Syracuse Football Practice: Day 3 Recap

Rahme, Weidner and the D.O. are killin' it so let's get to the juicy stuff.

QB

Ryan Nassib is the starter.  We know that.  After him, however, it gets a little murky.  RGL Loeb's place at the No. 2 spot is tenuous at best as Doug Marrone has said the 2nd and 3rd string QB spots are completely up for grabs. Nate Hackett likes what he's seen from the sophomores as well as the freshman.  And it if were up to Jonny Miller, he'd be more than happy to snag that starting spot right now.

"I don’t like to take things slow. I’m ready to get things going," he said.

Unfortunately for Miller, he suffered a slight ankle injury and that's allowed fellow freshman John Kinder to get the bulk of reps after Nassib and Loeb.  Marrone likes what he's seen so far.

"We’ve seen a lot of good things out of John Kinder," SU coach Doug Marrone said. "We haven’t really been able to evaluate Jonny Miller yet. What we’ve seen from John so far we’re excited about. He’s a young quarterback who’s learning. The toughest position to learn on offense is quarterback."

As for the guy who'll actually be on the field, Nassib is already in good form according to the D.O.

Ryan Nassib looked comfortable in passing drills for the first time this camp in pads. He looked perhaps most impressive in one drill when, time after time, he would effortlessly lob 25- and 30-yard passes into receivers in stride. No matter the receiver — Marcus Sales, Steve Rene, Michael Acchione, Aaron Weaver — Nassib connected with him.

RB

Delone Carter took the field in a white "hands off" jersey Wednesday.  He's a day behind everyone else in terms of NCAA rules about practicing in full pads. Prince-Tyson Gulley got a lot of reps in DC3's place and Dave Rahme hails the Prince's performance:

...looked impressive, very reminiscent of a young James Mungro. Low center of gravity and quick change of directions.

FB Tombe Kose is making his presence felt.  Quite literally.  Dave Rahme says The Sundanese Slammer was one of the players who tested the limits of NCAA policy to limit contact in early practices.  Good.

WR

It wouldn't be Syracuse training camp without some injuries and we've got our first one of the season in freshman Jarrod West.  The feeling was that West had a chance to make a real impact this season for the Orange but he might not get a chance if this is as bad as it sounds:

Freshman wide receiver Jarrod West (6-foot-3, 190 pounds), expected to make an immediate impact this season, hobbled off the practice field gingerly early in the late-afternoon’s practice. The team was practicing in helmets and shoulder pads and working on drills by position when West went down. He walked off the field minus his right cleat and sock, a grimace locked on his face. He was taken away from the area in a cart by an SU trainer and did not return.

As for the WRs and TEs there, a bad case of the dropsies was going around.  It's something that Dorian Graham is working on with his move from DB to WR.  He's also working on running routes, which is going to separate him from the pack.

...And after speaking with both Alec Lemon and Ryan Nassib the consensus was that Graham needs to improve his ability at running intermediate routes if he is to contribute within the receiving corps.

OL

Sweet Lou Alexander continues to be MIA though SU coaches seem to expect him on campus any day now.

For the players who are here, Doug Marrone is bullish on his lineman.

"I think Justin Pugh will have a very good year for us...I think he’ll be a solid left tackle..."

"Ryan Bartholomew is a natural move. He is very good at center, even though I know he can play guard,"

"At right guard, Andrew Tiller has lost quite a bit of weight and is playing very well to this point. Michael Hay is moving better than he did in the spring, which is exciting. Sean Hickey is a freshman who can swing at one of the tackles.

LB

Derrell Smith is the unquestioned leader and best player on the defense. Looks like the folks who nominate players for the Bednarik Award realized this as well and they added Smith to their list.

Senior linebacker Derrell Smith is one of 60 football players on the 2010 Chuck Bednarik Award watch list. The Bednarik Award, presented by the Maxwell Football Club, awarded annually to the nation’s top defensive player. Forty-five schools are represented on the preseason watch list.

One guy who's not going to end up on any Bednarik lists if he doesn't work on his conditioning is Marquis Sprill.  Looking winded, Sprill got an earful from conditioning coach Hal Luther:

"How do you expect to get through a 12-play series?"

DB

The defensive secondary is officially the most banged-up portion of the team at the moment.  #Shamarko and Kevyn Scott both remained on the sidelines all day with hamstring pulls. Neither injury is serious, according to Marrone. Freshman Jeremi Wilkes is practicing but with a heavily bandaged left wrist/hand 

The space created by the injuies is allowed some of the other guys to step in and get some PT.  Freshman Keon Lyn and senior George Mayes have taken advantage of the opportunity.

Special Teams

Rob Long might just go down in history as the best punter in Syracuse history.  So it's no surprise that he's on the initial list for the Ray Guy Award.

Tough day for Ryan Lichtenstein.  He went 2-5 on field goals, hitting the upright on more than one occassion. Another kick was blocked by Jerkin' Anthony Perkins.

Dave Rahme reports from practice at Manley Field House, on the role the tight end position will play for the Orange this season.

SU Football: Targeting the Tight Ends

Syracuse AD Daryl Gross on Doug Marrone's Second Season, Conference Expansion, TV deals, and more...Brent Axe

Doug Marrone Previews the 2010 Season...Brent Axe

SU Defense "on the up and up", with numbers...CNYCentral.com

Carter confident in return...YNN