PITTSBURGH – Syracuse arrived at Heinz Field Saturday as a depleted team, reeling from star wide receiver Mike Williams’ decision to quit the program. His absence, coupled with the subsequent suspensions of three other regular contributors, highlighted the most trying week of Doug Marrone’s first year at the helm.

The Orange left Pittsburgh not only defeated, sufferers of an embarrassing 37-10 defeat to the No. 14 Panthers, but also broken – a shell of a football team standing on its last legs.

With the loss, SU (3-6, 0-4 Big East) needs to win each of its last three games to remain eligible for the postseason.

During the course of the contest, Syracuse lost two more starters to injuries, relied on a makeshift lineup on both sides of the ball and could not recover from its glaring lack of depth. SU traveled with just 55 scholarship players, putting it in an inescapable hole against one of the top opponents in the nation.

‘We had some injuries occur,’ Marrone said. ‘…Those injuries forced us to come out of some of our packages, which limited us somewhat on offense and defense.’

Without Williams, the offense could not move the ball downfield and demonstrated no semblance of a vertical passing game.

The quarterback duo of Greg Paulus and Ryan Nassib looked listless without its greatest playmaker, and no other receiver established himself as a legitimate threat.

Marcus Sales, the new No. 1 wideout, compiled a team-high four receptions and 36 yards. The offense took another key hit when tight end Cody Catalina injured his knee in the second quarter and did not return. Marrone said he did not know his status.

Once again, SU kept the score close for most of the first half, only to relinquish its momentum after a costly turnover. With Pitt leading by three points near the end of the second quarter, Paulus threw an interception to Greg Williams that was returned 51 yards for a backbreaking touchdown. The pass was deflected near the line of scrimmage and fluttered into Williams’ hands for the easy pick.

The play sucked the life from the Orange and exploited its offensive deficiencies. From that point on, SU showcased its inability to make big plays, and the Panthers took advantage.

‘We were moving the ball pretty well there,’ Paulus said. ‘It was 6-3 at that point, and if we had put some points on the board, even if we didn’t and they didn’t get anything – 6-3 going into the half is a lot better than 13-to-3.’

Both Paulus and Nassib struggled Saturday, though neither admitted that the loss of Williams affected their play. Paulus finished 12-of-18 for 120 yards and two picks, while Nassib perhaps played his worst game of the season, going 5-of-16 for 21 yards with an interception.

Though running back Delone Carter finished with 143 yards on 17 carries, his performance could not cover up the weaknesses pervading the rest of the offense.

‘We just have to turn to each other and make plays as a group,’ Sales said. ‘We can’t just depend on one wide receiver.’Meanwhile, the defense entered the game decimated by unavailable personnel. Cornerback Kevyn Scott and safety Randy McKinnon both did not make the trip, afflicted with an injury and illness, respectively.

Safety Max Suter hurt his arm in the second quarter and missed the second half. Fellow safety Mike Holmes missed most of the third quarter with an injury, forcing SU to use true freshmen Phillip Thomas and Shamarko Thomas in its secondary. Marrone had no update on Suter’s condition afterward, while Holmes ultimately returned.

Following the pick-six, Pittsburgh (8-1, 5-0) dominated, tallying two touchdowns against Orange’s inexperienced defense and effectively ending the game. Standout freshman Dion Lewis compiled 110 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown. Dorin Dickerson led the receivers, making seven catches for 118 yards.

‘Like anyone else, we’re prepared in our packages for usually injuries per package,’ Marrone said. ‘You can look at each backup and say, ‘If he gets hurt, we have someone else to go to.’ But if it’s the third injury in that package with the amount of depth that we have, that puts us in a little bit of trouble.’

In his postgame press conference, Marrone tried to remain positive about his team’s direction, confident the players can come together and still reach a bowl. As he spoke, the backdrop behind the podium, adorned with Syracuse logos, suddenly dismantled and crumpled in a ball on the ground.

A sign, perhaps, that this season is dangerously close to falling apart.

‘Obviously, we don’t have a lot of depth on our football team,’ Marrone said. ‘But again, that’s a problem we have now, and I don’t see this as a problem at all for the future of this program.’

jediamon@syr.edu

Published on November 6, 2009 at 12:00 pm