The intensity level was high at the sixth installment of Spring football practice as head coach Doug Marrone pushed his team and emphasized the importance of building on the pressure package. All Orange fans are invited to watch Spring practice (click here for a schedule) and attend the annual Spring game on Saturday, April 17 (1:00 p.m. at the Carrier Dome; admission is free).
"They went after each other and we were hard on them," Marrone said. "As coaches, when you know you have to improve heavily on something such as third down, you obviously have more intensity. Defensively, we still have to keep working on our coverages behind our pressure – some guys were able to break open. Offensively, we are ahead of where we were last year at this time as far as knowing the pressure, picking it up, and knowing who to block. Now we just have to do a better job of blocking them. I think our inside players and our linebackers and safeties do a nice job of disguising. Obviously they're all pretty good rushers and you could see that from last year. It's that point where we just have to keep pushing the players."
Syracuse welcomes back a core group of linebackers, including redshirt senior Derrell Smith and seniors Doug Hogue and Ryan Gillum. Smith returns after missing the final two games of the 2009 season due to injury. He led the defense with 82 tackles.
"I like (the linebackers)," Marrone said. "They're all players who have a chance to have honors after the season. I think they're getting better and better. They feel more comfortable than they did a year ago. We're looking for very productive play out of those positions."
Hogue was a key figure in the Orange defense, leading the team with 9.5 sacks and 16.0 tackles for loss.
"Having a year under my belt and working with Derrell (Smith) and meeting with (defensive coordinator) Coach (Scott) Shafer, the game has slowed down for me," Hogue said. "As a linebacker, I have to wait for things to develop and read my keys."
Hogue is in his second year as a linebacker after playing running back for the Orange as a freshman and sophomore.
"When I look at Doug Hogue now, I don't even remember him being a running back, which is a compliment to him," Marrone said. "He seems very natural out there and very in tune to what's going on. Derrell Smith is picking up right where he left off. I think he should've had more postseason honors last year at that position. He's really done a nice job. He's made some great plays, reading the quarterbacks eyes and making some good picks. They've made great strides from last year to now, but now we need them to make great strides going into this next year."