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Syracuse Football: Breaking Down Defensive Play-Calling vs. Louisville

This was the worst performance of the season for the SU defense by basically every measurable statistic. So let's re-live it!

Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

When John asked me if I wanted to track the defensive plays this year, my first thought was, "Sure! At least it's not the offensive play calling! This could actually be fun!"

Now, nine games in, I officially hate you, John.

The most glaring thing here is not the season-high 8.6 yards per play, or the season-high 7 yards per carry, or the season-high 10.1 yards per pass attempt - it's the total inability to cause negative plays, which has become a trend this season.

We noted earlier in the season against Wake Forest and Central Michigan that the defense gave up plenty of yards, but frequently forced a sack or a negative rushing play to derail the opponent's drive. In the first four games of the season, this manifested in negative yardage plays eight times against Rhode Island, nine times against Wake Forest, 11 against Central Michigan, and even nine against LSU. Since then, the Orange defense has struggled mightily to create those negative plays, causing just four (USF), six (UVA), six (Pitt), five (FSU), and matching its season low on Saturday with just four against the Cardinals.

Yes, the Orange created three turnovers, and that's something to be proud of. But unfortunately, as long as the opponent takes care of the football, it's becoming virtually impossible for the SU defense to get off the field.

Ultimately this post is about the play calling a lot more than about the execution. That's how we can have a post last week that ends up being pretty positive when reflecting on a total beatdown with the end result. That being said, we have to talk about something that relates to coaching, but isn't directly linked to Xs and Os: the tackling.

Time and time again, SU defenders missed tackles or were dragged for extra yards. We saw it on the second play of the game when Dowels missed a diving tackle that sprung a 52-yard gain. We saw it when Jonathan Thomas made a hit four yards shy of the marker, but the Louisville receiver carried him to the sticks. We saw it when Kielan Whitner took a stiff arm to the jaw and was unable to fight through to make the tackle. And that was just in the first half.

You can't help but wonder if a coaching staff that charts "big hits" isn't doing as good of a job coaching solid form tackling. If you watch closely, you see defenders constantly lunging or diving at the ball carrier, making them easier to shake, stiff arm or just run over. It's a problem that needs to be fixed.

Read on if you want to re-live the massacre once more blow by blow.

First Quarter

DRIVE 1
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
15:00 1st and 10 UL 25 1 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Run Right 8 yard gain Franklin Tackle
14:26 2nd and 2 UL 33 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB MLB Blitz (rush 5) Pass Right 52 yard gain Dowels missed tackle on short pass, diving at receiver, broken for big gain, Hudson Tackle
13:57 1st and 10 SU 15 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Run Middle 11 yard gain Draw up middle, Hodge, Dowels Tackle
13:23 1st and goal SU 4 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Run Middle 4 yard TD Carried defenders 2 yards into end zone
DRIVE 2
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
11:10 1st and 10 UL 42 1 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB LOLB Blitz (rush 5) Pass Middle Incomplete Poor throw over middle
11:06 2nd and 10 UL 42 5 WR 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Pass Middle Incomplete Simmons hurry, dropped pass in good coverage by Franlin
11:01 3rd and 10 UL 42 1 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE 3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB ROLB Blitz (rush 4) Pass Left Interception Hudson great play in zone coverage, read QBs eyes and undercut throw
DRIVE 3
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
10:08 1st and 10 UL 24 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB LOLB Blitz (rush 5) Run Middle No gain Clark Tackle
9:29 2nd and 10 UL 24 1 RB, 4 WR 3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB LOLB Blitz (rush 4) Pass Left 9 yard gain Hudson Tackle
8:58 3rd and 1 UL 33 2 RB, 1 WR, 2 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB ROLB and RCB Blitz (rush 6) Run Middle No gain Raymon great penetration, Thompson makes initial hit, Raymon Tackle
DRIVE 4
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
0:14 1st and 10 UL 25 False Start 5 yard penalty
0:14 1st and 15 UL 20 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB MLB Blitz (rush 4) Pass Middle 9 yard gain Whitner, Taylor Tackle, forced fumble overturned by replay, Franklin QB Hurry

Louisville Play Calls: 6 runs, 5 passes

Defensive personnel: 8 base defense, 3 subpackages

Blitzes: 7/11 (63.6%)

Another quarter with a combination of extreme good and bad. First, the bad: Syracuse continues to struggle with tackling, opening up the first drive with a missed tackle on a short pass leading to a 52 yard gain. Louisville ball carriers gained yards after contact on every play and literally dragged the Orange D into the end zone to open up an early lead.

On the positive side, Cordell Hudson made a terrific interception on a fantastic read in zone coverage. Louisville ran a route designed to make Hudson choose between covering the flat or the corner, and he read the quarterback's eyes perfectly and undercut the throw on a play that has beaten SU multiple times this season. Syracuse also stepped up for a big 3rd and short stop, thanks to great penetration from the defensive line, and actually got off the field in a clutch situation. Things were going OK at this point.

Second Quarter

DRIVE 4 (cont)
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
15:00 2nd and 6 UL 29 2 RB, 3 WR 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Run Right 6 yard gain Hodge and Whitner missed tackles at line, Whitner and Taylor force OB
14:34 1st and 10 UL 35 2 RB, 3 WR 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB ROLB Blitz (rush 5) Pass Right 24 yard gain Whitner Tackle
14:04 1st and 10 SU 41 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Pass Middle Incomplete Franklin in coverage
14:01 2nd and 10 SU 41 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Pass Left 11 yard gain Thomas dragged 4 extra yards for tackle
13:33 1st and 10 SU 30 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB ROLB Blitz (rush 5) Run Middle 5 yard gain Cordy Tackle
13:00 1st and 10 SU 19 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Run Middle 6 yard gain Sheppard Tackle
12:22 2nd and 5 SU 14 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Run Left 4 yard gain Hodge, Whitner Tackle
11:51 1st and goal SU 8 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB MLB Blitz (rush 5) Run Left 4 yard gain Thomas , Whitner Tackle
11:03 2nd and goal SU 4 3 RB, 2 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB MLB and ROLB Blitz (rush 6) Run Middle 1 yard gain, fumble recovery Franklin forced fumble, recovered by Clark
DRIVE 5
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
9:20 1st and 10 SU 48 2 RB, 3 WR 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Run Right 4 yard gain Scissum Tackle
8:46 2nd and 6 SU 44 2 RB, 3 WR 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB MLB Blitz (rush 5) Run Middle 4 yard gain Cordy, Samuels Tackle
7:58 3rd and 2 SU 40 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB LOLB Blitz (rush 5) Pass Left Incomplete Slayton hurry, great job avoiding cut block on 3 step drop
7:54 4th and 2 SU 40 Offensive pass interference wiped out play
DRIVE 6
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
3:32 1st and 10 UL 11 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB MLB and Safety Zone Blitz (rush 5) LDE in coverage Pass Right 13 yard gain Diving catch in gap in zone
3:06 1st and 10 UL 24 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Pass Left 16 yard gain Cordy Tackle
2:32 1st and 10 UL 40 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB LOLB and LCB Blitz (rush 5) Pass Sack 8 yard loss Simmons Sack, Ellison also in on pressure from well timed blitz
1:56 2nd and 18 UL 32 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB MLB Blitz (rush 4) Pass Middle Incomplete Thompson chased QB out of pocket, Whitner pass breakup
1:48 3rd and 18 UL 32 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB MLB and ROLB Zone Blitz (Rush 4), LDE in coverage Pass Right 16 yard gain Hodge chased QB out of pocket, Hudson Tackle
1:41 4th and 2 UL 48 2 RB, 1 WR, 2 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB LOLB and LCB Blitz (rush 6) PA Pass Right 32 yard gain TE throwback wide open for catch and run, Scissum Tackle
1:31 1st and 10 SU 20 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Pass Right 7 yard gain Hodge Tackle
1:27 2nd and 3 SU 13 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Pass Middle 13 yard TD Double move by TE to gap in zone
DRIVE 7
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
1:02 1st and 10 UL 40 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB MLB Blitz (rush 4) Pass Right 5 yard gain Hudson Tackle
2nd and 5 UL 45 False Start 5 yard penalty
0:57 2nd and 10 UL 40 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB LOLB, MLB, ROLB Blitz (rush 6) Pass Middle Incomplete Taylor came through on 6-man rush against 5 blockers, rushed pass
0:54 3rd and 10 UL 40 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB ROLB and MLB Blitz (rush 5) Pass Right 8 yard gain Hodge QB hit, Taylor Tackle
DRIVE 8
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
0:14 1st and 10 UL 31 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB N/A Run Middle 11 yard gain Ellison, Taylor Tackle
0:06 1st and 10 UL 42 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB N/A Pass Spike Incomplete
0:05 2nd and 10 UL 42 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB MLB, ROLB and LCB Blitz (rush 6) Pass Right 26 yard gain Blitz chased QB out of pocket, Hudson, Taylor Tackle

Louisville Play Calls: 9 runs, 19 passes

Defensive personnel: 17 base defense, 9 subpackages

Blitzes: 15/26 (57.7%)

What to make of this quarter? The defense only gave up one touchdown, and a big turnover in a key spot. But the signs were already there that this should have been much worse, giving up 8 yards per play overall - 5 on called runs and 9.6 on called passes. The Orange generated just one negative play in the quarter, and the only thing that kept them from being completely run over was a big forced fumble near the goal line.

Third Quarter

DRIVE 9
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
12:12 1st and 10 UL 36 1 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB MLB, ROLB and RCB Blitz (rush 7) Run Middle 2 yard gain Raymon, Samuels Tackle
11:31 2nd and 8 UL 38 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB ROLB Blitz (rush 5) Pass Middle 18 yard gain Hudson Tackle
11:09 1st and 10 SU 44 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB LOLB Blitz (rush 5) Pass Middle Incomplete Pass high, Hudson in coverage
11:04 2nd and 10 SU 44 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB LOLB, MLB, ROLB Blitz (rush 6) Run Middle 11 yard gain Whitner Tackle
10:35 1st and 10 SU 33 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Pass Left 23 yard gain Thompson almost hit QB, Cordy Tackle
10:06 1st and goal SU 10 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Run Middle 5 yard gain Holding penalty, 10 yards from spot wiped out TD
10:01 1st and goal SU 15 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Pass Left 5 yard gain Hudson Tackle
9:34 2nd and goal SU 10 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB ROLB and MLB Blitz (rush 6) Pass Left Incomplete Pass high, Hudson in coverage
9:30 3rd and goal SU 10 4 WR, 1 TE 3 DL, 3 LB, 5 DB LOLB, MLB, ROLB Blitz (rush 6) Pass Right 10 yard TD 6 man rush left 1 on 1 coverage, Ellison got turned around on perfect pass
DRIVE 10
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
7:42 1st and 10 UL 18 1 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Run Middle 1 yard gain Franklin Tackle
7:05 2nd and 9 UL 19 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A PA Pass Right 28 yard gain Dowels Tackle
6:40 1st and 10 UL 47 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB LOLB Blitz (rush 5) Run Middle 2 yard loss Slayton Tackle, Hodge made first hit on well-timed blitz
5:59 2nd and 12 UL 45 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Pass Left 8 yard gain Hudson, Thomas Tackle
5:21 3rd and 4 SU 47 1 RB, 4 WR 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Pass Left Incomplete Hudson in coverage
DRIVE 11
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
3:44 1st and 10 UL 28 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Run Middle 46 yard gain Cordy Tackle
3:16 1st and 10 SU 26 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB MLB and ROLB Blitz (rush 6) Run Left 16 yard gain Clark Tackle
2:45 1st and goal SU 10 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB MLB Blitz (rush 5) Run Middle 7 yard gain Cordy Tackle
2:11 2nd and goal SU 3 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB LOLB Blitz (rush 5) Run Middle 1 yard loss Franklin Tackle
1:29 3rd and goal SU 4 2 RB, 3 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB LOLB and LCB Blitz (rush 6) Run Middle 2 yard gain Franklin, Cordy Tackle

Louisville Play Calls: 10 runs, 9 passes

Defensive personnel: 17 base defense, 2 subpackages

Blitzes: 11/19 (57.9%)

Three drives, one with a nice stop, another with a TD and another settling for a field goal. Once again, it was all about the negative plays, with the Orange generating two of its four in the game in the third quarter. When they stopped the ball carrier behind the line, it led directly to derailed drives - one by punt and one forcing a field goal in the red zone.

Fourth Quarter

DRIVE 12
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
12:58 1st and 10 UL 16 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Run Left 17 yard gain Should have been a loss, missed tackles, Whitner Tackle
12:30 1st and 10 UL 33 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB ROLB and MLB Blitz (rush 6) Pass Right 7 yard gain Hudson Tackle
11:46 2nd and 3 UL 40 1 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB ROLB and MLB Blitz (rush 6) Run Right 25 yard gain Whitner Tackle
1st and 10 SU 35 Delay of game 5 yard penalty
11:07 1st and 15 SU 40 4 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Screen Pass Right 5 yard gain Hodge Tackle
10:25 2nd and 10 SU 35 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Pass Middle Forced fumble Whitner Forced Fumble, Clark Recovered
DRIVE 13
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
9:58 1st and 10 SU 12 1 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB MLB Blitz (rush 5) PA Pass Left 12 yard TD Play action held defense, tight end slipped behind coverage
DRIVE 14
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
9:04 1st and goal SU 6 1 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Run Middle 1 yard loss Cordy Tackle
2nd and goal SU 7 Holding penalty wiped out TD
8:24 2nd and goal SU 17 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Run Middle 8 yard gain Franklin, Thomas Tackle
7:45 3rd and goal SU 9 1 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB MLB and LOLB Blitz (rush 6) Pass Middle Incomplete Clark Pass Deflected
DRIVE 15
Time Down Ball O Personnel D Personnel Blitz Run/Pass Direction Result Note
0:26 1st and 10 UL 16 2 RB, 1 WR, 2 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB N/A Run Right 12 yard gain Ellison Tackle
0:17 1st and 10 UL 28 2 RB, 1 WR, 2 TE 4 DL, 3 LB, 4 DB LOLB and LCB Blitz (Rush 6) Run Left 2 yard gain Slayton, Clark Tackle

Louisville Play Calls: 6 runs, 5 passes

Defensive personnel: 11 base defense, 0 subpackages

Blitzes: 5/11 (45.5%)

This was another fourth quarter of going through the motions with the game out of hand. Similar to the third quarter in that the defense made one very nice play on a strip by Whitner. It also gave up a touchdown on a short field, which isn't entirely its fault. What do you want me to say here?

  • Total Yards (per play): 579 (8.6) - Both highest of season (second-straight week)
  • Total Rushing Yards (per carry): 217 (6.5) - Highest YPC of season (second-straight week)
  • Total Passing Yards (per attempt): 24-for-36 for 362 yards (10.1) Highest yards per attempt of season
  • Play Action Calls Against -  (77 on season)
  • Play Action Results - 3-for-3, 72 yards
  • Play Action Results (Season) - 49-of-70 (68.6%), 717 yards, 5 TDs, 2 Pass Interference, 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery for touchdown
  • Plays in base defense (4-3): 53 of 67 (79.1%)
  • Plays in subpackages: 14 of 67 (20.9%)
  • Blitzes: 38 of 67 (56.7%)