NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
It took a full 60 minutes and a bit of overtime for the Syracuse Orange to beat the UConn Huskies. At times it wasn’t pretty but the Orange never gave up. What are some of the key takeaways that led to the overtime victory.
Down, But Not Out
If you were looking for a perfect game against the Huskies than as a fan you would’ve been disappointed. In no way was Syracuse perfect, but they never were completely out of this game. UConn would get out to a 17-6 lead by the third quarter, then the Orange buckled down at finished with. a 27-20 victory. Coach Fran Brown and the rest of the staff need to figure out how to get Syracuse out of the gate quicker to start games. They have a tough schedule this year and each will challenge them more than the last if they constantly play from behind.
Lopsided Play
Syracuse took a pass-happy approach to the field against UConn. QB Steven Angeli threw the football 53 times compared to their 29 rushes. This isn’t new for the Orange, at times last season they were just as pass friendly. With that being said, you go with what is working. Syracuse leaned heavier on the pass because they weren’t getting the runs they were looking for. Going forward, Syracuse needs to work on balance to open up the playbook a little more for their big plays.
UConn Can Block
The Orange couldn’t contain on the edge but credit goes to UConn. Their downfield blocking and blocks in open space were on point. Late in the game it was surprising to see them try to much up the middle or direct drop backs and not roll outs. Syracuse made some great stops on defense, but were struggling outside the hash marks. Big plays downfield often set up yards after catch with good movement beyond the line of scrimmage.
Angeli Is A Work In Progress
There were times in this game where you had to question Angeli. He made a few questionable throws, he held the ball what seemed about a half second too long on occasions, and at times missed his mark completely. However, he completed 62% of his passes and when it was crunch time, he stepped up in a major way. It was almost as if he was more comfortable in the two-minute drill. Syracuse always plays up tempo but with the pressure on, Angeli found his best stuff in the 4th quarter.
Better Protection Upfront
Syracuse only allowed three sacks, but they were ugly and one was absolutely brutal. With that being said, too many plays were broken up or rushed by defenders behind the line. Blocking
What was Better?
Defense. Another great job by Syracuse adjusting at the half. When they took the field in the latter part of the game, the defense seemed to come alive and even thrive. They held the Huskies to under 275 yards passing but did allow 142 yards on the ground.
What Got Worse?
If it had to be narrowed down, Syracuse never fully seemed in sync this game. At times the offense felt as if it was playing under panic or even rushed. There was some sloppy plays that could easily be fixed in practice but the blueprint is there. They play with tempo but not a lot of finesse or physicality. Despite that, Syracuse looked less fatigued than the Huskies in the 4th quarter so as long as they continue that, they might be on to something.
After the game, the entire team could be seen running sprints. What would seem like a punishment is more of an attempt at accountability for the Syracuse Orange. It could be said that Syracuse wanted to “leave it all out on the field” and since they didn’t play up to their standards, they had a bit more to give. Will the extra conditioning pay off in the future? Friday the Orange take on the Colgate Raiders on a shorter week, so we’ll see.
