Syracuse needs to fix its offensive line. Depth might be the answer.
After allowing 40-plus pressures and eight sacks through two games, Syracuse could rely on its offensive line depth to protect Steve Angeli. Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor
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Of the seven offensive linemen who recorded at least 200 snaps for Syracuse in 2024, only one remained at the end of spring practice.
So, the Orange did what any modern program would do: They rebuilt their offensive line across two weeks in April. The unit, which brought in four players in the spring transfer portal, has quickly evolved into SU’s X factor in head coach Fran Brown’s second season.
Syracuse has allowed eight sacks across its first two games, limiting offensive consistency and putting new starting quarterback Steve Angeli in harm’s way. The Orange are leaning on their depth to solve the issue, having played eight linemen and three left tackles following a foot injury to Week 1 starter Trevion Mack.
SU plans to mix in even more faces, with 6-foot-7 freshman Byron Washington waiting in the wings. It’s a work in progress, but it’s an issue the Orange must resolve before it’s too late.
“We’re a young football team. The only one that came back that played last year was (Da’Metrius Weatherspoon),” Brown said after Syracuse’s win over UConn. “So we got 10 other guys that didn’t start last year, that was all guys that are coming in as everybody’s getting into different roles. The best time to do it is now. Let’s just do it now.”
Following a disappointing season opener where Angeli was sacked five times, the unit directly met with its quarterback to figure things out. Angeli said there were multiple post-practice protection meetings throughout the week to fortify that line of communication.
The football gods then threw a wrench into SU’s plans, as an injury to Mack’s right foot forced Alabama transfer Naquil Betrand into action. Betrand told The Daily Orange he was alerted by Brown that he’d be starting just two days before playing UConn.
Despite Mack being sidelined in a boot with an assisted scooter, Betrand noted that he helped review film before, during and after the game to gain more insight. Redshirt sophomore Josh Miller also notched 33 snaps at left tackle, a move Betrand said he expected.
Regardless of who protected Angeli’s blindside, SU’s offensive line still wasn’t in sync with its passer. He was clobbered multiple times. Some were due to simple misidentifications by Angeli. Others were missed assignments by the guys up front. Either way, Angeli took a beating with three sacks and multiple big-time hits.
“We can’t have as many busts on the offensive line. We’re getting our quarterback killed out there,” Brown said emphatically. “And that’s not cool. It’s not cool at all.”
When Kyle McCord dropped back to pass 592 times en route to a program record 4,779 yards in 2024, he was often well-protected. A unit led by experienced players included Weatherspoon on the blindside, Jakob Bradford to his right, J’Onre Reed at center, Mark Petry at right guard and Savion Washington at right tackle.
Weatherspoon and Washington both entered the equation with a wealth of playing experience from other programs. Reed, Bradford and Petry were already key cogs before Brown took over. The unit had its fair share of hiccups, which in turn became McCord’s biggest blunders. But for the most part, it kept McCord afloat as he delivered the ball on average at 2.40 seconds after the snap — one of the quickest rates in the country per Pro Football Focus. For comparison, Angeli is at 2.48 seconds per dropback, tied for 53rd of all passers so far.
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Reed transferred to USC while Washington moved on to participate in training camp with the Los Angeles Chargers. Bradford graduated, and Petry was set to return before a torn ACL diagnosis.
The Orange restored some depth entering the spring, with Betrand joining in December and Enrique Cruz Jr. and David Wohlabaugh Jr. both returning. Though as both departed in the spring, the Orange began to reload. It started with Austin Collins.
Entering his sixth year, Collins was a seasoned veteran at Louisville. But he wanted to cash in on college football’s NIL market while accruing tape in a pro-style offense. Reuniting with offensive line coach Dale Williams, who helped recruit him to the Cardinals, seemed like a perfect match.
Collins sees a switch flip once Williams reaches the field. He’s light-hearted in the meeting room, cracking jokes and keeping the mood up. When it’s time for practice, he’s pushing the players to their limit. Williams coached for over 25 years before joining Brown’s staff in 2024. He uses his expertise to help Syracuse’s unit gel. Weatherspoon said the key ingredient Williams constantly preaches is effort: “You can be wrong, but if you go 100%, something ends up right.”
“You have to be a teacher,” Williams said. “They understand what’s going on, they play fast. It’s a big process of being a coach, which is being a teacher. You got to figure out who understands what’s going on, who gets it, who plays fast.”
After pulling Collins from Louisville, the Orange also added TJ Ferguson from Florida State, Kam Pringle from South Carolina and Zach Rice from North Carolina. All were highly touted high school recruits who couldn’t find consistent roles.
At Syracuse, they all became new pieces to its puzzle entering fall camp. Williams said he took a simple approach to finding the right starting five. He watched film and graded each player after practice. During practices, players were regularly shifted around to different positions with various combinations. Ferguson said they “pretty much knew” the starting lineup in the final week of fall camp as prep began for Tennessee.
While a majority of the group was given just a few months to gel together, Weatherspoon said the group is near inseparable. If it’s not paying, the unit loves to hit up Prime Steak House. If it’s covering the check, Weatherspoon said the new Chick-fil-A on Erie Boulevard will suffice.
“We’re big boys. Probably every O-line in the country bonds off food,” Ferguson added.
Despite arriving in late April, Ferguson said it feels like he’s been at Syracuse for three or four years. Along with meals together, he thinks the suffering from Friday runs during training camp helped bonds flourish.
But that camaraderie didn’t help SU in its season opener against a top defensive line in the country. The Orange were swiftly exposed. Entering the week, Brown was asked if he felt Syracuse’s depth could match Tennessee, possibly going eight deep on its defensive line. He said he’d find out in the game. Brown certainly found out.
The Volunteers disguised multiple stunts on the interior to fool Collins in what he calls the “coffee house,” where the opposing linebackers blitz after taking multiple steps back into coverage. He saw it as a coaching point, learning how to hold space in the middle rather than simply attempting to hit anyone in his way.
After reviewing film, Collins noticed instances where the protection didn’t allow for switches to the pressure. Ferguson thought the issues weren’t talent-related. Williams said a few plays simply didn’t go SU’s way. Brown, again, was blunt in his assessment.
“I thought they did well toward the end after they got comfortable, but it was like, two of them was dumb,” Brown said on Sept. 1. “Like, ‘What are you doing?’ Some guys trying to be extra aggressive instead of just doing (their) job.”
But what was the biggest surprise of the season opener? The Orange played their five starters for all 90 snaps. The depth sought after in the spring went straight to waste.
“I feel very comfortable with two to three deep having to get in the game and not really skipping a beat,” Weatherspoon said on Sept. 2.
“The seasons are just getting longer,” Collins added on the same day. “So I think it’s important to have a two-deep pick and play, and that the coaches and the other guys in the room are comfortable going out there and playing with. I think we really have that in our room.”
After playing Tennessee, Brown and Williams both proclaimed Syracuse would use its depth against UConn.
“I want to play as many people as possible,” Brown said.
Mack’s injury forced two players into the left tackle slot. As Weatherspoon briefly exited after his helmet fell off, Pringle played two snaps. But Washington never entered the fold despite continuous praise from Brown. Williams said Washington has lost weight but needs to get in better shape to play a full game.
No matter who’s slotted onto the front, the Orange don’t have much time to waste. SU’s conference play features top pass rushers like Clemson duo T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, while Miami’s led by Rueben Bain Jr. It’s now or never. Or else the health of its quarterback is put in repeated jeopardy.
