Building Depth is the Focus for Marrone
8/9/2010 7:23:48 PM | Football
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The 2010 Orange football team reported to camp with 97 student-athletes on the roster, including 30 new scholarship players. The number increased to 98 as redshirt senior running back Delone Carter was reinstated to the University on Monday afternoon. Head coach Doug Marrone and the Orange staff are focused on determining who will win spots on the depth chart on offense, defense and special teams, to achieve the team goal -- a Bowl berth.
“Our team goal is, obviously, to go to a Bowl game, which we haven't done since 2004," Marrone said. "And to have a winning season. That is the expectation and the goal of this football team and this staff as we approach this 2010 season."
The Orange roster features 26 seniors, including 2009 All-BIG EAST First Team selection punter Rob Long and second-team selections center Ryan Bartholomew and linebacker Derrell Smith.
“We have three starters returning for offense. We're looking for help on that side of the ball. As we go through this preseason we'll know more about new players, where they fit in and what their roles are on this team will be. That is an exciting time for us as coaches and also a tremendous challenge."
In addition to Bartholomew and Carter, guard Adam Rosner are back as starters on the offense. The return of Carter gives the Orange two experienced tailbacks. Junior Antwon Bailey was Syracuse's second-leading rusher in 2009, whle Carter led the team yards gained and carries. The Copley, Ohio native ranks 19th on Syracuse's career rushing leaders record list (1,871 yards).
“We look forward to (Delone Carter) coming back and being a part of this team," Marrone said. "One of the things that has happened is that we have taken disciplinary action internally as a football program and Judicial Affairs has had its part in that. As far as our football program goes, we have punished Delone and that punishment has been carried out. Now it is time for us to move forward.”
On the defensive side of the ball the Orange welcomes back its seven leading tacklers.Smith paced the team in tackles in 2009 with returning starters Mike Holmes, Doug Hogue, Max Suter, Chandler Jones, Shamarko Thomas and Phillip Thomas behind him.
“Defensively we return 10 starters. It is always a good thing to have experience on that side of the ball," Marrone said. "We're looking for improvement in both offense and defense and we're looking for major improvement in our special teams. We think we'll be able to get that improvement with some of our new players we have brought into this program.
"It is an exciting time for us as coaches here starting this second season. We have 30 new scholarship players joining us for this preseason. There are a lot of questions and that is what this preseason is about.
