...they put up a pretty good fight in this one. It's just that Patterson is never going to be good enough to take them to another level. H.B. Blades, Clint Sessions and Darrelle Revis were just way too talented and physical for the Orange offense to get enough done to win. At least Syracuse is no door mat anymore, and they will beat the teams they are supposed to beat now, something that rarely happened last year.

Soph HB LaRon Stephens Howling of Pittsburgh was the man in this game. Plays like Garrett Wolfe minus the end burst. But he put up an amazing 221 yards on 27 carries. Two of the elite punters in the country were in this game and both were unimpressive.

SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Pittsburgh Conference: Big East Columnist: Steve Martin
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes

H.B. Blades 51 5' 11.0" 238 4.69 LB 2007: He is just a wrecking ball in the running game, and was dropping a lot in coverage. Seems to be improved in his pass drops, and did not get beat at all across the middle. Missed a couple of tackles in the first half, but played a flawless second half. Defensive game ball again, if it were me handing them out. He is just a leader too. Got to blitz once and had a QBH. I'd love to see him be allowed to blitz a bit more, but it is hard to argue with success. GRADE: Positive

Tyler Palko 3 6' 2.5" 225 4.70 QB 2007: Tyler is the nation's leader in passing efficiency, and at one point in this game he was 18 of 21 for 141 yards and a TD. That is how he is doing it--short passes. And why not? You don't need the bombs to win, so why risk them. He did throw a couple longer ones after that, and of course, he was less accurate throwing longer. I get the feeling Palko will go a lot higher than we are currently thinking he will. That western PA/Pitt pedigree...and he is maturing nicely. Has all the measurables too. GRADE: Positive

Sam Bryant 46 5' 11.5" 230 4.65 S 2007: I wonder if he can transition to OLB. I just wonder if he will be considered too much of a tweener to get a fair shot. played well in this one...in on four tackles that I saw. Did not see him involved much in pass D. GRADE: Neutral

Adam Graessle 18 6' 3.5" 225 4.95 P 2007: Had an early punt that he tried to drop inside the 20 that landed at the 5 and bounced 20 yards back toward him. One of the weirdest punts I have ever seen. Got 9 yards out of it. Recovered nicely later, dropping two inside the 20, but when he had a chance for a boomer from deep in his own territory he got only 34 yards out of it. Hang time seems OK. Handled KOs today, and they were long enough and high enough. GRADE: Neutral


Darrelle Revis 25 6' 0.0" 200 4.40 CB 2008: He is a playmaker. Wannstedt still insists he is the best CB in the country despite other guys names getting bounced around a lot more now. I have to agree with the coach--bias and all. They guy just does everything so well. He is Ty Law II the way he comes up and hits. Not quite the elite cover corner Ty was yet, but he has that kind of potential stamped all over him. Had 2 TFLs, 2 other tackles, a PD and returned punts (nothing special as a PR today). GRADE: Positive

John Simonitis 0' 0.0" 0 0.00 OG 2007: DNP. Injury

Clint Session 17 5' 11.0" 235 0.00 LB 2007: Played OK, and is the 4th leading tackler in the Big East, but I still don't think he is half the prospect some people say he is. Just will not be an OLB at 5'11" and he hasn't shown me as much toughness as you need to be tried inside. Forced a fumble and was in on about 5 tackles. GRADE: Neutral

College: Syracuse Conference: Big East Columnist: Steve Martin
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes

Brendan Carney 47 6' 4.4" 203 0.00 P 2007: Ouch! 3.5 hang time all day. Averaged 43, but that 3.5 will not get him into a camp. GRADE: Neagtive

Kelvin Smith 8 6' 2.0" 236 4.68 LB 2007: Kelvin is as solid an MLB as you will find outside of Blades, Poszlusny, Willis and Buster Davis. He is not getting anywhere near the level of notoriety he deserves. Could play OLB. Has the lateral range to be tried anywhere. Pursues, penetrates, wraps...a complete player. GRADE: Positive

Tanard Jackson 28 6' 0.5" 193 0.00 CB 2007: Good first half. Tailed off in the second half. They did not test him. Kinder and Strong did their damage elsewhere. he is a guy who will rocket up the boards with a good forty time. Looks technically solid. GRADE: Slightly positive