Pitarresi: SU lacks offensive explosion

I don’t know if even the most dedicated Syracuse University football fans expected the Orange to win at Penn State Saturday. Some might even have expected a one-sided loss against the No. 7 Nittany Lions.

 

It wasn’t a complete blowout at 28-7, but, gosh, 200 yards in offense? That’s 457 in two games. Greg Paulus had a modest game at quarterback (14 of 20 with two interceptions for 105 yards and a touchdown). Too modest, and this team lacks explosiveness. There is little for opponents to fear, even with Mike Williams at wide receiver, and little threat of a big play. The Orange had only a couple of 15 yards or more against the Lions. The defense hasn’t played too badly – better than I thought it would in terms of total points and total yards – but the offense isn’t doing its part. That has to change or it is going to be a long, long year.

 

Another thing:

 

Don’t ever wish for a story in Sports Illustrated on your favorite team. At least not until the season is over.

 

That jinx is real.

 

Last week, SI put Oklahama State on the cover and wrote about how the Cowboys, with Oklahoma bowing to Brigham Young, were now the No. 1 team in Oklahoma.

 

Or, they were. Houston, unranked but very good offensively, defeated the fifth-ranked Cowboys 45-35 Saturday. Not good.

 

 And another thing:

 

I was trying to watch Notre Dame-Michigan here at work – and got chastised for it, can you believe it? – and I’m pretty sure the Irish got tagged with an excessive celebration penalty after they went ahead with a few minutes to play. They had to kick off from the 15, which significantly changed field position and helped the Wolverines score the winning touchdowns.

 

I don’t like excessive celebrations, but I don’t like excessive celebration penalties, either. There is way too much judgment there.

 

The Irish might have lost anyway, but those 15 yards really helped pave the way.