Syracuse Football: Top 10 Plays of Week 3 Versus Central Michigan

9. Erv Phillips Tips, Recatches Football

Erv Philips usually has pretty sure hands. Heck last year, according to ESPN.com, he was tied for 13th in the nation with 90 receptions! That’s a heck of a lot over 12 games! That averages out to be 7.5 catches per game. On this play though, it wouldn’t look like he had great hands.

In this highlight, Dungey passed him the ball over the middle. The pass was a little high and did have some zip to it, so Erv had to adjust. He tipped the pass, which was sort of dangerous, almost straight up into the air but moving forward. Luckily, no defender was close enough to pick it off. Therefore, Philips dived for the ball that he had just tipped up and caught it rolling to the ground.

It was a ridiculous play, and definitely not one you see often. It almost looked like he had butter fingers but still managed to find a way to come up with the catch. I can’t blame Philips too much, but the Orange receiving core struggled holding onto catches a lot and dropped a bunch versus Middle Tennessee in Week 2. So when I saw this play form the stands it made me feel a little sick. I was feeling like it was happening all over again for the Orange.

Luckily the Orange did much better throughout the game. They actually did some of their best work through the air once the third quarter came around. Hopefully that carries into next week.