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 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 37, SU 20, SU 8, 50, SU 5, SU 15, SU 25, SU 25, SU 44, VT 39, SU 25, SU 25, VT 25 = 415/13 = SU 32 with 885 YTG, 74 less than VT in one less possession.

KO: VT 16, VT 25, VT30(p), VT 25, VT 25, VT 25
Total: Syracuse 5 Virginia Tech 1
P: 38 to VY 20, 56 to VT 27, 41 to VT 48, 46 to VT 24, 20 to SU 37(p)
Total: Syracuse 4 Virginia Tech 1
FG: Good from 44
Total: Syracuse 1 Virginia Tech 0
XP: Good, Try-Good, Blocked, Good, Good
Total: Syracuse 4 Virginia Tech 1
Kicking plays total: Syracuse 14 Virginia Tech 3

1r: 1, 2, 14, 8, 7, 6, 10, 0, 1, 2(15), 3(4), 2, 0, 6, 17(p), 3, 2, 0, 9TD
Total: Syracuse 10 Virginia Tech 9
1p: 15, 7, 7, 2, INT, 6, I, FUM, 55TD, 2, 41, I, 3, 16
Total: Syracuse 7 Virginia Tech 7
First Down Total: Syracuse 17 Virginia Tech 16
2r: 3(2), 0, 0, 7(8), 1TD, 1(4), 6(7), 1(1)
Total: Syracuse 5 Virginia Tech 3
2p: I, I, 6(3), I, I, 6, I, 12(8), I, 28TD, 3, 6(7), 11(8)
Total: Syracuse 6 Virginia Tech 7
Second Down Total: Syracuse 11 Virginia Tech 10
3r: 2(3), 25(4), 2(1), 1(1), 15(1)
Total: Syracuse 4 Virginia Tech 1
3p: 4, I, -1, I, 12(4), I, 9(8), -11(s), 7, 2(3)
Total: Syracuse 4 Virginia Tech 5
Third Down Total: Syracuse 8 Virginia Tech 6
4r: 2(1)
Total: Syracuse 1 Virginia Tech 0
4p: None
Total: Syracuse 0 Virginia Tech 0
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 1 Virginia Tech 0

Total on running plays: Syracuse 20 Virginia Tech 13
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 17 Virginia Tech 19
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 37 Virginia Tech 32

Penalties not tacked on to plays: -5, +5, -5, +5, -5, -15, +14 Syracuse 3 Virginia Tech 4

Game total when Syracuse had the ball:

Big Plays: 25 pass, 55 pass TD, 41pass, Fumble recovery, 28 pass TD, Fumble recovery. (6)

Comments: We finally got a running attack going, 20 plays to 13.

I was looking for a long passing game and we got 55TD, 41, 28TD and a 25 yarder.

We finally hit a 40+ field goal – and it was from 44!


When Virginia Tech had the ball:

Drive Starts: VT 16, VT 20, VT 27, VT 25, VT 20, VT 48, VT 18, VT 24, VT 30, VT 25, VT 25, SU 37, VT 25, SU 25 = 441/14 = VT 31.5 with 959 YTG, 74 more than SU in one more possession.

KO: SU 20, SU 16, SU 25, SU 25, SU 25, SU 25
Total: Syracuse 0 Virginia Tech 6
P: 46 to SU 37, 29 to 50, 51 to SU 5(p), 45 to SU 15, 25 to 44
Total: Syracuse 2 Virginia Tech 3
FG: Good from 27
Total: Syracuse 0 Virginia Tech 1
XP: Good, Good, Good
Total: Syracuse 0 Virginia Tech 3
Kicking plays total: Syracuse 2 Virginia Tech 13

1r: 2(3), 5, 2, 8, -5, 3, 9, 1, 1, 1, 3, FUM, 18, 12, 5, 5, 2, 0, -1,
Total: Syracuse 11 Virginia Tech 8
1p: I, 7, -6(s), 48, 9, 44, -12(s), 1, 4(15), I, 14, I
Total: Syracuse 8 Virginia Tech 5
First Down Total: Syracuse 19 Virginia Tech 13
2r: 1, 6(11), 12, 1TD, 4(5), 25(2), 47(18), 15(1), 1, -5(7), 15TD, 10(2), -2, FUM
Total: Syracuse 4 Virginia Tech 10
2p: 6(3), 5(1), 9(22), 13(8), I, I, 6(7), 11(11), 12 TD, 13(9), 6(5)
Total: Syracuse 3 Virginia Tech 8
Second Down Total: Syracuse 7 Virginia Tech 18
3r: 2(1), 8(9), 1(19), 6(1), 3(2), 4(3), 5(12)
Total: Syracuse 3 Virginia Tech 4
3p: I, 7(5), -7(s), I
Total: Syracuse 3 Virginia Tech 1
Third Down Total: Syracuse 6 Virginia Tech 5
4r: None
Total: Syracuse 0 Virginia Tech 0
4p: None
Total: Syracuse 0 Virginia Tech 0
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 0 Virginia Tech 0

Total on running plays: Syracuse 18 Virginia Tech 22
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 14 Virginia Tech 14
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 32 Virginia Tech 36

Penalties not tacked on to plays: +5, -5, -5, -8, +13, +15 -10 Syracuse 4 Virginia Tech 3

Game total when Virginia Tech had the ball: Syracuse 38 Virginia Tech 52

Big Plays: 48 pass, 44 pass, Interception, Fumble recovery, 25 run, 47 run (6)

Overall Game Total: Syracuse 92 Virginia Tech 91

Comments: We were strong on first down, (19-13), and weak on second down (7-18).

Their big plays are a little deceiving. Their 44 yard completion was the result of an obvious push-off of the defensive back. Their interception was a great catch but a freak play. Their defender impeded our receiver, who pushed him forward and right to the spot where McCord had thrown the ball. Their 47 yard run was the last play of the half and did not result in a score.

This was another close one: 92 plays won – 91 plays lost = -1 Here are the closest cames to this one since the beginning of the Dino Babers Era in 2016:
2016 Syracuse 103 Virginia Tech 104 = -1 SU won 31-17
2017 Syracuse 97 Pittsburgh 96 = +1 SU won 27-24
2018 Syracuse 99 Pittsburgh 97 = +2 SU lost in OT 37-44
2023 Syracuse 76 Georgia Tech 73 = +3 SU lost 22-31
2024 Syracuse 94 Nevada-Las Vegas 95 = -1 SU won in OT, 44-41

If it’s a close game in winning plays, it will be a thriller on the scoreboard.

 

[SWC75]

TOTALS FOR THE YEAR

When SYRACUSE had the ball:

Drive Starts: 284/11 = S26/816, 237/9 = S26/663, 361/12 = S30/839, 524/14 = S37/876, 344/11 = S 31/756, 305/9 = S34/595, 322/13 = S25/978, 415/13 = S32/885 TOTAL: 2,782/92 =S30 with 6,408 yards to go (88 less than the opposition).

KO: 7-0 + 5-1 + 4-0 + 6-1 + 6-1 + 4-1 + 3-0 + 5-1 = 40-5
P: 3-0 + 1-1+ 5-1 + 2-0 + 0-3 + 1-0 + 2-1 + 4-1 = 18-7
FG: 1-0 + 1-1 + 1-0 + 0-3 + 1-0 + 1-1 + 1-1 + 1-0 = 7-6
XP: 5-0 + 4-0 + 3-0 + 6-0 + 5-0 + 3-0 + 1-1 + 4-1 = 31-2
Kicking plays total: 16-0 + 11-3 + 13-1+ 14-4 + 12-4 + 9-2 + 7-3 + 14-3 = 96-20

1r: 7-10 + 5-8 + 5-5 + 13-8 + 9-9 + 8-12 + 4-6 + 10-9 = 61-67
1p: 8-6 + 14-7 + 7-11 + 11-11 + 10-9 + 9-4 + 6-21 + 7-7 = 72-76
First Down Total: 15-16 + 19-15 + 12-16 + 24-19 + 19-18 + 17-16 + 10-27 + 17-16 = 133-143
2r: 3-6 + 9-4 + 1-2 + 6-5 + 8-4 + 3-5 + 6-6 + 5-3 = 41-35
2p: 8-5 + 7-6 + 11-5 + 8-12 + 11-13 + 10-7 + 9-11 + 6-7 = 70-66
Second Down Total: 11-11 + 16-10 + 12-7 + 14-17 + 19-17 + 13-12 + 15-17 + 11-10 = 111-101
3r: 1-1 + 2-2 + 0-0 + 1-1 + 2-1 + 2-0 + 2-3 + 4-1 = 14-9
3p: 8-5 + 7-5 + 4-8 + 8-7 + 10-5 + 7-6 + 4-11 + 4-5 = 52-52
Third Down Total: 9-6 + 9-7 + 4-8 + 9-8 + 12-6 + 9-6 + 6-14 + 8-6 = 66-61
4r: 1-0 + 2-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 2-0 + 0-0 + 2-0 + 1-0 = 8-0
4p: 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 1-1 + 0-0 + 2-1 + 5-2 + 0-0 = 8-4
Fourth Down Total: 1-0 + 2-0 + 0-0 + 1-1 + 2-0 + 2-1 + 7-2 + 1-0 = 16-4

Total on running plays: 12-17 + 18-14 + 6-7 + 20-14 + 21-14 + 13-17 + 14-15 + 20-13 = 124-111
Total on passing plays: 24-16 + 28-18 + 22-24 + 28-31 + 31-27 + 28-18 + 24-45 + 17-19 = 202-198
Total on plays from scrimmage: 36-33 + 46-32 + 28-31 + 48-45 + 52-41 + 41-35 + 38-60 + 37-32 = 326-309

Penalties not tacked on to plays: 0-1 + 0-2 + 0-4 + 1-2 + 7-5 + 2-3 + 2-6 + 3-4 = 15-27

Game total when SYRACUSE had the ball: 52-34 + 57-37 + 41-36 + 63-51 + 71-50 + 52-40 + 47-69 + 54-39 = 437-356

Big plays: 6 + 8 + 5 + 8 + 6 + 5 + 6 = 44

Comments: You wouldn’t have guessed it but our running game and our passing game both have positive numbers. Passes have more potential but also more risk. Also, we aren’t getting big plays on defense and special teams due to lack of pressure. But 82-65 on third and fourth down will win a lot of games.


When OPPONENT had the ball:

Drive Starts: 241/11 = O22/859, 279/10 = O28/721, 310/12 = O26/890, 328/14 = O23/1,072, 401/11 = O36/699 183/8 = O23/617, 321/10 = O32/679, 441/14 = O31.5/959 TOTAL= 2,504/90 = O28 with 6,496 yards to go, (88 more than SU ).

KO: 0-6 + 0-5 + 0-5 + 2-1 + 0-7 + 1-3 + 1-7 + 0-6 = 4-40
P: 0-3 + 1-3 + 0-3 + 6-4 + 0-2 + 1-0 + 0-5 + 2-3 = 10-23
FG: 0-3 + 1-0 + 0-4 + 0-0 + 0-2 + 1-1 + 0-2 + 0-1 = 2-13
XP: 0-2 + 0-4 + 0-2 + 0-2 + 0-5 + 0-2 + 0-5 + 0-3 = 0-25
Kicking plays total: 0-14 + 2-12 + 0-14 + 8-7 + 0-16 + 3-6 + 1-19 + 2-13 = 16-101

1r: 8-13 + 6-4 + 8-9 + 11-1 + 7-8 + 9-4 + 4-6 + 11-8 = 64-53
1p: 7-8 + 7-9 + 8-7 + 2-5 + 2-9 + 5-9 + 4-6 + 8-5 = 43-58
First Down Total: 15-21 + 13-13 + 16-16 + 13-6 + 9-17 + 14-13 + 8-12 + 19-13 = 107-111
2r: 1-9 + 4-7 + 5-5 + 1-2 + 5-1 + 1-5 + 3-3 + 4-10 = 24-42
2p: 5-6 + 4-8 + 6-6 + 12-2 + 4-7 + 2-4 + 2-6 + 3-8 = 38-47
Second Down Total: 6-15 + 8-15 + 11-11 + 13-4 + 9-8 + 3-9 + 5-9 + 7-18 = 62-89
3r: 1-2 + 1-4 + 2-1 + 3-1 + 1-0 + 0-0 + 3-0 + 3-4 = 14-12
3p: 5-3 + 5-4 + 6-4 + 9-1 + 3-3 + 4-1 + 3-2 + 3-1 = 38-19
Third Down Total: 6-5 + 6-8 + 8-5 + 12-2 + 4-3 + 4-1 + 6-2 + 6-5 = 52-31
4r: 0-0 + 1-0 + 0-1 + 1-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-0 = 2-1
4p: 0-1 + 0-1 + 0-1 + 0-0 + 0-0 + 0-1 + 0-0 + 0-0 = 0-4
Fourth Down Total: 0-1 + 1-1 + 0-2 + 1-0 + 0-0 + 0-1 + 0-0 + 0-0 = 2-5

Total on running plays: 10-24 + 12-15 + 15-16 + 16-4 + 13-9 + 10-9 + 10-9 + 18-22 = 104-108
Total on passing plays: 17-18 + 16-22 + 20-18 + 23-8 + 9-19 + 11-15 + 9-14 + 14-14 = 119-128
Total on plays from scrimmage: 27-42 + 28-37 + 35-34 + 39-12 + 22-28 + 21-24 +19-23 + 32-36 = 223-236

Penalties not tacked on to plays: 1-3 + 3-1 + 1-7 + 2-1+ 1-1 + 3-5 + 1-1 + 4-3 = 16-22

Game total when OPPONENT had the ball: 28-59 + 33-50 + 36-55 + 49-20 + 23-45 + 27-35 + 21-43 + 38-52 = 255-359

Big Plays: 7 + 9 + 4 + 5 + 5 + 9 + 6 = 45

Overall Game Total: 80-93 + 90-87 + 77-91 + 112-71 + 94-95+ 79-75 + 68-112 + 92-91 = 692-715

Comments: We needed to improve to be a truly strong team. Our running game hadn’t really gotten going. We weren’t throwing long. We improved both vs. Virginia Tech. Our defense has sprung some leaks and our kicking game is unreliable but both seem to be getting better.

Our opponents this year have attempted 13 field goals. They’ve made 12, (thank you, Georgia Tech), but keeping the other team out of the end zone has allowed us to go 6-2 while we struggle through these games.


HISTORICAL WINNING PLAYS – The Fran Brown Era

2024
Syracuse 80 Ohio University 93 = -13
Syracuse 90 Georgia Tech 87 = +3
Syracuse 77 Stanford 91 = -14
Syracuse 112 Holy Cross 71 = +41
Syracuse 94 Nevada-Las Vegas 95 = -1
Syracuse 79 North Carolina State 75 = +4
Syracuse 68 Pittsburgh 112 = -44
Syracuse 92 Virginia Tech 91 = +1
TOTAL: Syracuse: 692 Opponents 715 = -23 We’ve won 4 of 8 games, by ‘winning okays’.
We have won 49.2% of the 1,407 plays, (Dino Babers won 48.8%) and 50.0% of the 8 games, based on winning plays, (Dino won 39.8%). Their team has achieved their goals on 23 more plays than we have, 2.875 per game.

 

[kcsu]

Thank you. Absolutely amazing amount of time and effort

 

[upperdeck]

don't know why we get so caught up on the PI call

remember the defender has the right of way. WR has to go around the D at all times.

 

[SWC75]

don't know why we get so caught up on the PI call

remember the defender has the right of way. WR has to go around the D at all times.

Does the defender have the right to turn around and start jousting with the WR to prevent him from getting downfield?

 

[upperdeck]

he does if he is there first