Syracuse vs Toledo Football Preview

After suffering its first loss of the season, Syracuse will return home to the Carrier Dome looking to recapture momentum and possibly, for the first time all season, play four quarters of good football.

After struggling past Wake Forest and FCS school Rhode Island at home, the Orange traveled to Los Angeles and were dominated by USC. Few teams have played a more difficult opening schedule than Toledo. After blowing out New Hampshire in the opener, the Rockets played toe to toe with Ohio State in Columbus before losing late and hung with Boise State for about a half before the Broncos withering efficiency wore them down as well. Casual observers might look at this game and assume that the BCS conference team will roll over a MAC team, but this is a competitive matchup that Syracuse will have to play well to win.

After riding the back of a powerful running game and Delone Carter in 2010, the Orange have struggled to find an identity in 2011. The offensive line has been unable to establish a consistent running game and as a result, the efficient, balanced offense of a year ago is nowhere to be found. The loss of experienced offensive linemen and the transition from Carter to the smaller less physical Antwon Bailey has left the Orange far too reliant on quarterback Ryan Nassib and the passing game. While Nassib has played well, the Orange simply don’t have the weapons to be a pass first team. Throwing the ball quite a bit more than expected has also strained what was already a razor thin defense. The Orange played USC without star defensive linemen Chandler Jones and two starters in the secondary and it showed.

Toldeo’s shotgun, misdirection offense proved troublesome for Ohio State and equally so early on for Boise State. It will be more than a handful for a depleted Syracuse defense. Austin Dantin is the quintessential dual-threat quarterback that can challenge a defense running and to a lesser degree throwing the ball. When he does throw the ball, Dantin has one of the nation’s best kept secrets at wide receiver in Eric Page. Page is currently 12th in the nation, averaging almost nine receptions per game. The Rockets’ offense will test a Syracuse secondary that has shuffled both safeties Phillip and Shamarko Thomas in and out of the lineup due to injury.

Oddly enough, Syracuse has struggled at home under Doug Marrone. Toledo will not only test Syracuse at home, it will score points and put pressure on a tired Orange team to keep up. Syracuse can’t expect to win easily at home in the first place. The Orange will need to bring some offensive fireworks to the dome if they want to escape this contest with a win.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer