Offensive Woes Cripple Syracuse and Longshot Big East Championship Hopes

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Once-proud Syracuse football is experiencing a modest revival. Bowl eligible for the first time since 2004, the Orange are sitting at seven wins and until falling to Connecticut 23-6 Saturday, were in contention for an unlikely Big East championship and trip to a BCS bowl.

But, something's missing. Namely, a credible offense.

Coach Doug Marrone (right) and several players testified afterward that Saturday's woes -- and by extension their season-long drab showing -- were just a matter of execution. They felt that some combination of focus or matchup might turn the tables.

Don't be fooled.

Quarterback Ryan Nassib spoke most clearly to the problems the Orange have had. "If you see an offense is not doing very well, it's really a direct reflection on how the quarterback is playing. Today I didn't really play very well and you can see that in the whole offense."

Exactly, although the quarterback position isn't the only trouble spot. This was a team that welcomed former 1,000-yard back Delone Carter back onto the roster following an off-season incident. The Orange have a center with NFL potential. There are pieces there that could lead to more playmaking but it simply isn't happening. That isn't so much execution holding things up but rather a slightly undermanned offensive roster.

All year Marrone has gone out of his way to praise Nassib, but he faces a heavy pass rush at times and isn't helped by the occasional dropped pass. The Orange's counterparts across the field Saturday haven't been much better offensively this year, but seem to have turned a corner riding super-consistent back Jordan Todman and a killer offensive line that demanded their coach call a run play in a fourth quarter pressure situation against Pittsburgh and won the game because of it. The nasty spirit of the Huskies' offensive line has been the difference in two games in a row as the team that not long ago was shut out by Louisville clings to an outside shot at the Big East championship.

Until -- if? -- the Orange improve the bread-and-butter stuff with their line, running with power to free Carter, the slumping production will continue. Carter's a good enough player that at a school with a rich history of running backs, he finds himself fourth on career rushing charts. Yet Saturday he was held to just 67 yards on 19 carries, nowhere near enough production to hold off even offensively challenged Connecticut. But if Syracuse can somehow free him up, Nassib could follow.

Although a disciplined game manager, it could be time for more freelancing for the Orange's junior passer. Said Nassib, "I've just got to start using my legs more and really start making more plays from my position."

As for the big picture, the Orange and four other Big East schools fell out of championship contention on Saturday. All eight schools were technically alive heading into weekend action but a Pittsburgh win over South Florida immediately bumped three schools out of contention. Syracuse followed as Connecticut lives to see another day. Significantly, the Huskies own the head-to-head edge having taken down the Panthers last week. Also notable: the Huskies captured their first road victory of the year. They held an unusual home/road split of 5-0 at home and 0-3 away before taking down the Orange.

It's been ugly all year but fittingly for having the nickname Huskies, Connecticut plays like dogs. They gnaw and nip at heels and stay aggressive. Its gritty football but it's a style that has aided them in taking down arguably the two best teams in the Big East in successive weeks in November. This, following what could have been a meltdown-inducing 26-0 shutout loss at Louisville.

Tailback Jordan Todman once again eclipsed the 100-yard mark, rushing for 130 and two touchdowns. Earlier in the week, coach Randy Edsall broke character to rail against award committees not including Todman among the finalists for several honors. Sometimes that can add pressure to a player but Todman just went out and performed well once again, breaking the 100-yard mark for the eighth time in nine games. Not bad.

Getting back to Syracuse for one more thought, the one silver lining is that in a postgame media session filled with questions about frustration and execution and woe, there was also talk of the Orange's hard-earned bowl eligibility. Although far from perfect and in need of some offensive punch that may never materialize, the Orange have achieved most of their season's goals and will get the opportunity to finish 2010 in style. They'll host Boston College at the Carrier Dome next week and then wait for whatever bowl invitation arrives. Maybe in the interval so, too, will an offensive spark.