Robinson set to take the reins

Kickoff is almost here and we couldn't be more excited to see what the 2007 Syracuse Orange football team will have to offer in the Big East. This year's squad comes in with a lot of question marks. Which guys will step up for a team that lost a lot of leadership at major positions on the field?

The biggest role to fill will be at quarterback. Last season, Perry Patterson took a majority of the snaps and did a decent job. With one junior, a sophomore and three freshmen waiting in the wings, the quarterback competition will be touch.

Read on as we break down how things should look at the quarterback position. How do you feel about it? Voice your opinion on Cuse Council!

QUARTERBACKS

Andrew Robinson – Sophomore

Some were calling for Robinson to take over last season for Patterson, but the then sophomore still looked a bit rattled by the rigors of college football. With a year under his belt, Robinson will have the chance to show what he can do right away. Last week, Greg Robinson named him the starting quarterback. It will be a year of ups and downs for Robinson, but he's hoping things will look up beginning with Washington on August 31.

Cameron Dantley – Junior

Dantley hasn't seen any time on the football field in 2005 or 2006, but is expected to contribute when need be. His off-season workout has been well received by the coaching staff and his teammates.

Cody Catalina - Freshmen

The Pennsylvania native will bring toughness to the quarterback position. Last season at Greensburg Central Catholic, Catalina was able to put the ball in the air and scramble for yards when needed. He finished the 2006 season with 61 completions for 893 yards,while also rushing 60 times for 253 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. One edge Catalina might have is reading secondary defenses as he saw time in the secondary as a high school senior.

David Legree – Freshmen

If there's one thing Legree likes to do it's let the ball fly. Last season at South Shore (NY), Legree tallied 1,115 yards on 64 passes while rushing for 458 yards. He also finished with eight touchdowns total (five passing, three rushing). If there is one thing that Legree will need to work on, it might be his weight. Right now he's tabbed at 190 pounds. If he could put on at least 10 more pounds it would be interesting to see the battle between he and Catalina for a chance to see the field.

Predictions:

The starting position was Robinson's to lose and he did everything right to make sure that didn't happen. Barring injury, expect Robinson to take almost all of the snaps in 2007. Dantley could see some time on the field because of his experience in Coach Robinson's system, but even that might be far fetched because he hasn't played in two years.

The most interesting competition could be between Catalina and Legree. More than likely one will redshirt but it's hard to say which one. During preseason workouts, both looked like true freshmen, having their good moments to go along with plays that left the SU staff scratching their heads.