The one player that Syracuse Orange fans will have their full attention on this Saturday is Rutgers Scarlet Knights WR Mohamed Sanu.
The reigning Big East Offensive Player of the Week caught a Big East-record 16 passes last week for 176 yards and two touchdowns (against Ohio...). He has 36 receptions on the season so far, only eight less than he had all of last year.
With the Syracuse secondary banged up and the memory of how USC's wide receivers carved up the over-matched defensive backs, there is cause for concern.
"He’s an excellent player," Marrone said. "And they have other players, too."
They have OTHER PLAYERS, TOO? IS THAT LEGAL?
The big story for both offenses is if they can keep up their Red Zone success.
"What’s interesting is when you look at the statistics from both teams … when you take both teams’ offenses and defenses in the Red Zone, they’re pretty much the same. It’s amazing how close they are," Marrone said.
SU fans may have noticed that kick returner Jeremiah Kobena likes to run North-South and East-West be damned. He's still doing well. So well that Doug Marrone pulled out the "Nice Job/Standpoint" doubler.
"He’s done a nice job," SU coach Doug Marrone said. "He’s a little more mature from the standpoint of being a kick returner north and south...he’s doing a very good job of playing special teams for us, and he’s also on our kickoff coverage team, so he’s on some of the other special teams. He’s progressing well."
Doug Marrone closed practice this week, confusing the local media as well as some Syracuse fans. The move also confused Rutgers coach Greg Schiano:
"Close practice. I would like to think you don’t have to close practice, that your beat guys are going to keep it under a lid. But that’s his call. It isn’t mine," said Rutgers coach Greg Schiano.
Did Greg just take a shot at Nolan, Dave and Bud? Should I be angry? I don't know what to do...
- Syracuse University football coach Doug Marrone will address the Rutgers game on TV, radio...Dave Rahme
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- Rutgers-Syracuse game preview...On The Banks
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- Thomas readies for homecoming...Daily Targum
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