Terrel Hunt saw a wide-open Jarrod West jetting toward the end zone. Hunt darted to the right and lofted up a pass that West corralled for a 32-yard score.

“He just made a great play,” West said. “He extended the play and scrambled out of the pocket, and we just stayed alive for him and he hit me on a nice ball.”

That was one of Syracuse’s five touchdowns on the day in the team’s first open spring practice Tuesday. The Orange offense showed off its new fast-paced look in the Carrier Dome, consistently torching a banged-up defense.

Four of SU’s touchdowns came in the air and one was on the ground. Hunt and Co. got off plays efficiently and flaunted the big-play ability George McDonald wants to see regularly.

SU head coach Scott Shafer said the scrimmage started off with the defense dominating, recording a string of tackles for loss, but that quickly changed.

“I was like ‘Holy mackerel, we may not gain a yard,’ and then all of a sudden, ‘Bam,” Shafer said, clapping his hands for emphasis. “It took off.”

The Hunt-to-West connection was the first massive gain of the day. Then George Morris II burst through the middle for a 35-yard touchdown run, getting mobbed by his teammates once he crossed the plane.

On the very next play, Hunt found Brisly Estime on a bubble screen on the right side. Estime juked a few defenders and took it to the house, scoring from more than 50 yards out. McDonald said Estime has impressed this spring, and it’s clear he’ll have a more significant role this season after bursting onto the scene toward the end of last year.

Then incoming-freshman quarterback AJ Long found rising-sophomore Corey Winfield for a touchdown, and Mitch Kimble connected with Ben Lewis on the outside for a score.

“We had players in space make plays out there,” Shafer said. “I’d say today, especially the second part of the scrimmage, the offense made some plays out there.”

Adonis Ameen-Moore had a couple nice bounces to the outside for sizable gains. Overall, the offense was fluid and effective.

A speedy offense means many players will cycle in and out for the Orange, and West feels speeding things up will help Syracuse immensely.

“Going fast is a good thing,” West said. “It tires out the defense.”

Published on April 8, 2014 at 9:29 pm

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass