Winning Plays: Virginia Tech

[SWC75]

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 20 yard run on first and ten and the holding was 15 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 tam 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.

When Syracuse had the ball:

Drive Starts: SU 25, SU 25, SU 20, SU 2, SU 25, SU 25, SU 12, SU 25, SU 34, SU 25, VT 45, SU 30 Average: 303/12 = SU 25 with 897 yards to go, (7 more than Virginia Tech in one less possession).

KO: VR 25, VT 25, VT 30, VT 25, VT 29, VT 13
Total: Syracuse 4 Virginia Tech 2
P: 40 to VR 30, 29 to VT 43, 33 to SU 46, 9 to SU 40, 40 to VT 25, 42 to VT 31
Total: Syracuse 3 Virginia Tech 3
FG: Good, Blocked and returned for -2 points, Good, Good, Good
Total: Syracuse 4 Virginia Tech 1
XP: No Good from 19
Total: Syracuse Virginia Tech
Kicking plays total: Syracuse 0 Virginia Tech 1

1r: 2, 6, 2, 7, -1, 2(11), 9TD, 23, 3, 0, 5, 1, 3, 0, 5, 3TD, 0, 12, 2(9)
Total: Syracuse 8 Virginia Tech 11
1p: 7, 1(15), 9, 18, 12, I, I, 17, I, I, -3(s), 9, I, 13, 45TD
Total: Syracuse 8 Virginia Tech 7
First Down Total: Syracuse 16 Virginia Tech 18
2r: 7(8), 20(4), 2(3), 21, 4(7), 17, 21TD, 6, 11, 8, -1
Total: Syracuse 10 Virginia Tech 1
2p: 3(8), I, 10(9), 38(3), I, I, I, I, 17, 8(5), I, I, I
Total: Syracuse 4 Virginia Tech 9
Second Down Total: Syracuse 14 Virginia Tech 10
3r: 3(1), 495), 9(11), 491), 8(3), 21913), 15(1), 6
Total: Syracuse 6 Virginia Tech 2
3p: I, 24(14), I, I, 10(12), I, I, 12(12)
Total: Syracuse 2 Virginia Tech 6
Third Down Total: Syracuse 8 Virginia Tech 8
4r: 28TD. 2(2), 6(4)
Total: Syracuse 3 Virginia Tech 0
4p: 9(2)
Total: Syracuse 1 Virginia Tech 0
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 4 Virginia Tech 0

Total on running plays: Syracuse 27 Virginia Tech 14
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 15 Virginia Tech 22
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 42 Virginia Tech 36

Penalties not tacked on to plays: -4, -1, -5, -5, -5 Syracuse 0 Virginia Tech 5

Game total when Syracuse had the ball: Syracuse 53 Virginia Tech 48


When Virginia Tech had the ball:

Drive Starts: VT 25, VT 25, VT 30, VT 43, VT 30, VT 20, VT 25, SU 46, SU 40, VT 25, VT 31, VT 29, VT 13 = Average 410/13 = VT 32 with 890 yards to go, 7 less than Syracuse (in one more possession)

KO: SU 25, SU 25, SU 25, SU 25, SU 25, VT 45
Total: Syracuse 1 Virginia Tech 5
P: 35 to SU 20, 57 to SU 2, 49 to SU 12, 32 to SU 30
Total: Syracuse 2 Virginia Tech 2
FG: Good from 48, Good from 33
Total: Syracuse 0 Virginia Tech 2
XP: Good, Good, Good, Good, Good
Total: Syracuse 0 Virginia Tech 7
Kicking plays total: Syracuse 3 Virginia Tech 14

1r: 8, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 3, 12, 4(8), 2, 3, 38, -3v, 26, 1, 5(7), 2, 10, 45, 2, 8, 2
Total: Syracuse 11 Virginia Tech 11
1p: 30, 30, I, I, I, I, 16, 29, I
Total: Syracuse 5 Virginia Tech 4
First Down Total: Syracuse 16 Virginia Tech 15
2r: 5(2), 1, 10(8), 1(5), 6(7), 4TD, -7, 3(7), 2, 1299), 2TD, 5, 1(2), 1(8)
Total: Syracuse 8 Virginia Tech 6
2p: 1(9), 22TD, 19(15), I, I, 11(8)
Total: Syracuse 3 Virginia Tech 3
Second Down Total: Syracuse 11 Virginia Tech 9
3r: 12(8), 7(4), 3(1), 4(8), 1(5), 47TD
Total: Syracuse 4 Virginia Tech 2
3p: 11(10), -10(s), -8(s), I, I, -10(s)
Total: Syracuse 1 Virginia Tech 5
Third Down Total: Syracuse 5 Virginia Tech 7
4r: none
Total: Syracuse 0 Virginia Tech 0
4p: I
Total: Syracuse 1 Virginia Tech 0
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 1 Virginia Tech 0

Total on running plays: Syracuse 23 Virginia Tech 19
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 10 Virginia Tech 12
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 33 Virginia Tech 31

Penalties not tacked on to plays: -5, +10 Syracuse 1 Virginia Tech 1

Game total when Virginia Tech had the ball: Syracuse 37 Virginia Tech 46

Overall Game total: Syracuse 90 Virginia Tech 94

Comments: Our second-down runs were amazing: we won the first 10 in a row and gained a total of 117 yards on those 10 carries. Finally, we lost a yard when Garrett Shrader fell on a fumble. Meanwhile, on defense , after giving up an 11 catch on 3rd and 10 in the first quarter, stopped five straight passes with two incompletions and three sacks totaling -28 yards!

The first quarter consisted of 2 ½ possessions. They had a 12 play 6 minutes and 11 touchdown drive. We answered with a 9 play, 4 minute and 11 second touchdown drive. They returned service with a 10 play 5 minute, 16 second touchdowns drive, the first 7 plays and 4:28 of which were in the first period, which ended with the Hokies having the ball at the 50 yard line.

I decided to keep track of explosive plays – gains from scrimmage of more than 20 yards, interception n returns of more than 20 yards, plus blocked kicks and kick returns of more than 20 yards or RFLs of more than 24 yards. Here’s the score this season:
Ohio U.: We had runs of 47 and 28 yards, a pass of 21, kickoff returns of 25 and 26, a punt return of 32 yards and an interception return of 23 yards. They had passes of 38, 32 and 39 yards, kickoff returns of 21, 24 and 27 yards. Total: 7-6
Rutgers: We had a 24TD run, a 51 yard pass and two 24 yard kickoff returns. They had a 30TD pass Total: 4-1
Albany: We had runs of 56TD, 26TD and 50, passes of 27(p), 73TD, 44, 72TD, 32(p) and 21 yards. They had passes of 30 and 20, a 25TD interception return and a -24 TFL. Total: 9-4
Liberty: We had a run of 27TD. They had runs of 26, 23TD and 30, passes of 23, 22, 25, 23TD, 33TD and 35 yards. Total: 1-9, (believe it or not)
Florida State: We had runs of 55TD and 32, passes of 26, 24 and 26TD, kickoff returns of 24, 29, 27, 39 and an interception return of 21(p) yards. They had runs of 20, 65, 33 and 25. Total: 10-4
Wake Forest: We had runs of 24, 25(p), passes of 21, 24TD, 29, 28, and kickoff returns of 20 and 22 yard They had passes of 42, 46TD, 25, 69TD, and 22TD and kickoff returns of 22, 23 yards. Total: 8-7
Clemson: We had runs of 54 and 39 and a pass of 62TD They had a run of 20, passes of 30 and 23 and a kickoff return of 23 Total: 3-4
Virginia Tech: We runs of 20, 28TD, 23, 21, 21TD and 21 yards, passes of 28, 24 and 45TD a 51 yard kick-off return They had runs of 38, 26, 45 and 47TD, passes of 22TD, 30, 30, the blocked extra point return, kick-off returns of 23 and 20 yards and a 40 yard punt return. Total: 10-11
Total for the season: SU 52 Opponents 46

This was 90-94 game: -4. These are the closest games to that in the Dino Babers Era:
2016: Syracuse 103 Virginia Tech 104 = -1 We won 31-17
2017: Syracuse 97 Pittsburgh 96 = +1 We won 27-24
2017: Syracuse 95 Clemson 97= -2 We won 27-24
2017: Syracuse 120 Wake Forest 125 = -5 We lost 43-64
2017: Syracuse 96 Louisville 100 = -4 We lost 10-56 (believe it or not)
2018: Syracuse 113 North Carolina 115 = -2 We won 40-37
2020: Syracuse 76 Louisville 81 = -5 We lost 0-30, (Louisville gets all the big plays)
2021: Syracuse 79 Liberty 83 = -4 We won 24-21
2021: Syracuse 90 Virginia Tech 94 = -4 We won 41-36

 

[SWC75]

When SYRACUSE had the ball:

Drive Starts: 261/9 = S29, 292/13 = S22, 540/14 = S39, 322/12 = S27, 498/14 = S36, 283/13 = SU22 Season: 2,195/75 = S29 with 5,305 yards to go, 44 more than the opposition.

KO: 3-3 + 2-0 + 10-0 + 4-0 + 5-1 + 5-1 + 3-0 + 4-2 = 36-7
P: 2-0 + 4-4 + 0-1 + 5-2 + 1-5 + 1-5 + 5-2 + 3-3 = 21-22
FG: 2-0 + 0-1 + 2-0 + 1-1 + 1-0 + 1-1 + 2-0 + 0-1 = 9-4
XP: 3-0 + 1-0 + 8-0 + 3-0 + 3-1 + 3-1 + 0-1 + 4-1 = 25-4
Kicking plays total: 10-3 + 7-5 + 20-1 + 13-3 + 10-7 + 10-8 + 10-3 + 11-7 = 91-37

1r: 16-8 + 5-9 + 12-12 + 15-12 + 13-9 + 15-10 + 10-11 + 8-11 = 94-82
1p: 5-1 + 4-8 + 5-4 + 1-2 + 5-3 + 6-6 + 3-5 + 8-7 = 37-36
First Down Total: 21-9 + 9-17 + 17-16 + 16-14 + 18-12 + 21-16 + 13-16 + 16-18 = 131-118
2r: 10-4 + 3-5 + 8-5 + 13-4 + 5-9 + 15-3 + 2-3 + 10-1 = 66-34
2p: 4-3 + 6-5 + 6-3 + 4-3 + 1-2 + 4-4 + 4-12 + 4-9 = 33-41
Second Down Total: 14-7 + 9-10 + 14-8 + 17-7 + 6-11 + 19-7 + 6-15 + 14-10 = 99-75
3r: 6-0 + 1-1 + 1-1 + 3-4 + 0-2 + 4-2 + 1-1 + 6-2 = 22-13
3p: 2-4 + 2-11 + 3-3 + 1-5 + 2-8 + 2-5 + 5-8 + 2-6 = 19-50
Third Down Total: 8-4 + 3-12 + 4-4 + 4-9 + 2-10 + 6-7 + 6-9 + 8-8 = 41-63
4r: 0-0 + 1-0 + 1-0 + 0-0 + 0-2 + 0-0 + 0-1 + 3-0 = 5-3
4p: 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-1 + 0-0 + 1-0 + 1-0 = 2-1
Fourth Down Total: 0-0 + 1-0 + 1-0 + 0-0 + 0-3 + 0-0 + 1-1 + 4-0 = 7-4

Total on running plays: 32-12 + 10-15 + 22-18 + 31-20 + 18-22 + 34-15 + 13-16 + 27-14 = 187-132
Total on passing plays: 11-8 + 12-24 + 14-10 + 6-10 + 8-14 + 12-15 + 13-25 + 15-22 = 91-128
Total on plays from scrimmage: 43-20 + 22-39 + 36-28 + 37-30 + 26-36 + 46-30 + 26-41 + 42-36 = 278-260

Penalties not tacked on to plays: 0-0 + 0-3 + 1-8 + 1-2 + 0-0 + 0-1+ 1-3 + 0-5 = 3-22

Game total when SYRACUSE had the ball: 53-23 + 29-47 + 57-37 + 51-35 + 36-43 + 56-39 + 37-47 + 53-48 = 372-319


When OPPONENT had the ball:

Drive Starts: 139/8 = O17, 573/14 = 41, 391/14 = O28, 289/12 = O24, 378/13 = O29, 469/14 = O34
Total: 2,239/75 = O30 with 5,261 yards to go, 44 less than Syracuse.

KO: 4-1 + 0-3 + 3-2 + 0-4 + 4-2 + 1-5 + 0-4 + 1-5 = 13-26
P: 1-0 + 0-6 + 5-4 + 0-5 + 2-4 + 2-3 + 3-5 + 2-2 = 15-29
FG: 1-3 + 1-1 + 0-1 + 1-0 + 0-2 + 0-2 + 0-1 + 0-2 = 3-12
XP: 0-0 + 0-2 + 0-3 + 0-3 + 1-3 + 1-2 + 0-2 + 0-5 = 2-20
Kicking plays total: 6-4 + 1-12 + 8-10 + 1-12 + 7-11 + 4-12 + 3-12 + 3-14 = 33-87

1r: 7-9 + 5-12 + 9-3 + 7-8 + 7-10 + 15-9 + 7-12 + 11-11 = 68-74
1p: 5-5 + 5-6 + 7-5 + 6-9 + 8-7 + 4-7 + 5-7 + 5-4 = 45-50
First Down Total: 12-14 + 10-18 + 16-8 + 13-17 + 15-17 + 19-16 + 12-19 + 16-15 = 113-124
2r: 3-9 + 6-6 + 5-1 + 3-9 + 5-4 + 7-7 + 3-9 + 8-6 = 40-51
2p: 5-5 + 3-9 + 7-4 + 3-4 + 6-5 + 4-8 + 10-5 + 3-3 = 41-43
Second Down Total: 8-14 + 9-15 + 12-5 + 6-13 + 11-9 + 11-15 + 13-14 + 11-9 = 81-94
3r: 2-3 + 5-3 + 4-1 + 1-5 + 5-4 + 0-4 + 2-1 + 4-2 = 23-23
3p: 4-3 + 7-0 + 4-4 + 5-0 + 4-2 + 8-4 + 7-5 + 1-5 = 40-23
Third Down Total: 6-6 + 12-3 + 8-5 + 6-5 + 9-6 + 8-8 + 9-6 + 5-7 = 63-46
4r: 0-1 + 1-3 + 0-0 + 1-0 + 0-1 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 = 2-5
4p: 1-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-1 + 0-1 + 1-0 + 1-0 = 3-2
Fourth Down Total: 1-1 + 1-3 + 0-0 + 1-0 + 0-2 + 0-1 + 1-0 = 5-7

Total on running plays: 12-22 + 17-24 + 18-5 + 12-22 + 17-19 + 22-20 + 12-22 + 23-19 = 133-153
Total on passing plays: 15-13 + 15-15 + 18-13 + 14-13 + 18-15 + 16-20 + 23-17 + 10-12 = 129-118
Total on plays from scrimmage: 27-35 + 32-39 + 36-18 + 26-35 + 35-34 + 38-39 + 35-39 + 33-31 = 262-271

Penalties not tacked on to plays: 0-1 + 2-3 + 2-4 + 1-1 + 1-2 + 4-1 + 4-1 + 1-1= 15-14

Game total when OPPONENT had the ball: 33-40 + 35-54 + 46-32 + 28-48 + 41-47 + 46-53 + 42-52 + 37-46 = 310-372

Overall game total: 86-63 + 64-101 + 103-69 + 79-83 + 79-90 + 102-92 + 79-99 + 90-94 = 682-691

Comments: We are +63 (372-319) when we have the ball and -62 (310-372) when our opponents have the ball. Defensively, we’re pretty good on 3rd and 4th down, (especially third down passes: 40-23), but give up too much on 1st and 2nd down. We also just have 6 takeovers in 8 games after 31, 25 and 24, (total: 80), in the last three years (36 games) and are -2 for the year.

We are now a dreadful 19-50 on third down passes. We and our opposition have gained first downs or touchdowns 42 times from 132 third down passes, (32%)


HISTORICAL WINNING PLAYS (Babers Era – game totals only)

2016
Syracuse 101 Colgate 74 = +27
Syracuse 99 Louisville 132 = -33
Syracuse 95 South Florida 116 = -21
Syracuse 91 Connecticut 99 = -8
Syracuse 98 Notre Dame 111 = -13
Syracuse 72 Wake Forest 101 = -29
Syracuse 103 Virginia Tech 104 = -1
Syracuse 93 Boston College 84 = +9
Syracuse 74 Clemson 120 = -46
Syracuse 71 North Carolina State 103 = -32
Syracuse 71 Florida State 120 = -49
Syracuse 107 Pittsburgh 118 = -11
TOTAL: Syracuse 1075 Opponent 1282 = -207 We 'won' 2 of 12 games.

2017
Syracuse 132 Central Connecticut 65 = +67
Syracuse 104 Middle Tennessee 98 = +6
Syracuse 107 Central Michigan 100 = +7
Syracuse 80 Louisiana State 103 = -23
Syracuse 93 North Carolina State 112 = -19
Syracuse 97 Pittsburgh 96 = +1
Syracuse 95 Clemson 97= -2
Syracuse 86 Miami 119 = -33
Syracuse 90 Florida State 108 = -18
Syracuse 120 Wake Forest 125 = -5
Syracuse 96 Louisville 100 = -4
Syracuse 77 Boston College 87 = -10
TOTAL: Syracuse 1177 Opponents 1210 = -33 We ‘won’ 4 of12 games

2018
Syracuse 109 Western Michigan 96 = +13
Syracuse 139 Wagner 65 = +74
Syracuse 113 Florida State 77 = +36
Syracuse 109 Connecticut 83 = +26
Syracuse 86 Clemson 102= -16
Syracuse 99 Pittsburgh 97 = +2
Syracuse 113 North Carolina 115 = -2
Syracuse 113 North Carolina State 96 = +17
Syracuse 117 Wake Forest 107 = +10
Syracuse 124 Louisville 83 = +41
Syracuse 86 Notre Dame 99 = -13
Syracuse 110 Boston College 96 = +14
Syracuse 116 West Virginia 79 +37
TOTAL: Syracuse 1434 Opponents 1195 = +239 We ‘won’ 10 of 13 games

2019
Syracuse 104 Liberty 84 = +20
Syracuse 82 Maryland 112 = -30
Syracuse 77 Clemson 113 = -36
Syracuse 113 Western Michigan 99 =+14
Syracuse 110 Holy Cross 67 = +43
Syracuse 78 North Carolina State 100 = -22
Syracuse 92 Pittsburgh 114 = -22
Syracuse 96 Florida State 115 = -19
Syracuse 76 Boston College 119 = -43
Syracuse 107 Duke 78 = +29
Syracuse 85 Louisville 104 = -19
Syracuse 118 Wake Forest 111 = +7
TOTAL: Syracuse 1138 Opponents 1216 = -78 We ‘won’ 5 of 12 games

2020
Syracuse 70 North Carolina 114 = -44
Syracuse 78 Pittsburgh 89 = -11
Syracuse 108 Georgia Tech 102 = +6
Syracuse 79 Duke 114 = -35
Syracuse 77 Liberty 93 = -16
Syracuse 72 Clemson 112 = -40
Syracuse 76 Wake Forest 99 = -23
Syracuse 68 Boston College 96 = -28
Syracuse 76 Louisville 81 = -5
Syracuse 76 North Carolina State 108 = -32
Syracuse 82 Notre Dame 100 = -18
TOTAL: Syracuse 862 Opponents 1108 = -248 We ‘won’ 1 of 11 games

2021
Syracuse 86 Ohio U. 63 = +23
Syracuse 64 Rutgers 101 = -37
Syracuse 103 Albany 69 = +34
Syracuse 79 Liberty 83 = -4
Syracuse 79 Florida State 90 = -11
Syracuse 102 Wake Forest 92 = +10
Syracuse 79 Clemson 99 = -20
Syracuse 90 Virginia Tech 94 = -4
TOTAL: Syracuse 682-691= -9 We’ve won 3 of 8 games

Totals since 2016: Syracuse has won 6,368 plays, (48.7%) and 25 games, (37.3%). The opposition has won 6,702 plays and 43 games. They’ve obtained their goals on 334 more plays than we have in 68 games, an average of 4.9 plays a game.

 

[kcsu]

When SYRACUSE had the ball:

Drive Starts: 261/9 = S29, 292/13 = S22, 540/14 = S39, 322/12 = S27, 498/14 = S36, 283/13 = SU22 Season: 2,195/75 = S29 with 5,305 yards to go, 44 more than the opposition.

KO: 3-3 + 2-0 + 10-0 + 4-0 + 5-1 + 5-1 + 3-0 + 4-2 = 36-7
P: 2-0 + 4-4 + 0-1 + 5-2 + 1-5 + 1-5 + 5-2 + 3-3 = 21-22
FG: 2-0 + 0-1 + 2-0 + 1-1 + 1-0 + 1-1 + 2-0 + 0-1 = 9-4
XP: 3-0 + 1-0 + 8-0 + 3-0 + 3-1 + 3-1 + 0-1 + 4-1 = 25-4
Kicking plays total: 10-3 + 7-5 + 20-1 + 13-3 + 10-7 + 10-8 + 10-3 + 11-7 = 91-37

1r: 16-8 + 5-9 + 12-12 + 15-12 + 13-9 + 15-10 + 10-11 + 8-11 = 94-82
1p: 5-1 + 4-8 + 5-4 + 1-2 + 5-3 + 6-6 + 3-5 + 8-7 = 37-36
First Down Total: 21-9 + 9-17 + 17-16 + 16-14 + 18-12 + 21-16 + 13-16 + 16-18 = 131-118
2r: 10-4 + 3-5 + 8-5 + 13-4 + 5-9 + 15-3 + 2-3 + 10-1 = 66-34
2p: 4-3 + 6-5 + 6-3 + 4-3 + 1-2 + 4-4 + 4-12 + 4-9 = 33-41
Second Down Total: 14-7 + 9-10 + 14-8 + 17-7 + 6-11 + 19-7 + 6-15 + 14-10 = 99-75
3r: 6-0 + 1-1 + 1-1 + 3-4 + 0-2 + 4-2 + 1-1 + 6-2 = 22-13
3p: 2-4 + 2-11 + 3-3 + 1-5 + 2-8 + 2-5 + 5-8 + 2-6 = 19-50
Third Down Total: 8-4 + 3-12 + 4-4 + 4-9 + 2-10 + 6-7 + 6-9 + 8-8 = 41-63
4r: 0-0 + 1-0 + 1-0 + 0-0 + 0-2 + 0-0 + 0-1 + 3-0 = 5-3
4p: 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-1 + 0-0 + 1-0 + 1-0 = 2-1
Fourth Down Total: 0-0 + 1-0 + 1-0 + 0-0 + 0-3 + 0-0 + 1-1 + 4-0 = 7-4

Total on running plays: 32-12 + 10-15 + 22-18 + 31-20 + 18-22 + 34-15 + 13-16 + 27-14 = 187-132
Total on passing plays: 11-8 + 12-24 + 14-10 + 6-10 + 8-14 + 12-15 + 13-25 + 15-22 = 91-128
Total on plays from scrimmage: 43-20 + 22-39 + 36-28 + 37-30 + 26-36 + 46-30 + 26-41 + 42-36 = 278-260

Penalties not tacked on to plays: 0-0 + 0-3 + 1-8 + 1-2 + 0-0 + 0-1+ 1-3 + 0-5 = 3-22

Game total when SYRACUSE had the ball: 53-23 + 29-47 + 57-37 + 51-35 + 36-43 + 56-39 + 37-47 + 53-48 = 372-319


When OPPONENT had the ball:

Drive Starts: 139/8 = O17, 573/14 = 41, 391/14 = O28, 289/12 = O24, 378/13 = O29, 469/14 = O34
Total: 2,239/75 = O30 with 5,261 yards to go, 44 less than Syracuse.

KO: 4-1 + 0-3 + 3-2 + 0-4 + 4-2 + 1-5 + 0-4 + 1-5 = 13-26
P: 1-0 + 0-6 + 5-4 + 0-5 + 2-4 + 2-3 + 3-5 + 2-2 = 15-29
FG: 1-3 + 1-1 + 0-1 + 1-0 + 0-2 + 0-2 + 0-1 + 0-2 = 3-12
XP: 0-0 + 0-2 + 0-3 + 0-3 + 1-3 + 1-2 + 0-2 + 0-5 = 2-20
Kicking plays total: 6-4 + 1-12 + 8-10 + 1-12 + 7-11 + 4-12 + 3-12 + 3-14 = 33-87

1r: 7-9 + 5-12 + 9-3 + 7-8 + 7-10 + 15-9 + 7-12 + 11-11 = 68-74
1p: 5-5 + 5-6 + 7-5 + 6-9 + 8-7 + 4-7 + 5-7 + 5-4 = 45-50
First Down Total: 12-14 + 10-18 + 16-8 + 13-17 + 15-17 + 19-16 + 12-19 + 16-15 = 113-124
2r: 3-9 + 6-6 + 5-1 + 3-9 + 5-4 + 7-7 + 3-9 + 8-6 = 40-51
2p: 5-5 + 3-9 + 7-4 + 3-4 + 6-5 + 4-8 + 10-5 + 3-3 = 41-43
Second Down Total: 8-14 + 9-15 + 12-5 + 6-13 + 11-9 + 11-15 + 13-14 + 11-9 = 81-94
3r: 2-3 + 5-3 + 4-1 + 1-5 + 5-4 + 0-4 + 2-1 + 4-2 = 23-23
3p: 4-3 + 7-0 + 4-4 + 5-0 + 4-2 + 8-4 + 7-5 + 1-5 = 40-23
Third Down Total: 6-6 + 12-3 + 8-5 + 6-5 + 9-6 + 8-8 + 9-6 + 5-7 = 63-46
4r: 0-1 + 1-3 + 0-0 + 1-0 + 0-1 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 = 2-5
4p: 1-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-1 + 0-1 + 1-0 + 1-0 = 3-2
Fourth Down Total: 1-1 + 1-3 + 0-0 + 1-0 + 0-2 + 0-1 + 1-0 = 5-7

Total on running plays: 12-22 + 17-24 + 18-5 + 12-22 + 17-19 + 22-20 + 12-22 + 23-19 = 133-153
Total on passing plays: 15-13 + 15-15 + 18-13 + 14-13 + 18-15 + 16-20 + 23-17 + 10-12 = 129-118
Total on plays from scrimmage: 27-35 + 32-39 + 36-18 + 26-35 + 35-34 + 38-39 + 35-39 + 33-31 = 262-271

Penalties not tacked on to plays: 0-1 + 2-3 + 2-4 + 1-1 + 1-2 + 4-1 + 4-1 + 1-1= 15-14

Game total when OPPONENT had the ball: 33-40 + 35-54 + 46-32 + 28-48 + 41-47 + 46-53 + 42-52 + 37-46 = 310-372

Overall game total: 86-63 + 64-101 + 103-69 + 79-83 + 79-90 + 102-92 + 79-99 + 90-94 = 682-691

Comments: We are +63 (372-319) when we have the ball and -62 (310-372) when our opponents have the ball. Defensively, we’re pretty good on 3rd and 4th down, (especially third down passes: 40-23), but give up too much on 1st and 2nd down. We also just have 6 takeovers in 8 games after 31, 25 and 24, (total: 80), in the last three years (36 games) and are -2 for the year.

We are now a dreadful 19-50 on third down passes. We and our opposition have gained first downs or touchdowns 42 times from 132 third down passes, (32%)


HISTORICAL WINNING PLAYS (Babers Era – game totals only)

2016
Syracuse 101 Colgate 74 = +27
Syracuse 99 Louisville 132 = -33
Syracuse 95 South Florida 116 = -21
Syracuse 91 Connecticut 99 = -8
Syracuse 98 Notre Dame 111 = -13
Syracuse 72 Wake Forest 101 = -29
Syracuse 103 Virginia Tech 104 = -1
Syracuse 93 Boston College 84 = +9
Syracuse 74 Clemson 120 = -46
Syracuse 71 North Carolina State 103 = -32
Syracuse 71 Florida State 120 = -49
Syracuse 107 Pittsburgh 118 = -11
TOTAL: Syracuse 1075 Opponent 1282 = -207 We 'won' 2 of 12 games.

2017
Syracuse 132 Central Connecticut 65 = +67
Syracuse 104 Middle Tennessee 98 = +6
Syracuse 107 Central Michigan 100 = +7
Syracuse 80 Louisiana State 103 = -23
Syracuse 93 North Carolina State 112 = -19
Syracuse 97 Pittsburgh 96 = +1
Syracuse 95 Clemson 97= -2
Syracuse 86 Miami 119 = -33
Syracuse 90 Florida State 108 = -18
Syracuse 120 Wake Forest 125 = -5
Syracuse 96 Louisville 100 = -4
Syracuse 77 Boston College 87 = -10
TOTAL: Syracuse 1177 Opponents 1210 = -33 We ‘won’ 4 of12 games

2018
Syracuse 109 Western Michigan 96 = +13
Syracuse 139 Wagner 65 = +74
Syracuse 113 Florida State 77 = +36
Syracuse 109 Connecticut 83 = +26
Syracuse 86 Clemson 102= -16
Syracuse 99 Pittsburgh 97 = +2
Syracuse 113 North Carolina 115 = -2
Syracuse 113 North Carolina State 96 = +17
Syracuse 117 Wake Forest 107 = +10
Syracuse 124 Louisville 83 = +41
Syracuse 86 Notre Dame 99 = -13
Syracuse 110 Boston College 96 = +14
Syracuse 116 West Virginia 79 +37
TOTAL: Syracuse 1434 Opponents 1195 = +239 We ‘won’ 10 of 13 games

2019
Syracuse 104 Liberty 84 = +20
Syracuse 82 Maryland 112 = -30
Syracuse 77 Clemson 113 = -36
Syracuse 113 Western Michigan 99 =+14
Syracuse 110 Holy Cross 67 = +43
Syracuse 78 North Carolina State 100 = -22
Syracuse 92 Pittsburgh 114 = -22
Syracuse 96 Florida State 115 = -19
Syracuse 76 Boston College 119 = -43
Syracuse 107 Duke 78 = +29
Syracuse 85 Louisville 104 = -19
Syracuse 118 Wake Forest 111 = +7
TOTAL: Syracuse 1138 Opponents 1216 = -78 We ‘won’ 5 of 12 games

2020
Syracuse 70 North Carolina 114 = -44
Syracuse 78 Pittsburgh 89 = -11
Syracuse 108 Georgia Tech 102 = +6
Syracuse 79 Duke 114 = -35
Syracuse 77 Liberty 93 = -16
Syracuse 72 Clemson 112 = -40
Syracuse 76 Wake Forest 99 = -23
Syracuse 68 Boston College 96 = -28
Syracuse 76 Louisville 81 = -5
Syracuse 76 North Carolina State 108 = -32
Syracuse 82 Notre Dame 100 = -18
TOTAL: Syracuse 862 Opponents 1108 = -248 We ‘won’ 1 of 11 games

2021
Syracuse 86 Ohio U. 63 = +23
Syracuse 64 Rutgers 101 = -37
Syracuse 103 Albany 69 = +34
Syracuse 79 Liberty 83 = -4
Syracuse 79 Florida State 90 = -11
Syracuse 102 Wake Forest 92 = +10
Syracuse 79 Clemson 99 = -20
Syracuse 90 Virginia Tech 94 = -4
TOTAL: Syracuse 682-691= -9 We’ve won 3 of 8 games

Totals since 2016: Syracuse has won 6,368 plays, (48.7%) and 25 games, (37.3%). The opposition has won 6,702 plays and 43 games. They’ve obtained their goals on 334 more plays than we have in 68 games, an average of 4.9 plays a game.

These post are exceptional. I appreciate the time and effort you put into each of your post. I have no idea what you did/do professionally but i guarantee you were/ are very good at it.
Thank you.

 

[SWC75]

These post are exceptional. I appreciate the time and effort you put into each of your post. I have no idea what you did/do professionally but i guarantee you were/ are very good at it.
Thank you.

I am retired and really good at it!

 

[TheHaze315]

These posts are amazing, really good read. appreciate the effort that goes into this.

 

[All4SU]

Dino needs an analytics guy. I nominate SWC.

 

[SWC75]

Dino needs an analytics guy. I nominate SWC.

I'm reading Homer Smith's book as we speak.

 

[All4SU]

I'm reading Homer Smith's book as we speak.

What are the odds of that!

 

[721Comstock]

What are the odds of that!

Dino wouldn't know!

 

[tbonezone]

has there been any discussion of THE HOKIES calling a timeout with 5 seconds left before the half to give us a chance to kick ? that was dino stoopid . of course we missed the gimme.