Last year, Syracuse offensive tackle Adam Terry watched the line open holes for running back James Mungro. This year, however, Terry looks to fill the holes vacated by graduating seniors Joe Burton, P.J. Alexander, Giovanni DeLoatch and Sean O’Connor.

Center Nick Romeo is the only returning starter on a line that will feature at least two players who didn’t travel with the team last season.

Rather than work on the subtleties, as in past seasons, offensive line coach George DeLeone finds himself teaching the offensive line footwork, technique and positioning.

‘We’re on basic arithmetic right now,’ DeLeone said. ‘By the time we leave spring I want to be on ninth-grade algebra. Then by the fall, we can work on calculus.’

Last year, Syracuse’s offensive line helped it finish fifth in the Big East in total offense despite the fact that quarterback R.J. Anderson completed only half his passes. Anderson’s inability to connect with receivers over the first half of the year forced the Orangemen to deal with defenses ready for the run.

Even the new offensive linemen know their progression is key to the offense’s success next year.

‘I don’t think it’s possible to learn at the snap of a finger,’ Terry said. ‘I don’t think many things are. But seeing the ball and James cutting through the hole and the guys opening the hole, we know.’

If nothing else, Terry learned from a few good ones. According to O’Connor’s agent Bob Egidely, SU lost two probable NFL draft picks in O’Connor and Alexander.

To see the depletion of the offensive line, coaches need only look at the spring depth chart. At guard alongside Romeo stands senior Erik Kaloyanides, whose only start thus far came in the 2000 season opener against Buffalo, and Matt Tarullo, a sophomore who played on special teams in five games last season.

Currently penciled in at the tackle positions are Terry, who played on special teams in four games last season and Kevin Sampson, who alternated at right tackle with DeLoatch. Further down the depth chart, walk-on Brent Caldwell shares a position on the second unit with redshirt freshman Jared Pierce.

The Orangemen insist they’ve rebuilt like this before. Terry pointed to last year’s line as a group that adjusted quickly.

‘We’re in the position they were three years ago,’ Terry said. ‘They had to do the same thing.”

That year Burton and O’Connor claimed starting jobs for the first time.

There are some key differences though. Although Burton, Alexander and O’Connor entered that season with just six spot starts among them, all three had traveled with the team.

So this year’s line can’t be as good as last year’s, which featured two All-Big East selections, can it?

‘I’m not going to say that,’ DeLeone said. ‘I want to see where we are at the end of the fall and then analyze that.’

Despite his upbeat attitude, working with such a young cast has been frustrating for DeLeone. After three consecutive mistakes during a rushing drill, DeLeone furiously stomped up and down the field, berating the young group.

‘What the hell is wrong with this line?’ he shouted. ‘You’re competing for a damn job. Let’s go.’

‘I didn’t play well,’ Terry said. ‘Everyone gets yelled at. He’s just trying to make us better. We’re coming along, we’re not there yet.’

The defensive line reminds Terry every day. Through the first two weeks, the defensive line has continually gotten the better of the offensive line during one-on-one drills.

During one such exercise, each offensive lineman attempts to protect a 6-foot high orange pylon representing a quarterback while a defensive lineman rushes toward him. Friday, defensive tackle Christian Ferrara bull charged his way over one lineman, fellow defensive tackle Louis Gachelin powered his way over another and defensive end Josh Thomas sprinted around a third.

Defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro said the drill is better suited to the skills of the defense. It showed, as the offensive line completely protected the pylon less than one in 10 times.

‘We look forward to those drills,’ Thomas said. ‘The three of us are real close and competitive. We know we should dominate them.’

‘My standards are simple,’ DeLeone said. ‘Being young is not a license for making mistakes. BYU isn’t going to say, ‘Oh they’re young, let’s take it easy on them,’ so I’m not going to either.’

Published on April 17, 2002 at 12:00 pm