Syracuse Football: Florida State won’t beat the Orange on Saturday
Our Paul A. Esden Sr. explains why Florida State won’t beat the Syracuse football team on Saturday. Here’s what he means plus the top keys to the game.
Too little too late, that is the message from the Pittsburgh loss for Syracuse football. Every fan is well versed in the woulda, coulda, shoulda mentality and generally speaking it serves little use. In search of positives let’s dip our toe into it just this once.
Football generally comes down to a few plays, for the Orange last week it came down to two plays that would have swayed the balance. A missed field goal and another back-breaking trick play.
It is hard to fault our Lou Groza award-winning kicker (maybe the best kicker in college football) but a miss is a miss.
The trick play goes to a gap in coaching philosophy. Dino Babers pretty much said that he would give them that when referring to NC State trick play.
Well apprarently they did not spend a lot of time focusing on ‘Do you Job’ as the defensive breakdown on this play was of epic proportions. Dino’s laissez-faire attitude may have actually encouraged Pitt to run the play.
Both of the plays go the other way Cuse wins this game 23-20. A game of inches.
Once again my top keys to the game will lie within.
Florida State Seminole will not beat us, we will beat ourselves.
Coaching, coaching, coaching. Discipline on the Orange team has broken down and put an already challenged team in a no-win situation. Undisciplined behaviors resulting in being behind the sticks with long yardage to go to keep the ball moving. To be clear I would not mind a few extra holding penalties to protect whoever lines up behind the center and provides them another precious moment needed to make a play. Overall false starts and taunting penalties come from a lack of leadership. Syracuse needs to tighten this up in order to be successful.
Playcalling.
Was I the only one that thought the play calling changed when Tommy went out? The Orange immediately stretched the field taking shots. This seems counterintuitive as Clayton Welch’s arm is not his strength but that is what we did. It resulted in a 94-yard touchdown and at least three passing interference calls where Pitt had to mug our receivers to prevent the big play.
I fully admit that there were quite a few ugly passes but on those 50-50 balls Clayton gave the receivers a chance and the offensive line was able to hold it together long enough to get the ball away. Whoever takes snaps for the Orange needs to stretch the field and test the secondary. This may be what the Orange needs to loosen up the FSU defense.
Every position player needs to stay in their role and do their job. Not everyone will be perfect on every play but as a team, they can overcome a single breakdown. DO YOUR JOB.
Onto the prediction.
The revised goal of becoming bowl eligible may be over, Syracuse is now playing for respect. The bad news is that the Florida State Seminoles will be looking for revenge after the beat down the Orange laid down last year. That game more than any other was the coming-out game for the Orange as they dominated in every possible way 30-7.
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Can the Orange win? Absolutely, unfortunately, they have given no indication of reaching their potential. I predict the Orange will lose this one big 42-14. I hope to be proven wrong. As always Be Loud, Be Proud, Be ORANGE!