Dark days continue for pigskin fans
The stark reality of last place really hit home for me this week. Having endured first hand what had to be one of the most lifeless and frustrating contests since, well maybe two years ago when I saw SU play Miami Oh, the Orange has once again settled to the bottom of the conference standings. Since the end of the game I have been at a loss for words. It has been a difficult decade for diehard Orangemen fans.
When the season started, I felt pretty optimistic. Doug Marrone and Co had breathed new life into the team and program. The team played inspired againist Minnesota, hung tough with Penn St, and through the ball all over the field against Northwestern. Hey, this could be a nice year, I remember thinking. Then came Maine, yes we won, but they showed just how far we had to go. They were more imaginative, took chances and threw caution to the wind. It worked for half before we finally got a beat on them.
Then the old Syracuse returned. Mike Williams got full of himself, we were able to endure Akron, but USF, WV and Cincy exposed the cold hard truth. We were a predictable and limit offense and had a decent defense will clear holes that could be exposed whenever a good team wanted to. Suspension, injuries and cautious playcalling as led to a downard spiral to the season that reached rock bottom again with this loss to Louisville.
I am frustrated. I knew the season would be hard. That the play on the field might get better and the overall results could be the same. But sitting in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium watching two teams that mirror each other in ineptitude left me numb as a fan. The offenses were terrible, the officiating worse, the fans enthusiasm was non existent. Frankly it was a morgue out there. The Card fans were there to see Krags off, beating us did nothing for them.
I know when the season started my expectations were for the team to play hard and show some improvement in areas where differences can be made. Aggressive playcalling and special teams jump to mind. I never imagined that we would be embarrassed by an FCS team and then lose a game basically because of special teams, especially with a coach like Bob Casullo but we did. Throw in gaffes like the botched FG turned TD by Cincy and lack of punt blocks, fakes and lousy coverage overall and frankly it’s just depressing.
But now that I have had a day or two to decompress, you can see why all of this is happening. We were dangerously thin all around. I thought we’d run out of gas near the end of the year, I just didn’t image it would happen so suddenly. There are still two games left. Here’s what we fans go do and hope for.
#1. Support, support, support. We need to stay the course on our end and be vocal. The kids have laid it all out there, we need to do the same.
#2. Not cry for the end of Paulus and the beginning of Nassib. I understand now why people would want to see Paulus sit and Nassib play. The future is now. However, suppose Ryan really struggles these next two weeks? Are you going to feel positive about him to start next season? I think the staff is trying to not put the weight of the future on him and it seems smart. Maybe left him have a few drives, without the timeshare, but really Paulus must and deserves to play this out. He didn’t have to risk himself this year, but he did and should be applauded – by us.
#3. Turn it loose. Get a bit bolder on offense. What happened to those pump and go routes that Paulus threw earlier in the year? I know our receivers haven’t made plays, but sometimes we need to air it out just to keep defenses honest. Let’s take some shots these next two games. I wouldn’t mind a 4 down mentality if we get in the redzone either. On special teams, let’s go for the block. Our return game is not existent anyway. The only positive return we got Saturday was when Davis fumbled the punt and Kill’em Gillum picked it up and rumbled forward.
#4. Bag the bubble screen. A third down throw to a WR behind the line of scrimmage hasn’t done squat this year so let’s please just give the play a rest this year.
#5. Have some fun out there DM. This is your dream job, so relax the reins on the conservative nature and let the kids play. You seem to understand their limitations, but give them a chance to break out and see what might be possible, you might be surprised.
