Syracuse Orangemen
Offensive Analysis
It's all up to the passing game. The ground attack will be among the best in America with Walter Reyes and Damien Rhodes running behind a good line, and the quarterback, whichever one takes the job between Xzavier Gaines and Perry Patterson, will get a few hundred yards. The concern is the passing attack as none of the quarterbacks have completed a pass in a collegiate game and the receivers are average at best.
Star of the offense: Senior RB Walter Reyes
Player that has to step up and become a star: Junior QB Xzavier Gaines
or sophomore QB Perry Patterson
Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore RB Tim Washington
Best pro prospect: Reyes
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Reyes, 2) OT Adam Terry, 3) C Matt
Tarullo
Strength of the offense: Tailback
Weakness of the offense: Receiver
Quarterbacks
Projected Starter
- Xzavier Gaines, Jr. - Gaines has the slight edge in the battle to replace long-time starter R.J. Anderson. He's big with tremendous quickness and athleticism seeing time on SU's national championship basketball team and at wide receiver. It might be a bit of a bumpy ride until he get the hang of the full-time job, but he has too much talent to keep off the field.
Top Backups
- Perry Patterson, Soph. - The 6-4, 235-pound Patterson has a big arm and good moves able to scramble and run a bit. He isn't the athlete that Xzavier Gaines is, but he's a good passer who will get every shot at taking over the starting job. He was used a bit as a running back last year gaining 28 yards on six carries.
- Matt Hale, RFr. - A good, young passer, Hale is a big thrower with a nice arm, but he lacks the practice time and overall athleticism of Xzavier Gaines and Perry Patterson.
- Joe Fields, Fr. - He graduated early from high school to try and become a part of the of the quarterback mix. He's extremely quick and is an accurate passer, but it's highly unlikely that he sees the field this year.
The Skinny: No SU QB has ever thrown a pass in a college football game.
Someone has to step up and take the quarterback job by the horns. While four
players are in the mix, it's really a two man battle between Xzavier Gaines
and Perry Paterson. Both were fine in the spring game and both have the all-around
talent to be a good player. The question is whether or not either will get
time to make mistakes with so many other options.
Player to keep an eye on: Perry Patterson ... Running Back Rating: 5.5
Running Backs
Projected Starter
- Walter Reyes, Sr. - The second-team All-Big East selection is a legitimate Heisman candidate if the Orangemen have a great season. He has 39 career touchdowns with 37 rushing scores over the last two years. Not just a goal line back, Reyes can hit the home run from anywhere on the field with career touchdown runs of 79 and 71 yards to his credit. With a good line in front of him, another 21 touchdown season is possible.
- Fullback Greg Hanoian, Sr. - Hanoian has made a long journey to the starting fullback role seeing time at linebacker and tight end. Now the 264-pound senior will blow open holes for Walter Reyes and the running game, and he'll even get a few short carries running eight times for 45 yards last year.
Top Backups
- Damien Rhodes, Jr. - Rhodes was banged up last year with an ankle injury limiting him to only 123 yards in four games. Now the 210-pound junior is healthy and ready to be a major factor using his 10.5 100-meter track speed to take some of the workload away from Walter Reyes. He can also catch with 18 career receptions for 185 yards and two touchdowns.
- Tim Washington, Soph. - With Damien Rhodes banged up last year, Washington became a decent reserve rushing for 168 yards and a touchdown. He was a top recruit for SU and will be groomed as the star tailback of the future.
- Fullback Stephen McDonald, Soph. - McDonald saw action in one game and that was in mop up duty against Toledo getting one carry for one yard. The 248-pound sophomore will get a few short yardage carries while playing behind Greg Hanoian at fullback.
The Skinny: The tailbacks will be among the best in the country with
Walter Reyes and Damien Rhodes providing a fast and effective 1-2 punch. Fullback
will be the issue needing to replace Thump Belton and everything he was able
to add to the attack. Tim Washington is one of the nation's best number three
backs.
Player to keep an eye on: Tim Washington ... Running Back Rating: 10
Receivers
Projected Starters
- Andre Fontenette, Jr. - It'll be Fontenette's job to take over for 2003 leading receiver Johnnie Morant after catching 11 passes for 68 yards. At 6-2 and 226 pounds he can be a physical receiver and he has the speed to get deep, but it'll be asking a lot for him to duplicate Morant's 17.4 yard-per-catch average.
- Jared Jones, Sr. - The former quarterback has been a good mid-range receiver averaging 9.6 yards per catch for his career with 59 grabs and two touchdowns. He didn't score last year and needs to be more of a factor as the experienced receiver in the attack.
- Tight end Joe Kowalewski, Jr. - The former linebacker and defensive end has made a couple of plays at tight end with three catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. He has a few starts under his belt and should be a good replacement for Lenny Cusumano.
Top Backups
- Steve Gregory, Jr. - Gregory spent the last two years as a solid cornerback making 93 tackles and breaking up a whopping 31 passes. He'll switch to receiver to add more punch battling Andre Fontenette for playing time.
- Todd Lisi, Sr. - The former walk-on hasn't done anything year, but he's expected to make an impact in his senior year playing behind Jared Jones.
- Landel Bembo. Soph. - He's small but lightning quick. The 5-8, 153-pound sophomore redshirted last year and will now add some much needed speed to the corps.
- Alex Shor, Jr. - The 263-pound junior has average hands and good physical presence. Shor will be one of the team's better blocking tight ends.
The Skinny: This could be a bit of a problem as it'll be hard to replace
Johnny Morant's 46 catches, 799 yards and five touchdowns. More importantly,
it'll be hard to replace his deep threat ability as there isn't anyone on
the 2004 corps that stands out ... yet. Former corner Steve Gregory needs
to become a factor and Jared Jones has to go from being a nice midrange receiver
to a top target.
Player to keep an eye on: Steve Gregory ... Receiver Rating: 5
Offensive Line
Projected Starters
- Tackle Adam Terry, Sr. - Terry is a 6-8, 312-pound mountain who has been the starter on the left side for the last two years. He's a dominant run blocker who should receiver All-Big East consideration this year.
- Guard Steve Franklin, Jr. - The 311 pound former JUCO transfer will move from the right to the left side to take Matt Tarullo's place. He's a Big East All-Academic team selection and should be one of the team's better guards.
- Center Matt Tarullo, Sr. - Tarullo is a three-time Academic All-Big East selection and a good blocker for the last few years. The 322-pound senior will take over for all-star center Nick Romeo after playing guard for the last few years.
- Guard Jason Greene, Jr. - Greene was all set to be a starter last year, but it didn't happen as Steve Franklin emerged as a top player. Now Green will get the full-time role with some of the best all-around skills on the team. He has the experience playing in every game last year.
- Tackle Quinn Ojinnaka, Jr. - After seeing a little starting time over the last two years at tackle and even playing some tight end in short yardage situations, the 6-5, 290-pound Ojinnaka will take over the full-time job at right tackle.
Top Backups
- G Chris Thorner, Soph. - He saw a little bit of playing time as a redshirt freshman, and now he's expected to be a top reserve guard playing behind Steve Franklin on the left side.
- T Kurt Falke, Jr. - The 309-pound JUCO transfer is a tremendous run blocker and should push hard for time on the right side behind Quinn Ojinnaka.
The Skinny: The line was outstanding last year paving the way for 2,273
rushing yards while only allowing 15 sacks. Expect things to be even better
with two returning starters and three others of starting-caliber quality.
The depth could use some developing, but it's not horrible.
Player to keep an aye on: Jason Greene ... Offensive Line Rating: 8
