Syracuse Football: Breaking Down Offensive Play-Calling vs. LSU

Syracuse lost to LSU this past Saturday, but the game was not only watchable -- it was fun too. Beyond the first quarter, this was an Orange offense worth sticking around for, and they fought until the end. We'll get into specifics below, recapping a surprisingly enjoyable afternoon of offensive execution from SU against the vaunted Tigers defense.

First Quarter

Play-Call Breakdown: 6 passes, 5 runs

Through one quarter of this game, I was losing my goddamn mind. "More passes than runs, with ZACK MAHONEY at QB?!" I screamed at the television. Given this team's success running the ball through the season's first four games -- spurred on by the QB position, really -- it made zero sense to suddenly lean on the pass, especially when putting the more mobile of the team's two passer options under center. Mahoney looked jittery throwing the ball early, completing just one throw (the first one). I try not to wonder how this game could've gone differently with a different approach to start off.

Second Quarter

Play-Call Breakdown: 13 runs, 8 passes

Following a stalled fourth drive in LSU territory, the offense begins to show signs of life. While the Wildcat and option looks fail to produce much in terms of yardage, they're still able to keep the defense honest, opening up the passing game a little for Mahoney, who needs completions under his belt to really get confident and rolling. Sure, the sixth drive is assisted by a penalty, but it's tough to blame the Orange for LSU's penchant for committing those. Riley Dixon's fake FG run was a risk, but became a masterstroke when the TIgers failed to recognize the odd personnel (assisted by the PA announcer calling out Cole Murphy as well). SU knew it needed to empty the bag of tricks to compete, and did so admirably.

Third Quarter

Play-Call Breakdown: 7 runs, 5 passes

The third quarter has been weird for three straight games now, with the team running the least amount of plays and completing the least drives during that period. At least in the case of this contest, those low totals resulted in a score (that excellent 40-yard touchdown strike to Brisly Estime). The shift back toward run in the two middle quarters yielded some quality looks for Mahoney, who began to settle in. And again, while the option may have seemed like wasted plays, it allowed him to continue to throw the football (which paid off even more later).

Fourth Quarter

Play-Call Breakdown: 21 passes, 4 runs

Due to the score, I can't and won't assail this breakdown above, nor will I fault this team for taking advantage of penalties afforded them. Even the interception from Mahoney wasn't really on him -- it was a tipped ball. The walk-on really came into his own as a passer in the fourth, with 65 yards and two scores through the air. His running also seemed more emboldened by the stakes, even as we reached supposed "garbage time." Like I said: early stress on various run looks allowed him to throw more later, and it paid off (even if not ultimately in a win).

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• Overall play-calling breakdown: 29 called runs vs. 40 called passes (last week: 27:19). This number is entirely skewed by the fourth quarter, which demanded a pass-centric offense.
  
• First half play-calling: 18 runs vs. 14 passes (11:26 in second half)
• First downs: 21 total (9 rushing, 8 passing, 4 penalty; none in first quarter; 5:6:1 last week)
  
• First down play selection: 16 called runs, 17 called passes (15:7 last week)
  
• First down play selection on subsequent sets of downs: 10 called runs, 11 called passes (8:3 last week)
  
• First down plays for five or more yards: 12 (last week: 12)
  
• Second down play selection: 8 called runs, 12 called passes (9:6 last week)
  
• Third down play selection: 4 called runs; 12 called passes (3:4 last week)
  
• Third down conversion: 5-for-12 (2 runs, 2 pass, 1 penalty)
  
• 35 of Syracuse's 69 play calls (51 percent) took place in LSU territory (last week, 43 percent of plays took place in the opponent's territory) . Just two of the game's first 11 did, but then 33 of the next 58 would end up being on the Tigers' half of the field.
  
• Early on, play action was not very apparent, but as LSU needed to account for the run more (despite its lack of success for large patches of the game), Mahoney was able to utilize that play action a whole lot more in kind. He was 4-for-8 with two scores out of play action, despite starting 0-for-3 out of it.
  
• We've noticed this a bit here and there, but another big shift toward certain sides for rush pass. The large majority of run plays were taken toward the (more experienced) left side, while more passing plays headed right. Again, let's hope opposing defenses aren't wise to it.
  
• Three of Syracuse's plays went for 15 yards or more. Additionally, Syracuse had eight more plays that totaled between 10 and 14 yards each. And these don't even take into account the long LSU penalties that handed the Orange even more yards but were very much of the "explosive" distance.
  
• Syracuse was 2-for-3 on red zone opportunities, but both of those conversions were touchdowns (both passing, however). Cole Murphy's missed field goal was the team's first failed red zone try all season.

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Obviously it's still tough to tell exactly what Lester's offense IS from week to week given the different players under center, but you have to like the wrinkles added during this one. Those Wildcat looks for Fredericks were a perfect way to give him a good head of steam at the line without starting further back from the line of scrimmage, and they drew attention inward. The option's not as feasible against fast teams on the outside, so this was good practice for what works/doesn't work against opponents like Florida State and Clemson. The Orange also got into a nice rhythm of regular targets: Steve Ishmael, Ben Lewis and Josh Parris, with Brisly Estime targeted on deep balls. Throw Ervin Philips into the mix when he returns and this is a scary group for any defense to keep track of.

One slight issue not captured above: the offense rarely looks set when the ball is snapped, and many times, actually isn't -- a hybrid or tight end can regularly be seen moving/rocking prior to the snap. That can not only be an easy way to draw a false start penalty, but can also be a tip to defenses of where the ball's headed (even more dangerous with the team's young passers out there). Just something to watch out for, as it's yet to have an effect but very well could soon.

Lester has done a great job of creating varying, less-than-predictable looks for much of this season -- though we've still yet to see a full game of it. Part of that is a product of the quarterback situation, which is far from his fault at all. With luck, Eric Dungey can come out there against USF and continue the offense's effective work predicated on keeping defenses off balance and uncomfortably aware of every Orange player on the field.

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Anything else? Share any and all thoughts below.