Syracuse Football: Against Pitt, running game absolutely has to improve

Syracuse football couldn’t get much going on the ground versus North Carolina, and now the Orange faces a stellar Pitt defense.

This coming Saturday, Syracuse football will make a trip to No. 25 Pittsburgh, a team that last weekend gave up a total of 1 rushing yard on 22 carries by Austin Peay in a contest where the Panthers cruised, 55-0, at home from Heinz Field.

That’s not a misprint, my friends. Pitt allowed a mere 1 rushing yard to Austin Peay. Yikes. So the Orange will have to deal with this strong Panthers defense, and at the same time the ‘Cuse itself didn’t fare so well in its running attack this past Saturday afternoon versus then-No. 18 North Carolina.

In the Syracuse football 31-6 setback to the Tar Heels, the Orange accumulated 68 total yards on 35 carries, with a per-rush average of just 1.9 yards and a long of 15 yards, according to ESPN.com.

Redshirt junior quarterback Tommy DeVito, who needs to step up his game against Pittsburgh, actually led the ‘Cuse in rushing versus UNC, with 30 yards on 16 carries, and some of his runs came out of desperation due to the pocket collapsing.

Redshirt freshman Jawhar Jordan, thrust into the starting role at running back for Syracuse football after Abdul Adams and Jarveon Howard opted out of the 2020 stanza, only managed 26 yards on 14 carries. Redshirt junior Markenzy Pierre, Jordan’s back-up at the position, had five carries for 12 yards.

Syracuse football running backs have to contribute way more yards against Pittsburgh.

All in all, the Orange running attack has to greatly get better, and it may take some time for Jordan, Pierre and their offensive line to gel as a cohesive unit.

However, up next for Syracuse football is Pittsburgh, which beat the ‘Cuse, 27-20, in October of 2019 at the Carrier Dome in an Atlantic Coast Conference clash where the Panthers racked up nine sacks.

This is not an ominous sign for the Orange, which allowed seven sacks in its campaign opener to a Tar Heels group whose defense is not necessarily as highly touted as Pitt’s defense is.

It’s widely documented at this juncture that Syracuse football, if it wants to knock off the Panthers on the road, must turn the turnovers that it creates into touchdowns, not field-goal attempts.

And to generate a solid balance on offense, DeVito has to enhance his accuracy, but the ‘Cuse running backs have to put forth more admirable performances as well. A more fluid running game also will keep Pitt’s offense off the field, while giving the Orange defense a breather.

Whereas Syracuse football junior safety Andre Cisco, ridiculously, didn’t get selected for the All-ACC pre-season squad, two Panthers defenders did make the cut. They are redshirt senior defensive end Patrick Jones II and redshirt junior safety Paris Ford.

Jordan and Pierre will have their hands full with Jones, Ford and the rest of the Pittsburgh defense on Saturday afternoon, as the Orange seeks to have a sharper showing than it produced a week ago.