'09 Football Opponent Preview: Syracuse
September 01, 2009 | Football
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- As college football fans across the country gear up for another exciting season of action on the gridiron, UofLSports.com will give Louisville fans breakdown, analysis and things to watch for on each of the Cardinals' 2009 opponents leading up to the start of the season.
The staff of UofLSports.com continues its 2009 football season preview with an in-depth look at the Cards' BIG EAST home game against Syracuse.
 | Game Buildup |
Louisville will host Syracuse in a potential pivotal BIG EAST game on Nov. 14. Both teams are looking to make strides from a year ago when they finished bottom two in the conference. The Orange has held UofL's number in the last two meetings, including a 28-21 win last season. However, the Cardinals have not lost at home in the series as they are 3-0.
| Season Outlook |
Syracuse turned over a new leaf when they hired alum Doug Marrone as their new head coach. Marrone arrives from the New Orleans Saints where he served as offensive coordinator.
The Orange will look to instill the same pride and traditions (national championship, 22 bowl games, over 600 wins) of past teams that have lacked in recent years under the new direction of Marrone. He takes over a team that knocked off Notre Dame on the road last season and features two preseason All-American candidates. Syracuse will make the transition from one of the youngest teams in the conference to a more veteran savvy group with the return of seven starters on offense and six on defense.
The future looks bright for Syracuse, but only time will tell if Marrone can restore the glory.
| Players to Watch |
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Arthur Jones | NT | No. 97 | Senior
Arthur Jones will be anchoring the Orange defensive line this year. Jones, a redshirt senior, racked up 33 solo tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and recovered one fumble. Jones had his best game last year against Notre Dame as he notched a career-high 15 tackles to earn Big East Defensive Player of the Week. He ranked sixth in the Big East with 1.08 tackles for loss per game. Jones is currently ranked sixth all-time at Syracuse in career tackles for loss with 31.5 and ranked 13th for tackles by a down lineman. Jones was named to the 2008 All-Big East team last year and this year he is on the Lombardi Award watch list.
Other Key Players
| Scouting Opponent's Offense |
Senior Greg Paulus has been named the starter at quarterback for the Orange under first-year head coach Doug Marrone. Veteran Cameron Dantley, who started 11 of the 12 games he played in 2008, is second on the depth chart.
Returning starter Mike Owen and junior Nick Provo lead the way at tight end. In 2008, Owen was Syracuse's second leading receiver with 19 catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Provo, who is the first-string U-tight end, played in 11 games last year, catching four passes for 70 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore Thomas Trendowski backs up Owen, while junior Cody Catalina, sophomore Carl Cutler and senior Andrew Robinson are the reserve U-tight ends.
A strength of the Orange roster, the running back position has depth and experience. Sophomore Antwon Bailey, junior Delone Carter and sophomore Averin Collier will all contribute to the ground attack. After an impressive freshman year, Bailey will lead the way for the running backs in 2009. Last year Bailey gained 221 yards on 33 carries and scored two touchdowns in eight games.
Carter will look to return to his rookie season form after missing the 2007 season with a hip injury and a good portion of the 2008 season with a hamstring injury. As a freshman, Carter was a Sporting News Freshman All-American after leading the Orange in rushing with 713 yards on 156 carries. Collier and sophomore Michael Jones will make their collegiate debuts in 2009.
Sophomore Donte Davis is the leading returning receiver. He paced the 2008 squad with 29 catches for 312 yards and two touchdowns last year. Senior Mike Williams returns to the squad after missing the 2008 season due to academics. In 2007, Williams earned second-team All-BIG EAST honors with his 60-reception season. He has an active streak of 20 games with a reception and nine straight contests with a touchdown catch. Sophomore Marcus Sales is the starter in the Z receiver spot. The receiving unit also includes seniors Lavar Lobdell and Daniel Bailey, junior Da'Mon Merkerson, sophomores Van Chew and Michael Acchione and freshmen Torian Phillips and Alec Lemon.
Three starters, including center Jim McKenzie, guard Ryan Bartholomew and tackle Tucker Baumbach, return to anchor the offensive line. McKenzie is the veteran of the group with two seasons as a starter under his belt, while Bartholomew started all 10 games he played in 2008 and Baumbach started all 12 contests. Sophomore Nick Speller and senior Adam Rosner round out the first string group. The reserve left tackles include junior Jonathan Meldrum, sophomore Ian Allport and freshman Andrew Phillips, while juniors Josh White and Andrew Tiller back up the right side. At guard, freshman Justin Pugh is the reserve. Sophomore Nick Lepak and freshman Zach Chibane are the backup centers.
| Scouting Opponent's Defense |
Pre-season honors candidate Arthur Jones returns to anchor the defensive line. A 2008 All-BIG EAST nose tackle, Jones is on the preseason Lombardi Award Watch list. Senior defensive tackle Andrew Lewis will slide into the starting tackle position next to Jones. Senior Jared Kimmel, who started all 12 games in 2008, and sophomore Chandler Jones will anchor the defensive end positions. The reserve interior defensive linemen include junior Bud Tribbey, junior Ollie Haney, sophomore Jarel Lowrey, senior Anthony Perkins and sophomore Cory Boatman, while freshman Torrey Ball, sophomore Mikhail Marinovich, and sophomore Chad Battles provide depth at defensive end.
Senior Derrell Smith is the lone returning starter in the linebacker corps. He will have juniors Doug Hogue and Derek Hines flanking him. Smith is the leading returning playmaker from 2008, having recorded 73 tackles in his first year as a starter. Hogue moved to the defensive side of the ball during Spring practice after playing running back for two seasons, while Hines is a junior college transfer.
Pushing for playing time at strongside linebacker will be sophomores Dan Vaughan, David Stevens and freshman Brandon Sharpe, while senior Mike Stenclik and sophomore Shane Kimmel will back up the middle. Freshman E.J. Carter and junior Ryan Gillum are the reserves on the weak side.
Three starters return in the defensive backfield, including cornerback Kevyn Scott, strong safety Max Suter and free safety Mike Holmes. Scott split time at corner and safety in 2008, starting the last five games on the outside, and had 32 tackles. Holmes was the leading tackler in the secondary with 68 stops, while Suter played in all 12 games, including four starts, and recorded 32 tackles.
Senior Nico Scott, who started eight of 12 games he played and had 22 tackles in 2008, will start opposite Kevyn at cornerback. Junior college transfer JohnMark Henderson, sophomore Grant Mayes, freshman Shamarko Thomas and senior George Mayes are the reserve cornerbacks. At strong safety, junior Randy McKinnon and freshman Phillip Thomas back up Suter, while sophomore Dorian Graham, freshman Rishard Anderson and senior Ryan Ahern are the reserve free safeties.
| Scouting Opponent's Special Teams |
Third-year veteran Rob Long returns as one of the top punters in country. He is a pre-season candidate for the Ray Guy Award. In 2008, Long ranked 14th in the nation and third in the BIG EAST with a 43.9 yards per punt average. Freshman Shane Raupers will assume the placekicking duties for the graduated Patrick Shadle. Experienced long snappers Dalton Phillips and Max Leo return to the lineup.
| Game Implications |
Both teams are looking to make strides from a year ago when they finished bottom two in the conference. A win for the Cardinals would help their bowl chances and put and end to a two game slide in the series.
The countdown to the start of the season marches on as UofLSports.com provides and in-depth look at the Cards' final road game against BIG EAST member South Florida in its next installment.
