Spring Break
The Daily OrangeWilliams' move back to safety leaves SU thin at wide receiver
By Jared Diamond
Posted: 9/11/08, 11:53 PM EST Section: Sports
Click for Graphics
Lavar Lobdell didn't want Bruce Williams to leave the wide receivers and join the defensive backs this week. But the move did have at least one perk he wasn't expecting.
"Now I get to take shots at him in practice again," said Lobdell, a junior wideout. "It's back to the way I like it."
Still, Williams' switch to the defense leaves Syracuse with a decision to make about how to handle the third receiver spot, Saturday, against No. 17 Penn State (3:30 p.m., ABC). So far this season, Williams has been the Orange's primary slot receiver with Lobdell and Donte Davis outside.
Although the defense has struggled through two games and will likely benefit from another veteran presence in the secondary, the wide receivers - not a particularly deep or successful unit to begin with - are left even shallower.
"It affects us depth wise, but we have young guys that are going to have to step in and play," said SU offensive coordinator Mitch Browning. "Those guys are prepared to go, so we'll be okay. It'll be the same guys lined up there: Donte Davis, Lavar and a group of guys in the slot."
The obvious choice to fill the void is true freshman Marcus Sales, who came to Syracuse considered the top high school recruit in New York state, according to Scout.com. Sales played in both games this year and made an eight-yard catch against Northwestern on Aug. 30. Fellow freshman Van Chew, who made an eight-yard catch against Akron last Saturday, will also see more snaps. Redshirt freshman Chaz Cervino, who does not have a reception yet, rounds out the group likely to play more against the Nittany Lions.
Be the first to comment on this story