Winning Plays- Florida State

[SWC75]

Once again I’m going to chart our football games according to which team “won” each play. The idea is that you ask yourself what was the minimum acceptable result the team with the ball wanted and then, if they achieved at least that result, they “won” the play. If they didn’t, the other team “won” the play. I break down the results by the circumstances of the play: first down ruins, first down passes, same for second down, third down and fourth down. Then I look at each kicking play, penalties, turnovers, etc. The result is a total that shows if a team won by dominating play after play or by getting the big plays- turnovers, long gains, kick returns, blocked kicks, etc. it gives you a view of how the game was physically. It also gives you an idea of what areas we need to improve our recruiting. If we are losing a majority of the plays, look to the line of scrimmage. If we are not getting the big plays, look to the playmakers and the coach’s philosophy. The break-out allows us to see how we did in certain situations, such as first downs runs or passes.

Here is the scoring system I’ve been using: On a play from scrimmage, the team with the ball is trying to either get a first down or a touchdown, (the latter being the only goal if it is a “goal to go” situation). If they get 1/3 of the way to those goals, (rounding the goal up), on first down they have “won the play because if they gained that amount of yardage three times in a row, they’d keep the ball for another series of down or they’d score. On second down they want to get halfway to their goal. On third or fourth down, they want to obtain the goal because if they don’t, they’d have to surrender the ball or settle for a lesser goal, (a field goal instead of a touchdown). If the offense doesn’t win the play, then the defense won the play.

On place kicks, it’s simple: if the kicking team scored the field the field goal or extra point, they won the play. On kick-offs, since touchbacks go out to the 25, any kickoff that ends with the receiving team having the ball no farther in than the 25 yards line is a win for the kicking team. Anything beyond that is a win for the receiving team. On a punt, the touchback comes out to the 20 so any punt that results in the other team getting the ball no further rout than their 20 is a win for the punting team. Also, any punt that gains the kicking at least 40 yards in field positon is a win for them. I’m not interested in how far the punt travels. I’m interested in where the other team will star their next play. Kick-offs after a safety will be judged as if they were punts. You want to get the ball at least a net 40 yards downfield. Ifg it’s within the 25, you obviously did that.

Turnovers are, obviously wins for the defense. This year I’ve decided to list them under the circumstances of the play, that is if it was a second down running play and there is a fumble, I’ll put “fumble” under “2R”, rather than listing it on a separate line under turnovers. It will be a lost play of the offense counted under second down running plays.

Sacks are counted as passing plays. “Victory” plays are wins for the team with the ball because they are just trying to get the clock moving so it will run out.

Penalties will be counted as plays under the circumstances of the play. If they negate a play or are tacked onto it, it’s part of the result of the play. A gain negated by an offside penalty is a -5 play. A 20 yard run turned into a 10 yard loss by a clip is a -10 play7. If you jump offside on second down and they blow the play dead, I’ll assume it was a passing play if it was at least second and five unless the play-by play says otherwise. Within 5 yards, I’ll assume it was a running play. If it was first down, I’ll assume a run, third or fourth down I’ll assume a pass, again unless it says otherwise. If it was a penalty not associated with a play, (unsportsmanlike conduct, etc. I’ll list it using the same assumptions about down and distance.

Beginning with the FLORIDA STATE game, I’m making one change in my evaluation of a winning play. If a team punts in the opposition’s territory, they are clearly looking to pin them down near their goal line and would at a touchback as a failure so a punt that produces a net change of less than 30 yards and results in a touchback will be a lost play. I’m not going to look back through all the plays in the other games I’ve analyzed and redo them but from now on less than thirty yards with a touchback is a lost play.

Glossary:

KICKS
KO = Kickoffs I’ll just list where the ball wound up, unless it was a TD or turnover.
P = Punts. I’ll list the net distance and where the ball wound up, unless it was a TD or turnover.
FG= Field Goal attempts. I’ll list the distance and ‘G’ (good) or ‘NG” (no good)
XP= Extra Points. Just G or NG unless it’s not from the normal distance due to a penalty. The penalty will be listed as a separate attempt (-5, -10, -15, etc) and lost paly for the kicking team.

SCRIMMAGE PLAYS
I’ll list the yardage gained or lost and put the yards needed for a first down or touchdown in parenthesis if other than 10, unless there is no gain or a loss, which would be a win for the defesne regardless of the yardage needed..
1r = First down rushing play.
1p= First down passing play.
Same for second down, (2r, 2p), third down (3r,3p) and fourth down (4r,4p)
I = Incomplete pass
INT = interception
FUM = fumble
TD = touchdown
P = penalty
S = sack
V= “Victory” play


When SYRACUSE had the ball:

KO: FSU 25, FSU 25, FSU 42, FSU 20
Total: Syracuse 3 Florida State 1
P: 43 (FSU5), 50 (FSU 17), 68 (FSU 13), 27 (FSU 41), 24 (FSU 20), 21 (FSU 20), 39 (FSU 35), 43 (FSU 18), 57 FSU 7)
Total: Syracuse 5 Florida State 4
FG: NONE
Total:
XP: GOOD, GOOD, GODD
Total: Syracuse 3 Florida State 0

Kicking plays total: Syracuse 11 Florida State 5

1r 3(4), -5P, 9, 11, 2, 9, 9, 11, 11, 6(7), -2V, 3, 2, 1, 3, 1, 2, 3, 9, 12, -5P, 1(15)
Total: Syracuse 11 Florida State 9
1p 2, 62, -15P, 10, I, I, I, I, -15P, 9(25)
Total: Syracuse 3 Florida State 7
First Down Total: Syracuse 14 Florida State 16
2r -1, 1TD, 5(6), 2(1), 4(1), 8(2), 1TD, -3, 9(8), 8, 0
Total: Syracuse 8 Florida State 4
2p 2(15), 3, I, 4, -3, I, I, 9(*), -4, I, 13, 16
Total: Syracuse 3 Florida State 8
Second Down Total: Syracuse 11 Florida State 12
3r 2(1), 0, 12(6), FUM, 3(2), 8(1), 1(3)
Total: Syracuse 4 Florida State 3
3p I, I, -6, I, 25, I, I, -5S, 10(14)
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 8
Third Down Total: Syracuse 5 Florida State 11
4r 1(2)
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 1
4p -5P
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 1
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 2

Total on running plays: Syracuse 23 Florida State 17
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 7 Florida State 24
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 30 Florida State 41

Game total when SYRACUSE had the ball: Syracuse 41 Florida State 46


When FLORIDA STATE had the ball:

KO: SU 25, SU 16, SU 25, SU 25, SU 25, SU 35, SU 35
Total: Syracuse 2 Florida State 5
P: 41 (FSU 49), 41 FSU 34), 32 (FSU 45), 24 (SU 20), 44 (SU 23), SU TD
Total: Syracuse 3 Florida State3
FG: 41 NO GOOD, 35 GOOD
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 1
XP: GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD
Total: Syracuse 0 Florida State 6

Kicking plays total: Syracuse 6 Florida State 15

1r 1, 4, 2, 5, 2TD, 7, 3, 6(3), 6(7), 0, 3, , 6, 6, 8, 28TD, 7, -1, 16, 2
Total: Syracuse 7 Florida State 11
1p 75TD, 11, 6, 45TD, 9, 8, 3, I, I, 20, 17, I, 11, I, I, 7
Total: Syracuse 6 Florida State 9
First Down Total: Syracuse 13 Florida State 20
2r 9(6), 21(4), 9(1), 3(2), 13(5), 7(3), 3(20), -5, 1TD, 9(2), 7(4), 16(2), 12(3), 1, (1(8)
Total: Syracuse 4 Florida State 11
2p -4, 1(8), I, -15P, 18(25), -10P, I, 5, 1(&), I, 10(11), -1
Total: Syracuse 9 Florida State 3
Second Down Total: Syracuse 13 Florida State 14
3r 4(7), 26(1)
Total: Syracuse 1 Florida State 1
3p -5P, -9S, 35(7), 13(7), 12(17), -5P, I, -5P, 19(15), I, 19TD, I, I, -5P, I
Total: Syracuse 10 Florida State 4
Third Down Total: Syracuse 11 Florida State 5
4r none
Total:
4p none
Total:
Fourth Down Total: none

Total on running plays: Syracuse 12 Florida State 23
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 25 Florida State 16
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 37 Florida State 39

Game total when FLORIDA STATE had the ball: Syracuse 43 Florida State 54

Overall Game Total: Syracuse 84 Florida State 100

Comment: We competed with Florida State better than it looked on TV and on the scoreboard. We ran the ball well and defended well on third downs. The whole problem was explosive plays: they got 7 plays from scrimmage of more than 20 yards and scored three TDs off of them, (all on first down plays). We got two such plays and no scores. We did get the 59 yard punt return from the Salt Badger. We were also 1-8 on third down passes, a big reason why we didn’t produce a lot of yardage: we got off the field too quickly.

 

[SWC75]

SEASON TOTALS

When SYRACUSE had the ball:

KO: Syracuse 33 Opponent 9
P: Syracuse 30 Opponent 9
FG: Syracuse 11 Opponent 4
XP: Syracuse 27 Opponent 1

Kicking plays total: Syracuse 101 Opponent 23

1r Syracuse 73 Opponent 87
1p Syracuse 47 Opponent 33
First Down Total: Syracuse 120 Opponent120
2r Syracuse 41 Opponent 40
2p Syracuse 33 Opponent 48
Second Down Total: Syracuse 74 Opponent 88
3r Syracuse 22 Opponent 25
3p Syracuse 25 Opponent 43
Third Down Total: Syracuse 47 Opponent 68
4r Syracuse 8 Opponent 5
4p Syracuse 0 Opponent 1
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 8 Opponent 6

Total on running plays: Syracuse 144 Opponent 157
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 105 Opponents 125
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 249 Opponent 282

Game total when SYRACUSE had the ball: Syracuse 350 Opponent 305


When THE OPPONENT had the ball:

KO: Syracuse 9 Opponent 28
P: Syracuse 16 Opponent 24
FG: Syracuse 5 Opponent 11
XP: Syracuse 0 Opponent 27

Kicking plays total: Syracuse 30 Opponent 90

1r Syracuse 81 Opponent 81
1p Syracuse 44 Opponent 52
First Down Total: Syracuse 125 Opponent 133
2r Syracuse 40 Opponent 61
2p Syracuse 49 Opponent 47
Second Down Total: Syracuse 89 Opponent 108
3r Syracuse 17 Opponent 21
3p Syracuse 54 Opponent 34
Third Down Total: Syracuse 71 Opponent 55
4r Syracuse 1 Opponent 2
4p Syracuse 1 Opponent 5
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 2 Opponent 7

Total on running plays: Syracuse 139 Opponent 165
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 148 Opponent 138
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 287 Opponent 303

Game total when our OPPONENT had the ball: Syracuse 317 Opponent 393

Overall game total: Syracuse 667 Opponent 698

Comments: We have learned to compete but we haven’t learned how to win. Look at the historical game totals below. The winning plays totals in our games against BCS opposition have been 83-83, 84-91, 84-89, 80-93, 85-98, 70-89 and 84-100. We’ve actually been very consistent, even as the opposition has changed, (which I guess makes us very inconsistent). But we’re in every game. We find ways to lose them or almost lose them against everybody in our division, whether they are better than us or not.

 

[SWC75]

Historical Winning Plays
(Game totals only)

2011
Syracuse 101 Wake Forest 87
Syracuse 92 Rhode Island 65
Syracuse 75 USC 90
Syracuse 96 Toledo 88
Syracuse 103 Rutgers 99
Syracuse 79 Tulane 99
Syracuse 90 West Virginia 84
Syracuse 74 Louisville 83
Syracuse 84 Connecticut 86
Syracuse 92 South Florida 106
Syracuse 83 Cincinnati 104
Syracuse 87 Pittsburgh 93
TOTAL: Syracuse 1,056 Opponents 1,117

2012
Syracuse 105 Northwestern 116
Syracuse 92 USC 98
Syracuse 93 Stony Brook 82
Syracuse 82 Minnesota 95
Syracuse 85 Pittsburgh 76
Syracuse 93 Rutgers 73
Syracuse 103 Connecticut 70
Syracuse 115 South Florida 92
Syracuse 96 Cincinnati 122
Syracuse 103 Louisville 86
Syracuse 92 Missouri 98
Syracuse 98 Temple 81
Syracuse 105 West Virginia 82
TOTAL: Syracuse 1,262 Opponents 1,171

2013
Syracuse 75 Penn State 113
Syracuse 92 Northwestern 114
Syracuse 115 Wagner 52
Syracuse 107 Tulane 76
Syracuse 64 Clemson 136
Syracuse 111 N C State 85
Syracuse 46 Georgia Tech 113
Syracuse 108 Wake Forest 81
Syracuse 92 Maryland 88
Syracuse 55 Florida State 104
Syracuse 80 Pittsburgh 96
Syracuse 100 Boston College 87
Syracuse 99 Minnesota 79
TOTAL: Syracuse 1,144 Opponents 1,224

2014
Syracuse 91 Villanova 103
Syracuse 99 Central Michigan 76
Syracuse 91 Maryland 91
Syracuse 71 Notre Dame 114
Syracuse 71 Louisville 100
Syracuse 80 Florida State 101
Syracuse 86 Wake Forest 77
Syracuse 75 Clemson 102
Syracuse 92 N C State 101
Syracuse 78 Duke 98
Syracuse 46 Pittsburgh 114
Syracuse 72 Boston College 78
TOTAL: Syracuse 952 Opponents 1,155

2015
Syracuse 96 Rhode Island 56
Syracuse 83 Wake Forest 83
Syracuse 84 Central Michigan 91
Syracuse 84 Louisiana State 89
Syracuse 80 South Florida 93
Syracuse 86 Virginia 97
Syracuse 70 Pittsburgh 89
Syracuse 84 Florida State 100
TOTAL: Syracuse 667 Opponents 698