Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFB | Unsettled: Plenty of positions up for grabs as Syracuse concludes spring practice with scrimmage
By Jared Diamond
Posted: 4/17/08, 12:18 AM EST Section: Sports
It's not just Hogue looking to establish himself. The offensive line picture is still muddled, as first-year offensive coordinator Mitch Browning hopes to fix one of the worst front lines in the country. The tight end spot is still a battle between rising junior Mike Owen and converted linebacker Ben Maljovec (though Browning said Owen has been a "pleasant surprise"). And last week, Robinson said there had been "no headway" in the secondary, as eight players are legitimately competing for the four starting jobs. But regardless of how well anyone performs Saturday, the game's influence may be marginal. Though this will be the first time fans have the chance to see the Orange in action, Browning said the team has scrimmaged three times already, and the Spring Game is ultimately unimportant.
"This is just the 15th out of 15 practices for spring practice, and I don't look it as especially important at all," Browning said. "It's just another day for us to go out and work at what we're going to do and get better and what we're doing.
"I'm not downplaying it. I'm just telling you the truth."
Whether or not the Spring Game is especially integral to clearing the otherwise muddy water that is Syracuse's 2008 starting lineup, Saturday is nevertheless another opportunity for those still battling for positions.
Even though the Orange is coming off a disappointing 2-10 season - and it is still widely unknown who will end up filling all the holes on the field - Browning said he is not at all concerned there is so much uncertainty heading into the game. Robinson took it a step further: The uncertainty is a [ITALICS]good thing[/ITALICS].
"Competition is what it's all about, and I don't care what you're in," Robinson said. "We need to be pushed. There's nothing like having someone right next to you trying to take your job away to get you to get better and that person to get better, too. Competition is what makes your football team get better."
jediamon@syr.edu
"This is just the 15th out of 15 practices for spring practice, and I don't look it as especially important at all," Browning said. "It's just another day for us to go out and work at what we're going to do and get better and what we're doing.
"I'm not downplaying it. I'm just telling you the truth."
Whether or not the Spring Game is especially integral to clearing the otherwise muddy water that is Syracuse's 2008 starting lineup, Saturday is nevertheless another opportunity for those still battling for positions.
Even though the Orange is coming off a disappointing 2-10 season - and it is still widely unknown who will end up filling all the holes on the field - Browning said he is not at all concerned there is so much uncertainty heading into the game. Robinson took it a step further: The uncertainty is a [ITALICS]good thing[/ITALICS].
"Competition is what it's all about, and I don't care what you're in," Robinson said. "We need to be pushed. There's nothing like having someone right next to you trying to take your job away to get you to get better and that person to get better, too. Competition is what makes your football team get better."
jediamon@syr.edu
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