In three games, we've seen three different running attacks for the Orange. What is the ultimate game plan here?
After the Syracuse Orange football team lost to Cal in Week 2, I wrote a story about a question I had with regards to the running back room.
After all, in Week 1, Shavane Anderson Jr. was the most productive back after Tylik Hill was taken out early in the 66-3 blowout win against New Hampshire. Anderson had three touchdowns and was named the ACC Rookie of the Week.
But in Week 2, after Hill was hurt on the second play of the game, the main back was Ju'Juan Johnson, which is where my questions laid. Why did the back who had so much success in Week 1 not get as many chances in Week 2? Anderson had only nine carries while Johnson had 15.
Well, here we are after Week 3, and I'm asking similar questions about the running back room. Johnson was the main back in Week 2, but he had only six carries in Week 3. Anderson got 11 carries, and Ahmad Miller had 14.
Syracuse Orange running back Ju'juan Johnson (4) runs with the ball during the second half against the California Golden Bears at the JMA Wireless Dome. Rich Barnes-Imagn ImagesNow, Miller was the only back to have success, as the Jackson State transfer ran for 78 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, but it begs the question: What will be the plan for the Orange when they come out of the bye on Oct. 3 against UConn?
Will Hill be healthy and will he assume the lead back spot again? Will Miller parlay his big day in Thursday's loss to Pitt into more action? Will Johnson and Anderson be forgotten, or will we truly see a three or four-headed monster out of the backfield?
The other thing to think about
After quarterback Steve Angeli was benched in the fourth quarter on Thursday in favor of Amari Odom, I think there's a very real chance that Odom could start that game against UConn. If he does, his legs can be used as a runner as well. How will that impact things?
Will Syracuse use Odom's running ability, and will that free up the rest of the run game because the defense is focused on him? Will the threat of the run from Odom help the pass game, which will in turn help the traditional rushing attack?
But of course, that's all predicated on if head coach Fran Brown actually makes the move to Odom permanently.
Up next
The bye week on Sept. 26. The Orange are 1-2 on the season and 0-2 inside Atlantic Coast Conference play. They finished 3-9 overall a year ago.
