The last question of Greg Robinson’s press conference Tuesday provided his most noteworthy response of the day:

‘Curtis is going to start.’

The Syracuse head coach determined freshman Delone Carter’s breakout 129-yard, four-touchdown performance against Wyoming on Saturday was not enough to overtake Curtis Brinkley as the starting running back despite the sophomore’s two fumbles versus the Cowboys.

Playing time for the two backs for the course of Saturday’s entire game against Pittsburgh (4-1, 1-0 Big East) at noon in the Carrier Dome remains unclear. Robinson indicated in his Sunday press conference he may play the hot hand late in games like he did against Wyoming.

‘That’s possible,’ Robinson said.

Brinkley leads Syracuse (3-2) with 326 yards on 67 carries for a 4.9 per carry average. Carter isn’t far behind with 274 yards on 60 rushes, a 4.6 clip.

Moss questionable

Robinson said there is a possibility wide receiver Rice Moss will play against Pittsburgh a week after leaving with a separated shoulder against Wyoming.

‘There’s a chance,’ Robinson said Sunday.

Moss suffered the injury in the first quarter after extending his streak of catching at least one pass to 17 games with a nine-yard reception.

Robinson has been tight-lipped regarding injuries ever since Iowa kept Drew Tate’s injury a secret for the entire week leading up to Syracuse’s 20-13 loss in the second game of the season. The head coach did not address the topic again Tuesday.

‘The next couple days will be good indicators,’ Robinson said Sunday. ‘It could have been worse, that’s what I’ll tell you. I like to think optimistically, but who knows, we really don’t know.’

Moss has seven receptions for 76 yards thus far this season. His injury came a week after the Orange lost its top playmaker in its first three games, Taj Smith, for likely the remainder of season with a broken collarbone.

‘I think this week, being the second week without Taj, I think we’re a little bit further along in that regard,’ Robinson said. ‘I think that (there’s) not the finality of (losing) him (as there was) last week. We had to get some guys up, but now we’re kind of in that mode.’

Sack city

Ryan LaCasse and James Wyche who?

Robinson’s defense may have given up 512 yards to Wyoming, but it continues to lead the nation in sacks, now with 25. Syracuse registered six more against the Cowboys after posting eight vs. Miami a week earlier.

A number of different players have contributed all season – not just linemen.

End Jameel McClain is among the nation’s individual leaders with seven quarterback takedowns. Linebacker Kelvin Smith and tackle Tony Jenkins each have 2.5 sacks. Other linebackers and some defensive backs have also recorded sacks this season.

‘I’ve been pleased with the pressure we’ve put on quarterbacks,’ Robinson said. ‘But we still have work to do in those areas and it’d be a good week to have a good game in that area.’

Pitt stop

A year after opening the season with a conference game against West Virginia (a 15-7 loss), Robinson said he preferred not playing a Big East game until the sixth contest of the year.

‘We’ve had five games of preparation and I think that’s a plus,’ Robinson said. ‘I’m glad that we haven’t played one yet because we’ve had bumps in the road and we’ve had to address some things and we’ve had to grow as a football team and I expect us to continue to grow. I think we’re more prepared to play a Big East game than five weeks ago.’

Published on October 3, 2006 at 12:00 pm