[msqueri]

Syracuse is not *that* bad of a team, at least compared to other conference opponents we have on the schedule at home like Virginia Tech (lost to Vandy, who then followed up that performance with a loss to Georgia State), home against Wake Forest (who got blown out so badly at home by Ole Miss that they canceled the rest of the home-and-home and lost at home to Virginia), home against SMU (lost at home to BYU and didn't look particularly good doing it). Even a road game at NC State (their star transfer QB got hurt, and with an inexperienced backup, have now gotten blown out in consecutive weeks) and definitely San Jose State are winnable. 

I don't know why we can't hope and expect this team to make a bowl. I think low expectations can actually undermine the program, because subconsciously it means everyone is ok with going year after year not making the postseason.

Here is how the teams on the schedule rank based on Sagarin ratings heading into the weekend's action:

7) Notre Dame
20) Clemson
21) Louisville
29) TCU
38) Virginia Tech
40) SMU
41) Cal
59) Syracuse
64) NC State
84) Wake Forest
97) San Jose State
209) Cal Poly

Using the home field advantage adjustment, Notre Dame, Clemson, Louisville, and Cal are harder games than Syracuse while the others are easier.

I definitely think we should strive for a bowl, but analytically I am not predicting it until we get at least one more surprise win. Lots of good in the game that I highlighted in my post, but fundamentally we still played like a bad team that will be expected to lose more than win. If we played like we did against Syracuse we will still lose most of our games, unless we can get a pick six in all of them.

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Re: skill players -- I wouldn't start grading receivers just yet.  Daniels' inability to make reads means that we really don't have idea of whether receivers are winning their routes unless we have the All-22 film for study. 

I know the OL has been much maligned, and the penalities this game were near-fatal, but I saw a few pockets hold for so much longer this game.  Daniels had so much time to throw!  Watching him stand there with the occasional shoulder fake made me realize that the OL was winning their battles (for that play anyway).  If your OL gives you 5+ sec to throw, that should be an automatic positive play.  Make something happen, buddy.

As for run-blocking, my uneducated eye says that the OL needs to be faster to the point of attack and catch their targets off-balance.  And finish those blocks.  The freshman RBs looked good.  I liked the swing passes out of the backfield (but read the defense first).

As I always say, the enemy has a vote. You can't just say there were pockets and more time to throw and that means the OL is improved. Syracuse does not have a good defense at all and had a star player lost for the season in the opener. It means a lot less to have some success up front against Syracuse than it would against a good defense.

[msqueri]

Syracuse is not *that* bad of a team, at least compared to other conference opponents we have on the schedule at home like Virginia Tech (lost to Vandy, who then followed up that performance with a loss to Georgia State), home against Wake Forest (who got blown out so badly at home by Ole Miss that they canceled the rest of the home-and-home and lost at home to Virginia), home against SMU (lost at home to BYU and didn't look particularly good doing it). Even a road game at NC State (their star transfer QB got hurt, and with an inexperienced backup, have now gotten blown out in consecutive weeks) and definitely San Jose State are winnable. 

I don't know why we can't hope and expect this team to make a bowl. I think low expectations can actually undermine the program, because subconsciously it means everyone is ok with going year after year not making the postseason.

Here is how the teams on the schedule rank based on Sagarin ratings heading into the weekend's action:

7) Notre Dame
20) Clemson
21) Louisville
29) TCU
38) Virginia Tech
40) SMU
41) Cal
59) Syracuse
64) NC State
84) Wake Forest
97) San Jose State
209) Cal Poly

Using the home field advantage adjustment, Notre Dame, Clemson, Louisville, and Cal are harder games than Syracuse while the others are easier.

I definitely think we should strive for a bowl, but analytically I am not predicting it until we get at least one more surprise win. Lots of good in the game that I highlighted in my post, but fundamentally we still played like a bad team that will be expected to lose more than win. If we played like we did against Syracuse we will still lose most of our games, unless we can get a pick six in all of them.

---

Re: skill players -- I wouldn't start grading receivers just yet.  Daniels' inability to make reads means that we really don't have idea of whether receivers are winning their routes unless we have the All-22 film for study. 

I know the OL has been much maligned, and the penalities this game were near-fatal, but I saw a few pockets hold for so much longer this game.  Daniels had so much time to throw!  Watching him stand there with the occasional shoulder fake made me realize that the OL was winning their battles (for that play anyway).  If your OL gives you 5+ sec to throw, that should be an automatic positive play.  Make something happen, buddy.

As for run-blocking, my uneducated eye says that the OL needs to be faster to the point of attack and catch their targets off-balance.  And finish those blocks.  The freshman RBs looked good.  I liked the swing passes out of the backfield (but read the defense first).

As I always say, the enemy has a vote. You can't just say there were pockets and more time to throw and that means the OL is improved. Syracuse does not have a good defense at all and had a star player lost for the season in the opener. It means a lot less to have some success up front against Syracuse than it would against a good defense.