Orange has Options Through the Air
8/19/2010 7:54:58 PM | Football
Head Coach Doug Marrone Press Conference Transcript
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The competition at the wide receiver position and tight end corps turned heads during the 10th day of Syracuse's presesaon camp. Head coach Doug Marrone took note of the units, which are anchored by veterans but have new faces making a push. The groups will provide starting quarterback Ryan Nassib with multiple options through the air.
“With the wide receiver position we feel comfortable with three players that we have there, Alec Lemon, (Aaron) Weaver and Van Chew and there is a battle for that fourth position." Marrone said. "You have Dorian Graham and Marcus Sales, but the guy who has been playing well is Cody Morgan. He is a walk-on for us and I don't know where it is going to end in camp, but right now he is doing a heck of a job, so we're happy with him."
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Provo lists as the starting tight end on the preseason depth chart, he played in five games, including two starts last season before being sidelined by a knee injury. Provo has eight career receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown.
“The tight end position, we have (Jose) Cruz, (Nick) Provo, Beckett Wales and David Stevens," Marrone said.."For a freshman Beckett Wales has done some nice things out there. We think that he'll come in and he can earn some playing time. We're looking for production from a lot of our tight ends with Nick Provo coming back, Jose Cruz, David Stevens, and Beckett."
Cruz transferred to Syracuse in January after Hofstra eliminated its intercollegiate football program. He played in all 11 games for the Pride last season, recording 15 receptions for 149 yards.
Stevens moved to tight end from linebacker during the 2009 season, but did not play in any games.
“I like him a lot,” Marrone said of Stevens. “You can ask any coach I'm a big fan of David. He runs extremely well and I think we'll have a big role for him in this offense. It is so good that I don't even look at it as a transition anymore.”
Marrone was also enthused about the competition at wide receiver. Sophomore Alec Lemon, senior Aaron Weaver and junior Van Chew have jumped out as the three front runners of the group while sophomore Cody Morgan and junior Marcus Sales are battling for the fourth spot.
An ESPN.com All-BIG EAST Freshman Team selection, Lemon played in all 12 games last season, including six starts. He made 29 receptions - which ranks second on the SU record list for catches by a freshman – for 295 yards and a touchdown.
Weaver also joined the Orange in January 2010 after Hofstra eliminated its intercollegiate football program. He made nine starts last season, leading the Pride with 63 receptions for 797 yards and four touchdowns.
Chew played in all 12 games last season, making six catches for 66 yards while Sales had 28 receptions for 324 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games. Morgan made the team as a walk-on prior to 2009 Spring practice and did not play in any games last season.
“I like to come out here (with he media) every day and talk about where the competition is and I've been very pleased with (Alec Lemon, Aaron Weaver and Van Chew) and we're looking for someone to step up and be the fourth," Marrone said. "The only reason why I mentioned that is because that is no one would really know unless they were at practice for the full time. That is why I'm out here saying Cody Morgan is doing a heck of a job and as of right now, today, he is heavily in that mix. He is going after it and I give him a lot of credit,. He has worked extremely hard.”
At the midpoint of preseason camp, Marrone and the coaching staff continue to stress fundamentals and build a strong foundation.
“The effort, the enthusiasm, body language and mental toughness is really what we're looking for,” Marrone said. “We're looking for the weaknesses in the schemes that we're running to identify them and make sure we're working on it. Then really teaching the players exactly what we want in terms of, just a burst, just a finish, just the little things now that get you beat. We're really working from the ground up as far as the foundation and really harping on what needs to get done. It is important because we do have a lot of new players on this team so we're making sure they know exactly how we practice knowing that it will carry over into the game.
“This is a critical week and this is where people do separate themselves, they show you where their mental toughness is to push through these types of days. We'll start separating this team quickly after this Saturday.”
