Fran Brown is not used to losing.
Syracuse’s loss to Tennessee on Saturday was only the fifth that Brown had suffered over the past three years. It’s an uncomfortable and unfamiliar feeling.
“I’m so mad right now,” said Brown.
The Orange fell down early to the Volunteers and couldn’t close the deficit. One of the biggest reasons why Syracuse couldn’t keep Tennessee off the scoreboard was tackling. Brown took responsibility for that immediately.
“We just didn’t play the right brand of football, and I
messed that up,” said Brown. “So that’s on me.”
Fortunately for the Orange, the task ahead is a little easier with UConn and Colgate coming to the JMA Wireless Dome in the next weeks. Perhaps easier opponents might allow the Orange coaching staff to work on the tackling fundamentals a big more. Tackling was a focus during training camp, but the task now is to translate the work done in practice to the game.
“At some point in time, you got to take your face mask and put it on his face mask,” said Brown.
The work that’ll be put in during the coming days of practice will be done to avoid that losing feeling that Brown hates. He knows that the film from the Tennessee game, in his words, sucks. There weren’t many moral victories that he can take from the loss.
“We got our butts whipped,” said Brown.
The best course of action is one that Brown had continued to preach during his time as Syracuse head coach.
Face facts, face reality, and look forward.
“Make sure everybody looks in the mirror, understand what I’ve done, what I did wrong first and foremost, being able to understand that, make sure everybody else knows it, then we move on,” said Brown
Athletes on the field
Not many fans would have probably thought that tight end Jamie Tremble would play defense. However, Brown confirmed that he’ll be Syracuse starting SAM linebacker. The numbers didn’t lie, with Tremble recording a 22 MPH speed on the GPS and a 39-inch vertical.
“I need that freak athlete on the field,” said Brown.
Tremble will still play tight end, and given the nature of his new defensive position, the learning curve is easier since he doesn’t have to make too many calls.
In the trenches, all five starting offensive linemen played the entire game. That doesn’t mean that we’ll see that group shaken up at some point. The player to watch is the true freshman Byron Washington. Brown is excited to get him into the mix.
“We’ll really be where we need to be when Washington is his weight,” said Brown.
Syracuse’s training camp roster listed Washington at 400 pounds. Once he hits Syracuse’s target weight, it should only be a matter of time before the coaching staff adds his presence to the trenches.
