15 Former Orange Survive First Round Of Cuts

     The first round of NFL cuts took place this past weekend. 15 former Syracuse Orange players made it past the first cut. Unfortunately others were not so lucky. Here is a quick rundown of players currently on NFL rosters.
-Steve Gregory, Safety, New England Patriots
     Gregory has had a solid preseason and looks to be the starting safety for the New England Patriots.
-Chandler Jones, Defensive End, New England Patriots
     Jones achieved his first NFL sack against Tampa Bay and figures to have many more. He will start for the Patriots and is mentioned among the favorites to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
-Kevyn Scott, Defensive Back, Miami Dolphins
     Scott is an undrafted free agent trying to make the team. He was considered a long shot by many, but a solid camp has kept him on the roster thus far.
-Dorian Graham, Wide Receiver, Baltimore Ravens
     Graham, also an undrafted free agent, has been a solid surprise for Baltimore. He has played sparingly, but well for the Ravens. His unofficial 40-yard dash time of 4.2 seconds excited several teams.
-Arthur Jones, Defensive End, Baltimore Ravens
     Jones has overcome injuries in camp and figures to be the starter come opening day.
-Jameel McClain, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
     McClain re-signed with the Ravens after becoming a free agent in the offseason. He will start for Baltimore and do not be surprised to see him in the Pro Bowl this season.
-Delone Carter, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts
     Carter has overcome a rib injury and figures to get a decent amount of playing time for the Colts. He is attempting to become the backup for starter Donald Brown.
-Dwight Freeney, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts
     Freeney is in his first season as linebacker for the Colts after the team switched to a 3-4 defense. He will start and looks to continue being the sackmaster in the AFC.
-Ryan Durand, Guard, Tennessee Titans
     Durand has spent bits and pieces of the last couple seasons with the Titans. This year he hopes to make it on the roster full-time as a reserve lineman.
-Curtis Brinkley, Running Back, San Diego Chargers
     Brinkley had a very good first preseason game against the Packers, scoring a touchdown. Since he has played sparingly, but nonetheless figures to get plenty of playing time out of the backfield in San Diego.
-Tanard Jackson, Safety, Washington Redskins
     Jackson spent his whole career up until this season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He signed as a reserve in Washington, but a solid preseason so far could be cause for a starting job for Jackson.
-Phillip Thomas, Defensive Back, Philadelphia Eagles
     Thomas is another undrafted free agent looking to make a team. He had an excellent game last week and with another fine performance in game 4 could find himself with a roster spot.
-Doug Hogue, Linebacker, Detroit Lions
      Hogue was used little last season in Detroit. This season he has made a case for more playing time. He has had 16 tackles so far in the preseason.
-Mike Williams, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
     Williams will be the starter this year for the Bucs. Newly signed Vincent Jackson should draw plenty of coverage away from him and offer him a chance to become a superstar.
-Quinn Ojinnaka, Offensive Line, St. Louis Rams
     Ojinnaka has started each of the 3 games for the Rams and will most likely be the starter on opening day.
     The following players were released by their respective teams: Derrell Smith-Texans, Mike Holmes-Jaguars, Aaron Weaver-Chiefs, Antwon Bailey-Redskins, Olindo Mare-Panthers, and Micheal Hay-Rams.
     The following were placed on IR or Exempt lists: Tony Fiammetta-Patriots, Andrew Tiller-Saints, Will Allen-Patriots.

NFL Weekend Preseason Preview: Syracuse Style

      Preseason continues to roll along with most teams playing their third game. Playing time is usually tough to come by for some reserves in week 3. Most teams will play their starters for the majority of the game. Here is a quick look at where the former Syracuse players will be this week:

Jacksonville vs. Baltimore 7:30PM Thursday

-Mike Holmes looks to see his first action of the preseason at cornerback for the Jaguars. Arthur Jones and Jameel McClain are expected to start for the Ravens. Dorian Graham will continue to get opportunities at wide receiver for Baltimore. 

Arizona vs. Tennessee 8PM Thursday

-Guard Ryan Durand will continue to fight for a roster spot for the Titans. 

Philadelphia vs. Cleveland 7:30PM Friday

-Defensive back Phillip Thomas should continue to see time on special teams and possibly on defense for the Eagles. 

Atlanta vs. Miami 7:30PM Friday

-Cornerback Kevyn Scott should continue to see some playing time as he fights to make the Dolphins roster.

New England vs. Tampa Bay 7:30PM Friday

-Chandler Jones and Steve Gregory are expected to start for the Patriots. Cornerback Will Allen will try to continue his impressive preseason as he fights to become the Patriots nickle corner. Wide receiver Mike Williams should start for the Buccaneers. Williams only catch last week was for a touchdown. 

Seattle vs. Kansas City 8PM Friday

-Wide receiver Aaron Weaver will look to see some playing time after not playing in last week's game. 

San Diego vs. Minnesota 8PM Friday

-Chargers running back Curtis Brinkley will continue to get time as the backup running back. 

Indianapolis vs. Washington 4PM Saturday

-Running back Antwon Bailey looks to redeem himself after fumbling last week for the Redskins. He will look to continue to see some carries. Safety Tanard Jackson should see more time at safety for Washington. Linebacker Dwight Freeney should start for the Colts. Delone Carter may play after sitting out last week with an injury. 

Detroit vs. Oakland 7PM Saturday

-Linebacker Doug Hogue leads the Lions with 15 tackles this preseason. Look for him to continue to shine for Detroit. 

St. Louis vs. Dallas 8PM Saturday

-Guard Quinn Ojinnaka will start for the Rams. 

Houston vs. New Orleans 8PM Saturday

-Fullback Derrell Smith will see time on special teams and at fullback for the Texans. 

Carolina vs. New York Jets 8PM Sunday

-Kicker Olindo Mare will continue his battle for the job against Justin Medlock. He should continue to see half of the kicking workload. 

Donte Greene Agrees To Sign With Brooklyn Nets

   
     According to Marc J. Spears former Syracuse forward Donte Greene has agreed in principle to sign a contract with the Brooklyn Nets. Greene played the last four seasons with the Sacramento Kings. Last season he average 5.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 53 games.
     Greene played one season at Syracuse, but it was a spectacular season. The 6'11" forward averaged 17.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. He entered the NBA draft in 2008 and was drafted 28th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies.

      Playing time could be tough to come by in Brooklyn. With the recent acquisition of Joe Johnson and the resigning of Gerald Wallace, the small forward position is stacked for the Nets. The Nets kickoff their preseason on October 13th against the Philadelphia 76ers.
   

Syracuse Pros: Week 2 Preseason Recap

Here is how all of the Syracuse Alumni did in week 2 of the preseason.

Lions 27 Ravens 12
Doug Hogue had another impressive day for the Lions. He led the Lions with 8 tackles. He has 15 tackles so far in the preseason for Detroit. Arthur Jones got his first taste of preseason action for the Ravens and had 2 tackles. Jameel McClain also made 2 tackles for the Ravens. Dorian Graham had 2 catches for 21 yards.

Titans 30 Buccaneers 7
Mike Williams caught a two yard touchdown pass and that was the Bucs only score of the game. Williams ended the game with that lone catch for 2 yards. Ryan Durand played at guard for the Titans.

Panthers 23 Dolphins 17
Kevyn Scott played in the game for the Dolphins, but did not record a tackle. Olindo Mare continued his kicking battle with Justin Medlock. Mare hit a 44 yard field goal and hit an extra point. Each of his kickoffs went in the end zone.

Jaguars 27 Saints 24
Cornerback Mike Holmes, who signed earlier in the week, did not play for Jacksonville. Saints guard Andrew Tiller was placed on injured reserve.

Bears 33 Redskins 31
Antwon Bailey got some time at running back for the Redskins. Bailey had 3 carries for 10 yards. Unfortunately he lost a fumble in the game. Tanard Jackson made 2 tackles at safety for the Redskins.

Texans 20 49ers 9
Fullback Derrell Smith played in the game for the Texans. He did not have a carry or catch a pass.

Rams 31 Chiefs 17
Wide receiver Aaron Weaver did not play for the Chiefs. Quinn Ojinnaka started at guard for the Rams and appears to be the favorite to be the starter at that position.

Chargers 28 Cowboys 20
Running back Curtis Brinkley had 4 carries for 4 yards. The Chargers running back also caught one pass for no gain.

Steelers 26 Colts 24
Running back Delone Carter did not play for the Colts due to injury. Dwight Freeney made one tackle at linebacker for the Colts.

Eagles 27 Patriots 17
Defensive back Phillip Thomas played for the Eagles, but did not make a tackle. Steve Gregory and Chandler Jones started on defense for the Patriots. Neither player made a tackle.  Cornerback Will Allen made 5 tackles for New England.

Taj Smith Making Most of CFL Opportunity

     Taj Smith had a great career for the Syracuse Orange. In 2007 he caught 44 passes for 822 yards. He also scored 5 touchdowns. He went undrafted, but spent time with the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts. His brightest NFL moments came on special teams. At a crucial moment in the season for the Colts Smith blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown against the Cowboys. The next week against the Titans he recovered a fumble after the ball was snapped over the punter's head. Unfortunately at the end of the 2011 preseason Smith was waived by the Colts.
     On January 30, 2012 Smith signed a contract with the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders. Smith was added to the active roster for the last few weeks and has shined. Smith, the only former Syracuse player in Canadian football, has averaged 30 yards per catch. He had a 74 yard touchdown earlier this season and has made some amazing plays thus far. This week he was featured in the Canadian Football League's Top 10 plays.
     We had the chance to ask him about his CFL season so far. Smith said, "Just enjoying the opportunity to be playing. I'm loving every bit of it." Smith and his Roughriders team will take on the BC Lions on Sunday.

Friday Night Preseason Preview Syracuse Style

     Friday night's NFL preseason action features six games. Four of those six games will feature Syracuse alumni. Here is our preview for the action:
Tennessee at Tampa Bay 7:30PM
For the Titans, guard Ryan Durand looks to get some playing time on the offensive line. Wide receiver Mike Williams will try to continue his solid training camp as he is expected to start for the Buccaneers.
Detroit at Baltimore 8PM
On the Ravens defense two Syracuse players are expected to start, Jameel McClain at linebacker and Arthur Jones at defensive end. This could be Jones' first preseason game action. Wide receiver Dorian Graham looks to continue to get time on the offense and will possibly return some kickoffs for the Ravens. For Detroit, linebacker Doug Hogue looks to build upon his solid start to preseason after recording seven tackles in the game last week for the Lions.
Miami at Carolina 8PM
Cornerback Kevyn Scott looks to get some time in for the Dolphins on defense and possibly on special teams. For the Panthers, Olindo Mare will continue his kicking battle against Justin Medlock.
Jacksonville at New Orleans 8PM
Cornerback Mike Holmes looks to make his debut in a Jaguars uniform after signing this week with the team. Guard Andrew Tiller will not play for the Saints. He was placed on injured reserve.

Injuries Mounting For Former Syracuse Players

   

     The grind of the NFL training camp seems to be hitting former Syracuse players pretty hard this year. Last night Delone Carter of the Indianapolis Colts seemed to be having a great start to preseason. He had 5 carries for 17 yards including a one-yard touchdown run. He was just getting started when the injury bug hit him. He suffered a rib injury and left the game. It is unsure at this time when he will return.
     Arthur Jones of the Baltimore Ravens was entering camp number one on the depth chart at the defensive end position. Jones was excited for the opportunity to get more playing time. He then came down with a hip flexor injury that kept him from practicing. Sunday he was back on the field for practice, participating in the full-team exercises.
     Tony Fiammetta signed with the New England Patriots after a successful season with the Dallas Cowboys. Fiammetta was most likely going to be the starting fullback in New England. Unfortunately he had to leave the team due to undisclosed family reasons. He is not expected to return until next season.
     The good news is we still have a few weeks until the regular season gets started. Hopefully this will be sufficient time to see all of the former 'Cuse stars get back on the field.

Carmelo Anthony Brings Home Gold and an Olympic Record

 
   Carmelo Anthony said that it was "a lot easier". Kevin Durant sure was good at it too. The three-point shot help the United States bury most teams. On Sunday the US team was able to hit 15 three-point shots against Spain, who only hit 7. This type of shooting helped them go undefeated in the Olympics and bring home the gold medal from the London games.
     According to FIBA rules, the governing body over basketball in the Olympic games, the three-point line is 22 feet, 1.7 inches. The NBA three-point line is 23 feet, 9 inches, except in the corner where it is 22 feet. It is much easier for NBA players to drain these shots consistently. Carmelo Anthony said, "In our league, that's a normal shot. That's my range. That's a shot I take on a consistent basis and feel comfortable making."
Against Nigeria Carmelo shot an amazing 10 of 12 from long range en route to an Olympic record 37 points in one game. On Sunday he only hit 2 of 6 three-pointers and ended with 8 points. Kevin Durant shouldered much of the load with 30 points in the 107-100 victory in the gold medal game.
     Carmelo Anthony had the pleasure of having his former college coach Jim Boeheim as one of his assistant coaches. Boeheim won yet another gold medal with Team USA. His tandem with Coach K has been one of the most successful in Olympic history. The only drawback, coaches do not get medals just players.

Mare-Medlock Battle For Panthers' Kicker Heating Up

    It was no secret Olindo Mare struggled last season. He missed two game tying/winning fourth quarter field goals last season. Overall he was just 22 of 28 in field goals, which comes out to a dreadful 78.6%. This performance led the Panthers to sign Justin Medlock to a contract. 

     Mare kicked for Syracuse in the mid-90's and the New York Giants signed him as an undrafted free agent after his Orange days were over. His most successful years were with the Miami Dolphins where he played for 10 seasons. He is no stranger to training camp competition, as in 2008 when he had to win the Seattle Seahawks' kicking job in camp. In 2009 he made a franchise record 21 field goals for the Seahawks. 

     Justin Medlock had a superb college career at UCLA where he ended up an All-American. After graduating college Medlock has bounced around the UFL, NFL, and CFL. His last gig before signing with the Panthers was with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

     Tonight marked the first preseason battle between the two kickers. Mare drained his first kick which was  a 33 yard field goal and later hit an extra point. Medlock countered that performance by hitting a 48-yard attempt. The Charlotte Observer reported that Mare had a great start to camp, but has struggled since. The battle continues next week as the Panthers face Miami Dolphins. 

Hogue Impressive In Lions' Preseason Debut

Syracuse fans must remember Doug Hogue. The giant outside linebacker who was a standout All-Big East First Team selection in 2010 then went on to be drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2011. He did not play much in his rookie year, but he made the most of his time tonight.
Despite taking a 19-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns on a last second field goal Detroit fans have something to be excited about. Doug Hogue was all over the field Friday night. He was second on the team with 7 tackles. Hogue is playing hard in the search of some well deserved playing time come regular season. If Friday was any indication, he will find his way on the field easily.

Gregory Shines In Patriots Win

In the first preseason game of the year for New England, the Patriots survived a defensive battle beating the New Orleans Saints 7-6. Several Syracuse alumni played in the game including Chandler Jones who made his debut.
No former Orange may have shined brighter than Steve Gregory. Gregory signed as a free agent in the offseason and made his debut in a Pats uniform. He was able to intercept a pass off the Saints, one of two picks for New England. He also made 2 tackles. Will Allen also had 2 tackles for the Patriots.
Chandler Jones, the Pats first-round pick, made his NFL debut. He played well and was able to make 2 tackles in his first bit of action.
Former Orange standout Doug Hogue will make his preseason debut at linebacker for the Detroit Lions tonight as they face off against the Cleveland Browns.