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 takeovers on fumbles, interceptions and downs.
When Syracuse had the ball:
Drive Starts: SU 17, SU 25, SU 25, ST 23, SU 30, SU 25, SU 15, SU 25, SU 25, SU 32, SU 25, SU 40 = 361/12 = SU 30 with 839 yards to go, (51 less than Stanford).
KO: ST 25, ST 25, ST 25, ST 25
Total: Syracuse 4 Stanford 0
P: 45 to ST 22, 35 to ST 29(p), 50 to ST 24, 24 to ST 20, 52 to ST17, 50 to ST 20
Total: Syracuse 5 Stanford 1
FG: Good from 20
Total: Syracuse 1 Stanford 0
XP: Good, Good, Good
Total: Syracuse 3 Stanford 0
Kicking plays total: Syracuse 13 Stanford 1
1r: 6, 2, 2, 7, 6, 0, 3, 19TD, -2, 9
Total: Syracuse 5 Stanford 5
1p: 10, 2, 11, I, 32(15), -8(s), I, I, -1, I, I, 16, 6, INT, 17, 3, 13TD
Total: Syracuse 7 Stanford 11
First Down Total: Syracuse 12 Stanford 16
2r: 0, 1(2), 4(1)
Total: Syracuse 1 Stanford 2
2p: I, 8, -1(s), -9(s), 16(18), 6(4), 4, 5, 11(17), 11(20), 8(20), 16, 4(4), 11(7), 7(12), I
Total: Syracuse 11 Stanford 5
Second Down Total: Syracuse 12 Stanford 7
3r: None
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 0
3p: I, I, 12(21), I, -9(s), 67TD, I, 6(5), 14(9), INT-TD, I, 24(17)
Total: Syracuse 4 Stanford 8
Third Down Total: Syracuse 4 Stanford 8
4r: None
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 0
4p: None
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 0
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 0
Total on running plays: Syracuse 6 Stanford 7
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 22 Stanford 24
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 28 Stanford 31
Penalties not tacked on to plays: -5, -10, -10, -10 Syracuse 0 Stanford 4
Game total when Syracuse had the ball: Syracuse Stanford
Big Plays: Int, 32p, 67TDp, INT, 24p (5)
Overall Game Total: Syracuse 41 Stanford 36
Comments: We didn’t have much of a running game, in part because sacks are deducted from the running total, in part because, being behind almost the whole game, we didn’t run the ball much and in part because we didn’t run the ball very well. We ran it on first down 10 times and gained 52 yards. Not bad but 19 of that was on Kyle McCord’s scramble for a TD. On second down we ran it 3 times and gained 5 yards. We didn’t attempt a third down running play at all, because we weren’t close enough to do so.
Our passing plays were a mixed bag but there were so many passes it was productive enough to keep us in the game and almost win it. Four sacks and two interceptions were difficult to overcome. We were 4-8 on third down plays – all passes, (we didn’t go for it on 4th down).
When Stanford had the ball:
Drive Starts: ST 25, ST 22, ST 29, ST 24, ST 25, ST 20, ST 25, ST 17, ST 25, SU 47, ST 20, ST 25 = 310/12 = ST 26 with 890 yards to go.
KO: SU 25, SU 25, SU 25, SU 25, SU 25
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 5
P: 45 to SU 30, 47 to SU 32, 40 to SU 40
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 3
FG: Good from 38, Good from 51, Good from 35, Good from 39
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 4
XP: Good, Good
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 2
Kicking plays total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 14
1r: 3, 13, 6, -1, 7, 1, 1, 47, 4, 8, 5, 6, 1, 0, 5, 0, 2
Total: Syracuse 8 Stanford 9
1p: 10, 5, I, 19, I, -2, -8(s), 14, I, 8, 8, I, 0, 8, I
Total: Syracuse 8 Stanford 7
First Down Total: Syracuse 16 Stanford 16
2r: 3(12), 10(5), 1, 1(11), 15(3), 1(4), 6(16), 6(2), 3(4), 9(2)
Total: Syracuse 5 Stanford 5
2p: 13, 12(19), INT, -2, 6(5), INT, -4, 7, -3, I, 8, 11(20)
Total: Syracuse 6 Stanford 6
Second Down Total: Syracuse 11 Stanford 11
3r: 8(30), 0, 10(2)
Total: Syracuse 2 Stanford 1
3p: I, 17TD, 10(9), I, 5(3), I, I, 4(3), I, I
Total: Syracuse 6 Stanford 4
Third Down Total: Syracuse 8 Stanford 5
4r: 2(1)
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 1
4p: 27(9)
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 1
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 2
Total on running plays: Syracuse 15 Stanford 16
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 20 Stanford 18
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 35 Stanford 34
Penalties not tacked on to plays: -5, -5, +15, -10, -5, -10, -10, -10, -5 Syracuse 1 Stanford 7
Game total when Stanford had the ball: Syracuse 36 Stanford 55
Big Plays: 47r, INT-TD, INT, 27(9)p, (4)
Overall Game Total: Syracuse 77 Stanford 91
Comments: We continue to be excellent in red zone defense, holding the Cardinal to 4 field goals. That was enough for them to win but those weren’t touchdowns. We were 8-6 on defensive 3rd and fourth down.
This actually was a highly competitive game. We were 6-7 on offensive running plays, 22-24 on offensive passing plays, 15-16 on defensive running plays and 20-18 on defensive passing plays.
This was a -14 game, (77 plays won – 91 lost). The most similar games since the beginning of the Dino Babers Era:
2016 Syracuse 98 Notre Dame 111 = -13 SU lost 33-50
2018 Syracuse 86 Clemson 102= -16 SU lost 23-27
2018 Syracuse 86 Notre Dame 99 = -13 SU lost 3-36
2020 Syracuse 77 Liberty 93 = -16 SU lost 21-38
2023 Syracuse 81 Clemson 95 = -14 SU lost 14-31
That’s 0-5, folks. It’s kind of amazing that we had such a chance to win this one with that historical record.
- 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 takeovers on fumbles, interceptions and downs.
When Syracuse had the ball:
Drive Starts: SU 17, SU 25, SU 25, ST 23, SU 30, SU 25, SU 15, SU 25, SU 25, SU 32, SU 25, SU 40 = 361/12 = SU 30 with 839 yards to go, (51 less than Stanford).
KO: ST 25, ST 25, ST 25, ST 25
Total: Syracuse 4 Stanford 0
P: 45 to ST 22, 35 to ST 29(p), 50 to ST 24, 24 to ST 20, 52 to ST17, 50 to ST 20
Total: Syracuse 5 Stanford 1
FG: Good from 20
Total: Syracuse 1 Stanford 0
XP: Good, Good, Good
Total: Syracuse 3 Stanford 0
Kicking plays total: Syracuse 13 Stanford 1
1r: 6, 2, 2, 7, 6, 0, 3, 19TD, -2, 9
Total: Syracuse 5 Stanford 5
1p: 10, 2, 11, I, 32(15), -8(s), I, I, -1, I, I, 16, 6, INT, 17, 3, 13TD
Total: Syracuse 7 Stanford 11
First Down Total: Syracuse 12 Stanford 16
2r: 0, 1(2), 4(1)
Total: Syracuse 1 Stanford 2
2p: I, 8, -1(s), -9(s), 16(18), 6(4), 4, 5, 11(17), 11(20), 8(20), 16, 4(4), 11(7), 7(12), I
Total: Syracuse 11 Stanford 5
Second Down Total: Syracuse 12 Stanford 7
3r: None
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 0
3p: I, I, 12(21), I, -9(s), 67TD, I, 6(5), 14(9), INT-TD, I, 24(17)
Total: Syracuse 4 Stanford 8
Third Down Total: Syracuse 4 Stanford 8
4r: None
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 0
4p: None
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 0
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 0
Total on running plays: Syracuse 6 Stanford 7
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 22 Stanford 24
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 28 Stanford 31
Penalties not tacked on to plays: -5, -10, -10, -10 Syracuse 0 Stanford 4
Game total when Syracuse had the ball: Syracuse Stanford
Big Plays: Int, 32p, 67TDp, INT, 24p (5)
Overall Game Total: Syracuse 41 Stanford 36
Comments: We didn’t have much of a running game, in part because sacks are deducted from the running total, in part because, being behind almost the whole game, we didn’t run the ball much and in part because we didn’t run the ball very well. We ran it on first down 10 times and gained 52 yards. Not bad but 19 of that was on Kyle McCord’s scramble for a TD. On second down we ran it 3 times and gained 5 yards. We didn’t attempt a third down running play at all, because we weren’t close enough to do so.
Our passing plays were a mixed bag but there were so many passes it was productive enough to keep us in the game and almost win it. Four sacks and two interceptions were difficult to overcome. We were 4-8 on third down plays – all passes, (we didn’t go for it on 4th down).
When Stanford had the ball:
Drive Starts: ST 25, ST 22, ST 29, ST 24, ST 25, ST 20, ST 25, ST 17, ST 25, SU 47, ST 20, ST 25 = 310/12 = ST 26 with 890 yards to go.
KO: SU 25, SU 25, SU 25, SU 25, SU 25
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 5
P: 45 to SU 30, 47 to SU 32, 40 to SU 40
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 3
FG: Good from 38, Good from 51, Good from 35, Good from 39
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 4
XP: Good, Good
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 2
Kicking plays total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 14
1r: 3, 13, 6, -1, 7, 1, 1, 47, 4, 8, 5, 6, 1, 0, 5, 0, 2
Total: Syracuse 8 Stanford 9
1p: 10, 5, I, 19, I, -2, -8(s), 14, I, 8, 8, I, 0, 8, I
Total: Syracuse 8 Stanford 7
First Down Total: Syracuse 16 Stanford 16
2r: 3(12), 10(5), 1, 1(11), 15(3), 1(4), 6(16), 6(2), 3(4), 9(2)
Total: Syracuse 5 Stanford 5
2p: 13, 12(19), INT, -2, 6(5), INT, -4, 7, -3, I, 8, 11(20)
Total: Syracuse 6 Stanford 6
Second Down Total: Syracuse 11 Stanford 11
3r: 8(30), 0, 10(2)
Total: Syracuse 2 Stanford 1
3p: I, 17TD, 10(9), I, 5(3), I, I, 4(3), I, I
Total: Syracuse 6 Stanford 4
Third Down Total: Syracuse 8 Stanford 5
4r: 2(1)
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 1
4p: 27(9)
Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 1
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 0 Stanford 2
Total on running plays: Syracuse 15 Stanford 16
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 20 Stanford 18
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 35 Stanford 34
Penalties not tacked on to plays: -5, -5, +15, -10, -5, -10, -10, -10, -5 Syracuse 1 Stanford 7
Game total when Stanford had the ball: Syracuse 36 Stanford 55
Big Plays: 47r, INT-TD, INT, 27(9)p, (4)
Overall Game Total: Syracuse 77 Stanford 91
Comments: We continue to be excellent in red zone defense, holding the Cardinal to 4 field goals. That was enough for them to win but those weren’t touchdowns. We were 8-6 on defensive 3rd and fourth down.
This actually was a highly competitive game. We were 6-7 on offensive running plays, 22-24 on offensive passing plays, 15-16 on defensive running plays and 20-18 on defensive passing plays.
This was a -14 game, (77 plays won – 91 lost). The most similar games since the beginning of the Dino Babers Era:
2016 Syracuse 98 Notre Dame 111 = -13 SU lost 33-50
2018 Syracuse 86 Clemson 102= -16 SU lost 23-27
2018 Syracuse 86 Notre Dame 99 = -13 SU lost 3-36
2020 Syracuse 77 Liberty 93 = -16 SU lost 21-38
2023 Syracuse 81 Clemson 95 = -14 SU lost 14-31
That’s 0-5, folks. It’s kind of amazing that we had such a chance to win this one with that historical record.
