On Tuesday Morning, Dino Babers, Oronde Gadsden, Garrett Shrader, and Marlowe Wax took the podium to address the local media and representatives covering other ACC schools and some national media members. A lot was said, so let’s dive right into it.
Not much, if anything, was said about LeQuint Allen’s recent off-field news, but everyone was raving about what he’s shown in practice. He showed it in game action during the Pinstripe Bowl as well. It was a very limited sample size, but an average of over six yards per carry is nothing to scoff at. 11 receptions as well? It’s hard tonot to be excited about his potential, and Babers and Shrader reciprocated that feeling.
“Guru” feels like an appropriate adjective for the architect of the 3-3-5. Long had four 10-win seasons when he was head coach of San Diego State, but this is his first Power Five job. Given his age, it shouldn’t come as a major surprise that Wax considers White more of a “people person”, but Long knows football. The 3-3-5 is a very unique defense and a successful one when performed adequately.
We hear a lot about “positionless” basketball, but it isn’t exactly a term you hear a lot on the gridiron. Gadsden might be an exception. His improvement as a route runner and pass catcher last season was remarkable, adding to an already dynamic skillset. The Orange already have a solid pass-blocking tight end in Max Mang, and he isn’t a big pass-catching threat, making Gadsden’s ability to go out wide fit perfectly. If Damien Alford and Isaiah Jones (two guys Gadsden shouted out) develop further come September, he can become Mr. Do-It-All.
Say what you want about the 1-6 ending to the season, this stat is ridiculously jarring. This doesn’t even mention the wear and tear guys like Shrader and Tucker dealt with throughout the season. This doesn’t excuse that collapse, if anything it brings to light the importance of player conditioning. If that number doesn’t go down or, even worse, goes up, something has to change.
Babers mentioned that continuity is a big reason why Beck is the offensive coordinator, while also emphasizing that he has wholeheartedly earned the opportunity. Shrader obviously worked closely with the former Quarterbacks coach, and as you can see, he has nothing positive things to say about him. Even though Robert Anae is gone (keep an eye out on Thursday for more on that), the foundations of last year’s offense which was very successful in the first half of last season are still intact. You’d like to see more consistency, and part of that has to come from Beck injecting his vision into the offense. If you ask Babers, Shrader, and Gadsden, that part of the puzzle is coming to fruition.
Now you’ve got two Orange podcasts to keep up with during the season.
Plenty of questions are yet to be answered, but all four of Syracuse’s representatives preached optimism with a desire for growth, both on an individual and team level. There’s not much more you can ask for.
