(11-27-2016 09:13 AM)nzmorange Wrote: (11-26-2016 10:34 PM)cuseroc Wrote: (11-26-2016 10:27 PM)ClairtonPanther Wrote: I cannot completely comprehend what I witnessed in person earlier today. Just wow
Two of the worst secondaries and best offenses in the country played each other. Thats what you get! LOL.
I don't think that the SU offense is actually better this year - although that game may have put us over the top. The offense is just faster, so there are more chances (for both teams) to score. I had a thread that I started, where I meant to track our pace-adjusted performance, but I got busy and couldn't find the time to update it.
The S&P and FEI metrics, that are opponent and pace adjusted, have them ranked 66 and 72 respectively, so they are definitely not "one of the better offenses in college football." You are correct about that.
However, last year they were 61 and 84 by those measures, so by FEI at least, they are improved, but not by S&P.
Overall, total team rankings for f/+ (S&P and FEI combined) has them rated about the same this year and last.
Too early to make any judgements. The key point is not whether they are much better this year, it will be whether this style of play (and the staff itself) allows Syracuse to entice better athletes into the program than previously.
If the caliber of athlete doesn't change, the relative strength of the team just isn't going to, no matter what the system. Excellent preparation and game day coaching might steal an extra win here or there, but the athletes will make the difference.
And edited to say...I think that this system WILL pay dividends in that department, if this staff are also good recruiters. Even if the offense hasn't proven better yet, I think the change of staff and system is a good move.