With its two top offensive players absent from Saturday's practice, Syracuse looked out of sorts in a live scrimmage at Fort Drum.
WR Alec Lemon (shoulder) and Justin Pugh (upper body) missed the scrimmage. The Orange moved the ball effectively when running the hurry-up but had trouble with the majority of their offense, the Syracuse Post-Standard reported. Junior WR Adrian Flemming hurt his ankle early in the scrimmage, and senior wideout Marcus Sales hardly contributed.
Senior QB Ryan Nassib settled for mostly short and intermediate passes. A perturbed Syracuse coach Doug Marrone criticized the QBs for not spotting open receivers and the wideouts for dropping balls.
“I think today showed that we have a long way to go,” Marrone said. “We have to continue to work, we need to make vast improvements.”
The Orange scrimmaged for the first time at preseason camp in front of officials. Marrone hopes his team shows better restraint than it did last season. Syracuse was last in the Big East in penalty yards per game (62.8).
“We as coaches talk about it to the players, but when you have officials out there you can see how it affects the game,” Marrone said.
Syracuse left Fort Drum on Sunday after a light practice. The Orange returned to campus Sunday afternoon.
“I know walking away from here, the military will be in my thoughts daily for what they do for us and this country,” Marrone said.
Impressive efforts from Rutgers QBs: The Scarlet Knights' QBs displayed strong arm-strength and solid accuracy in Saturday night's scrimmage at High Point Solution Stadium. Rutgers' QB trio combined for four touchdowns of 60 yards or more during the practice.
Neither sophomore Gary Nova nor junior Chas Dodd gained an advantage in their ongoing QB battle, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. Receiving the majority of the snaps, Dodd was 23 of 39 for 276 yards and four touchdowns. Nova went 7 of 13 for 180 yards and three touchdowns.
Both QBs had touchdown passes to sophomore WR Miles Shuler, who finished with seven catches for 166 yards. Dodd connected with Shuler on a 36-yard TD and added a 62-yard scoring pass to junior WR Jeremy Deering. Nova hooked up with Shuler on a 75-yard TD and found senior WR Mark Harrison for a 60-yard scoring catch. Redshirt freshman QB Mike Bimonte added a 75-yard TD throw to freshman Leonte Carroo.
Rowell stands out on Pitt OL: Pittsburgh is looking to piece together a starting offensive line after junior Juantez Hollins was suspended for the season at the start of preseason camp. Offensive line coach Jim Hueber has been impressed with the play of freshman Artie Rowell.
“Artie's done a nice job, he's stepped up,” Hueber said. “He’s got us in the right protections and stuff like that.”
In 2011, Rowell earned All-State Class 4A honors while playing for Central Dauphin High School (Harrisburg, Pa.). Rowell was also rated the nation's No. 14 center, by Scout.com.
The Panthers return three starters -- C Ryan Turley and Gs Ryan Schlieper and Chris Jacobson -- from their starting offensive line. Pitt struggled with its run game at the end of last season after the loss of RB Ray Graham.
“I think everyone feels comfortable, not only with the terminology but with the way that we’re being taught to do it,” Turley said. “Last year was a huge adjustment for us. Now we’re starting to find a little rhythm.”
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