Syracuse Football 2014. The X-Factors.
By: Mike Lindsley
It may be an overused cliché, but what they hell, right?
X-factors make differences. They can force a turnover late in the game to preserve a win or catch a touchdown when the first three receivers are covered. They can return a punt. They may pick the QB for a score that blows the game open. They may grab a sack on the defensive side when the best two end rushers are double-teamed.
Syracuse has 5 major X-factors in 2014. Here they are in no particular order:
- Eric Crume. Crume has the potential to be a beast. Ok, sorry, Scott Shafer. We know you think the word “potential” gets you fired. But ‘Cuse really needs a frontline man on defense to make-up for the loss of Jay Bromley. Crume should be the guy. His footwork is solid. His hands are better. And this is his last year on The Hill. He is a nose tackle who can get down and dirty and fill the holes in the running game and on occasion get to all ACC passers. Crume can be a big difference maker for the Orange ‘D’ in 2014.
- Ashton Broyld. Four position changes in two years isn’t easy. But Broyld is an athlete and the time is now. SU needs more Red Zone offensive players to go up and get the ball and score touchdowns. Broyld, a receiver and former quarterback, may have a role to some, but to realistic people there is no role in this hurry-up offense for him. He will be, and should be, all over the football field to cause problems for defenses. Down the field as a speed guy. In the slot. Used as a decoy. All of those should be options in George McDonald’s playbook. Broyld adding 25 catches and 250 yards to last year’s totals would completely change the Orange offense. That would classify him as an X-Factor, if you are asking.
- Terrel Hunt. It isn’t Hunt’s team but it sure is his offense. He starts the year as the QB as opposed to last year when he came in late. If he can manage the game and not turn the ball over, plus put up respectable passing and running numbers consistently, SU could steal an extra win this season.
- George Morris III. The junior running back from Georgia is in a loaded backfield with interchangeable backs who can do many things. Morris has the ability to run through people and around people. His ability to move the chains with chunk yardage and catch the ball out of the backfield is crucial to Syracuse’s success and can give Prince-Tyson Gulley a breather when needed.
- Riley Dixon. Dixon showed some power last year with his great punts. This year? He will be needed more than ever to win the field position battles and give the defense a head start. Dixon could very well end up being the best punter in the conference this year.
