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Just when I thought I'd gotten over how excruciating this Pittsburgh game was the first time around, I watch it again and get angry all over again. There were some positive developments (we'll get there), but for the most part, everything was wiped away by a few questionable decisions later on in the game. We're all quick to point fingers at George McDonald (rightfully so), but it's also a team effort. According to the game announcers, McDonald and Terrel Hunt meet every Thursday to decide the first 12 plays. So successful starts, just as well as negative ones, should fall on the coach, the quarterback and the rest of the team, too, in terms of execution.
There's little point to comparing this game to the previous one against Florida State, but if that's something you'd like to do, here's a link.
First Quarter
| DRIVE 1 | ||||||
| Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result |
| 13:19 | 1st and 10 | SYR 33 | Run | Smith | Dive | 1 Yard Gain |
| 12:48 | 2nd and 9 | SYR 34 | Run | Morris | Off-Tackle L | 22 Yard Gain |
| 12:31 | 1st and 10 | PITT 44 | Run | Hunt | Dive | 8 Yard Gain |
| 12:14 | 2nd and 2 | PITT 36 | Run | Smith | Dive | 36 Yard Gain; TD |
| DRIVE 2 | ||||||
| Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result |
| 10:38 | 1st and 10 | SYR 20 | Run | McFarlane | End L | 5 Yard Gain |
| 10:08 | 2nd and 5 | SYR 25 | Run | McFarlane | Counter R | 1 Yard Gain |
| 9:41 | 3rd and 4 | SYR 26 | Pass | Wales | Middle R | 11 Yard Gain |
| 9:21 | 1st and 10 | SYR 37 | Pass | Broyld | Screen L | 2 Yard Loss |
| 8:44 | 2nd and 12 | SYR 35 | Run | Smith | End L | 2 Yard Gain |
| 8:21 | 3rd and 10 | SYR 37 | Pocket Breakdown; Run | Hunt | Dive | 3 Yard Gain |
Play-Call Breakdown: 7 runs, 3 passes
Due to a quick initial touchdown drive and Pitt's miserable, plodding offense, Syracuse only runs 10 plays in the first quarter. Things were going swimmingly running the ball until Sean Hickey was injured, and then that's when Aaron Donald happened. Without Hickey there, Donald got through the line almost immediately, shutting down our very effective interior run game. You know where this is eventually headed...
***
Second Quarter
| DRIVE 3 | ||||||
| Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result |
| 13:18 | 1st and 10 | SYR 15 | Run | Smith | Off-Tackle L | 1 Yard Gain |
| 12:47 | 2nd and 9 | SYR 16 | Pass | Hunt | Short R | Incomplete |
| 12:42 | 3rd and 9 | SYR 16 | Pass | Hunt | Middle L | Incomplete |
| DRIVE 4 | ||||||
| Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result |
| 10:13 | 1st and 10 | SYR 6 | Run | Smith | Dive | 4 Yard Gain |
| 9:53 | 2nd and 6 | SYR 10 | Run | Smith | Dive | 2 Yard Gain |
| 9:23 | 3rd and 4 | SYR 12 | Pass | Clark | Short R | 6 Yard Gain |
| 9:11 | 1st and 10 | SYR 18 | Pass | Broyld | Screen L | 11 Yard Gain |
| 8:57 | 1st and 10 | SYR 29 | Run | Hunt | Dive | 4 Yard Gain |
| 8:30 | 2nd and 6 | SYR 34 | Run | Morris | Off-Tackle L | 5 Yard Gain |
| 7:58 | 3rd and 1 | SYR 39 | Pass | Hunt | Short M | Incomplete |
| DRIVE 5 | ||||||
| Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result |
| 3:00 | 1st and 10 | SYR 14 | Run | McFarlane | Dive | 2 Yard Gain |
| 2:27 | 2nd and 8 | SYR 16 | Pass | Clark | Screen R | 19 Yard Gain |
| 2:17 | 2nd and 8 | SYR 35 | PENALTY (Holding) | Cornelius | N/A | 10 Yard Loss |
| 2:03 | 1st and 10 | SYR 25 | Pocket Breakdown; Run | Hunt | End R | 11 Yard Gain |
| 1:56 | 1st and 10 | SYR 36 | Run | Smith | End R | 5 Yard Gain |
| 1:34 | 2nd and 5 | SYR 41 | Pass | Broyld | Screen L | 3 Yard Loss |
| 0:54 | 3rd and 8 | SYR 38 | Pocket Breakdown; Run | Hunt | Dive | 0 Yard Gain |
| DRIVE 6 | ||||||
| Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result |
| 0:35 | 1st and 10 | PITT 24 | Pass | Hunt | Deep L | Incomplete |
| 0:29 | 2nd and 10 | PITT 24 | Run | Hunt | End L | 0 Yard Gain |
| 0:21 | 3rd and 10 | PITT 24 | Pass | Hunt | Deep L | Incomplete |
| 0:14 | 4th and 10 | PITT 24 | Field Goal | Norton | N/A | FG is Good |
Play-Call Breakdown: 11 passes, 8 runs
The play-calling switch is apparent here in the second quarter, and while I'd love to complain about the pass-to-run ratio (still not ideal), it's understandable given the circumstances. What makes less sense is the vendetta every ACC referee seems to have against the Orange when it comes to pass interference. It's not captured in the grid above, but we saw the first of many Hunt throws that would have been delivered accurately if not for some illegal -- yet uncalled -- contact.
***
Third Quarter
| DRIVE 7 | ||||||
| Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result |
| 14:47 | 1st and 10 | SYR 30 | Run | Smith | End L | 3 Yard Loss |
| 14:27 | 2nd and 13 | SYR 27 | Pass | Cornelius | Middle L | 11 Yard Gain |
| 13:50 | 3rd and 2 | SYR 38 | Run | Smith | Dive | 3 Yard Gain |
| 13:24 | 1st and 10 | SYR 41 | Run | Morris | Dive | 0 Yard Gain |
| 12:58 | 2nd and 10 | SYR 41 | Run | Morris | Off-Tackle L | 0 Yard Gain |
| 12:17 | 3rd and 10 | SYR 41 | Pass (Sack) | Hunt | N/A | 2 Yard Loss |
| DRIVE 8 | ||||||
| Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result |
| 8:32 | 1st and 10 | SYR 38 | Pass | Wales | Middle R | 10 Yard Gain |
| 8:12 | 1st and 10 | SYR 48 | Run | Smith | Dive | 15 Yard Gain |
| 7:48 | 1st and 10 | PITT 37 | Run (Fumbled Snap) | Hunt | N/A | 11 Yard Loss |
| 7:11 | 2nd and 21 | PITT 48 | Run | McFarlane | Off-Tackle R | 6 Yard Gain |
| 6:32 | 3rd and 15 | PITT 42 | Pass | Cornelius | Deep R | 42 Yard Gain; TD |
| DRIVE 9 | ||||||
| Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result |
| 4:52 | 1st and 10 | SYR 32 | Pass | Cleveland | Short R | 2 Yard Gain |
| 4:24 | 2nd and 8 | SYR 34 | Run | Smith | Counter L | 1 Yard Loss |
| 3:41 | 3rd and 9 | SYR 33 | Pass | Broyld | Screen R | 4 Yard Gain |
Play-Call Breakdown: 8 runs, 6 passes
This is where some of questionable play-calling starts to creep in, as well as what might have been the best pass we've seen Hunt throw as a collegiate player. Immediately identifying the man coverage on Cornelius on the 42-yard score was a sign of real maturity for our quarterback, and a sign that maybe he can develop into a true passer over time. Unfortunately, the running game looked to be in shambles by this point, though. We were running Smith outside and Morris and McFarlane inside, while also stalling out near mid-field again -- especially on drive 7.
***
Fourth Quarter
| DRIVE 10 | ||||||
| Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result |
| 14:53 | 1st and 10 | SYR 7 | Run | Morris | Off-Tackle L | 6 Yard Gain |
| 14:24 | 2nd and 4 | SYR 13 | Run | Smith | End R | 12 Yard Gain |
| 14:06 | 1st and 10 | SYR 25 | Pass | Clark | Screen L | 5 Yard Gain |
| 13:34 | 2nd and 5 | SYR 30 | PENALTY (False Start) | Parris | N/A | 5 Yard Loss |
| 13:19 | 2nd and 10 | SYR 25 | Run | Smith | Dive | 5 Yard Gain |
| 12:36 | 3rd and 5 | SYR 30 | Pass | Hunt | Middle R | Incomplete |
| DRIVE 11 | ||||||
| Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result |
| 12:18 | 1st and 10 | SYR 49 | Flea Flicker; Pass | Hunt | Deep M | Incomplete |
| 12:12 | 2nd and 10 | SYR 49 | Run | McFarlane | Dive | 6 Yard Gain |
| 11:45 | 3rd and 4 | PITT 45 | Run | Smith | Counter L | 4 Yard Gain |
| 11:16 | 1st and 10 | PITT 41 | Run | McFarlane | Dive | 2 Yard Loss |
| 10:37 | 2nd and 12 | PITT 43 | PENALTY (Illegal Hands) | Donald | N/A | 15 Yard Gain |
| 10:29 | 1st and 10 | PITT 28 | Pass | McFarlane | Short M | 0 Yard Gain |
| 9:50 | 2nd and 10 | PITT 28 | Run | Smith | End R | 1 Yard Loss |
| 9:30 | 3rd and 11 | PITT 29 | Pass | Broyld | Screen L | 5 Yard Gain |
| 8:44 | 4th and 6 | PITT 24 | Field Goal | Norton | N/A | FG is No Good |
| DRIVE 12 | ||||||
| Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result |
| 7:04 | 1st and 10 | SYR 38 | Run | Smith | End R | 1 Yard Gain |
| 6:28 | 2nd and 9 | SYR 39 | Pass | Wales | Middle R | 12 Yard Gain |
| 6:07 | 1st and 10 | PITT 49 | Option; Run | Broyld | End L | 1 Yard Loss |
| 5:33 | 2nd and 11 | 50 Yard Line | Run | Morris | Dive | 0 Yard Gain |
| 4:50 | 3rd and 11 | 50 Yard Line | Pass | Hunt | Sideline R | Incomplete |
| DRIVE 13 | ||||||
| Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result |
| 2:36 | 1st and 10 | SYR 44 | Run | Morris | End L | 3 Yard Loss |
| 2:10 | 2nd and 13 | SYR 41 | PENALTY (Sub. Infrac.) | N/A | N/A | 5 Yard Gain |
| 2:03 | 2nd and 8 | SYR 46 | PENALTY (Holding) | Trudo | N/A | 10 Yard Loss |
| 1:38 | 2nd and 18 | SYR 36 | Pass | Broyld | Screen R | 10 Yard Gain |
| 1:32 | 3rd and 8 | SYR 46 | Pass | Clark | Middle R | 16 Yard Gain |
| 1:17 | 1st and 10 | PITT 38 | Run | Smith | End R | 2 Yard Gain |
| 1:12 | 2nd and 8 | PITT 36 | Pass | McFarlane | Screen R | 0 Yard Gain |
| 1:08 | 3rd and 8 | PITT 36 | Pass | Hunt | Short R | Incomplete |
| 1:03 | 4th and 8 | PITT 36 | Pass | Hunt | Middle R | Incomplete |
Play-Call Breakdown: 12 runs, 12 passes
A couple things: Trudo's holding call was a killer. Clark was interfered with multiple times on the drive, and once again, nothing was called. If the running around the end wasn't aggravating enough, you look directly above us and remember what those final few plays looked like in all their horrifying ineptitude. Paul Chryst timeout and Charley Loeb's ill-advised decision to follow through with the fake aside, calling screens and end runs late in the fourth with zero timeouts makes no sense. The last play of the game -- a three-yard slant on 4th and 8 -- sends me into fits of rage.
***
Some trends/numbers to note:
- Overall play-calling breakdown: 35 runs v. 32 passes
- First half play-calling: 15 runs, 14 passes (16 first-half runs last week)
- First downs: 14 total (8 passing, 5 rushing, 1 penalty)
- First down play selection: 18 called runs, 9 called passes (22:8 last week)
- First down play selection on subsequent sets of downs: 9 called runs, 5 called passes (13:4 last week)
- Second down play selection: 15 called runs, 7 called passes
- Third down play selection: 15 called passes, 2 called runs (really?!)
- Third down conversion: 5-for-17 (3 passes, 2 runs)
- Five Syracuse drives began past its own 35, yet they came away with zero points on three of those
- Just two three-and-outs for the Orange
- SU had at least one play go for a loss on eight different drives (six in the second half)
We've bounced around a bunch of thoughts up above, but we'll focus on a few (some related, some not) down here. Syracuse only converts on 34.83 percent of third downs, which puts them at 100th in the country. Also, as I mentioned in the comments following the game, the Orange are the eighth-most penalized team in the country, with 7.7 per game. So yes, Scott Shafer, these do matter. Speaking of penalties, I'd list out every pass interference call that we haven't gotten over the past five games or so, but I value my sanity.
Just to hammer home just how horrendous the play-calling was on that final drive: Six consecutive plays run to the short side of the field (and a fake that also would've gone the same way had it counted). With no timeouts and 1:17 left, McDonald dialed up an end run with our best interior back from the Pitt 38. After that failed play, we then threw a two-yard screen pass. Regaining possession with 2:36 remaining, SU ran just one offensive play in their first minute with the ball. Oh, and holy shit, why are you calling for/looking for/even considering a three-yard slant on 4th and 8?
Because this is always "fun," the yardage breakdown for interior v. end runs this game: Syracuse ran the ball (includes Hunt scrambles) to the interior part of the line 24 times for 127 yards (5.3 yards per carry). On the flip side, they ran it to the outside 12 times for 30 yards (2.5 yards per carry). Most maddening part of this is that the final five runs around the end (all in the fourth quarter) yielded minus-2 yards. WHY ARE WE DOING THIS SO MUCH/AT ALL? You'd think McDonald was paid to call plays or something.
Anything else jump out at you? Feel free to dive in and bring up any other trends I didn't call out above. The comment section and this data is your oyster...