FB : SU moves into 2008 with therapeutic 1st practice
Production: Stephen Dockery
Mike Williams had seen enough of last year. He and his Syracuse teammates were tired of watching film of last year’s 2-10 campaign. Tired of rehashing the shortcomings and errors that doomed SU’s 2007 season.
No wonder Wednesday must have seemed therapeutic, as the Orange opened its spring practice with an afternoon workout at the Carrier Dome.
‘It was hurting just going to through (winter) practice and all these film works,’ Williams said. ‘Now it’s just good to be back out there.’
The five-week series of workouts will culminate in Syracuse’s spring game at the Carrier Dome on April 19.
A lot has changed since the final whistle blew on Syracuse’s season in December. The offensive and defensive coordinators have been removed and replaced, a noteworthy recruiting class has been signed and personnel groups have shifted.
But all who donned an Orange helmet on Wednesday agreed that getting back to work was better than any more reflection on last year.
‘They’re ready to get back out,’ said head coach Greg Robinson, who has compiled a 7-28 record in his three seasons at Syracuse. ‘I even sensed that through the winter program. I know they want to turn it around badly.’
There’s a lot to be corrected on both sides of the ball before that can happen.
On the offensive side, new offensive coordinator Mitch Browning spent Wednesday installing his new scheme.
‘(We have) a new offense, so it’s a little bit exciting and little nerve-wracking at the same time,’ junior quarterback Andrew Robinson said. ‘But it looked like a lot of guys knew their stuff out there.’
Browning’s biggest task will be improving an offensive line that was Syracuse’s biggest weakness last year. The Orange ranked second to last in the country in both rushing and sacks allowed.
His system features an emphasis on running and quick passing to keep Robinson upright, assuming the junior holds off senior Cameron Dantley and sophomores Cody Catalina and David Legree for the starting spot.
On defense, Derrick Jackson and Greg Robinson spent their first practice as co-defensive coordinators replacing Steve Russ, who left to take a job as the tight ends/fullbacks coach at Wake Forest. They will have to replace no less than six starters, three of those in the secondary.
It’s little wonder the Syracuse players could only watch so much of a season in which it was outscored 418-197. But the seemingly endless self-critique took at least a two-and-a-half hour break on Wednesday, something the SU players were no doubt grateful for.
‘I feel just a hateful sense of losing,’ cornerback Da’Mon Merkerson said. ‘We went over statistics last year and just discussed it and how we played last year. I just feel a real uprising of just wanting to win.’
Mitch Browning knows what a stacked backfield looks like.
While offensive coordinator at Minnesota, Browning presided over the running back tandem of Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney – who now play for the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots, respectively.
Now, the first-year SU offensive coordinator has the task of divvying up touches among an SU backfield loaded with talent. The Orange has three running backs (senior Curtis Brinkley, sophomore Delone Carter and sophomore Doug Hogue) who have started for SU, and a freshman, Averin Collier, who was rated New York’s top prospect.
‘It gives you a chance to have a fresh guy running at the defense on every down,’ Browning said.
Carter and Brinkley are both coming off injuries. Carter missed all of last season with a dislocated hip, while Brinkley broke his leg in a win over Buffalo on Oct. 20. SU head coach Greg Robinson said both would be held out of any contact drills for the time being.
That backfield should improve upon last season, in which Syracuse rushed for just 753 total yards. Yet Browning stopped short of making any comparisons to his former backs.
‘I haven’t seen enough of them yet,’ Browning said. ‘But from what I’ve seen today I’m impressed with Doug Hogue. (Daniel) Bailey can run. Averin Collier jumped out a couple times and Delone is Delone. We got running backs there.’
Ben Maljovec has played a lot of positions in his career. Besides playing outside linebacker at SU, there was his high school career as a quarterback and a brief cameo as a wideout.
But Wednesday, the senior, who started six games at linebacker last year for the Orange, spent his first practice as a tight end.
‘Coach Robinson talked to me about it, and said he thought it was the best way to help the team,’ Maljovec said. ‘I got a long way to come, but like I said, I was just excited about the move.’
The senior is one of several Orange spending the spring changing positions. The list includes senior Vincenzo Giruzzi (outside linebacker to defensive end), senior Paul Chiara (running back to safety) and Da’Mon Merkerson (wide receiver to cornerback).
Published on March 19, 2008 at 12:00 pm
