Limit Turnovers

Last week, Greg Paulus wasn’t asked to carry the Orange offense. Delone Carter was.

Syracuse fed the senior running back 30 times, put Paulus in manageable situations all game and plowed over Akron, 28-14. The formula worked then. It might not Saturday. Though establishing a sound running game is vital, the Orange won’t be able to quarantine Paulus to handoffs and check-downs all game against No. 5 Cincinnati. Chances are SU will need to make plays downfield to keep up with the Bearcats’ offense. And when it does, limiting turnovers is a must.

If the Orange has any shot of shocking the Bearcats, it cannot turn the ball over. We’re not just talking about interceptions here, either. Wayward shotgun snaps have whipped through the team like the flu. Like center Jim McKenzie, replacement Ryan Bartholomew uncorked several shotgun snaps over Paulus’s head last week. Luckily for SU, Paulus reacted quickly to prevent disaster. Throw in SU’s two fumble returns, and ball security is clearly an issue with this team. SU survived its butterfingers against Akron.

Against Cincinnati? Not a chance.

– Tyler Dunne, staff writer

Control the ball

Fresno State showed the blueprint for how to stay in a game with No. 5 Cincinnati on Sept. 26: keep the Cincinnati offense off the field. In that game, the Bulldogs ran the ball an incredible 57 times in the game and possessed the ball for a period of 43:42. Though Fresno State still lost it was the closest game that Cincinnati has played all year.

Establishing a running game and grinding out yards on the ground will keep the Bearcats’ potent offense off the field, and on the sidelines. The less time Cincinnati has the ball, the less chance that quarterback Zach Collaros has a chance to pick apart a weak Syracuse secondary Saturday. By grinding out yards on the ground, Syracuse can keep the clock running, and try and tilt the game in its favor.

Of course, the flaw in this whole idea is that Fresno State executed this game plan and still lost to Cincinnati. Against the Bulldogs, the Bearcats simply made the most of their drives and scored. This tactic might not push Syracuse to a victory, but it certainly will help keep the game closer than one might think.

– Matt Ehalt, staff writer

Pressure the quarterback

No matter who starts under center for Cincinnati Saturday, how Syracuse’s front four players will be crucial if the Orange has any hope of coming away with an upset. Backup quarterback Zach Collaros has shown the ability to be an effective passer, and the Bearcats have relied on their aerial attack to compile their 7-0 record.

With the way Syracuse’s secondary has played this year, it seems Collaros will have little problem finding open receivers downfield. Mardy Gilyard may be the best receiver SU has faced all season, with the exception of Eric Decker from Minnesota.

That puts the pressure on the defensive line and linebackers to make things uncomfortable for Cincinnati’s quarterback. Derrell Smith had two sacks last week against Akron, and the Orange will be looking for a repeat performance. Smith and Hogue have made a formidable linebacker duo all season, especially against the run. This time, they will be counted on to blitz early and often and get to the quarterback.

Saturday would also be an ideal time for Art Jones to have a breakout game.

– Jared Diamond, sports editor

Published on October 29, 2009 at 12:00 pm