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The Daily OrangeSU secondary has no answer for QB Collaros
By Matt Ehalt
Posted: 11/2/09, 2:25 AM EST Section: Sports
The play seemed dead. Quarterback Zach Collaros scrambled in the pocket with pressure coming from all angles on Cincinnati's first possession of the game.
But a few seconds later, the play was alive and well.
Collaros lofted a pass to a wide open Armon Binns on the right sideline, and Binns rumbled 81 yards untouched to the end zone to give the Bearcats a 7-0 lead. In a sign of what would become a common theme, the Orange defense failed to contain Collaros and the Cincinnati offense when it mattered the most in Saturday's 28-7 loss.
"I think we did fairly well," cornerback Da'Mon Merkerson said. "We kept most of the plays in front of us with a bust here or two, and they went out there and made more plays than we did."
Cincinnati came into the game ranked first in the Big East in total offense, scoring offense and scoring defense. Syracuse had its chances to stop the Bearcats, but Cincinnati made enough big plays to win the game in blowout fashion. Cincinnati threw for 295 yards, while rushing for 127.
It started with the first drive. Syracuse had defenders in the backfield while Collaros scrambled near his own end zone, but he bought enough time to find Binns across the field. The closest any Syracuse player came to touching Binns was safety Max Suter chasing after him from about 20 yards away.
Linebacker Derrell Smith did not have an explanation for the play after the game, saying that "maybe somebody came off their man." Merkerson said it was a case of blown coverage, while acknowledging that somebody might not have stayed in position on the play.
"Starting the game, I thought we did a nice job defensively," SU head coach Doug Marrone said. "We had them stopped and came off our man coverage, and they wound up making a play - a credit to them and their athletes on the field in making a play go for 80 yards."
Part of the problem for Syracuse defensively came in trying to contain Collaros, the Bearcats' backup quarterback starting his second consecutive game in place of starter Tony Pike. Collaros displayed impressive pocket presence, evading pressure from all sides and finding the space to make plays down the field. Syracuse was able to pressure Collaros, but he was quicker than the SU defensive linemen.
But a few seconds later, the play was alive and well.
Collaros lofted a pass to a wide open Armon Binns on the right sideline, and Binns rumbled 81 yards untouched to the end zone to give the Bearcats a 7-0 lead. In a sign of what would become a common theme, the Orange defense failed to contain Collaros and the Cincinnati offense when it mattered the most in Saturday's 28-7 loss.
"I think we did fairly well," cornerback Da'Mon Merkerson said. "We kept most of the plays in front of us with a bust here or two, and they went out there and made more plays than we did."
Cincinnati came into the game ranked first in the Big East in total offense, scoring offense and scoring defense. Syracuse had its chances to stop the Bearcats, but Cincinnati made enough big plays to win the game in blowout fashion. Cincinnati threw for 295 yards, while rushing for 127.
It started with the first drive. Syracuse had defenders in the backfield while Collaros scrambled near his own end zone, but he bought enough time to find Binns across the field. The closest any Syracuse player came to touching Binns was safety Max Suter chasing after him from about 20 yards away.
Linebacker Derrell Smith did not have an explanation for the play after the game, saying that "maybe somebody came off their man." Merkerson said it was a case of blown coverage, while acknowledging that somebody might not have stayed in position on the play.
"Starting the game, I thought we did a nice job defensively," SU head coach Doug Marrone said. "We had them stopped and came off our man coverage, and they wound up making a play - a credit to them and their athletes on the field in making a play go for 80 yards."
Part of the problem for Syracuse defensively came in trying to contain Collaros, the Bearcats' backup quarterback starting his second consecutive game in place of starter Tony Pike. Collaros displayed impressive pocket presence, evading pressure from all sides and finding the space to make plays down the field. Syracuse was able to pressure Collaros, but he was quicker than the SU defensive linemen.
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g33k
g33k
posted 11/02/09 @ 12:07 PM EST
I dont know, but it seems like every time Syracuse Loses they say they did it to themselves. Thats worse than actually losing to a team which is more talented than them (which we all know is the case)
Now if they want us to believe that they keep losing the games for themselves doesnt that make them a group of dumb a$$ idiots??
Can someone tell me?
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