Syracuse Football: Breaking Down Offensive Play-Calling vs. Boston College

Everything was on the line in this one -- bowl eligibility, the BC rivalry (whether you want to buy in or not), proving the critics wrong... it would make sense that this Syracuse team could've collapsed under pressure. But it didn't, and instead pulled out this team's gutsiest performance of the season, and the Orange's most memorable late-game heroics since lat year's victory over Missouri (another game that clinched bowl eligibility). So much went right here, it's fun to recap it all, so let's get to it.

Also, in case you'd like to take a look at the Pitt game for comparison (maybe for the best you don't), feel free.

First Quarter

DRIVE 1
Time	Down	Ball	Run/Pass	Player	Direction	Result
15:00	1st and 10	SYR 25	Pass	Smith	Short R	5 Yard Gain
14:30	2nd and 5	SYR 30	Pass	Broyld	Screen L	2 Yard Gain
14:02	3rd and 3	SYR 32	Run	Hunt	Dive	16 Yard Gain
13:36	1st and 10	SYR 48	Pass	Parris	Short L	5 Yard Gain
13:15	2nd and 5	BC 47	Pass	Hunt	Mid-Range L	Incomplete
13:02	3rd and 5	BC 47	Pass	Hunt	Mid-Range M	Incomplete
12:56	4th and 5	BC 47	PENALTY (Delay)	Dixon	N/A	5 Yard Loss
DRIVE 2
Time	Down	Ball	Run/Pass	Player	Direction	Result
11:41	1st and 10	SYR 47	Run	Smith	Off-Tackle L	1 Yard Gain
11:10	2nd and 9	SYR 48	Pass	Cornelius	Deep R	31 Yard Gain
10:51	1st and 10	BC 21	Run	Smith	Counter R	9 Yard Gain
10:22	2nd and 1	BC 12	Run	Smith	Off-Tackle R	0 Yard Gain
9:44	3rd and 1	BC 12	Run	Smith	Dive	1 Yard Gain
9:27	1st and 10	BC 11	Pass (sack)	Hunt	N/A	2 Yard Loss
8:49	2nd and 12	BC 13	Pass	Hunt	Deep R	Incomplete
8:44	3rd and 12	BC 13	Pass	Hunt	Deep R	Incomplete
8:39	4th and 12	BC 13	Field Goal	Norton	N/A	FG is No Good
DRIVE 3
Time	Down	Ball	Run/Pass	Player	Direction	Result
7:28	1st and 10	SYR 45	Run	McFarlane	Off-Tackle R	2 Yard Gain
6:58	2nd and 8	SYR 47	Pass	Estime	Deep M	32 Yard Gain
6:38	1st and 10	BC 21	Pass	Broyld	Screen L	7 Yard Gain
6:05	2nd and 3	BC 14	Run	Smith	Dive	6 Yard Gain
5:32	1st and Goal	BC 8	Pass	Estime	Screen R	3 Yard Gain
5:05	2nd and Goal	BC 5	Pass	Hunt	Mid-Range M	Incomplete
4:59	3rd and Goal	BC 5	Run	Hunt	Dive	3 Yard Gain
4:16	4th and Goal	BC 2	Run	Smith	Off-Tackle R	2 Yard Loss
DRIVE 4
Time	Down	Ball	Run/Pass	Player	Direction	Result
1:57	1st and 10	SYR 25	Pass	Broyld	Screen R	7 Yard Gain
1:39	2nd and 3	SYR 32	Run	Hunt	Off-Tackle R	12 Yard Gain
1:15	1st and 10	SYR 44	Pass	Hunt	Mid-Range M	Incomplete
1:11	2nd and 10	SYR 44	Run	Hunt	Dive	8 Yard Gain
0:36	3rd and 2	BC 48	Run	Hunt	Off-Tackle R	7 Yard Gain
0:22	1st and 10	BC 41	Run	Hunt	Off-Tackle L	6 Yard Gain

Play-Call Breakdown: 15 passes, 13 runs

The good: 28 PLAYS! Also, 18 of them were in BC territory, which is fantastic. The bad: 0 points. That's not entirely the offense's fault, either. At the time, the Eagles' defense was really hunkering down in the red zone, but when you're inside the opponent's 20-yard line twice in one quarter, you better come away with something (especially if you fail to turn the ball over, too). This quarter was completely controlled by Hunt, though, and that's a great thing both for his confidence this game and going into next season.

***

Second Quarter

Time	Down	Ball	Run/Pass	Player	Direction	Result
15:00	2nd and 4	BC 35	Pocket Breakdown; Run	Hunt	Dive	8 Yard Gain
14:32	1st and 10	BC 27	Pass	Parris	Short L	7 Yard Gain
14:00	2nd and 3	BC 20	Run	Smith	End L	2 Yard Gain
13:15	3rd and 1	BC 18	Run	Smith	Off-Tackle L	2 Yard Gain
12:52	1st and 10	BC 16	Pass	Hunt	Mid-Range M	Incomplete
12:47	2nd and 10	BC 16	Pocket Breakdown; Run	Hunt	Off-Tackle L	8 Yard Gain
12:04	3rd and 2	BC 8	Run	Smith	Off-Tackle L	2 Yard Gain
11:30	1st and Goal	BC 6	Run	Morris	Off-Tackle L	5 Yard Gain
10:54	2nd and Goal	BC 1	Pass	Parris	Short R	1 Yard Gain; TD
DRIVE 5
Time	Down	Ball	Run/Pass	Player	Direction	Result
9:35	1st and 10	50 Yard Line	Pass	Hunt	Short L	Incomplete
9:31	2nd and 10	50 Yard Line	Pass	Broyld	Mid-Range M	19 Yard Gain
9:14	1st and 10	BC 31	Run	Morris	Off-Tackle L	7 Yard Gain
8:44	2nd and 3	BC 24	Pass	Parris	Short M	2 Yard Gain
8:09	3rd and 1	BC 22	Run	Morris	Off-Tackle R	3 Yard Gain
7:50	1st and 10	BC 19	Run	Morris	Dive	6 Yard Gain
7:22	2nd and 4	BC 13	Run	Morris	Off-Tackle L	3 Yard Gain
6:36	3rd and 1	BC 10	Run	Smith	Off-Tackle L	1 Yard Gain
6:31	3rd and 1	BC 10	PENALTY (Personal Foul)	BC	N/A	5 Yard Gain
6:15	1st and Goal	BC 4	Run	Morris	Dive	4 Yard Gain; TD
DRIVE 6
Time	Down	Ball	Run/Pass	Player	Direction	Result
5:06	1st and 10	50 Yard Line	Pass	Kobena	Mid-Range M	17 Yard Gain
4:45	1st and 10	BC 33	Run	Morris	End R	1 Yard Loss
4:08	2nd and 11	BC 34	Run	Smith	Dive	1 Yard Gain
3:31	3rd and 10	BC 33	Pass	Eskridge	Deep R	19 Yard Gain
2:58	1st and 10	BC 14	Run	Smith	Off-Tackle L	0 Yard Gain
2:24	2nd and 10	BC 14	Pass	Broyld	Short M	6 Yard Gain
1:49	3rd and 4	BC 8	Run	Hunt	Dive	6 Yard Gain
1:36	1st and Goal	BC 2	Run	McFarlane	Dive	1 Yard Gain
1:16	2nd and Goal	BC 1	Run	Hunt	Dive	1 Yard Gain; TD
DRIVE 7
Time	Down	Ball	Run/Pass	Player	Direction	Result
0:34	1st and 10	SYR 18	Pass	Cornelius	Mid-Range L	8 Yard Gain
0:08	2nd and 2	SYR 26	Pass (Sack)	Hunt	N/A	10 Yard Loss

Play-Call Breakdown: 16 runs, 13 passes

We ran 29 (!!!) plays in this quarter, many of which were designed runs by Terrel Hunt, which the Eagles' defense just continually let happen. As we'll notice later, this will open up the passing game a whole lot, as BC tries to keep containment on Hunt scrambling. Unlike the first quarter, the drives into BC territory all result in touchdowns. Oh, and all but four plays were on the Eagles' side of the field -- all but two if you want to count the 50-yard line as their territory. The fact that this offense could do this without several notable playmakers (Jarrod West, Prince-Tyson Gulley, Beckett Wales) is enormous and once again, should get you very excited for next season.

***

Third Quarter

DRIVE 8
Time	Down	Ball	Run/Pass	Player	Direction	Result
9:56	1st and 10	SYR 25	Run	Smith	Off-Tackle L	16 Yard Gain
9:31	1st and 10	SYR 41	Run	Morris	End R	9 Yard Gain
9:06	2nd and 1	50 Yard Line	Pass	Cornelius	Screen R	1 Yard Gain
8:50	1st and 10	BC 49	Run	Hunt	Off-Tackle R	6 Yard Gain
8:25	2nd and 4	BC 43	Run	Smith	End L	4 Yard Loss
7:43	3rd and 8	BC 47	Run	McFarlane	End R	12 Yard Gain
7:27	1st and 10	BC 35	PENALTY (Illegal Sub.)	BC	N/A	5 Yard Gain
6:55	1st and 5	BC 30	PENALTY (False Start)	Lasker	N/A	5 Yard Loss
6:48	1st and 10	BC 35	Pass	Hunt	Screen L	Incomplete
6:42	2nd and 10	BC 35	Pass	Parris	Short L	9 Yard Gain
6:20	3rd and 1	BC 26	Run	Hunt	Off-Tackle L	2 Yard Gain
6:00	1st and 10	BC 24	Pass	Cornelius	Screen L	3 Yard Gain
5:34	2nd and 7	BC 21	Pass	Clark	Screen R	2 Yard Gain
5:28	2nd and 7	BC 21	PENALTY (Holding)	Broyld	N/A	10 Yard Loss
5:13	2nd and 15	BC 29	Run	McFarlane	Dive	4 Yard Gain
4:33	3rd and 11	BC 25	Run	McFarlane	End L	0 Yard Gain
3:51	4th and 11	BC 25	Field Goal	Norton	N/A	FG is Good

Play-Call Breakdown: 8 runs, 5 passes

Just one drive in the third, but SU managed to get points out of it since Ryan Norton finally discovered some kicking range. Rather than picking up large chunks of yardage through the passing game here, the Orange are moving the ball incredibly well on the ground. Diverting away from the standard bubble screen play-calling, Hunt also found receivers on short routes beyond the line -- a positive change. Alvin Cornelius also appears to be his new favorite target as defenses key in on Ashton Broyld more.

***

Fourth Quarter

DRIVE 9
Time	Down	Ball	Run/Pass	Player	Direction	Result
15:00	1st and 10	SYR 20	Pass	Hunt	Deep R	Incomplete
14:56	2nd and 10	SYR 20	Run	Smith	Dive	5 Yard Gain
14:27	3rd and 5	SYR 25	Pass	Broyld	Short L	6 Yard Gain
14:12	1st and 10	SYR 31	Run	Morris	Dive	2 Yard Gain
13:38	2nd and 8	SYR 33	Run	Hunt	Dive	2 Yard Gain
12:57	3rd and 6	SYR 35	Pass	Clark	Mid-Range M	5 Yard Gain
DRIVE 10
Time	Down	Ball	Run/Pass	Player	Direction	Result
7:45	1st and 10	SYR 25	Pass	Hunt	Tipped	16 Yard Loss
7:12	2nd and 26	SYR 9	Pass	Funderburk	Deep R	28 Yard Gain
7:00	1st and 10	SYR 37	Run	McFarlane	Dive	15 Yard Gain
6:38	1st and 10	BC 48	Run	Smith	End R	3 Yard Gain
6:08	2nd and 7	BC 45	Pass	Cornelius	Deep L	17 Yard Gain
5:43	1st and 10	BC 28	Run	Smith	Off-Tackle L	2 Yard Gain
5:20	2nd and 8	BC 26	Pass	Hunt	Deep R	Incomplete
5:11	3rd and 8	BC 26	Pass	Hunt	Deep L	Incomplete
5:07	4th and 8	BC 26	Field Goal	Norton	N/A	FG is Good
DRIVE 11
Time	Down	Ball	Run/Pass	Player	Direction	Result
3:24	1st and 10	SYR 37	Run	Smith	Dive	1 Yard Gain
2:59	2nd and 9	SYR 38	Pass	Hunt	Mid-Range M	Interception
DRIVE 12
Time	Down	Ball	Run/Pass	Player	Direction	Result
2:08	1st and 10	SYR 25	Pass	Parris	Mid-Range L	15 Yard Gain
1:52	1st and 10	SYR 40	Pass	Cornelius	Short L	7 Yard Gain
1:29	2nd and 3	SYR 47	Pocket Breakdown; Run	Hunt	End L	8 Yard Gain
1:09	1st and 10	BC 45	PENALTY (Pass. Int.)	Jones	Mid-Range L	12 Yard Gain
1:03	1st and 10	BC 33	Run (fumble, recovered)	Hunt	Off-Tackle L	8 Yard Gain
0:42	2nd and 2	BC 25	Run	Hunt	Dive	3 Yard Gain
0:22	1st and 10	BC 22	Pass	Hunt	Sideline R	Incomplete
0:17	2nd and 10	BC 22	Pass	Cornelius	Mid-Range L	14 Yard Gain
0:12	1st and Goal	BC 8	Pass	Parris	Short L	8 Yard Gain; TD

Play-Call Breakdown: 15 passes, 9 runs

This quarter is agony and ecstasy all rolled up into a ball. For much of the final 15 minutes, Boston College's defense finally starts getting some containment and slows down Syracuse's attack, and of course, we can't forget how back-breaking Hunt's late interception appeared when it occurred. But the final drive was something else entirely. Not even relying on his legs much, Hunt stood and delivered pass after pass to his receivers and drove this team 75 yards in two minutes (with no timeouts, mind you). Those final two plays were executed about as well as they could've been, and George McDonald's final play-call was absolutely perfect.

***

Some trends/numbers to note:

• Overall play-calling breakdown: 48 passes v. 46 runs
• First half play-calling: 29 runs, 28 passes (15 first-half runs last week)
  
• First downs: 29 total (16 running, 11 passing, 2 penalty)
  
• First down play selection: 20 called runs, 20 called passes (18:9 last week)
  
• First down play selection on subsequent sets of downs: 16 called runs, 12 called passes (9:5 last week)
• Second down play selection: 22 called passes, 13 called runs
  
• Third down play selection: 10 called runs, 6 called passes (thank you, third and shorts!)
  
• Third down conversion: 12-for-18 (9 runs, 2 passes, 1 penalty)
• 68 of Syracuse's 94 plays took place at the 50-yard line or in BC territory. Wow.
  
• SU ran just four plays inside its own 20-yard line
• The Orange punted just three times, with zero three-and-outs

As you've likely noticed above, this was a perfect storm for Syracuse -- the defense and special teams set the offense up to succeed over and over again, and the offense delivered more often than not. The percentage of plays in BC territory is astounding for any team, but especially this one, as is the total number of plays run from scrimmage.

There's a lot to compliment here, but first off, fantastic job by George McDonald utilizing personnel extremely well despite being short-handed due to injury. We had very few runs around the end, and when it was drawn up that way, we used George Morris and Devante McFarlane for the most part, rather than Jerome Smith (smart!). Hunt's ability to see the field throughout the contest also kept the defense on edge and opened up the passing game quite a bit (imagine that). We saw some play-action here and there, but even more impressive was how well the fake-handoff/QB runs went.

More on Hunt: His progression as a passer is a phenomenal sign for his and this team's future. In the last two weeks, we've also watched him throw the best passes of his career thus far. Except against BC, they connected, and added a whole new wrinkle to this attack. Teams have not had to fear the long-ball much with Hunt, but mixed with the constant threat of him running, receivers were regularly in single-coverage down the field. Most impressively, compare Hunt's deep throws from early in the year (almost out of bounds) to now (a good yard or so or inside, giving the receiver plenty of room to make the catch). I don't think this is a fluke, and you shouldn't either. We'll see for sure in the bowl game, hopefully.

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...