The Orange landed itself a wildly talented player, albeit with some baggage. He was a consensus top 50 receiver in the class of 2011, rated four-stars by Scout and three by Rivals. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound playmaker was dynamite in high school, nabbing 126 catches for 2,562 yards and 27 touchdowns his junior and senior seasons. This is the type of offensive impact Doug Marrone has been dying to add. And that’s why it was a no-brainer to pursue Funderburk despite his history.

The Chesapeake, Virginia native (and high school teammate of “Ab Ripper X” Jaston George) will undoubtedly unload some heavy luggage at Hancock. He missed several practices last spring, and his high school coach told a Virginia newspaper Funderburk decided to leave the game of football. As soon as those reports became public, the wideout returned to the team. There has also been some stirring that Funderburk was homesick out in Arkansas. Although Syracuse isn’t exactly around the corner from Chesapeake, it’s about half the distance from Virginia than Fayetteville.

Throughout his trials and tribulations as a Razorback, Thunderburk has emoted via Twitter. These are some of the feelings Q has tweeted:

- I’m losing love for the game.
- I can’t wait to go back to my hometown.
- I wonder what it’s to like to be a regular college student.
- Sometimes I wish I was a rapper so I could express the way I’m feeling.
- I need some motivation.
- I’m misunderstood.

Hopefully, a change of scenery brings his love of the game back. Marrone will have to pay close attention to Thunderburk to keep him focused and attentive. The wideout will obviously have to find a comfortable place to live up to his potential as a football player.

His potential is vast. He chose Arkansas over USC, Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Penn State, Clemson, Virginia Tech, and others. He can stretch the field vertically, and give the Orange a legitimate red zone weapon. If you haven’t noticed, those are elements SU severely lacks.

Funderburk will likely have to sit out a season before suiting up for the Orange. It doesn’t matter that Bobby Petrino was fired from Arkansas. According to NCAA transfer rules, that’s not enough to let a football player immediately see the field at his new school.

The good news is, since Funderburk redshirted at Arkansas, he’ll have a full four years of eligibility to use at Syracuse. When he’s finally allowed to suit up and charge out of the tunnel onto the Carrier Dome turf, he’ll be a certified game-changer as long as he keeps his head about him.

This Fizzster dreams of a Broyld-to-Funderburk connection, and a level of explosiveness on offense that we haven’t seen since McNabb and Harrison.

Posted: Andrew Kanell

On top of Pitt’s lawsuit, Boise State has also been rumored to be discussing not jumping to the Big East and instead joining a Mountain West mega-conference. The Panthers and Orange have solid enough arguments: their presence is unnecessary because of the parade of brand new schools flooding the conference (SMU, Houston, UCF, Memphis, Navy, and Temple are all coming). The league also tipped its hand when in March “The Electrician” John Marinatto said:

“Our membership, given the speed and success of our expansion initiatives, I think it’s open to having the discussions with both Pittsburgh and Syracuse about them having an early departure. So we haven’t actually had those conversations yet, but our membership is certainly willing to do that at this point given where we’ve landed.”

But now the Big East is changing its tune, maybe only to force a higher price tag on actually leaving. Syracuse has $17 million dollars per year waiting at the other end of the rainbow, and two more seasons of being uncomfortable enemies of the conference makes little sense. The question is how much would litigation cost? Gross has not completely shut off the possibility of joining the lawsuit.

“We’ve been trying to resolve the issue of conference transition with the Big East. We’d like to avoid litigation, but we’re keeping all of our options open.”

West Virginia sued to leave this summer. Pitt and Syracuse had assumed they would skip out next summer, but litigation seems to be an uneasy final destination. Wrangling in the courts is just a dog-and-pony show, however. It didn’t stop  WVU from bolting when it wanted to, and it won’t stop Pittsburgh either. With Boise State turning into another TCU before our eyes, Syracuse should want out ASAP as well. The Broncos have until June 30th to make its decision. If Boise State decides to bail, then the Big East might try to hold onto SU and Pitt until ’14 even tighter.

Of course, interim commissioner Joe Bailey has shown the same delusion as his predecessor. His knowledge of the Broncos’ intentions sounds like he’s whistling past the graveyard – which is exactly what the Big East is right now, a burial ground of everything the conference once was.

“Well, my sense is that unless you hear differently, I think that there’s full commitment from their standpoint”

In other words Syracuse: get out now. Bailey hasn’t offered much information on whether he’s open to Syracuse and Pittsburgh fleeing a year from now, but Pitt’s lawsuit speaks volumes. But Bailey and the Big East have no intention to stay together long term. While Syracuse has played its departure diplomatically, it may be time to ruffle some feathers. The Orange should think about joining Pitt’s battle to leave next year, because there’s simply no reason to be stuck in this clusterfork for two more seasons.

Posted: Kevin Fitzgerald

How does this effect Syracuse? Let’s put aside this suddenly sticky timeframe for a moment (rumors abound the Big East will not let the Orange depart in ’13 as originally assumed) and look at the conference when SU finally lands there.

• Stability

No matter if FSU stays or not, the ACC is still a better ship to be on than the Titanic of the Big East. A new commissioner, an unknown broadcast deal, a league with teams in California, Texas and Idaho. Plus, bitterly divided sides between private Catholic basketball schools and public football-playing ones? No thanks. The ACC without Florida State and Miami is still better than a Big East with Houston and San Diego State. 

• Similarities

Florida State’s biggest gripe is that the conference is tilted toward North Carolina and Duke. Honestly, that’s fine by Syracuse. SU has much more in common with academically respected basketball institutions than enormous sprawling in-state football ones. While one of the huge benefits of the ACC move is to sit at the adults’ table for football, SU’s most powerful athletic brand is obviously hoops (which is comparable to most schools in the ACC). It works well to be surrounded by presidents who want to keep basketball a priority, and joining a league on Tobacco Road is a safe bet.

• Money

Look, FSU can scoff at the cash and chase dollars in the Midwest, but Syracuse wasn’t seeing anything close to this in the Big East. What football conference with Navy, SMU and Memphis is going to land a $3.6 billion deal? While it may not be a significant bump for the existing members of the ACC, it’s an enormous leap for Syracuse and Pitt. Here’s the concerns from Dan Wetzel’s story at Yahoo! Sports:

“The reality was bad, however. The initial bump in television revenue is actually just over $1 million a year, sources said, and a total in the $12 million range next season. The deal is back loaded so the bigger money comes in escalator provisions that, considering how broadcast rights keep growing, probably will be below market by the time any sizeable gains are realized. That additional $4 million per school, per year? That won’t come until 2021, nine years in, sources said. Privately, almost everyone was troubled by the deal.”

This is a Florida State problem, not a Syracuse one. Signing that long a contract does seem silly. How do we know how the football pie will have grown in 2022? One would imagine with the new playoff system TV rights will be even more valuable a decade from now. But ultimately, if you have an issue with $17M a year and you are claiming you’re still losing money then you might want to cut down on the golf outings and Christmas bonuses.

So FSU is trying to say the ACC won’t let it sell its own third-tier games. For the record, ESPN has kept open the possibility of the ACC Network down the road for that exact situation – which would be worth more to each school. But apparently, the ‘Noles could just be flat lying to drum up support.

“The ACC later said Haggard was incorrect and third-tier basketball rights are not maintained by schools. And no one has any idea what FSU could get from some of its weaker football games.Many in the league are wondering how much Haggard himself came up with the third-tier conspiracy, what he thinks is in the deal or why he believes it even matters so much. It seems like a ploy to drum up fan support for a bold switch. Nothing rallies boosters like the idea of Coach K bullying someone into action, even if it isn’t true. Whatever bias there may or may not be, few think it’s enough to leave the league.”

I got no quarrel with a school looking for its best destination because of the bottom line. That’s exactly what Syracuse did. But for crying out loud, now you’re just going to push some panhandle bubba in front of the fans and start obvious lies to create unrest? Stay classy Florida State. Like the chick who won’t stop talking about her boyfriend problems on Facebook, it feels like FSU is just trying to create drama for attention before the ACC meetings.

Oh, we can’t compete with the SEC schools around us anymore. 

Aw, look at how much money Texas is making. 

Boo hoo, we lost money last year. 

Well, who’s f***king fault is that you Nole nimrods? One of the biggest reasons the ACC didn’t get more money for the conference deal is because the supposed power of the league hasn’t done jack squat in 15 years. Where’s all the national titles FSU is playing for? Where’s all the epic Seminole-Hurricane clashes these days? I mean, if you can’t even win the flipping ACC, how can you be complaining about needing better competition?

Fact is, you let good ol’ Bobby Bowden hang around too dadgummit long and the football program rotted into a .500 mess. Jimbo Fisher might have it primed again for some big things. But how can FSU look anyone in the face and complain about its football competition? The last time the Noles won the ACC was seven years ago with an imposing 8-5 record. The last time the program had less than three losses was in 2000. The first Seminole taken in this year’s draft was in the 4th round. Let’s have some self awareness FSU. 

So yeah, I’d like to see the southern fried math on this one. Add the potential slight bump in TV money for a new Big 12. Then subtract the cost of your non-revenue teams having to fly to Kansas and Oklahoma for a chunk of games. Then subtract the costs of flying into major hubs like Ames, IA and Lubbock, TX instead of Boston and Charlotte for some longer trips. Then subtract the potential of playing in the Big 12 title game or getting a playoff bid because Texas and Oklahoma will stomp you into oblivion the same way Clemson and Virginia Tech have been doing. Then decide if the overall interest and relevance of your games will really increase when you play Kansas State, Iowa State, West Virginia and Baylor versus your longtime ACC rivals.

What’s the final number there, goobers?

Posted: D.A.

Post-Standard/Frank Ordonez

In a whirlwind two months that saw Chandler Jones skyrocket from a third-round grade to 21st overall pick by the Patriots, The Fizz has been tracking his story. We’ve dissected all the reasons for his dramatic rise, but now it’s time to look ahead. The big questions now are will Chandler fit in New England and how soon will he get on the field?

A few months ago, we questioned whether leaving early was the right move for Jones. But last night proved it was – tenfold. Jones couldn’t have hoped for a better first-round landing spot than a legitimate Super Bowl contender that desperately needs pass rushers. Despite his relative lack of production at SU, Bill Belichick clearly believes in Chandler’s potential and character. The Pats lost one of its double-digit sackers in free agency (Marc Anderson) and another to injury (Andre Carter), meaning a huge opportunity for Chandler to play right away. The Patriots also pulled off a rare feat for the notoriously conservative franchise – trading up grab him. The Pats aggression in nabbing him can only increase his chances of getting on the field.

In addition to likely playing right away, Jones will no longer see the constant double and triple teams like he did at SU. He will in one of the most complex defensive schemes in the league, and Chandler’s intelligence and football instincts will be a huge advantage. Chandler can be used both as a 3-4 edge rusher and a 4-3 defensive end, and that versatility will allow him to get plenty of snaps.

There will be times where Chandler struggles this year. He may have been overdrafted a few slots based on potential, and he if doesn’t produce quickly Patriots fans may be frustrated. Despite being considered one of the greatest coaches ever, Belichick has made several questionable draft picks recently (Chad Jackson, Ron Brace, Lawrence Maroney, Terrance Wheatley, Darius Butler were all taken in the first two rounds) so Pats fans may naturally be a little skeptical right away with Chandler. 

He may develop into an every down defensive end, but right now only expect to see Chandler on passing downs. He’s tall and lean, and could get muscled in the running game. He will be a solid option on passing downs, because he can not only rush the passer, but also drop into coverage.

There may be some growing pains, but it’s hard to imagine a more perfect fit for Chandler than the Patriots. He will be coached by one of the greatest of all time, has a chance to play right away and compete for a title, something he never could dream of with SU.

Posted: Alex Plavin

philly.com

(Update: Jones was selected #21 overall by the Patriots last night. New England is rarely the aggressor in the NFL Draft, but must’ve seen something it loved about the Syracuse defensive end to trade up for him. The Fizz detailed this morning why the Pats are the perfect fit for Chandler, and what to expect his rookie season for the defending AFC champs.)

* * *

Tonight, Chandler Jones will likely become Syracuse’s first selection in the NFL Draft’s first round since another pass rusher, Dwight Freeney, a decade ago. It seems a foregone conclusion as Jones’s stock has skyrocketed over the past month. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock has him as a top 10 prospect and the top defensive end in a class with talented edge guys. How he rose so far, so quickly is a question people are asking. On the day #99 watches his dream come true, we’ll try to answer.

I must offer this disclaimer: Chandler Jones is perhaps my favorite athlete I’ve ever covered. He’s also someone I’ve gotten to know ever so slightly off the field. I say this because: 1) I’m not trying to hide any bias. 2) This is a guy I know. I’ve had many conversations with him off the record, no cameras, no recorders. I’m not insinuating we’re best friends. In fact, I don’t have his number and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have mine. But I do know him away from the field, and that’s relevant for the first question.

• Is his stock rising simply because he’s nailing the interviews?

No. You don’t get the interviews unless you have the tape to back it up. ESPN’s Todd McShay is as shocked as anyone with Chandler’s meteoric rise up mock drafts.  He says the talent and the tape have been there all along. McShay had Jones going to the Patriots at #27 earlier in the process, and now has him going #12 to the Seahawks.

The reason Jones stock is rising is two-fold. First, the tape doesn’t lie. NFL people  are watching the game against WVU, where Jones single-handedly dismantled the Mountaineer offense. He had sacks. He had hurries. He knocked balls down. He was a force in the running game. Coaches are automatically inclined to watch Alabama film because there are four impact players on defense (Courtney Upshaw, Donta Hightower, Dre Kirpatrick and Mark Barron). If you watch SU film, it’s only to see Chan. The more tape they’ve watched on him, the more talent they see.

Jones is also the epitome of a high-character guy. He is the athletic department’s favorite athlete to put on the podium because he nails it every time. Chandler couldn’t be more likeable and that sticks with any coach. He’s an asset in the locker room in a sport where chemistry matters.

• What’s on that tape that makes his stock go up?

This is the hardest question to answer because only execs have the raw game film. However, I did watch every game of his college career. That West Virginia game highlighted his capabilities when he’s allowed to work uninhibited. WVU tried to block him one-on-one and failed miserably. After that teams started double and triple-teaming Jones. You usually can’t afford to allocate too many blockers at one players in the NFL, because other guys will step up and make plays.

Since Mikhail Marinovich had a Baye Keita-esque disappearance, and no one else could rush the passer, the Orange couldn’t make opponents pay for focusing so much attention on Jones. Even with all the attention, he still produced. Chandler had at least 4 tackles in every game after he returned from injury (many solo), and plenty of “wow” plays. He’d come all the way back to stop a runner 10 yards downfield or plug up plays in the backfield for a loss. That type of motor gets you noticed.

• Does his family matter?

His brother Arthur is already in the league, while brother Jon is the youngest UFC light heavyweight champion ever. Clearly something went right in the Jones household and that matters. Because his older brothers have been in the spotlight, Chandler has learned from them on how to deal with it. That’s a major reason why he’s so polished. He’s got an amazing support system of people who already know how to deal with fame and fortune, so there is no risk he’s going to get in trouble after cashing his first check. In a league run by disciplinarian Roger Goodell, character matters. Jon can’t make any tackles for him, but it speaks to Chan’s DNA (although a flying drop kick mid-3rd quarter would be kinda awesome).

• How does he stack up against Freeney?

Fun fact: Jones and Freeney have actually worked out together in Syracuse during each of the last two off-seasons. To expect Jones to be a perennial Pro Bowler though, is premature. Freeney has been a dominant end for years, and was already polished at running down the quarterback coming out of SU. Skeptics may have thought he was undersized, but he was drafted into the perfect system by the perfect team. He had one mission: use your speed to get to the quarterback on a fast indoor track. Chandler isn’t that kind of player, but he can have a long career. Jones is above average against the run. He’ll never be the pass rusher Freeney is, but he could certainly have just as long a stay in the NFL.

• How does this effect Syracuse? 

The person who should be happiest is Doug Marrone. While Jones was a Groobers recruit, he played entirely for HCDM. If he succeeds, he’ll prove you can play at SU and be ready for the next level. Jones has already been a great ambassador for SU, and now he’ll have a bigger platform. He bleeds Orange. If he makes noise in the league, there’s no doubt in can help Syracuse’s recruiting and NFL rep. Also, to have SU football highlighted on the first night, in primetime by ESPN and NFL Network by a classy, articulate player is terrific branding.

Chan’s rise also means the draft process is something far more in-depth than anyone of us understands. As a fan, we’re watching the ball at all times. For Syracuse last year, that meant watching the magic bean continually going over Chandler’s head to an open receiver. When scouts and coaches watch tape, they watch the individual player(s) they’re focused on. While we saw “Touchdown!” (insert Big East team here), they saw Jones going full throttle through a double team and almost get to the quarterback anyway.

If GM’s didn’t like Chandler, his stock wouldn’t be soaring. The combination of raw skill, insane measurables (he’s every bit of 6’5” with an absurd wingspan), a high motor and a coach’s dream off the field has led to his stock going from a 3rd-round advisory grade to the top half of the first round.

It’s not one thing, it’s everything. And it all adds up to this being a special draft night for Orange fans for the first time in a long time.

Posted: Craig Hoffman

• Watch Fizz TV’s highlights, analysis from the Spring Game

His versatility was on full display as he lined up in the power eye and offset formations in the backfield, and in the slot for screen passes. Even though he didn’t take any snaps under center, it was obvious to see what kind of impact the 6’4” swiss army knife can be this season – and Doug Marrone knows it.

“He’s a big, strong, fast, physical athlete. We’re very fortunate to have him. I think he is going to be a great asset to us offensively. We just have o keep bringing him along, because he’s someone who can make a lot of plays.”

The question now becomes how much will Broyld play at each position? Because of his physicality and explosiveness, Ashton may get a series every half (or more) under center to run the Wildcat and option offense. The Syracuse offense is conservative and predictable with classic drop-back passer Ryan Nassib at QB. But a change of pace with Broyld’s athleticism could be the perfect antidote to the lethargic attack.

Most surprising on Saturday is that Broyld spent more time at WR than RB. Despite a couple drops, designing screens for Broyld in the slot looks like a good idea. That was especially evident when he turned a short pass from Kinder into a 45-yard pickup down the sidelines. For a Spring Game that totaled just 9 points (none of them offensive), it’s obvious SU is desperately seeking playmakers. 

At 6’4” 230 lbs. Broyld doesn’t possess the quickness of Alec Lemon or Van Chew. But the idea of Broyld sifting his way through tackles on a designed bubble screen is exciting. Don’t let the big frame fool you. He still has better speed than most would assume for a player his size. Despite taking big strides this spring, Nassib says Broyld still needs to get comfortable with the offense.

“The kid has tremendous upside. Some of the older guys and myself are going to make sure we can bring him along as much as we can. Instead of trying to throw everything at him at once, we’re going to bring him along piece by piece.” 

Even if Ashton doesn’t see much time under center, the battle between him and Kinder will be entertaining following the season. Johnny looked confident with his tosses on Saturday, and was fearless when airing out deep balls down the field. Nassib graduates after this season, and SU didn’t recruit any quarterbacks in this past class. That means the successor to the throne is already on this roster because it’s highly unlikely SU would hand the keys to a true freshman or first-year transfer in ’13. So Broyld’s influence will be obvious this season, as SU uses him in a “slash” role and preps him to compete for the starting job in the future.

Posted: Kevin Fitzgerald

• Watch Orange Fizz TV’s Coverage of the Spring Game

Despite pedestrian production at Syracuse, Jones’ measurables, genes, intelligence and physical potential have helped him with talent evaluators. But is all this buzz worthy of a player whose numbers were average in a bad conference? Some draft experts, like SI.com’s Tony Pauline, believe he’s the product of media hype. He has a gregarious personality which lights up a room. He has two brothers who are professional athletes. Is the press focusing too much on that, and not enough on his football skills?

Part of Jones’ numbers are a bi-product of the injury, and much of that is also double-teams. He was always the focal point of any offensive coordinator’s game plan. But it’s still surprising to see how far he’s climbed. Pauline is skeptical Chan’s media hype reflects what NFL execs actually see.

“I don’t think Chandler Jones has shot up NFL draft boards and is going to be a first round pick. If he’s going to be a first-round pick it’s going to be late in the process if somebody maybe trades up for him.”

Many mocks including Mel Kiper’s and Todd McShay’s have Jones slotted as high as 19. However, Pauline doesn’t buy it and says there are better values.

“There are a lot of players in this draft like Chandler Jones, who are better than Chandler Jones. Alan Branch of Clemson, Vinny Curry of Marshall, Tyrone Crawford of Boise State. So I don’t believe the Chandler Jones hype. He’s a third-rounder, maybe a second rounder.”

Jones’ family tree definitely helps in scouts’ eyes. But he’s also benefitted by the ferocious pass rush of the Super Bowl champions. The Giants have stockpiled edge rushers over the last decade, and teams are looking at that as a blueprint for success.

“He’s liked because he can rush the passer. He’s a solid athlete who can rush the passer, and those guys usually go early. But I’ve never had him as a first-round pick. I’ve never considered him a first-round pick, and I don’t know why people are saying he’s a first-round pick.”

No matter where’s he’s drafted, Jones can be a solid NFL player. But a team is clearly taking a risk taking him on opening night. Chan’s attitude and work ethic are great, and he could end up being a quality pass rusher. It’s just that he’s far from a sure thing.

There is a benefit to Jones being overvalued, though: Exposure for his alma mater. SU has rarely had an early pick this decade, so a national TV audience watching a championship team like the Pats select an Orange may make Dr. Gross swoon like a tween at a Bieber concert. Here’s hoping Jones goes higher than Pauline predicts. Never a bad thing for Syracuse football to feel some good vibes.

Posted: Alex Plavin

The Fizz

• Watch the Spring Game Special at YouTube
• Orange Fizz TV’s YouTube channel

Craig Hoffman hosts the full-length webisode. He’s joined by Floyd Little, NFL Hall of Famer, to talk about the new football facilities. We hear from Marcus Sales, Ryan Nassib and Doug Marrone. Team Fizz is all over it: Alex Plavin discusses the offense, Jake Moskowitz looks at the defense, Kevin Fitzgerald dissects Ashton Broyld’s day, and Andrew Kanell talks recruiting.

• Click here for The Fizz’s offensive depth chart
• Click here for The Fizz’s defensive depth chart

There were a couple of tight races, plenty of no brainers, and a few head scratchers.

Category 1: Mark these down in pen

Alec Lemon and Marcus Sales ran away from the competition as starting wide outs, there is no better option than Ryan Nassib at QB, and Mackey MacPherson, Zack Chibane and Justin Pugh were voted as unanimous starters on the offensive line.

Deon Goggins and Brandon Sharpe coasted to starting spots at defensive end, while Eric Crume is locked in at defensive tackle. All but one of The Fizz staffers has Marquis Spruill slotted as middle linebacker. Shamarko Thomas took unanimous honors at safety.

Category 2: Too close to call

There were a couple of tight races, the closest being at tight end. Incoming freshman Ron “Sugar Bear” Thompson gave Beckett Wales a run for his money at the second starting position. Wales edged Thompson by one point to snag the starting role. Kanell and Hoffman sided with Sugar Bear, Plavin and I went with Wales, Fitz was undecided between the two, and Moskowitz threw a curve ball out there saying Louie Addazio will get the starting nod. The Fizz sees the tight end position being a wide-open race.

The second closest race on offense was the backup to Nassib. The dynamic Ashton Broyld is getting reps this spring, and got love from Team Fizz to edge out John Kinder in a 3.5-2.5 vote. The half votes come from Kevin Fitzgerald, who had Broyld and Kinder on an equal level. AB has been turning heads early in spring practice. Lets see if he can keep it up through the Spring Game and summer.

On defense the competition was tougher. The biggest battle was between Dan Vaughn and Cam Lynch at strong side linebacker. Vaughn, the redshirt senior, squeaked out a 10-8 victory over the talented sophomore. The Fizz believes that Vaughn’s experience and leadership ability gives him the nod early, but look out for Lynch. The Peach State product played well when given opportunities last season and we think he has more upside than DV.

As for the closest second string role, Brandon Reddish barley got by Ritchy Desir for at nickelback. Desir may be the defense’s swiss army knife, placed all over the field by Team Fizz. Hoffman has Desir starting at free safety, while Fitz has Ritchy playing safety as well. We think he’ll have a huge impact at corner/safety and punt returns.  Watch out for Desir, he’ll find his way on the field and make plays.

Category 3: Are you serious?

Time to roast some Fizzsters on questionable picks. Jake Moskowitz might be the only man in America not to have Spruill as SU’s middle linebacker. Mosk took Dyshawn Davis in the middle, and Lewellyn Coker starting on the weak side. Jake, as mentioned above, also has Addazio starting in Marrone’s two tight end system.

Craig Hoffman is in love with the young Florida DB’s. Hoff has freshman Julian Whigham at second-string corner and Desir taking over as starting free safety. Hoff believes speed kills. JW and RD both have wheels and are playmakers in the secondary.

Andrew Kanell was the only member of Team Fizz to have wider receiver Kyle Foster in the two-deep roster. Foster was primarily a special teams player last season.

Alex Plavin and I both had freshman James Washington as a second string defensive end. Washington is considered one of the most talented recruits Doug Marrone brought in this season. While it’s still uncertain if Washington will be rushing the quarterback from line or as an OLB, The Fizz believes he will be on the field in obvious pass rushing situations.

Final Notes:

The Fizz believes in the future, and has five players from the this winter’s recruiting class on the two-deep. Myles Davis, Ashton Broyld, Zian Jones, and Markus Pierce-Brewster all received honors.

Davis is in as the starting fullback even though he hasn’t played much at that position. Myles was an outside linebacker for Milford Academy the last two seasons. MD is a monster at 6’2’’ and 235 lbs and will be the lead blocker for SU.

Ashton Broyld could play all over the field this season but The Fizz loves him at QB. Syracuse has lacked a dynamic playmaker in recent years and we believe Broyld is a type of player that can give defensive coordinators fits to game plan against.

We are high on the JUCO kids Zian Jones and Markus Pierce-Brewster. These two both have played against college level competition, and we see both stepping in to compete for snaps immediately.

The Fizz Depth Chart puts some players in places you may not expect. Check it out, agree/disagree and let the debating begin!

Posted: Dave Van Moffaert

Dear Coach,

I want to first thank you for dousing the raging dumpster fire that was Greg Robinson’s program. You may not know this, but The Fizz was created in part to help get Groobers fired. I wanted to do my part in banging the drum for change. The animosity and soul-sucking misery embodied by this fan base was outrageous. How much hate can you have for a man you don’t even know, simply because he coaches your football team? Plenty. We are a good people. We didn’t deserve the archangel of death (as Chiefs and Wolverine fans know) to set our program back a decade. Groobers, is by the way, still unemployed since he was fired by Michigan over a year ago. Here’s hoping he never gets another job.

So major dap to you Doug. You have, at very least, lifted SU from laughingstock status. No longer do the alumni actively root against the program just to get the coach fired. Your passion for the school is obvious. You are one of us, and understand the DNA of this program and its people. I’ve had the chance to speak with you a handful of times, and the earnestness of your cause is apparent. You sincerely believe you’re the right one to make SU great again, and you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty doing it.

Doug, you’re marking NYC as your territory like a dog pees around his part of the yard. Good job. You’re looking to take advantage of market inefficiencies by closing down the lightly recruited Big Apple, and taking from the surplus of talent in states like Georgia and Florida. You’ve successfully built relationships with high school coaches which were poisoned and left to rot by your predecessor. The addition of Tyrone Wheatley has been a recruiting masterstroke.

You’ve handed down a heavy hand in discipline, suspending and booting athletes who run afoul, even if it hurts your on-field product. We all appreciate that, even if it seems short-sighted at times. But knowing there’s little funny business within the walls of SU football allows us to at least be proud of the goals of the program.

But there are some decisions that leave us scratching our heads. Closing down spring practice from fans and media was silly. If you’re worried about how outsiders label your team, you shouldn’t be. Most are actively rooting for you. If you’re concerned about media distractions of the players, you’re overreacting. With all due respect to CNY, we’re not talking about a sprawling, ruthless media contingent here. This ain’t Tuscaloosa, Columbus or Norman. If you’re worried about a handful of newspaper and website writers, and a pair of sportstalk stations in the college football landscape of 2012, you might be better served in the Colonial Athletic Association.

It took away a chance for the fans to come out and embrace the dawning of a new season. Something you should never take for granted from a fanbase which has been run over by an 18-wheeler many times over. What’s the message you’re sending? They might criticize us, so it’s better to put up walls. You ask your student-athletes to maturely represent this fan base, but they are not equipped to deal with the distractions of an open practice? Don’t be afraid of criticism or people questioning your methods. How much more empowering is the message: We are who we are, and we want you to be part of it. 

Why you’re still not calling your own plays also remains a mystery. You learned at the foot of one of the great offenses in the NFL. You were offensive coordinator under Sean Payton, in the same meetings as Drew Brees. You are specifically qualified to run a college attack. This should be Year Four of installing your high-octane spread. Syracuse is at a competitive disadvantage in areas like funding, nearby talent to recruit, and playing in a lower tier conference. Some believe the Dome is outdated and hurting the program. Turn it into an advantage.

Just like in New Orleans, use the climate-controlled fast track of the Dome to run an up tempo offense. You are the ONLY BCS program to play indoors. Use it to your benefit. When defenses come into the Dome, coordinators should be crapping their pants terrified you’re gonna throw 60 times a game and put up video game numbers. It’ll become easier to recruit the big name quarterback like Chad Kelly, and the impact wide receivers. You are the ONLY BCS school that 6-7 times a year never has to worry about wind, rain, or weather. Play fast. Instead, it’s a grinding conservative offense with a parade of coordinators that get eyes rolling every fall. Because running the ball 35 times, not turning it over, and playing good defense is safer.

Tomorrow, Orange Nation should be flocking to the Dome, ready to see an aerial show, having read and heard from their neighbors all spring about this exciting brand of football SU is playing. Instead, Syracuse residents will be see their Orange for the only time all spring, watching a three-yards and a cloud-of-dust offense run by an assistant coach. Doug, you’re the right man for the job and the fan base thanks you for what you’ve already accomplished. But don’t be afraid to be much, much more.

All the best,

D.A.

Posted: D.A.