The Orange Begin Two-A-Days

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With kickoff to the season opener against Washington only 22 days away, the Orange moved to the two-a-day practice format Wednesday. The team was on the field early as practice began at 7:45 a.m. Syracuse hosts Washington on Friday, August 31 (8:00 p.m., ESPN). Click here to buy tickets or call the Carrier Dome Box Office (1-888-DOMETIX).

“We had a good first practice for two-a-day,” said head coach Greg Robinson. “It starts fairly early in the morning and I thought our team came out with the intent to go out and work hard. I thought, for the most part, we had very good intensity. There are some areas that you’re always working on and we’re still installing, but I liked the way we worked. We have to get through a number of things, so I was pleased with this morning’s practice. It’s important that we come back this afternoon and stack a practice on top of a practice of quality work.”

The second practice of the day, and seventh of this season’s training camp, begins at 3:20 p.m. Robinson thinks two-a-day sessions allow the players to continue to get comfortable with getting adjusted for the season.

“That’s kind of how it works and you’re kind of in the rhythm of things,” Robinson said. “After today we have pretty much been through everything. The first two-a-day is something you have to get tuned into and get yourself right and ready to come back this afternoon.”

Robinson said he believes his team is heading in the right direction.

“I know that we just need to keep working and hitting all the areas and keep growing and developing,” Robinson said. “If it’s run blocking, I see some good things, but I also see some mistakes. If it’s a runner reading a hole, I see some good thing, but not always consistent. In route running, I see improvement, but it’s not 100 percent. On the defensive side of the ball it’s the same thing. I see real intent. I see people are getting a lot of things done. The consistency of it – it’s not totally there yet, but we are only in practice six right now. We still have a lot of work ahead of us.”

The Orange will benefit from the versatility of two-year starting strong safety Dowayne Davis. The senior began working as a cornerback during Spring practice and continues to line up in both spots.

“We’ve worked him there (at cornerback) a lot,” Robinson said. “But that’s just as much to get him some work there and get (junior) A.J Brown and those other safeties some work. Dowayne will see some safety work, too.”

No matter where Davis plays, Robinson believes he has a strong corps of cornerbacks who will make a difference.

“There are a number of people,” Robinson said. “As I mentioned – I think at the BIG EAST meetings – corner is somewhat like receiver; you can get into the game sooner if your skills allow you to, maybe than some other positions. We have a number of guys, including (redshirt freshman) Nico Scott, who has had a lot of work through spring and now in camp, (senior) Jason Tanner and (senior) Quinton Brown have had a lot of work, and (junior) Ryan Howard, who is a junior college transfer, is getting them some reps. I’ve been impressed with our group of young people. I don’t know if they’ve got our system per say and all of that, but I see physical skills and that is a good thing.”

Syracuse University Athletics

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