Syracuse Football: Can Orange get back to bowl contention in 2020?

Retooled defense will look to bounce back

The defense on the other hand will be a fresh unit, with many reserve players from last year stepping up into starting roles. They lose Alton Robinson to the NFL, who was a three-year starter and highly productive during his time with the Orange.

The defensive line that steps up to replace Robinson’s production is a veteran unit. All seniors led by McKinley Williams who missed the majority of 2019 with a foot injury. Syracuse will need his help to clog up the interior line, after allowing 201.5 rushing yards per game in 2019.

There is some potential on this unit, with Mikel Jones stepping in at linebacker. He made the Pro Football Focus All-Freshman third team in 2019 and finished the season with a strong 10-tackle performance against Wake Forest. Andre Cisco has been a turnover machine, ranking in the top 10 for interceptions in the NCAA the past two seasons.

It’s a tall task for a defense that does not have a lot of starting experience to turn the tables and be a strong unit. There will be growing pains, but there is some raw talent on this team that can step up and improve from a rough 2019.