NFL
By: Rick
It was another week of heartbreak for the Syracuse Orange vs. Clemson in a game that was decided by less than a touchdown. Some would even argue that Syracuse outplayed the Tigers. However, it’s not about the quality of the product on the field; it comes down to who scores the most points, and the Orange barely got in the end zone. What do they need to fix to tally another mark in the win column?
Tight Coverage:
If the Orange want to succeed on defense, they’ll need to be in the pockets of NC State receivers. Quarterback CJ Bailey is averaging 7.8 yards per completion and has 13 touchdowns. He’s only thrown 4 interceptions but has been sacked 13 times, too, so it’ll be hit-or-miss for the Orange. They’ll need to keep tight coverage on these receivers to try to force mistakes.
Run First Offense
The Wolfpack have run 321 run plays compared to 185 passing plays, opting to pass on about 64% of their plays. However, despite the skew in runs to passes, NC State nearly doubles its receiving yards. With such a skew, Syracuse will need to stay home upfront while matching stride in the secondary. If they’re running the ball well against the Orange, it’s more likely to set up the passing game, where receivers are enjoying 11.8 yards per catch.
Get After It
The defense will also need to have a big day getting to the QB. NC State has allowed only 16 sacks this year, but SU is 4th in the ACC with 26. That said, the Orange have a golden opportunity to prove themselves this game if they can get after the QB. Statistically speaking, it doesn’t look like the Wolfpack are blowing teams away, but credit where it’s due, they’re averaging north of 28 points per game. Ig Syracuse wants to win, they’ll have to intimidate their QB with pressure all day.
It’ll be another road game for the Syracuse Orange after a home loss. If they want to qualify for a bowl game, they’ll need to prevent a late-season collapse. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 PM EST at Carter-Finley Stadium. Can the Orange keep up their road game upsets?
