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Staff

Over the next few days, the folks over at Otto’sArmy.com are going to take a closer look and break down what we thought stood out as Syracuse marched their way through the season and onto a Pinstripe Bowl Victory. 

First up is the offense, who finished the year ranked 91^st overall in the FBS rankings in passing (182.7/game), 76^th in rushing (140.2/game) and 93^rd in points for (22.2/game).  It’s been an up-and-down offensive year, but who was the 2010 offensive MVP?

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Steve Schaefer, Otto’s Army

Ryan Nassib merits consideration, particularly after a very strong Pinstripe bowl, and Marcus Sales finished with a flourish after being benched for the first half of the season, but Delone Carter was the offensive MVP. DC3 churned out more than 1200 yards (nearly 95 a game) behind a suspect offensive line that frequently forced him to break tackles in the backfield. They weren’t the prettiest carries, but without them Syracuse doesn’t even get to a bowl game.

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Dave Cooperman, Otto’s Army

It clearly wasn’t a banner year for the Syracuse offense and I think history will remember this as a team that won in spite of that unit and because of their defense.  The lone exception of course being the Pinstripe Bowl where the Cuse offense went absolutely crazy.

The MVP of the offense in my view was a 3 horse race between Ryan Nassib, Delone Carter and Antwon Bailey but I will say that if Marcus Sales was not in exile he would have been the MVP in a runaway.   Sales got actual playing time in 5 games and was the leading receiver at his position in each.   His performance in the Pinstripe bowl was outstanding.

I ultimately had to choose Delone Carter who got stronger as the year went on and punctuated his career at Syracuse with a near 200 yard rushing performance at Yankee Stadium.  Bailey was the more dynamic player but averaged 20 yards less per game and while Nassib finished strong he was mediocre far too often.  Nassib threw 19 touchdown passes and 5 came against Maine, which hurts his overall totals.

Carter came in as Mr. Ohio and with great hype and flash but his career will be remembered for his consistency and hard running style.  He isn’t an all timer or had an all time great season but he was always solid which is a perfectly acceptable bullet for anyone’s resume.

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Euclid 419er, Otto’s Army

I’ll go with the consensus and name Delone “Welcome Back” Carter as my 2010 Syracuse Football Offensive MVP.  Frankly, it’s not even close with Ryan Nassib earning the only other mention in the conversation.  When the offense worked, it worked because of DC3′s success, either getting in the end zone or keeping drives alive.  I believe the season offensively can be summed up in the brief but poignant remarks of Delone Carter’s father, Robert, made in Parking Lot 14 at Akron University prior to the first game of the season.  “We gonna be runnin’ the ball.”

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Tom Sullivan, Otto’s Army

Delone Carter, for reasons stated here.

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Tim Schlittner, Otto’s Army

The offensive MVP is clearly Delone Carter. He ran hard, averaged over 5 yards a carry, and punished opponents in the second half of games. With his brilliant performance in the Pinstripe Bowl, he passed legend Larry Csonka for third place on Syracuse’s all-time rushing list. Add to that his tumultuous offseason and Carter should be commended for a great senior year and Syracuse career.