Each time R.J. Anderson walks through the halls of the Syracuse football wing, he fears it. He saw it happen to Troy Nunes, his roommate last year. He sees pictures of Orangemen past – a lineage of bowl trophies and 44s – and doesn’t want his team cast aside.

He can walk down the hall comfortably now. He already earned the 2003 Orangemen a spot on the wall and a perfect title to go under the team picture:

The Team That Saved Syracuse Football.

After a 4-8 debacle, this year’s Orangemen have stormed to a 4-2 start, serving notice that last year was a blip, not the start of SU’s downfall.

But because that’s happened, it’s time to ignore it. Syracuse finds itself in the thick of the Big East standings, and as cornerback Anthony Smith opined this week, ‘If you keep thinking about the past, you’re really not looking forward.’

With that in mind, here’s a position-by-position, midseason report card for SU, including what needs to happen in the second half to keep the Orangemen on the upswing.

Quarterback

Though his standing among Syracuse’s fickle fans has been more up and down than a pogo stick, Anderson’s play has been as consistent as it gets.

Sure, he’s thrown for fewer than 150 yards in three games. But Anderson still hasn’t thrown an interception, maybe the most remarkable stat in the nation. After watching Anderson hand out turnovers like a bakery last season, who could have guessed he’d be the only starting quarterback in college football yet to throw a pick after six games?

Grade: B+

What’s next: It would be impossible to expect Anderson to keep his streak of 171 passes without an interception alive for the whole season, but he needs to continue playing with the guile he’s shown all year. And if he wants those fans to ease up, he should probably stop saying things like, ‘It’s no secret. I hate everybody.’

Running back

Before the season, they were a package deal. Reyes and Rhodes, a surefire 1-2 punch. Well, at the halfway point, Walter Reyes and Damien Rhodes couldn’t have more diametric seasons.

Though no fault of his own, Rhodes has been the biggest disappointment of SU’s season. Plagued by two separate left ankle injuries, Rhodes has missed two games – he’ll sit tomorrow, too – and has rushed for just 123 yards.

Luckily for SU, Reyes has made Rhodes’s absence a positive. He became a legitimate star by taking carries once reserved for his cohort and turning himself into the nation’s leading rusher for two weeks.

Grade A-

What’s next: The success of SU’s backfield lies on a swift Rhodes return. It hasn’t shown yet, but if Reyes consistently receives 20-30 carries a game, his production will start to slip. The answer? Redshirt freshman Tim Washington. He’s been a non-factor so far. But if Rhodes can’t rejoin Reyes as a headlining back, it’s time to give Washington a shot, at least to preserve Reyes.

Wide receivers

Johnnie Morant has led the unit, which has achieved quite a paradox: It’s taken mediocrity to the extreme. Jared Jones and Andre Fontenette are nice possession receivers, but probably a year away from being impact players. Each should have a lesser role, which would have been the case had Jamel Riddle not been declared academically ineligible.

Still, Morant finally scraping his otherworldly potential has made the unit a serviceable success.

Grade: B-

What’s next: After missing early season games with a case of homesickness, Rashard ‘Shorty’ Williams has already proved reliable and explosive. He’ll stop opposing secondaries from double-teaming Morant.

Offensive line

The Boys of Summer – a moniker the unit gave themselves after staying in Syracuse to lift together this off-season – have been the most important facet of SU’s resurgence. Led by center Nick Romeo, SU’s offensive line has quietly become one of the most dependable in the Big East.

At 54, offensive coordinator and O-line coach George DeLeone might still be SU’s most intense coach. It’s shown so far.

Grade: A

What’s next: No offensive line can get through an entire season without injury. When injury does strike, Syracuse will be covered. Steve Franklin and Jason Greene have already formed a platoon, and sophomore Quinn Ojinnaka can play both guard and tackle.

Defensive line

While the offensive line frequented Hooters and Ruby Tuesday’s this summer, the defensive line might have hung around the local Jenny Craig clinic. The objective this off-season was to lose weight in order to increase speed and, therefore, pressure on the quarterback.

So far it hasn’t worked. Syracuse has eight sacks, and just half of those have been made by SU’s defensive line. Still, the foursome of Louis Gachelin, Josh Thomas, Christian Ferrara and James Wyche has been typically stout against the run.

Grade: B

Syracuse’s sack numbers need to increase, and the D-line’s recent play indicates that may happen. All four of its sacks have come in the last two games, and Gachelin has been nearly unblockable lately.

Linebackers

Had you told anybody before the season that SU’s linebacking corps would keep its head above water without Jameel Dumas, Syracuse’s leading returning tackler, the person wouldn’t have believed you. Anybody, that is, besides Rich Scanlon.

Scanlon, a captain and middle linebacker, knew he could trust untested outside linebackers Kelvin Smith and Kellen Pruitt after playing with them in the spring. At times – like against Virginia Tech – the young duo has been overmatched. But Smith has emerged as one of SU’s hardest hitters and Pruitt can use his speed from the outside.

Grade: B

What’s next: With Dumas’s return from an injured left knee looming, Syracuse will soon have a solid three-way rotation on the outside. That will be a perfect compliment to Scanlon, who’s steadier than a Timex.

Secondary

Todd Littlejohn, who signed on as cornerbacks coach this off-season, has orchestrated a much-needed overhaul of SU’s secondary, which ranked dead last in the nation last year, giving up 304 yards passing per game. Diamond Ferri and Anthony Smith have solidified the safety position with punishing run support and an ever-improving grasp of coverage.

But, just because you touch up a finger painting doesn’t mean it’s ready to be hung in a museum. Syracuse ranks No. 91 in pass defense, yielding 250 yards per game.

Grade: C+

What’s next: The Orangemen secondary could turn into a strength very soon. Ferri looks more impressive every week. Opposite Steve Gregory, SU’s best corner, the quartet of Troy Swittenburg, Terrell Lemon, Thomas Whitfield and freshman Tanard Jackson has struggled to find an identity and needs to do so.

Special teams

Save a disaster against Virginia Tech – when his punts had the hang time of a shot put – punter Brendan Carney has been SU’s best freshman. The 6-foot-5, shaggy-haired rookie also handles kickoff duties and has been booting touchbacks almost exclusively.

Before injuring his right quadriceps in a fluke, Collin Barber went 7 of 9 on field goals and didn’t miss any of his 17 extra points.

Grade: B

What’s next: Syracuse better pray Barber heals. Freshman Ricky Krautman will be a good kicker someday but proved he isn’t ready yet against Boston College, when he missed an extra point and field goal. Carney has enough on his kicking plate already.

Intangibles

The most important aspect to SU’s turnaround? Leadership. Syracuse displayed the same demeanor this week as last. That’s a sign of a veteran, focused team, considering the two weeks came after SU’s worst and best showings, respectively.

Last year’s team showed up to practice, left and went their separate ways. Team dinners and outings among players of the same position have marked this season. The togetherness and trust have translated on Saturday afternoons.

Grade: A-

What’s next: Really, Syracuse has a three-game season left. Rutgers and Temple are easy wins, and it will snow in South Beach before Syracuse beats Miami in the Orange Bowl.

That leaves Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Notre Dame. If Syracuse plays like it did against BC, it should go 2-1 at worst in games against those teams.

Final grade-point average: 3.18

Adam Kilgore is the sports editor at The Daily Orange, where his columns appear regularly. E-mail him at adkilgor@syr.edu.

Published on October 23, 2003 at 12:00 pm