Syracuse's offense was supposedly taking some great steps forward -- at least according to QB Terrel Hunt prior to the spring football game. But afterward, we weren't really sure what to think of an Orange offense that really didn't show much through the spring "scrimmage."
Tim Lester tries to change that, though, while talking with ESPN yesterday. In a quick conversation with David Hale, the Orange offensive coordinator adds some color to the comments we heard form Hunt last month regarding the offense and where things stand at the moment.
"It’s something we’ve really honed in on in the spring is execution levels and the depths of our routes and the first and second step of every play. That’s what it’ll come down to. If we become more consistent instead of hot and cold, the points follow that."
It's something Hunt honed in on as well -- that play execution. Last year's team was challenged to do too much without really understanding the execution part of things. This year, it seems the Orange are worried about completing plays correctly (surprise!) and letting the points come afterward. That's not a bad thing following a season in which the team put together one of the worst offensive performances in program history.
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According to Lester, focusing on the little things has shone a light on just what's been going wrong -- and what needs to go right -- from the onset. Wrong first and second steps over half of the time are startling. But knowing that fact at least assists in correcting those mistakes, even if it takes awhile.
The team has challenges other than those mistakes, though. And some of them fall to SU's youngest offensive position group, the wide receivers. Said Lester:
"We’re so young at that spot, and with young guys, they all blossom at different times. And usually as they’re blossoming, they’ll have a great day and then go back or two great days and go back."
That sounds sort of optimistic, but let's start hoping this group finds its consistency this summer and is ready to go come the fall. While Orange wideouts are certainly young, it's not as if they're inexperienced. As we covered back in March, the team loses a few options like Jarrod West and Adrian Flemming, most notably. But everyone else (especially Steve Ishmael and Ashton Broyld, among others) played last year. And even in a bad, disjointed offensive scheme like SU saw last season, some snaps are better than no snaps.
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So does this really change much for Syracuse fans? No, not necessarily. Lester shared a few quotes with a national audience who aren't necessarily well-versed in what goes on up in Central New York. And to be honest, it's a bit discouraging to see the bulk of the issues blamed on youth when there's not as much as Lester alludes to. But nonetheless, we can see the change in strategy as progress. And that -- in particular, the stress on execution -- is a step in the right direction.