Syracuse Football: StatPack checklist for beating North Carolina

Syracuse must account for at least 4.0 sacks

Applying pressure to Sam Howell is potentially the biggest key to victory for the Orange in week one.

Howell was extraordinary as a freshman, passing for 38 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. However, he is a true pocket passer, so getting after Howell before he lets go of the ball can result in extra possessions for the Orange and limited points for the Tar Heels.

The combo of Josh Black and McKinley Williams will be called on to apply most of the pressure, but Kingsley Jonathan and Mikel Jones will also need to play well for a full team effort. This won’t just be one of those games where a few stops will result in a win. Even four sacks may be small, but it is a good benchmark, considering that should result in a few defensive stops.

To go a step further, if at least one of these can occur on a third down, it’ll force punts, which gives the Orange more chances to score. If not, it’s not the end of the world, but more sacks the merrier for the ‘Cuse.