Park's Place
4/6/2011 2:46:29 PM | Football
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When the football team wraps up its spring session a week from this Saturday in the Dome, I'm sure I won't be the only one watching the Orange's passing attack in the hopes that it has continued to develop since the end of last season.
At practice Tuesday, which focused on work inside the 20-yard-line, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett could be heard encouraging his offense, “We pass the ball to score!”
Quarterback Ryan Nassib, in his second straight spring under Hackett is more at ease now that he's been able to hold onto the same playbook for a while. “We know what we're doing (now),” Nassib said. “We've just got to step up the consistency.”
In 2010, Syracuse converted 85.7% of its trips into the red zone, eclipsed only by Connecticut (87.8%) among Big East teams. Ten of their 22 touchdowns of 20 yards or less came through the air.
Apart from Marcus Sales's breakout game in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl win over Kansas State, last year's club lacked deep-ball production. Sales, who's been an home run hitter in recent practice, could pick up where he left off.
“Marcus is a different cat,” Nassib said. “When he gets rolling, he stays rolling.”
Veteran cornerback Kevyn Scott was asked this week to size up his teammates across the line of scrimmage and he labeled Sales “elusive. He lullabies you to sleep.” Scott, as you may expect, lauded all of his receiving teammates, especially second-year prospect Jarrod West, but gave Sales his toughest-to-cover nod.
Check back in the coming days for news on the spring game's format. Chris Gedney and I will have our customary two-hour radio broadcast covering spring ball beginning at 12:45 p.m. Saturday April 16th on ESPN97.7.
Recommended Viewing: Make a note to follow tomorrow's Syracuse Sidelines program with a half-hour special on Rob Long's recent battle with brain cancer en route to a possible NFL career. Thursday at 7:30 p.m., "4th & Long: Detour to a Dream" airs on Time Warner Cable Sportsnet. Roger Springfield, Jim Hamilton and Wes Purvis did excellent work on the piece, visiting with Rob and his family. If you live out of the Time Warner viewing area, it'll be streamed live and archived at Orange All Access.
This Weekend's Broadcasts:
Tom., 8:45 a.m. TK99 Free Parking with Gomez & Dave
Tom., 7:00 p.m. TWCS Syracuse Sidelines
Tom., 7:30 p.m. TWCS 4th and Long: Detour to a Dream
Fri., 4:00 p.m. OAA WLAX vs. Connecticut
Sat., 12:00 p.m. OAA SB's home-opening DH vs. Notre Dame
Sat., 4:00 p.m. ESPNU/TK99 MLAX at Princeton
Sun., 1:00 p.m. OAA WLAX vs. Notre Dame
Sat., 4/16, 1:00 p.m. ESPN97.7 Spring Football Special
I'd be happy to field your questions on anything regarding the Orange. Shoot me an email to the Radio Mailbox.
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