Miami, Clemson Rise in Week 5 ACC Power Rankings
Saturday Blitz ACC Power Rankings Week 5
13. Syracuse Orange, 2-2 (0-0), Lost to Notre Dame Fighting Irish 31-15 Last Saturday
So far in Scott Shafer’s second season the Orange have done nothing to show improvement. After needing two overtimes to beat Villanova in the first game of the year, they gave us a tease by blowing out Central Michigan to give off the impression that the opening-game struggle was just a fluke. Then came the next two weeks.
Maybe Maryland and Notre Dame are just two really good teams, but Syracuse never even managed to be competitive with either team. Now, with a scoring offense ranked 88th in the country, and very bad quarterback play from Terrel Hunt so far this season, the Orange have a lot to worry about. They may want to switch to more of a rush-heavy offense to tailor Hunt’s skills, and they’re already 25th in the nation in rushing anyway. The defense is fine, only giving up 23.5 points a game, but could do better.
For right now, bad passing is what’s keeping the Orange down, and life is not about to get any easier with Louisville and Florida State on the slate over the next two weeks. If the Orange want to get back to a bowl game and prove they are a better team than they were last year, it’s time to start improving everywhere.