How does Syracuse Football Look in the Latest ACC Outlook? | Syracuse Orange Podcast

Syracuse football is just three days away what are you most looking forward [Music] to you are locked on Syracuse your daily podcast on the Syracuse Orange part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day hello everyone and welcome in lockon Syracuse I'm Jackson holer and thank you for making us your first listen of every single day here on the lockdown podcast Network where it's your team every day and we're free and available wherever you get your podcast and on today's show we are joined from Neil Adler from inside the loud housee we're going over depth chart takeaways exciting things about the season which is just three days away in the new ACC Outlook after Florida State let's face it Laden egg in the season opener against Georgia Tech can Syracuse perhaps get to the ACC Championship Game me and at Neil Adler are going to discuss on today's show this episode is brought to you by 5H Hour Energy 5H Hour Energy fixes tired fast with zero sugar and a convenient portable size it's the perfect pickme up for getting stuff done go to 5our energy.com and use promo code locked on CFB to receive 20% off your order this offer is only valid until September 30th on one order and cannot be used with other promotions go to 5our energy.com today all right Neil thank you so much for taking the time to hop on the podcast here let's just start off talking about the depth chart that was released just a couple days ago what stood out to you about it well first of all as always Jackson thanks for having me on brother I appreciate it um I guess my biggest surprise well my least biggest surprise was Kyle McCord the starting quarterback um I didn't find that there was too many big surprises on there um you know in terms of the the backup quarterback role either Michael Johnson Jr Carlos Del Rio Wilson I figure it it'd be one of them so you got the or in there so you know we'll see hopefully hopefully Kyle uh knock on wood stays upright although you know if if if Syracuse is uh handling Ohio on Saturday afternoon at the Dome pretty well you might see you know one of them or both them get some snaps as well um running back wise obviously all ACC performer Linn Allen Jr and then you've got um will Nixon the transfer and and youen Willis who I'm really high on is one of their the highest rid um School senior commits um so I I think the running back room is great uh wide receiver I think it was pretty straightforward obviously news broke that um uh justice Ross Simmons is uh you know from Colorado State uh is dealing with a minor injury so he was left off and and ser in was Emanuel Ross if I'm not mistaken out of New Jersey and he I believe at least from one of the individual recruiting Services I think on 30 he he was rated in like the top 120 nationally so a really nice incoming freshman wide receiv receiver out of New Jersey so let's see what he gets um you know what kind of reps he gets um otherwise not a lot of stuff um I thought it was interesting um and I know you've talked about it recently um I'm really high on marcelus Barnes Jr from Tennessee fourstar um Prospect and I believe he was listed as a potential starter either him or I think was it Devon Grant it Grant one of the quarterback and obviously Devon's a a proven commodity transfer from Buffalo so it'll be interesting to see who gets the Reps there but a couple other guys I believe were also listed on the depth chart you know as a potential backup um King Joseph Edwards at the edge who I'm just really high on I think he's a really nice person and obviously a talented player so we'll see what kind of reps he gets um Malachi James uh who is like the fastest player on the planet um I believe was listed as a kick returner either him or Peña yeah I think it's both they're going to like share it right right um other than that oh so there were again talking about kind of you know freshman you know potentially getting some reps I believe that Ivan McDaniels uh was uh listed as a cornerback um you know potential backup and then brahe long another both three star 2024 commits and I think he was listed uh as one of the backups at the strong safety position so you know I didn't really see any big surprises on either of you know the offensive or defensive lines obviously not a linebacker you know just some of those freshman potentially getting reps um I thought was interesting and obviously you know from the Special Teams unit you know the kicking and punting is all straightforward so not a ton of surprises hopefully guys you know remain injuryf free as we get going and um I'm just excited for the season I agree with you I wasn't too surprised when it came out and then you know my first takeaway was well what's up with Justice Ross Simmons and then it comes out two seconds later sure that he's got a hamstring injury hamstring injuries from personal experience not fun they suck yeah they're you got to take that back it's not it's not actually painful that's the that's the sucky part it's not a super I mean unless it's like a severe one I mean I had a minor hamstring pole in High School playing hockey you just it just feels tight you can't move and every time you think you're getting closer to getting better there's some some sort of setback it's very easy to to suffer a setback in that type of injury so it lingers for and potentially months so I feel bad for justice Ross Simmons and I think the only question I have with it is well where is he on the depth chart when he's healthy because Fran Brown did say that he might be able to play on Saturday I I I don't we don't know we'll find out soon enough but was he the wide receiver too aside from umari Hatcher or was umari Hatcher the number two receiver no matter what because we expected Zed hannes would be wide receiver one it was just wide receiver two we were like [Music] yeah I mean it's all kind of splitting hairs at this point I definitely and yeah I agree with you about hamstrings and and want him to get back to full health as soon as possible regardless of whether he's a one or a two or whatever you want to put it semantically I think that he's in line to Assuming he's fully healthy to get a good amount of reps he's a talented receiver he's a veteran receiver um and and is he's he's really good um but the you know even with him kind of sidelined at least for right now I think the the wide receiver room is just I think it's I mean between that and the tight ends just just so you know Hatcher Gil Haynes Meeks um Peña you know Emanuel Ross um you obviously a tight end you Gatson valari Jamie Trimble a four-star Prospect incoming freshman and then certainly guys out of the back field that can catch the ball too including Allen so yeah hopefully Simmons is is back you know sooner rather than later but I I don't think especially this first week against an Ohio team that they Syracuse should beat that they're going to necessarily want to rush him back I'll be interested to see if he get gets any reps at all but um I don't think I I don't think him being out even if he's out completely is going to you know impede Syracuse from winning that game I I tend to agree with you on that I if Justice Ross Simmons is the the deal breaker between Syracuse beating Ohio or not problems we got bigger problems bigger fish to fry out yeah just I I think Syracuse is gonna Crush Ohio I mean maybe I'm jinxing them I think they're gonna crush him I I I I don't think you're jinxing them you know last time I checked earlier this week it was like 17 and a half yeah I think it's GNA be 30 plus as as Fran Brown said and he's you know kudos to him and he's just a stand up guy he said look you know they're they're a good team they've won 10 games two years in a row regardless of conference affiliation but they're playing Iowa State last year yeah no they're a good team um I think Syracuse will win the game by double digits whether they cover the spread you know who knows but you know it's we were talking about offline it's just a question of are there first game Jitters you know this is Fran Brown's first game as a head coach he's got you know a lot of new assistants who are all really excellent assistants but they're all doing this for the first time together um with Syracuse that and a team that's got did have key return e but a lot of new faces whether it's incoming freshman or or guys out of the portal and and and as we've talked about and you've talked about on other great you know um segments there's Talent across the board but playing as a team playing on the field see how it goes um but I I don't necessarily think that Syracuse is gonna have a ton of difficulty with the Bobcats but you know whether they cover I guess I don't even care about that I'm not a betting man fair enough I mean I'm you know I I said this on a locked on panel the episode by the way is going to air on Thursday on locked on acc that I am the best imagin better there is oh okay that's a good skill the greatest imaginary better like I will think of something in my head and be like yeah I think that team's going to cover or that team's gonna win or that upsets gonna happen and I'm great at that but the moment I hit the BET button like I actually bet it yeah I'm I'm I'm awful so so I'm the greatest imaginary better of all time tired after lunch you're not alone in fact research shows that more than 70% of us hit the wall after lunch let a 5-hour Energy Shot help you leap over that wall instead of crashing into it with zero sugar and a convenient portable size it's the perfect pickme up for getting stuff done the 5our Energy website as flavors Gore like watermelon tropical burst grap Berry and more there is a flavor for everyone try them all on the site you have you even have the option to build your own 12pack or 24 pack you choose the flavors and it is delived right to your door if you go to 5our energy.com that is the number five hour energy.com and get some 5H Hour Energy product today you can use my promo code locked on CFB to receive 20% off your order this offer is only valid until September 30th on one order and cannot be used with other promotions the code is not good on subscription orders go to 5our energy.com today college football is back and it's not too late to catch up before the season kicks off SEC ACC Big 10 Big 12 you can get it all from lock on stable of college experts by subscribing to the locked on college football podcast who has a chance to make the playoff what teams will cause chaos in their new conferences everything you need to know all in one place be sure to follow And subscribe to the lock on college football podcast part of the lockdown podcast Network your team every day all right so Neil let's just this is another open-ended question what are you most looking forward to for this season the thing I'm most hopeful for is that Syracuse like they have the last two years starts out of the gate really well whether it's 6-0 or 4-0 or whatever and then they don't fade down the stretch and and you know to be fair part of that at least you know certainly last year is is injuries and and depth issues and quarterback issues poor Garrett stader and you know doing the Wildcat and all that stuff but yeah just having a more consistent season throughout you know it's it's just everyone's throwing numbers out there oh Syracuse is goingon to go six and six or seven and five or 10 and two or nine whatever I mean I I think the floor for them is seven and five I think the ceiling is 12-0 but I mean 12-0 you have no margin for but realistically nine or 10 maybe but again it it boils down to this team under a first year and firsttime head coach with a lot of new assistance this overhauled roster talented roster coming together jelling not committing a lot of penalties um executing on in all three phases um and and avoiding the injury bug um but I do think the team as as a whole has more depth than it has had in recent years but I would just like to see the team start out solid and end solid um you know but beyond that yeah I want to see what column cord can Do's I'm tired of all the conjecture is he a top tier quarterback is he not I mean the dude went 11 to1 in Ohio State and had one of the highest efficiency ratings in the country but they lost to Michigan and you know he didn't throw up crazy big numbers but he threw up solid numbers but you know just all the nonsense talk right and left I just want to see him gunsling it to all his his talented receivers both traditional wide receivers the tight ends the running backs the running back rooms loaded um I think the defense the secondary is great great linebackers we'll see how both lines do but I'm just ready to get going I mean you know ever since and again I've said this to you offline and I say this all the time on our on our social media I really like Dino bers as a person I think he's a standup person and they made bowl games the last two years although he didn't coach this past year and but they went 13 and 13 they had w 10- win season overall they weren't relevant nationally in his tenure and they weren't particularly relevant in the ACC but again like the guy's a person it just did you know it is what it is and the excitement over Fran Brown and his staff and what they did in the portal and all the recruiting stuff it's um and and and a schedule that again conjecture but on paper looks manageable with non-conference and an ACC I'm just excited for for this to actually start and and watch this game on Saturday and and see what McCord does and and sees you know what the offense does and how the you know the team is playing again in all three phases and and just winning games and I'm excited to hear from the guys after the games and you know it sounds like they they've got confidence McCord is a leader for sure they've got key veterans returning that I think are going to have monster seasons including Allen and Gatson and Marlo wax and baron but you know du Let's See How duce does and Devin gr you know all these transfers is there's there's there's fun things there and um you know it's uh as you mentioned you know Florida State getting getting upset in in Dublin last weekend kind of opens the door a little bit you know in the ACC obviously Syracuse was you know not projected High number 12 out of 17 teams but that's all preseason speculation let's see what they do on the field I think this is a team that if they come together they've got some tough games but I think they can win eight or nine and and I don't know if that that that probably wouldn't even nine and three is probably not going to get them into the cfp conversation but it'd be cool to be ranked in the top 15 and and get into a major bowl game that'd be awesome you know you mentioned the top 15 I think some people might forget that they were a top 15 team in the country just a couple years ago years ago mean I mean at some point they were R they started out six they were six and0 they were either they were inside the top 15 I think they were 14 they were 14 going on the road to play Clemson and then and then they they lost close to Clemson so they stayed in the top 20 then they fell out because of what happened against Notre Dame I was I was covering that Notre Dame game in the D I mean the first play of the gamees a pick six I mean I yeah that was not set the tone yeah yeah and I think the CL I mean not to go off on a tangent but again when they started out six and0 and were ranked in the top 15 there was a lot of excitement and then they had that Clemson game um and I think between L falling in that game Heartbreaker and then obviously the Notre Dame excuse my language spanking it just um it kind of it crushed their momentum so um yeah I think they can be a ranked team why not I mean if they they again I I I think their non-conference um I think going to UNLV could be a tricky one but the other three I think they should win and again I think their ACC schedule is favor I mean again this is all speculation we don't know how these teams they're going to play how they're going to end up being throughout the year but no Florida State no Clemson um are we sure do do we want Florida State now on the schedule I still want to beat them don't you man don't you want to put Florida State now that maybe they're going to go 0 and 12 this year I don't know you know well did did I I didn't check this week after after they lost to Georgia Tech and iron did they sue the AC to get that result reversed because I so I what I heard from Florida state is that they thought it was unfair um that another team was allowed to beat them yeah they're suing Georgia Tech that's what they're GNA do or that's what they're planning on doing they haven't done it yet but there's been some Rumblings that Georgia Tech was too good of a team for them so they they they I mean Georgia Tech might as well be an NFL team that that's not fair flid they had to play them and I saw somewhere that they had to go to Ireland to play the game you know Georgia Tech was allowed to stay in America did they fly in that morning virtually while Florida state had to travel all the way to Ireland to play the game I I get it I mean not cool bro you there's a ton of lawsuit potential here I mean you have you have such a great Case flate by the way I mean we're gonna get to Florida State and Georgia Tech and the ACC Outlook soon but it couldn't have happened to a more deserving team than Florida I mean they they you talk about Karma like I think most people that's a little bit of karma y Mo most Fe most people felt bad I I actually I would go want to say 99% of people whether they agree with the decision or not to leave them out of the playoff felt bad that they didn't make it because they were an undefeated power five champion and they and undefeated power five Champion's never been left out and I think I agreed with the decision to take bama over them I agreed with it but I still felt bad for Florida State because is healthy they're in right like they're in over Alabama it's just what the Ruckus they C after it it it's the fact that they they didn't just complain that then they were like all right now we're going to sue the conference I'm like all right yeah I mean obviously that's a much larger issue with their lawsuits with Clemson lawsuits we'll see how all that stuff shakes out um it was a little bit of karma for me and it I I mean to be honest with you I I'm just kind of like a positive person so I tend to root for other teams in whether it was the Big East back in the day or other ACC teams by and large when they're not playing Syracuse just why not but I ain't going to lie brother I was rooting for joyia Tech that day oh me too I and they play they deserve to win and it was they were 100% the better team on that day yeah they were the better team it's a neutral sight game they both have to deal with that and they they won fair and square they punched them in the mouth they did their their line was really good and you know I don't think Florida State season is over but it's definitely the the margin of error for them to to really make it to make inroads both in terms of getting like you said to the ACC Championship and into the cfp it's the Martin ferera is a lot you know shrinks but um yeah I was cool with that and now we'll see how Syracuse does with Georgia Tech at the Dome week two that'll be fun you've heard us talk a lot about FanDuel America's number one sports book well we have something a little different for you now through September 22nd all FanDuel customers can bet $5 and get a 3-week free trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV then with a YouTube TV based plan you'll be able to watch every regular season Sunday afternoon out of Market game all you need is a Google account and a current form payment and you can cancel any time and for Syracuse football fans just like myself the season is right around the corner and Syracuse is a 17 and a half Point favor to get the W against Ohio on Saturday you think Syracuse can cover well bet it right now on FanDuel if you want to play it safer the oranges money line is minus 1100 just visit ble.com lockon and download America's number one sports book fuel up with factors no prep No Mess meals meet your Wellness goals thanks to the menu of chef-crafted meals with options like calor smart Protein Plus and ketto factors fresh never frozen meals are dietitian approved and ready to eat in just two minutes so no matter how busy you are you'll always have time to enjoy nutritious great tasting meals make today the day you kickstart a new healthy routine what are you waiting for with 35 different meals and more than 60 add-ons to choose from every week you'll always have new flavors to explore head to factor meals.com loock on50 and use code lockon col 50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next month that's code lockon colge 50 Factor meals.com lockon College 50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next month while you're subscription is active I think we're going to like blend what we're excited about and the ACC outlook here because I think I'm more excited for the season now that that Georgia Tech beat Florida State because I think it opens the door for another ACC team you know there was a consensus two to three teams it was Florida State Clemson and Miami the three favorites to win the conference yep now that Florida State lost to Georgia Tech all right that's a conference loss so they're not only just 0 0 And1 they're 0 And1 in the conference correct yeah Clemson has to Face Georgia Georgia yeah so they're probably gonna lose and if they win if they beat Georgia then then we can just chalk them up as a team that's just they're gonna probably run away with the ACC at that point if they can beat Georgia but they're probably not so you're looking at them being 0 and one and I know FL has like the worst schedule in the country I mean it's absolutely but they haven't lost like a home opener since like the 80s like it's been a long time since they've lost a home opener and they're slight underdogs to Miami that's I meaning at potentially the top three favorites in the conference could all be on and one yeah 0 and one with one of them having a conference loss right right I think that opens the door for another team because you can only have so many losses it makes me more excited about Syracuse's season because you just do the math I mean you can argue that FL I mean Florida State probably is a better team than Syracuse but it's math at that point if Florida State loses one or two more conference games they're done if they lose two more they're definitely done if they lose one more now they're in a dog fight to make the conference Championship game right so the door kind of opened up and also with with Georgia Tech Georgia Tech I take away from them and that is going to be a really tough game in week two like I'm really excited for that one but Georgia Tech I don't really take seriously to win the ACC and the reasoning is not because of Georgia Tech themselves schedule they're schedule's awful it's I mean go I mean I don't have it off the top my I mean at the top of my head I know they play Georgia it's a tough schedule I think they play Clemson Notre Dame Miami NC State like they have a Absol they have maybe the worst schedule in the ACC I mean I I was telling you offline I think if Georgia Tech and Syracuse swap schedules that Georgia Tech would have a better chance that's fair of making the playoff yeah or not yeah making the playoff but I don't take Georgia Tech seriously enough to actually be a college football playoff Contender or even an ACC Contender because their schedule's so bad so they're going to be one of those good six or seven win teams that obviously is going to be tough for Syracuse and that's a game that I'm I'm really looking forward to oh yeah oh yeah that's I if you're asking me the games I'm most excited about again obviously this is all on paper but yeah c i i I would have said Georgia Tech even before they're they're went over the seminal last weekend uh overseas you know certainly at NC State which is supposed to be supposed to be one of the better teams the the I believe the season finale is home against Miami yeah um again I think the the game at UNLV could be a tricky one they they're they're a pretty good team and and you know going to the West Coast and you know it'll be interesting to see how you know they handle traveling out west I believe they also do they travel to Cal this year yeah they do I actually I was on Q Sports Talk last week and I said that the sneaky one that they could lose is at C sure because I I I don't know if C's really a great team but I think going to California is not easy when you factor in traveling and the time zone you know and all that I mean it's it's a f how big of a factor we'll see but it's it's going to be interesting to see that kind of dichotomy that kind of like thing in terms of not just Syracuse but ACC teams in general going from east to west or west to east and it's like okay this team like is really better on paper but they traveled far away and did they lose you know like that could become a factor um and I agree and I'm pretty sure again not that I care about preseason stuff but C was slotted ahead of Syracuse in the preseason poll I'm pretty sure actually I I don't have it off the top my head I got yeah they were 10 and they got two first place votes which is pretty pretty interesting Georgia Tech was nine they got one first place vote yeah they're they're all I mean and obviously all the you know kind of the usual guys Usual Suspects but no I mean the trip to Cal could be tough um you know Virginia Tech could be a very good team um I you know I don't I don't know how I feel about Pittsburgh I mean they they're always in bruising battles with Syracuse but they stunk last year so we'll see how that goes but no there's some fun games on the schedule um just got to go one game at a time and I know that's what Fran Brown is is preaching he he yeah definitely seems like the type of guy that is just like I'm focused on this week of practice in this game and I'm not thinking about anything beyond that well that's the that's the correct mindset to have I mean I agree see here's the thing me and you like we're not playing the games we're not coaching the games we're just talking about it so we can do what we want we can look ahead at the schedule correct but if you're the head coach of whatever college or pro team or even high school team I don't care what level you are you're always kind of focused on what's ahead even when I was playing High School hockey or my you know competitive travel days earlier in my life I'm I was only looking to the I can only look so far ahead I would only look at like maybe one or two games and and you could never really take an opponent lightly so I think Ohio is a is a good test to start because it's what I would put that in the category of it's a should win game like you should win this game and and not only should you win you should probably win by a pretty big margin you're a 17 and a half Point favorite at home against a group of five team but they are a 10- win group of five team the last two years exactly so exactly all right here's your first obstacle like it's not really a challenge it's an obstacle let's assume that they pass it with fing colors and I think they will I think Sy Houston win by 30 plus let's do it then you got Georgia Tech in week two and after they just be Florida State man Manan man could they they could be ranked yeah but I think I think they've got Georgia state they're gonna win so if they're two and 0 having beat the preseason number 10 team I would assume they'll be ranked um I think so you know you know it's it it pains me to say this but for every Syracuse fan out there we need Florida State to roll Boston College we need them kill them this week because if if Florida state does I think they play on Monday night if they do really well against Boston College and they spank them I think they will honestly because they're G to be mad about what happen that Georgia Tech win looks a little bit better which strengthens their case of being ranked and then if you do the process of I think it's like the associate property whatever it is of math right Syracuse then beats Georgia Tech the win looks better because Georgia Tech's win over Florida state looks better so it's kind of like a a weird dichotomy style points matter so you know how you how you do verse one team and how that team fares against that team it all plays a factor we got a root for Florida State this week it pains me to say because I hate Florida State now but we got a root for them we got we need them to crush Boston College so that Georgia Tech is a ranked team and then Georgia Tech comes to the do in week two and we beat him how about that cool I like your plan and you're way too smart for me I have no idea what you're just talking about but it's cool I'm just kidding I know what you're saying I do I mean it's you know we like you said as was was it the math terminology I don't know you're just you're just you're smart and I'm old so I I I don't know it's um you know yeah we can as commentators writers or whatever we can look ahead and crystal ball things and and look at all these scenarios I mean for me sure I'll be keeping my eye on what other ACC teams are doing just like I did last weekend but yeah I just want to see Syracuse play well avoid injuries win games be exciting the fan base clearly is excited I really hope that there's a ton of people there on Saturday um we'll see I won't be there on this Saturday but I do believe because I I'm scheduled to go back to Syracuse on Monday that I will be barring something bar baring something I think I'm gonna be at that Georgia Tech game that one I I'm oh yeah I'm looking my chops on that one nice so you're gonna like paint your whole body orange and no no no I'm not that big of a knucklehead no sorry you know what I'm sorry that I called those folks Knuckleheads but you know it's it's all met in Good Humor oh yeah like hey you're painting your face you're you're going shirtless or whatever like what I mean I I see the the people in Buffalo when it's like negative 10 degrees in January for playf off tables at all but I'm not going to do that never was my jam even when I was a student at Syracuse in the late 90s yeah not my thing but if you want to be naked and paint yourself in in minus five degree uh windchill factor and buffalo more power to you if you can handle it sure I mean I personally can't paint my face I've done it before not not for not for a game but you know I I put like face paint on and everything I end up getting itchy and I just scratch it right and and it looks terrible and it gets all over my fingers and I'm just like I I I basically swore off painting my face or just painting any part of my I mean I I'll paint on a canvas there you go thank you so much uh for taking the time of course my friend and enjoy the Georgia Tech game it should be a good one appreciate I'm looking forward to it all right man we'll talk soon thank you for making lockon Syracuse your first listen today now go check out the lockon college football podcast from nil deals to never ending conference realignment rumors Spencer McGloin gets you ready for an exciting season on the grid iron you can find the link to lockon college football in the description so you don't need to search part of the lockon podcast Network where it's your team every day