10 Things to Watch This Syracuse Football Season
Here we go again. Football is here. Let’s look at my Top 10 things to watch for this Orange football season.
1. LeQuint Allen. What a joke this has been, but luckily the talented running back will be back thanks to a lawsuit being withdrawn and a settlement between Allen and the university. The fact that he got just about zero backing from many sides is embarrassing. He acted in self defense after being attacked. Allen will be running the ball with a lot of anger and emotion and drive and that’s a good thing. How he was treated through this whole thing was not. Allen backed up Sean Tucker last year but now he is the guy. Many close to the program tell me Allen is a better fit for the offense than Tucker. Stay tuned because that’s saying something.
2. Trenches. The offensive and defensive lines will be crucial for another bowl appearance. Matthew Bergeron is gone and the O-line is shaky. Defensively, you have to love Caleb Okechukwu, but who else steps up? He should push for double digit sacks, stop the run and make a charge at playing on Sunday’s in 2024.
3. Fast start, able to close? Last year this club started 6-0 and all sorts of things and ideas were being tossed around in CNY. I told everyone to slow down because Dino Babers’ teams haven’t been able to close seasons in the past for whatever reason. Injuries, lack of focus, bad breaks, horrible coaching, whatever. You name it, it happened. Sure enough, SU lost five of the last six. They still ended up in a bowl game and beat BC to close the regular season, but 8-4 or 9-3 were completely wasted. This team needs to start 3-1 at least and hang on from there in an ACC that looks really weak again this season.
4. Speaking of Dino Babers…hot seat? No, no and no. I don’t think he is ever on the hot seat because Syracuse University has typically not paid coaches well and loves being content. So let’s move on.
5. September 30. Clemson. At the Dome. We know how tough Syracuse plays Clemson. They upset them years back and have had them on the ropes many times since. This crowd should be a sellout. What would help prior to this one is if SU comes in with a record of 3-1 or, gulp, 4-0. Fans will certainly be more interested at that point. It will not be easy to grab that 4-0 mark. Colgate should be a win, but Western Michigan is physical and formidable, Purdue is a road contest and Army will have multiple offensive sets that will challenge the Orange defense, like wishbone and backfield switches and movement.
6. Rocky Long. The 3-3-5 defensive creator comes to the Orange with decades of experience. His amazing resume should add to a defense that was Top 30 last year. Long needs to help eliminate the big play and get off the field on 3rd down. Sorry, 3rrrrrrrrrrd down. From Cuse.com: His teams were bowl eligible in 16 of his last 17 seasons as a head coach. He has also mentored over 30 NFL Draft picks as either a coordinator or head coach, most notably Pro Football Hall of Fame selection Brian Urlacher. Pretty good.
7. Garrett Shrader. QB is the most important position in sports. If Shrader has a big year throwing and running and limits turnovers while staying healthy, SU obviously has a much larger chance at winning 7-9 games.
8. Shrader’s second weapon? We know Oronde Gadsden III crushed it last year. Records galore. 61 catches and 969 yards and could stretch the field as a tight end much like his previous position. But he will likely see more safety help deep and double teams over the middle, so who steps up as a reliable, breakout player for Shrader to throw to? Damien Alford? Isiah Jones? Someone else? Will be fascinating to follow.
9. NYC. Pitt. Yankee Stadium. November 11. Bright lights. Rivals. Huge game that could decide both teams’ postseason chances. Lots of college football played at all Yankee Stadiums the last several decades. Fun stuff.
10. OC Jason Beck. He was elevated to offensive coordinator in December, 2022 and has a history of developing QB’s and explosive offenses. Expect quick throws and more production from Shrader and maybe even more trickery on offense. Beck is beloved by players. This team will score points. But they have to stop people on the other side, improve fundamentals everywhere and win the Red Zone and 3rd down on both sides to go bowling.
Prediction: 7-5 and a low level bowl appearance.
Mike Lindsley is the host of the ML Sports Platter Podcast and has been in sports media for 25 years. Subscribe to his YouTube channel @mikelindsley7060. 
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