SWC75
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This season I will once again be charting Syracuse’s games in terms of “winning plays”. I look at the results of each play and decide which team got the minimum they wanted out of the play. Rather than making instinctive judgments, I use a formula:
- On first down, the offensive team wants to get at least a third of the way to a new first down: they will have two more plays before they might have to surrender the ball and if they gain that same amount of yards on each of those two plays, they’ll get the first down. If they don’t make it a third of the way to a new first down, the defense won the play.
- On second down, the offense wants to get at least halfway to a new first down by the same logic.
- On third and fourth down, they want to get the first down.
- Penalties, if added onto a play by the referees, are added on to the results above. If the offense gains 5 yards on first down but there was holding and they lost yardage instead, the defense won the play. If a running back made a 25 yard run on first and ten and the holding was 20 yards downfield, turning it into a 5 yard gain, that’s still a win for the offense. If the defense is penalized and it’s tacked on, again the net result is what is evaluated. The penalties I’ve listed negated the play entirely and are a “loss” for the penalized team and thus a win for their opponent.
- If a penalty was not tacked onto a play, it’s a lost play for the team being penalized. I'll count them separate from the other plays from scrimmage because I don't know if the intended play before the penalty would have been a run or a pass - so I wouldn't know where to put it in the chart below.
- A turnover is, obviously, a win for the team that wound up with the ball.
- On a kick-off a touchback brings the ball out to the 25 yard line. Teams still seem to be trying to kick the ball into the end zone and avoid a runback if they can, so any kick-off that results in the receiving team starting between their goal line and their 25 is a win for the kicking team. Beyond that, the receiving team wins.
- On a punt, a touchback takes the ball out of the 20. So any punt that results in the other team taking over from their goal line to their 20 is a win for the punting team. If the next change in field position is at least 40 yards, the punting team has also won the play.
- A successful place kick is, obviously, a win for the kicking team.
- Any play that results in a touchdown is, obviously, a win for that team that scores it.
- A “victory play” where a team accepts a loss just to let the clock run out, is a win for the offensive team.
I will indicate in parenthesis how many yards there were to go to get a new first down, (if other than 10), unless it was for no gain or negative yardage. If it was a touchdown, (“TD)” a scramble/sack (“S”) a victory play (“V”) or involved a penalty (P). I’ll treat a scramble or a sack as a passing play as the Cuse.com play by play now tells you when it’s either of those two. 1R means first down running plays. 1P means first down passing plays, etc.
I have decided to list the “Big Plays” at the bottom of each team’s summary. A big play is a play from scrimmage of over 20 yards, (or 20+ yards lost), kickoff returns of +25 yards, punt returns of +20, blocked kicks, missed kicks, and turnovers on fumbles, interceptions and downs.
When SYRACUSE had the ball:
Drive Starts: SU 25, SU 25 SU8, SU25, FS 23, SU 5, SU 35, SU 25, SU 25, SU 33, SU 7, SU 34 = 324/12 = SU 27 with 876 yards to go.
KO: FS 25 Offside to SU 44
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 1
P: 40 to FS 28, 32 to SU 47, 38 to FS 48, 11 to S 24, 45 to FS 18, 46 to FS 29, 29 to FS 38, 41 to FS 38
Total: Syracuse 4 Florida State 4
FG: Good from 30, NG from 53
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 1
XP: none
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 0
Kicking plays total: Syracuse 6 Florida State 6
1r: 4, 5, 16, 1, 2, 4, 5, 4, 7, 21(p), 11, 7(20), 7, 1(2)
Total: Syracuse 11 Florida State 3
1p: I, -1, I, 10(20), I, -6(s)
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 5
First Down Total: Syracuse 12 Florida State 8
2r: 6, -4,1(5), 1, 1(12), 5(11), 6(3), 7(16), 18(13p), 10(3)
Total: Syracuse 4 Florida State 6
2p: I, I, I, I, 17, Interception
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 5
Second Down Total: Syracuse 5 Florida State 11
3r: 1(4), 4(11), 8(16)
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 3
3p: -10(s), I, 44(p), -6(s), 6(8), I, 4(6), I
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 7
Third Down Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 11
4r: none
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 0
4p: none
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 0
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 2 Florida State 0
Total on running plays: Syracuse 15 Florida State 12
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 3 Florida State 17
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 18 Florida State 29
Penalties not tacked on to plays: -2, -10, -5, -10, -5, -10 Syracuse 0 Florida State 6
Game total when SYRACUSE had the ball: Syracuse 24 Florida State 41
Big Plays: 44(p) pass, Fumble recovery, 21 rush (p)
When FLORIDA STATE had the ball:
Drive Starts: FS 28, SU 47, FS 48, FS 25, FS 35, SU 24, FS 18, SU 42, FS 29, FS 38, FS 42, FS 38 = 438/12 = FS 41 with 712 yards to go.
KO: SU 25, SU 25, SU 25, SU 35, SU 25, SU 25
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 5
P: 39 to SU 8, 45 to SU 5, 37 to SU 7
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 3
FG: Good from 40, No Good from 51
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 1
XP: Good, Good, Good, Good, Good
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 5
Kicking plays total: Syracuse 2 Florida State 14
1r: 1, 8, 5, 1, 4, 5, 0, 5, 5, 4(8), 4, 7(9), 17, 5, 3, 1, 12, 4, -2
Total: Syracuse 6 Florida State 13
1p: 3, 14, 2(17), 15TD, -3, 24TD, 4, 21, 2, 4, I, 6, 17, -8(s)
Total: Syracuse 6 Florida State 8
First Down Total: Syracuse 10 Florida State 18
2r: 27(7), 15(9), 1(2), 7(5), 6(6), 11(10), 24, 5(5), -1, 30(6), 1(2), 5(18), 3(2), 4(11), -1, 1(17)
Total: Syracuse 5 Florida State 11
2p: 5(15), 10(5), 16(9), Fumble, -1, 12, 10(5), -5(s), 0, 10(5),
Total: Syracuse 5 Florida State 5
Second Down Total: Syracuse 10 Florida State 16
3r: 3(1), -1
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 1
3p: I, 7, 5TD, I, I, 24(7), I
Total: Syracuse 4 Florida State 3
Third Down Total: Syracuse 5 Florida State 4
4r: none
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 0
4p: 2TD, I
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 1
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 1
Total on running plays: Syracuse 12 Florida State 25
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 16 Florida State 17
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 28 Florida State 42
Penalties not tacked on to plays: -10, -5, +5, +5, -5, +5, -5, -5 Syracuse 5 Florida State 3
Game total when FLORIDA STATE had the ball: Syracuse 35 Florida State 59
Big Plays: 27 run, 24pass-TD, 21 pass, 24 run, 30 run, 24 pass
Overall Game Total: Syracuse 59 Florida State 100
Comments: Strangely, we were quite productive on first down running plays, (11-3), even though we lacked a passing game or a quarterback who could run. Unfortunately, we were 4-9 after that and our passing was pathetic on all downs, (3-17). Our two ‘big’ offensive plays were both penalty-aided. Florida State had 6 ‘big’ plays from scrimmage, none penalty-aided.
Florida State punted three times and each was fair caught by two different SU recruiters inside of our 10 yards line, giving the ball to our crippled offense with more than 90 yards to go for a score.
Our last four games haven’t been fun to watch:
Syracuse 77 Clemson 102 = -25
Syracuse 66 Notre Dame 113 = -47
Syracuse 66 Pittsburgh 105 = -39
Syracuse 59 Florida State 100 = -41
Here the games in the Dino Babers Era most similar to this one, in terms of plays won and lost:
2019 Syracuse 76 Boston College 119 = -43 We lost 27-58
2020 Syracuse 70 North Carolina 114 = -44 We lost 6-31
2020 Syracuse 72 Clemson 112 = -40 We lost 21-47
2021 Syracuse 64 Rutgers 101 = -37 We lost 7-17
2022 Syracuse 66 Pittsburgh 105 = -39 We lost 9-19
We aren’t going to win unless we can win our share of plays or get some big ones.
- On first down, the offensive team wants to get at least a third of the way to a new first down: they will have two more plays before they might have to surrender the ball and if they gain that same amount of yards on each of those two plays, they’ll get the first down. If they don’t make it a third of the way to a new first down, the defense won the play.
- On second down, the offense wants to get at least halfway to a new first down by the same logic.
- On third and fourth down, they want to get the first down.
- Penalties, if added onto a play by the referees, are added on to the results above. If the offense gains 5 yards on first down but there was holding and they lost yardage instead, the defense won the play. If a running back made a 25 yard run on first and ten and the holding was 20 yards downfield, turning it into a 5 yard gain, that’s still a win for the offense. If the defense is penalized and it’s tacked on, again the net result is what is evaluated. The penalties I’ve listed negated the play entirely and are a “loss” for the penalized team and thus a win for their opponent.
- If a penalty was not tacked onto a play, it’s a lost play for the team being penalized. I'll count them separate from the other plays from scrimmage because I don't know if the intended play before the penalty would have been a run or a pass - so I wouldn't know where to put it in the chart below.
- A turnover is, obviously, a win for the team that wound up with the ball.
- On a kick-off a touchback brings the ball out to the 25 yard line. Teams still seem to be trying to kick the ball into the end zone and avoid a runback if they can, so any kick-off that results in the receiving team starting between their goal line and their 25 is a win for the kicking team. Beyond that, the receiving team wins.
- On a punt, a touchback takes the ball out of the 20. So any punt that results in the other team taking over from their goal line to their 20 is a win for the punting team. If the next change in field position is at least 40 yards, the punting team has also won the play.
- A successful place kick is, obviously, a win for the kicking team.
- Any play that results in a touchdown is, obviously, a win for that team that scores it.
- A “victory play” where a team accepts a loss just to let the clock run out, is a win for the offensive team.
I will indicate in parenthesis how many yards there were to go to get a new first down, (if other than 10), unless it was for no gain or negative yardage. If it was a touchdown, (“TD)” a scramble/sack (“S”) a victory play (“V”) or involved a penalty (P). I’ll treat a scramble or a sack as a passing play as the Cuse.com play by play now tells you when it’s either of those two. 1R means first down running plays. 1P means first down passing plays, etc.
I have decided to list the “Big Plays” at the bottom of each team’s summary. A big play is a play from scrimmage of over 20 yards, (or 20+ yards lost), kickoff returns of +25 yards, punt returns of +20, blocked kicks, missed kicks, and turnovers on fumbles, interceptions and downs.
When SYRACUSE had the ball:
Drive Starts: SU 25, SU 25 SU8, SU25, FS 23, SU 5, SU 35, SU 25, SU 25, SU 33, SU 7, SU 34 = 324/12 = SU 27 with 876 yards to go.
KO: FS 25 Offside to SU 44
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 1
P: 40 to FS 28, 32 to SU 47, 38 to FS 48, 11 to S 24, 45 to FS 18, 46 to FS 29, 29 to FS 38, 41 to FS 38
Total: Syracuse 4 Florida State 4
FG: Good from 30, NG from 53
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 1
XP: none
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 0
Kicking plays total: Syracuse 6 Florida State 6
1r: 4, 5, 16, 1, 2, 4, 5, 4, 7, 21(p), 11, 7(20), 7, 1(2)
Total: Syracuse 11 Florida State 3
1p: I, -1, I, 10(20), I, -6(s)
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 5
First Down Total: Syracuse 12 Florida State 8
2r: 6, -4,1(5), 1, 1(12), 5(11), 6(3), 7(16), 18(13p), 10(3)
Total: Syracuse 4 Florida State 6
2p: I, I, I, I, 17, Interception
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 5
Second Down Total: Syracuse 5 Florida State 11
3r: 1(4), 4(11), 8(16)
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 3
3p: -10(s), I, 44(p), -6(s), 6(8), I, 4(6), I
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 7
Third Down Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 11
4r: none
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 0
4p: none
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 0
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 2 Florida State 0
Total on running plays: Syracuse 15 Florida State 12
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 3 Florida State 17
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 18 Florida State 29
Penalties not tacked on to plays: -2, -10, -5, -10, -5, -10 Syracuse 0 Florida State 6
Game total when SYRACUSE had the ball: Syracuse 24 Florida State 41
Big Plays: 44(p) pass, Fumble recovery, 21 rush (p)
When FLORIDA STATE had the ball:
Drive Starts: FS 28, SU 47, FS 48, FS 25, FS 35, SU 24, FS 18, SU 42, FS 29, FS 38, FS 42, FS 38 = 438/12 = FS 41 with 712 yards to go.
KO: SU 25, SU 25, SU 25, SU 35, SU 25, SU 25
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 5
P: 39 to SU 8, 45 to SU 5, 37 to SU 7
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 3
FG: Good from 40, No Good from 51
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 1
XP: Good, Good, Good, Good, Good
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 5
Kicking plays total: Syracuse 2 Florida State 14
1r: 1, 8, 5, 1, 4, 5, 0, 5, 5, 4(8), 4, 7(9), 17, 5, 3, 1, 12, 4, -2
Total: Syracuse 6 Florida State 13
1p: 3, 14, 2(17), 15TD, -3, 24TD, 4, 21, 2, 4, I, 6, 17, -8(s)
Total: Syracuse 6 Florida State 8
First Down Total: Syracuse 10 Florida State 18
2r: 27(7), 15(9), 1(2), 7(5), 6(6), 11(10), 24, 5(5), -1, 30(6), 1(2), 5(18), 3(2), 4(11), -1, 1(17)
Total: Syracuse 5 Florida State 11
2p: 5(15), 10(5), 16(9), Fumble, -1, 12, 10(5), -5(s), 0, 10(5),
Total: Syracuse 5 Florida State 5
Second Down Total: Syracuse 10 Florida State 16
3r: 3(1), -1
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 1
3p: I, 7, 5TD, I, I, 24(7), I
Total: Syracuse 4 Florida State 3
Third Down Total: Syracuse 5 Florida State 4
4r: none
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 0
4p: 2TD, I
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 1
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 1
Total on running plays: Syracuse 12 Florida State 25
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 16 Florida State 17
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 28 Florida State 42
Penalties not tacked on to plays: -10, -5, +5, +5, -5, +5, -5, -5 Syracuse 5 Florida State 3
Game total when FLORIDA STATE had the ball: Syracuse 35 Florida State 59
Big Plays: 27 run, 24pass-TD, 21 pass, 24 run, 30 run, 24 pass
Overall Game Total: Syracuse 59 Florida State 100
Comments: Strangely, we were quite productive on first down running plays, (11-3), even though we lacked a passing game or a quarterback who could run. Unfortunately, we were 4-9 after that and our passing was pathetic on all downs, (3-17). Our two ‘big’ offensive plays were both penalty-aided. Florida State had 6 ‘big’ plays from scrimmage, none penalty-aided.
Florida State punted three times and each was fair caught by two different SU recruiters inside of our 10 yards line, giving the ball to our crippled offense with more than 90 yards to go for a score.
Our last four games haven’t been fun to watch:
Syracuse 77 Clemson 102 = -25
Syracuse 66 Notre Dame 113 = -47
Syracuse 66 Pittsburgh 105 = -39
Syracuse 59 Florida State 100 = -41
Here the games in the Dino Babers Era most similar to this one, in terms of plays won and lost:
2019 Syracuse 76 Boston College 119 = -43 We lost 27-58
2020 Syracuse 70 North Carolina 114 = -44 We lost 6-31
2020 Syracuse 72 Clemson 112 = -40 We lost 21-47
2021 Syracuse 64 Rutgers 101 = -37 We lost 7-17
2022 Syracuse 66 Pittsburgh 105 = -39 We lost 9-19
We aren’t going to win unless we can win our share of plays or get some big ones.