Orange's o-line making strides
SYRACUSE — Jim McKenzie hasn't heard a peep from pundits who criticized Syracuse's offensive line last season.
It's a refreshing reality for SU's starting sophomore center and the rest of the unit, since they were rightfully bashed a year ago. The Orange was sliced up by predatory defenses, which feasted on SU's hapless backfield. The offensive line surrendered 54 sacks — the second-worst total in the country.
But the hiring of offensive coordinator Mitch Browning and a return to the fundamentals have led to a vast improvement from Syracuse's blockers. The unit has gone from being a punch line to being productive.
"No news is good news for an offensive lineman," McKenzie said about temporarily quieting the critics. "The less you hear your name during a game, the better everything is going."
McKenzie and his linemates have allowed just five sacks in four games this year. McKenzie said the difference between that devastating 2007 campaign and this season was having Browning and offensive line coach Chris Wiesehan break down the problems and assemble the parts in camp. He said making the proper steps and lowering shoulder-pad levels were two techniques on which the coaches concentrated.
Most notably, Browning instituted a psychological toughness that has made the line grittier.
"We have to be the guys that treat that defensive line like trash," McKenzie said. "We really have to be hurting them and pushing them as much as we can."
The results can be found in Syracuse's revived rushing offense. Last season, the Orange averaged under 63 yards on the ground — the second-worst mark in the nation. Through four games this year, SU is racking up 165 rushing yards a game. The team has rushed for over 200 yards twice, which hadn't been done since 2004.
"We take great pride in what the running backs and quarterback do in games because we help them build those stats," McKenzie said. "We're a huge part of why this offense is successful."
McKenzie said the line is far from perfect, though. Two noticeable holding penalties stalled scoring drives for the Orange last week against Northeastern. SU head coach Greg Robinson said the unit will continue to mature when it faces blitz-happy Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Panthers have 11 sacks in three games.
"It'll be a test," Robinson said. "It'll be interesting to see how we stand up against them. They can generate some heat."
ROBINSON REACTS TO STORY
Robinson didn't have much to say Tuesday in response to an ESPN.com story posted earlier this week.
In a report by ESPN college football writer Ivan Maisel, Syracuse athletic director Dr. Daryl Gross said, "It isn't working out," with Robinson as the head coach. A feature on the Orange's futility was shown during ESPN's "College Gameday" television show last week. Gross and the program also drew harsh criticism from analysts Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit.
Gross called ESPN to defend his and the university's athletic reputations. Even with the overall success of SU athletics, Gross told Maisel that football was "the 800-pound gorilla."
"He's my boss," said Robinson at his weekly press conference. "He can say what he wants. And quite frankly, there hasn't been the progress yet that there needs to be."
Robinson is 8-31 as the Orange's head coach and has won just two of 24 Big East Conference games. He's also responsible for SU's only two 10-loss seasons. Robinson said Gross has no intention of removing him right away. But he's known since the opening practice in August that significant strides need to be made.
"What we need to do is go out and win a football game that's meaningful to everybody else," Robinson said. "There is no better opportunity than to open the Big East season at home and to play Pitt."
MONK TO BE HONORED
Art Monk has made several visits to Syracuse in the past three years. He'll stop by his alma mater again Saturday.
Monk, a former Orange wide receiver and All-American, will be presented at halftime with the Syracuse Eight Courage Award, which was established in 2006. The honor is given to a current or former student-athlete who has faced disadvantages — whether it's social, economic or serious injury — and overcame the adversity with uncommon bravery or principled behavior.
Monk ranks in the top 10 on numerous SU career-record lists, and he was an All-America selection in 1979. He played 16 seasons in the NFL, including 14 with the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.
