Despite Syracuse’s recent offensive struggles, its defense is still among the nation’s best statistically.

Among Division I-A teams, SU is tied for 12th in interceptions with 10, 15th in pass defense (171.5 yards per game), 17th in turnovers gained and 19th in third down conversion defense.

‘(The SU defense) has answered the bell a number of times when put to the challenge,’ SU head coach Greg Robinson said Tuesday. ‘That’s the sign of a good defense. They understand that that’s what their role is and that’s what their responsibility is. I think that they’ve done a good job.’

Senior safety Anthony Smith is tied for first nationally with 1.83 passes defended per game. Against Rutgers, he intercepted two passes.

Against the Scarlet Knights, the Orange allowed 306 yards of offense, its second lowest total of the season, but turned the ball over five times on offense, three times on its own side of the field.

‘I think sometimes statistics can be misleading,’ Robinson said. ‘There are certain statistics that I’m looking for and that’s turnovers, third down wins, scoring on defense, which we haven’t done yet, but we’ve been close to making that play.’

First-year Pittsburgh head coach Dave Wannstedt, whose Panthers host the Orange Saturday, is aware of SU’s defense. In his weekly press conference on Tuesday, he spoke about the Orange’s ability to create turnovers.

‘They’ve probably got as good a safety, No. 20 (Anthony Smith), as anybody that we’ve seen all year long,’ Wannstedt said. ‘This guy is a play maker, a big-time player. They’ve got two of the better defensive ends in the Big East.

‘I think our offensive coaches are preparing for an all-out blitz-a-thon. If I was a betting man, I’d think that they will come in here and bring heat to every play.’

No contact with Greene

Senior defensive end Ryan LaCasse said he has not spoken to offensive guard Jason Greene, who left the last week. Greene had still not met with Robinson as of Tuesday, but the team is willing to take him back.

LaCasse said it was strange not having Greene around, a man who is usually a team leader.

‘I know guys have called Jason, but I don’t know what’s come of that,’ LaCasse said. ‘There is team support for him to come back.

‘You would’ve never predicted this at the beginning of the season that he would leave with so few games left in the season but he must’ve had his reasons or his issues.’

Greene was replaced by Carroll Madison in the starting lineup and did not dress for Saturday’s game versus Rutgers.

Moving on

Syracuse players have mentioned a 24-hour rule several times this season. Win or lose, the team begins to think about its next game 24 hours after its previous one.

On Tuesday, LaCasse said that hasn’t been a problem despite SU’s crushing defeat at the hands of Rutgers. Syracuse is hoping to win the remainder of its games.

‘I think the morale is fine,’ he said. ‘I think guys are bouncing back.’

Published on October 19, 2005 at 12:00 pm