Discover Why Syracuse Orange Football: Déjà vu or Destiny? It’s Still Too Early to Tell!

The future of the Orange program hinges on the next three weeks

• By
  
  Kevin M Wall
  
• on October 8, 2023 10:00 am

The Syracuse Orange fell to 4-2 as expected. However, no one anticipated the annihilation of the Syracuse defense by Drake Maye and the North Carolina Tar Heels, who amassed 644 yards in yesterday’s game.

UNC dominated the first half with a 27-0 lead, sparking discussions about the resemblance to the 2022 Syracuse season during the second half of the broadcast. Dusty Dvoracek, the voice of reason, projected a possible loss for the Orange next week against the Florida State Seminoles. Dvoracek emphasized that the team’s performance post-bye would reveal valuable insights about the squad (including the coaching staff).

Syracuse’s upcoming schedule includes matches against Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Pitt, and Wake Forest. Will history repeat itself, with the Orange plunging into another tailspin like in 2022? Or will the team regroup and finish strong this year?

The outcome will be determined on the field, and if you’re feeling frantic right now, no words can assuage your fears. It’s likely to worsen before the Thursday night clash in Blacksburg.

Concerns about Syracuse’s offense are valid, considering the lack of playmakers and the focus on Garrett Shrader and LeQuint Allen by opposing defenses. The absence of Kalan Ellis and David Wohlabaugh, Jr. exacerbates worries about the offensive line. Shrader is under pressure even without blitzes, as escape lanes are closed off. Additionally, opposing teams have successfully stifled Syracuse’s receivers without fear of being outpaced.

On the defensive front, UNC exploited the weak coverage and ran the ball effectively, causing problems for the Syracuse secondary. Florida State is likely to continue this trend and capitalize on their offensive talents next Saturday, but the following games remain uncertain.

Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

While some focus on how Wake Forest and Virginia Tech performed in their recent defeats, they conveniently ignore the results of previous games. Syracuse fans seem to dwell on events from 2 or 3 years ago, while disregarding the close call Boston College had against Army.

It’s understandable that this fanbase feels beaten down after more than 20 years of disappointment. However, at this point, I can’t join in the search for negativity in every positive development. Dino Babers’ job security will be determined on the field in November. The remaining games present opportunities for victory, but it’s up to the players to prevent a repeat of the 2011 season, when a 5-1 Syracuse team suffered six consecutive losses and missed back-to-back bowl games.

If you genuinely care about Syracuse Football, you should hope that this coaching staff finds a solution during the bye week. Achieving back-to-back seven-win seasons may not hold the same weight as it did in the 1990s, but given today’s landscape of college football, it’s a step in the right direction.

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