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Syracuse Football: Will Orange flip script, reach bowl game in 2021?

By Dante Pryor

Oct 31, 2020; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Dino Babers has a word with defensive back Aman Greenwood (26) in the third quarter game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2020; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Dino Babers has a word with defensive back Aman Greenwood (26) in the third quarter game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 5, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Syracuse Orange running back Sean Tucker (34) is tackled by Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) in the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Syracuse Orange running back Sean Tucker (34) is tackled by Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) in the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Can the offense find the endzone consistently this season?

Last season’s offense was bad; there are no two ways about it. The offense averaged just 17 points per game. They struggled running and throwing, averaging just 4.4 yards per play. It was a carousel of quarterbacks with three quarterbacks throwing at least 45 passes.

One of the reasons three quarterbacks saw time was the offensive line. Injuries forced a lot of shuffling along the line, which caused little continuity in the trenches. This was a unit that allowed 3.5 sacks per game and 7.5 tackles for loss.

This season, the offensive line is a veteran group. They get players back from injury, and Florida transfer Chris Bleich is eligible and healthy. JUCO signee Jakob Bradford should bolster a group that has pieces now that some of them are healthy.

If there is any part to the offense that coach Babers and offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert are excited about, it is running back. Veterans Abdul Adams and Jarveon Howard return after opting out last season, and freshman sensation Sean Tucker — who led the Orange in rushing — return, giving Syracuse a good running back room.

Taj Harris anchors a talented but young receiver corps. Keep an eye on an incoming freshman, Kendall Long. He’s 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds and a track guy. Long is freakish physically and could see some snaps if he can put it all together.

Who starts at quarterback?

Incumbent starter Tommy DeVito was highly-touted coming into Syracuse but has struggled behind some awful offensive lines. It was apparent that Rex Culpepper was not the answer either. JaCobian Morgan flashed but needs some seasoning.

Enter Mississippi State transfer Garrett Schrader who has the size (6-foot-4 and 224 pounds) and athleticism as a dual-threat to compensate for marginal line play. Schrader does not have DeVito’s pure arm talent but is more athletic.

DeVito and Schrader are the frontrunners to start. If the offensive line looks shaky, look for Schrader to get the nod because of his ability to run. However, if the line play is as bad as it’s been the last couple of seasons, it won’t matter who the quarterback is.

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