SU to Robinson: Get better, or else

By Darrell Laurant  |   Monday, February 04, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Syracuse Orange
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Seventh in a series on Big East football teams and the 2007 season.

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ORANGE

RECORD: 2-10 (1-6 Big East).

HIGH POINTS: A shocking 38-35 upset of Louisville early in the season, a 20-12 victory over Buffalo.

LOW POINTS: Lots of them, including a 52-31 loss to Cincinnati, a 55-17 rout at the hands of West Virginia, blowing a late lead in a 20-17 loss to Pitt.

TOP RETURNEES: QB Andrew Robinson; WRs Mike Williams and LeVar Lobdell; KR Max Sutor; RBs Delone Carter, Paul Hogue and Curtis Brinkley; DL Arthur Jones; OL Jim McKenzie, Jonathan Meldrum and Taylor Baumbach; LB Jake Flaherty; S A.J. Brown.

MAJOR LOSSES: WR Taj Smith; LB Vincent Giruzzi; S Joe Fields; DE Jameel McClain; CB Dowayne Davis; WR Rice Moss; TE Jawad Nesheiwat.

2008 OUTLOOK: It was made painfully clear to coach Greg Robinson after last fall's disaster that his team needs to produce a winning record in 2008 -- or, at least, demonstrate a vast improvement in the level of competitiveness -- for him to keep his job. The most glaring deficiency in 2007 was the offensive line, which allowed 54 sacks and paved the way for all of 753 rushing yards. Robinson brought in Mitch Browning as his new offensive coordinator, with improving that porous forward wall as his No. 1 mandate. The 2007 Orange blockers were big enough, but woefully slow. It would also help immensely if RB Delone Carter, a freshman star in 2006, were to return from a hip dislocation that cost him all of last season. The defense was better than the offense last season (Arthur Jones and Jamell McClain combined for 23 tackles for loss), but spent way too much time on the field. Meanwhile, promising quarterback Andrew Robinson spent far too much time on his back. To make matters worse, SU has added Notre Dame and Penn State to the 2008 schedule. Here's to you, Mr. Robinson.
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