LSU vs. Syracuse Preview: Orangemen Offense And Coaching

Syracuse brings a lot more to the table than just the Otto the Orange mascot. The program has one of the great traditions in college football.

A National Championship in 1959 behind a rushing attack led by Ernie Davis.

A list of Pro Football Hall of Fame alumni led by luminaries Jim Brown, Larry Csonka and Art Monk.

Syracuse has a tradition that could stand up alongside most SEC programs. You know they will show up ready to play with pride and defend that tradition on Saturday.

Of course the question of exactly who will show up for the Orangemen remains a mystery for most LSU fans, who aren’t familiar with the programs current state.

We have already introduced their defensive starters and special teamers, here is a look at their offense and Head Coach.

Quarterback

Quarterback is the big issue for Syracuse right now. After s rash of injuries at the position they are giving Zach Mahoney his first career start. Mahoney was running the Scout team for the Orangemen as recently as last week.

Syracuse head coach Scott Shafer was pretty blunt about the situation, saying, “If you don’t have a machine gun, I guess you grab a hammer or a screwdriver or whatever else you have in the toolbox and you go to work.”

Mahoney is a good athlete who can run the full Syracuse offense. He also feels running the scout team prepared him well for a matchup with LSU.

Since Syracuse starting defenders knocked the underclassmen linemen out of the way so fast he had to get used to making fast decisions and dumping the ball out quickly in practices this fall. Those skills will probably come in handy when he faces the LSU front 7.

Head Coach Scott Shafer

Sep 12, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Scott Shafer reacts to a call against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the fourth quarter at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Coach Shafer is a defensive coach by trade, and a very good one. He was a coordinator under Jim Harbaugh at Syracuse, Rich Rodriguez at Michigan, and Doug Marrone at Syracuse.

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Harbaugh and Marrone both went on to coach in the NFL. Shafer was promoted up to replace Marrone at Syracuse after rebuilding one of the worst defenses in the country into a top flight unit.

Shafer has a track record. He has recruited at top schools and had success on the field. He is trying to pull it all together at Syracuse and bring the school back to it’s glory days.

This is a story many LSU fans are familiar with, but this time the Tigers are the measuring stick for a Syracuse squad that at 3-0 has already matched last seasons win total and is hungry for more.

Syracuse O-Line
Syracuse lines up a starting 5 of Ivan Foy Nick Robinson Rob Trudo Seamus Shanley and Omari Palmer on the line. You don’t open the season 3-0 against any level of competition without solid line play and this veteran group is no exception, lining up 3 seniors and 2 juniors, all with previous starting experience.

Left Tackle Ivan Foy is a 6’5″ 285 lbs. 5th year senior from Brooklyn New York. He was recruited as a 2 star defensive tackle out of high school before converting to offense full time.

Left Guard Nick Robinson was a 2 star 265 lbs. tackle coming out of high school. He has bulked up to 297 lbs and moved inside to guard.

Senior Captain Rob Trudo is the Orangemen’s starting center and leader of the group. Like LSU starting center Ethan Pocic Trudo is on the Rimington Award watch list.

Seamus Shanley might be Syracuse most interesting player.

Oct 11, 2014; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Seamus Shanley (74) looks on from the sidelines against the Florida State Seminoles during the fourth quarter at the Carrier Dome. Florida State defeated Syracuse 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

The home grown Syracuse product has one of the best names LSU will see all year, a bright red beard like a leprechaun and a Rudy type story of walking on and sticking it out for years behind the scenes before making it on the field. Unlike Rudy Shanley is a starter for his team.

Starting Right Tackle Omari Palmer was another 2 star high school recruit who developed and panned out for the Orangemen. At 6’2″ 316 lbs. he doesn’t have the usual length of a starting tackle but he has good size to drive block in the running game.

Syracuse Running Backs
Devante MacFarland is slated to start at running back for Syracuse. He wil be backed up by Freshman Jordan Fredericks and George Morris II.

MacFarland has seen only limited use this year, posting 62 yards on 17 carries.

George Morris II is a backup both at running back and as returner. His speed makes him a real threat if he gets out in space.

Freshman Jordan Fredericks was a 3 star recruit who was rated one of the top 10 recruits out of New York State as a senior. He is being worked into the Syracuse offense.

Syracuse lists an H back instead of a Fullback in their spread scheme. Ben Lewis, a 6’2″ 213 lbs. Senior from Maryland is the starter in this primarily blocking role.

Syracuse Wide Receivers and Tight End

Sep 4, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange wide receiver Brisly Estime (9) attempts to run with the ball after a catch against the Rhode Island Rams during the second quarter at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Brisly Estime and Steve Ishmael are the Orangemen’s starting Wide Receivers, and Josh Parris the starting Tight End.

Estime is also Syracuse top return man. A Community College transfer from Delray Beach FL. He is pretty small at 5’9 but he has blazing speed.

Steve Ishmael was a three star recruit who got attention from several major programs, including Miami and Tennessee. At 6’2″ 175 lbs. he has good height and speed.

Josh Parris is starting at Tight End for Syracuse Saturday. He is backed up by Kendall Moore. The pair have usage rates similar to LSU’s Tight Ends in the passing game so far this season, having caught 4 total passes between them but they are both a threat downfield when they are utilized.