Syracuse scrambles, shuffles to ease wideout crisis

By Darrell Laurant  |   Wednesday, August 13, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

Syracuse Orange
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It is always better to give than to receive -- unless, of course, you're a football team and want to have a passing game.

Syracuse University has, by all accounts, a decent quarterback in Andrew Robinson (although it was sometimes hard to tell last year while he was being sacked 54 times), but it's currently sorely in need of receivers. And because Robinson can't throw the ball to himself, that's a problem.

Last year, wideouts Mike Williams and Taj Smith scored more than half (15) of their team's 24 touchdowns, accounted for 1,659 of the 1,810 receiving yards and 104 of the 202 receptions. Both are now gone -- Smith to the pros and Williams to the sidelines as an academic casualty. The third and fourth most productive receivers graduated, leaving Lavar Lobdell and Dan Sheeran as the most productive returnees.

Last week in preseason drills, Sheeran broke his leg, and head coach Greg Robinson had to make a tough decision. Starting free safety Bruce Williams (who, along with Lobdell, caught most of Greg Paulus' passes at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse a few years ago) is now a receiver again. Sophomore Max Suter, best known for his kickoff returns, is the starting free safety (unless converted running back Paul Chiara can wrestle the job away).

In addition, the Orange is now expected to force-feed at least a few of its freshmen receivers into the rotation, ready or not. Marcus Sales, another CBA product, is probably the most talented. Other newcomers include Van Chew, Chaz Cervino, Trey Fairchild and Grant Mayes. Donte Davis, who missed all of last season with an injury, is also in the mix.

The good news from preseason practice, apparently, is that the much-maligned Orange offensive line is lighter, quicker and better this time around.

But will anybody be open if Robinson gets extra time?
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