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via syracuse.com
Syracuse football’s offense closed the 2013 season red-hot with a scorching scoring attack. Many returning starters and promising fresh faces have already reignited Orange Nation based on eye-popping highlights from Syracuse’s “Fan Fest” at SU Soccer Stadium over the weekend.
Scott Shafer recapped his ball club’s overall performance at the event. He was pleased with the wide receivers, which, along with the rest of the O, will be off to Fort Drum for a third straight summer on Tuesday. Shafer via Cuse.com:
“Jarrod West made some nice plays to start things off for us. I was pleased with the way (senior running back) Adonis (Ameen-Moore) ran the ball. I thought (sophomore wide receiver Sean) Avant made a nice play in the corner there with a touchdown, that was good. (Freshman wide receiver) Steve Ishmael made a hell of a catch down the sideline, so it was good to see some plays being made.‚Äù
This season’s group of receivers is one with many questions, but one with a lot of excitement. Tons of ways to dive into Shaf’s comments. Nice to hear Jarrod West reeled in a deep ball from Terrel Hunt. Criticism has come Hunt’s way for his inability to heave it long. He connected with a receiver in West that is in desperate use of a bounce-back year. Sean Avant had brief moments as a go-to pass catcher last year, so he too getting in on the action is a great sign. And perhaps what’s best to hear is the 3-star, Florida product Steve Ishmael is already opening George McDonald’s eyes.
What you could you call I guess “negative” is we heard nothing of Brisly Estime and Ashton Broyld’s presences. Again, Fan Fest is for the fans and is simply just practice. But, just to spoil SU fans, it would’ve been encouraging to hear notes on Estime, arguably the Orange’s most lethal weapon heading into 2014, and Broyld, one of Hunt’s most targeted receivers. Expect this pair to explode at Fort Drum.
Considering Syracuse lost KJ Williams to ineligibility, the program still showboats a stud-worthy clan of WRs. Without mentioning Estime or Broyld allows us to recall that Sean Avant and Jarrod West are legitimate threats in the passing game.
Other takeaways from Shafer’s remarks include a shout-out to Adonis Ameen-Moore’s bulldozing in the backfield. Being “pleased” with his effort is a good start. Everybody wants to point towards PTG to lead the run game. He’s undoubtedly capable but an on and off the field presence is crucial from Ameen-Moore. The young guns behind are certainly contributors, and a helping hand from Adonis doesn’t hurt either.
Heading to Fort Drum midweek, SU looks to flash this offense even more. No shocker Hunt has been leading the charge, according to Shafer:
“I also thought Terrel (Hunt) did a good job running the offense, he couldn’t have had too many incompletions.”
Hunt’s leadership can only strengthen as his time spent with this wide receiver group becomes more tightly knit. We expected speed and full-force attack from the offense. The receivers are off to the races with 19 days remaining until Villanova visits the Carrier Dome.
Posted by: Brendan Glasheen
