Winning Plays vs. LSU

[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 result sby 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.

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: LSU 6, LSU 20, LSU 25, LSU 27, SU 48
Total: Syracuse3 Louisiana State 2
P: 50(LSU9), 42(LSU 9), 43(LSU 35), -69yardsTD, 33(LSU 13)
Total: Syracuse 4 Louisiana State 1
FG: G (43), NG (31)
Total: Syracuse 2 Louisiana State 1
XP: -5P, G, G, G
Total: Syracuse 3 Louisiana State 1

Kicking plays total: Syracuse 12 Louisiana State 5

1r 0, 3, 2, 3, -2, 5, 8, 6, 1, 0, 12, 20, -2, 2
Total: Syracuse 5 Louisiana State 9
1p I, 10, 14P, 11, 40TD, 27P, 15P, I, I, 5, I, I, 5, I, I, 5TD
Total: Syracuse 9 Louisiana State 7
First Down Total: Syracuse 14 Louisiana State 16
2r 2, 7(5), -2, 4(20), 2, 2, 2(5)
Total: Syracuse 1 Louisiana State 6
2p 7, I, I, 1(7), I, I, I,-11P, +15P, 14(12), I, I, 8(10), 8(5), I, I
Total: Syracuse 6 Louisiana State 10
Second Down Total: Syracuse 7 Louisiana State 16
3r -5P, 0, 5(8), -6, 5(2), 10(5)
Total: Syracuse 2 Louisiana State 4
3p I -8S, 5(6), 3(6), I, I, 8(8), 2TD, INT, 12(10), I, +5P, +6P
Total: Syracuse 5 Louisiana State 8
Third Down Total: Syracuse 7 Louisiana State 12
4r 10(1), 5(4), 16(2)
Total: Syracuse 3 Louisiana State 0
4p I
Total: Syracuse 0 Louisiana State 1
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 3 Louisiana State 1

Total on running plays: Syracuse 11 Louisiana State 19
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 20 Louisiana State 25
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 31 Louisiana State 44

Game total when SYRACUSE had the ball: Syracuse 43 Louisiana State 49


When LOUSIANA STATE had the ball:

KO: SU 37, SU 27, SU 21, SU 33, SU 20, SU 18, SU 25
Total: Syracuse 3 Louisiana State 4
P: 13(SU47), 17(LSU47), 33(SU40), 43(SU26), 38(SU44)
Total: Syracuse 4 Louisiana State 1
FG: G(21), G(37)
Total: Syracuse 0 Louisiana State 2
XP: G, G, G
Total: Syracuse 0 Louisiana State 3

Kicking plays total: Syracuse 7 Louisiana State 10

1r 4, 6, 3, -5P, -5P, 1, 7, 6, 1, 4, 3, 9, -3, -5P, 2(15), 3, -6, -2, -5P, -6, 5 -2V
Total: Syracuse 14 Louisiana State 8
1p 12, 14, 12(15), -11S, I, I, 11TD
Total: Syracuse 3 Louisiana State5
First Down Total: Syracuse 17 Louisiana State 13
2r 14P, 4(4), 0, 48, 14TD, 6(21), -5P, 5(8), 19(4), -8P, 5, 2(6), 7(7), 2(9), 7(1), 62TD, 8(13), 7(7), 7(16), 19(12), 30(5), -2V
Total: Syracuse 7 Louisiana State 14
2p I, I
Total: Syracuse 2 Louisiana State 0
Second Down Total: Syracuse 9 Louisiana State 14
3r -10P, 3(7)
Total: Syracuse 2 Louisiana State 0
3p I, I, -10S, 7(17), 8(5), 42(4), I, 51(9), I
Total: Syracuse 6 Louisiana State 3
Third Down Total: Syracuse 8 Louisiana State 3
4r none
Total: Syracuse 0 Louisiana State 0
4p none
Total: Syracuse 0 Louisiana State0
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 0 Louisiana State 0

Total on running plays: Syracuse 23 Louisiana State 22
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 11 Louisiana State 8
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 34 Louisiana State 30

Game total when LOUISIANA STATE had the ball: Syracuse 41 Louisiana State 40

Overall Game Total: Syracuse 84 Louisiana State 89

Comments: Against one of the best rushing teams we’ll ever see, SU was 14-8 on LSU’s first down rushes, including a late game stretch of four straight losses for a total of 19 yards, (one by a penalty). That’s tremendous. The longest first down run by the Tigers was 9 yards and none of the touchdowns came on first down runs. But LSU owned second down runs 7-14 with seven plays that got the 10 yards or more, (one by penalty), including both of Fournette’s TD runs. (The one that was called back was, actually a first down play so that would have messed up the stats.) But we were great on third down, 8-3 overall and “won” 34 LSU scrimmage plays to their 30, a remarkable defensive performance. Of course it was the big plays that killed us, including the punt return. But we certainly competed well. Offensively, we never got the running game going, except for a couple of Mahoney’s runs off the option. But we did move the ball and we did score. We actually had the ball more than they did- for 16 seconds and 12 plays. How close were we? If Murphy kicks that field goal and we get that on-side kick, things could have been very exciting at the end.

 

[SWC75]

SEASON TOTALS

When SYRACUSE had the ball:

KO: Syracuse 18 Opponent 5
P: Syracuse 17 Opponent 4
FG: Syracuse 7 Opponent 2
XP: Syracuse 14 Opponent 1

Kicking plays total: Syracuse 56 Opponent 12
1r Syracuse 37 Opponent 47
1p Syracuse 20 Opponent 16
First Down Total: Syracuse 57 Opponent 63
2r Syracuse 26 Opponent 20
2p Syracuse 14 Opponent 19
Second Down Total: Syracuse 40 Opponent 39
3r Syracuse 8 Opponent 15
3p Syracuse 12 Opponent 20
Third Down Total: Syracuse 20 Opponent 35
4r Syracuse 4 Opponent 3
4p Syracuse 0 Opponent 0
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 4 Opponent 3

Total on running plays: Syracuse 75 Opponent 85
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 46 Opponents 55
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 121 Opponent 140

Game total when SYRACUSE had the ball: Syracuse 177 Opponent 152

When THE OPPONENT had the ball:

KO: Syracuse 6 Opponent 12
P: Syracuse 10 Opponent 14
FG: Syracuse 2 Opponent 5
XP: Syracuse 0 Opponent 8

Kicking plays total: Syracuse 18 Opponent 39

1r Syracuse 45 Opponent 25
1p Syracuse 22 Opponent 28
First Down Total: Syracuse 67 Opponent 53
2r Syracuse 17 Opponent 27
2p Syracuse 25 Opponent 25
Second Down Total: Syracuse 42 Opponent 52
3r Syracuse 12 Opponent 5
3p Syracuse 29 Opponent 14
Third Down Total: Syracuse 41 Opponent 19
4r Syracuse 1 Opponent 1
4p Syracuse 1 Opponent 3
Fourth Down Total: Syracuse 2 Opponent 4

Total on running plays: Syracuse 75 Opponent 58
Total on passing plays: Syracuse 77 Opponent 70
Total on plays from scrimmage: Syracuse 152 Opponent 128

Game total when our OPPONENT had the ball: Syracuse 170 Opponent 167

Overall game total: Syracuse 347 Opponent 319

Comments: Interesting that on offense we are losing first down (slightly) but winning second down(slightly while on defense it’s the reverse and by bigger margins. If we can stop them on first down, why can’t we stop them on second down as well? We are losing third down badly, (until the LSU game) but doing extremely well on third down defensively. Our kicking game has been very good to us, except for a couple of missed field goals by Murphy.

 

[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 55
Syracuse 83 Wake Forest 83
Syracuse 84 Central Michigan 91
Syracuse 84 Louisiana State 89
TOTAL: Syracuse 347 Opponents 319