Orange report: Strategy and personnel

May 2, 2008
The Sports Xchange

Strategy and personnel · Notes, quotes · Inside slant

2008 OUTLOOK: Coming off a 2-10 season, this is a make-or-break year for Robinson, who was nearly dismissed after last season. The bottom line is the Syracuse program has fallen off since Robinson was hired and unless there's drastic improvement, 2008 will be his last season. An easier schedule helps, and the Orange should be at least 4-1 heading into the heart of its Big East schedule.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Spring practice marked the return of running backs Delone Carter and Curtis Brinkley. Carter missed the 2007 campaign after injuring his hip in 2007 spring practice and Brinkley missed part of the 2007 season with a broken leg. Robinson was impressed with the tailbacks group, which includes Carter and Brinkley, as well as sophomore Doug Hogue, junior Daniel Bailey and true freshman Averin Collier. But the offensive line is the biggest question mark. After giving up 54 sacks and leading one of the worst running games in the nation (118th out of 119), there is no other unit with more questions and more issues.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
The defense was equally as inept as the offense, and no position underwent more shuffling of pieces than the linebackers. New assistant coach Dan Conley's biggest challenge is developing players that tackle and show up in the right spots to make them. Middle linebacker Jake Flaherty is a fixture and a building block. Other than that, it's time for Parker Cantey, listed at 216 pounds, to put on some weight, reduce mental mistakes and become a factor at one outside position. Ditto for Mike Mele, listed at 218 pounds, who played as an undersized true freshman. Redshirt freshman Chad Battles could emerge from the muck this spring as a surprise contributor.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS
Syracuse's return game provided some explosive plays in 2007. True freshmen Max Suter and Mike Holmes combined to lead the Orange kicking game that set Big East and school kick return records. The Orange, which averaged 24.8 yards per return, amassed 1,709 total kick-return yards. Suter established the NCAA, Big East and Syracuse single-season record for kick return yards with 1,299 yards. His 25.5 yards per return is fifth on Syracuse's single-season and career record lists. Holmes averaged 39.3 yards per return against West Virginia, which is fifth on the Orange single-game record list.

ROSTER REPORT

--TB Delone Carter burst onto the Syracuse football scene two seasons ago as a true freshman, rushing for 713 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and four touchdowns in a tandem with Curtis Brinkley and earning freshman All-America honors. He suffered a dislocated hip last spring, a freak injury that occurred without him even being hit but threatened his career nonetheless. Greg Robinson said Carter was kept out of the spring game as a precaution, but he should be able to go full blast in the fall.

--Six players will line up in different positions for 2008, including seniors Paul Chiara and Ben Maljovec, who are each moving to the opposite side of the ball. Chiara moves from safety to tailback and Malijovec from tight end to linebacker. Also switching positions are Vincenzo Giruzzi (defensive end to linebacker), Oliver Haney (OL to DL), Da'Mon Merkerson (CB to WR), and Elon Mitchell (DT to LB).