After Saturday’s 21-11 loss to Pittsburgh, Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson bemoaned the offensive line’s struggles and penalties. He said he’d need to take the time to review the game tape and draw conclusions on what happened.

When he met with the media on Sunday, Robinson watched the film and had a more accurate read on Saturday’s problems-especially with the holding penalties.

‘There were situations that were blatant,’ Robinson said. ‘We definitely got guys corralled and they called them. We had situations where we are trying too hard. There are a couple cases where we have guys in pretty good shape. They (Pittsburgh) are reacting to our blocks and now all of a sudden, our guy starts to counter back and we clamp. When in fact, the ball is being thrown and is the guy going to get there?’

Robinson acknowledged there were gray areas with some of the calls, but wouldn’t use it as an excuse. He also wouldn’t commit to any personnel changes, insisting it’s too early in the week to make those decisions-a week that will feature a heavy emphasis on improving the line.

‘Some of (the problem with penalties) is technique,’ Robinson said. ‘Hopefully, we can learn from some of this. There has been too much of it. It has to end.’

Youth movement

It is become more clear each week that Robinson has no reservations throwing young players into the offense.

This is especially apparent at receiver, where the starters senior Tim Lane and junior Rice Moss have been outperformed by freshman reserves. While there haven’t been any official changes to the depth chart, SU’s leading pass-catchers on Saturday were freshmen receivers Donte Davis and Mike Williams and sophomore tight end Tom Ferron.

Considering SU’s two top running backs are sophomore Curtis Brinkley and freshman Delone Carter, Robinson is employing the Pete Carroll mantra of playing the best players-regardless of class.

‘They are young players who have infused and are doing some things,’ Robinson said. ‘Now we need Tim (Lane) and Rice (Moss) to come alive, too. I just use them, but our top two runners are a freshman and a sophomore. Our senior quarterback is performing. I think we just need to evaluate the film and say, ‘Whoa, look at this thing now.”

Eyes ahead

It’s West Virginia time.

Syracuse head Greg Robinson pledges and abides by a 24-hour rule. The team is allotted 24 hours to either celebrate or submerge in the previous day’s game. But after that, it’s focus ahead on next week’s opponent.

This week, that opponent is No. 4 West Virginia.

‘I just got to spend a little time (studying them) and they are rolling,’ Robinson said on Sunday about the undefeated Mountaineers. ‘They use all of their players well. That is what I see. They have all 11 on that field working.’

Since West Virginia topped the Orange in the Carrier Dome in last season’s opener, WVU is 15-1 and has drawn attention to its unorthodox offense and star quarterback and running back, Pat White and Steve Slaton, respectively.

Published on October 8, 2006 at 12:00 pm