby!

Definitely. He's having the worst night he may have ever had on a ballfield, but it is worth noting that he's had at least one blue chip OL in his lap on nearly every down.

I kept my prediction to a relatively mild 41-10 with a late Irish TD cuz I thought Bama would dial it back in the second half and give the backups a taste as teh game progresses.

I wonder what he think of their cheerleaders?

I actually have an old original edition of it that I've never got around to opening.

Bad-dum-bump

So do they go with a running clock in the second half or would the sponsors throw a fit?

The best. He did it again?! Geebus, somebody tackle him......

I'm watching with one eye. I made time to watch what I thought was the championship game when Bama played Georgia a while back. I like Teo, but at the end of the day he's a JAG.

I'd suggest you check your PM's and take the message under advisement.

The whole thing is a giant joke that has driven countless people away from college football (like me). The Irish don't belong anywhere near the Top10 much less in a playoff game. Actually what people don't like is other people who won't shut their overactive pieholes and insist on beating them over the head with their "opinion" ad nauseum.

The Irish score a late TD to close within 41-10.

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