FORT DRUM, N.Y. — One of Scott Shafer’s many catchphrases is “next man up,” but a number of absences at the H-back position forced Syracuse to improvise in finding that man on Tuesday.

Junior Ashton Broyld, a former H-back, currently a receiver, spent time at his old position and Troy Green, a quarterback at the end of last year, got some reps as well.

“We saw Troy get some shots today,” Shafer said in a post-practice press conference, “and Ashton actually had a really good day, made some great catches and moved down the field. Didn’t hurt that the grass was a little slippery so his defensive guys looked like they were on a rodeo horse or something.”

The preseason depth chart at H-back reads: Brisly Estime, Sean Avant, Corey Winfield, Corey Cooper and Franklin Santos.

Estime is still nursing his sprained ankle. Avant and Cooper were sidelined from Tuesday’s practice at Fort Drum with upper-body injuries. Winfield just moved to cornerback and Santos left the team last week.

Shafer said the team will take it day-by-day with Avant and Cooper, and he hopes to get them back in two or three days.

Even with the options on the depth chart all used up, the head coach still stressed the meaning behind his saying.

“The next guy up on the depth chart goes in and he runs those same plays,” Shafer said. “Maybe not as fast, maybe not as sharp, but he busts his ass to do the same job that the two or three guys in front of him did. It’s a simple formula. Guy goes down, next man up.”

Published on August 12, 2014 at 7:47 pm

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