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With the nation’s No. 1 offense in Miami coming to Syracuse for the regular-season finale, Saturday’s nonconference game against UConn presented a perfect tune-up for the Orange. Yet, they struggled to take advantage of it.

Per usual, their offense cut through the Huskies’ secondary as quarterback Kyle McCord threw for a whopping 470 yards, the second-highest single-game passing total in SU history. Syracuse’s defense, though, didn’t perform to its potential. The Orange failed to force a turnover, lacked consistent pressure and gave up four plays of more than 20 yards.

It led to Syracuse keeping things close with UConn. SU escaped victorious, winning 31-24, but it wasn’t a performance that would’ve translated well in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Huskies may be a solid program nowadays under head coach Jim Mora. Still, the Orange’s defense proved to be a weak point against a less-talented group.

Here’s a breakdown of four missteps by Syracuse’s (8-3, 4-3 ACC) defense in its win over UConn (7-4, Independent) Saturday in the JMA Wireless Dome:

1st quarter, 5:53 — Gashed on 4th down

The Huskies displayed an interesting heavy pistol formation here, facing a fourth-and-1 early in the contest at their own 29-yard line. UConn strongly relies on its offensive line, as Pro Football Focus ranked its run blocking as the second-best in the nation before Saturday. In going with 13 personnel, the Huskies fortified the trenches just long enough for running back Cam Edwards to break free.

As tight end John Bechtle lined up next to quarterback Joe Fagnano in the shotgun, Edwards awaited behind the two. The Orange stacked the box with 10 players, anticipating a run. Fagnano took the snap, opened his body to the left and handed it to Edwards, who ran up the gut initially.

SU’s defense was immediately off-balance. Edge rusher Fadil Diggs lost his battle with UConn right tackle Chase Lundt, while interior lineman Maraad Watson fell to the ground on the same side. The rest of Syracuse’s defenders were either pushed left by the Huskies’ line or caught up in the middle as a dogpile seemed to form around Edwards.

But Edwards spun out of a Chase Simmons tackle attempt just past the line of scrimmage, with only green turf in front of him. SU didn’t have a high safety in its formation, which allowed Edwards to scamper uncontested into the end zone for a 71-yard rushing touchdown. This crucial lapse from the Orange caused the Huskies to tie the game 7-7 in the first.

2nd quarter, 1:35 — Bell beats Kerr

Syracuse had a chance on this drive to make the scoreline a true blowout before halftime. It led 21-7, and UConn had the ball on its own 36-yard line. A quick stop would’ve given the Orange an opportunity for more points before the Huskies received the second-half kickoff.

Instead, UConn drove downfield for a touchdown and earned a chance to double-dip with possession in the second half — though, that went to no avail. This play, a first-and-10 30-yard reception from receiver Skyler Bell, was the biggest reason the Huskies eventually made it 21-14. And it’s because they targeted an inexperienced cornerback.

The Orange were in their mainstay 4-2-5 defense while UConn went in the shotgun. Bell was matched up down low one-on-one with SU freshman corner Davien Kerr. Syracuse got zero push on the Huskies’ offensive line upon the snap, and Fagnano kept his sights set on Bell, who ran a streak route.

Fagnano released the ball toward Bell once the receiver reached the 45-yard line. At that point, Kerr was in lockstep with Bell. But, rather than continuing his stride, Kerr’s eyes were caught up with Fagnano’s high-arcing pass, which the freshman looked to intercept. Because of this, Kerr lost his footing and stumbled to the ground.

Bell gained enough cushion to adjust to his back shoulder, haul in the pass and tap his feet to the turf for the 30-yard catch along the sideline. Kerr simply tried to do too much here, and it wound up resulting in a Huskies touchdown drive.

3rd quarter, 4:35 — Shoestring tackle prevents long rushing TD

UConn’s rushing attack isn’t to be trifled with. Its backs — Edwards, Durell Robinson and Mel Brown — all have over 500 yards on the ground this season. They fared well against Syracuse, rushing for 124 yards on 17 carries — a 7.3 yards per carry clip. Brown took off for a 35-yard rush on this rep, UConn’s second-largest play of the day.

From the jump, SU was at a disadvantage. The Huskies split four receivers out wide, spreading Syracuse’s secondary across the field and leaving plenty of room in the middle. It was the perfect look for an inside-zone run from the shotgun.

Before the snap, receiver TJ Sheffield motioned from the right side into the slot. Brown took the handoff on the zone rush and searched to bounce the run outside the right tackle. Though a hole opened up in the B gap, with right guard Valentin Senn manhandling Simmons and Lundt sealing off Marlowe Wax. The final block necessary was Sheffield driving Devin Grant backward, which came just in time for Brown to blaze past everybody.

The running back hit the B gap and exploded through it, running past safety Berry Buxton III before crossing midfield with plenty of space ahead. Linebacker Justin Barron made a valiant effort to catch up with Brown and make a shoestring tackle at SU’s 40-yard line, saving a possible 75-yard rushing touchdown. Syracuse wasn’t tenacious up front, while its formation begged for UConn to succeed exactly how it did.

4th quarter, 3:24 — Hansen does it again

Tight end Louis Hansen, who tallied a five-yard receiving touchdown off a run-pass option late in the second quarter, gave UConn at least a fighting chance to complete an improbable comeback in the fourth. He pulled in a 28-yard reception on this first-and-10 pass play, finding a hole in SU’s soft zone defense to set the Huskies up in Orange territory.

For some reason, Syracuse had two linebackers — Barron and Wax — drop back into coverage as quarterback spies once Fagnano received the snap. Syracuse rushed four yet no one came close to scraping Fagnano. But the problem wasn’t SU’s pass rush or lack thereof.

Barron and Wax barely moved a muscle before Fagnano threw a bullet over the middle for Hansen on a crossing route. Barron tracked backward a little late, while Wax kept his eyes on the quarterback and eventually guarded Edwards on a drag route. But it was too late. Syracuse’s two high safeties were preoccupied with helping guard go routes from UConn’s other three receivers, and they couldn’t converge on Hansen’s path in enough time.

Hansen barrelled through Buxton to pick up a few extra yards before being downed at SU’s 39-yard line. UConn finished its drive with a touchdown. While the Orange were in protect mode on this play, trying to limit deep routes from opening up, they were too lackadaisical over the middle as Barron and Wax had no impact in the zone defense.

Published on November 24, 2024 at 1:52 pm

Contact Cooper at: ccandrew@syr.edu | @cooper_andrews