Syracuse Football: Key takeaways from the Orange's week 1 win versus Ohio at home

Syracuse football started the Fran Brown era with a 38-22 win over a feisty Ohio team.

The Orange offense was rolling, with senior quarterback Kyle McCord in particular having a fantastic game. But this was far from a perfect win for Syracuse on Saturday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome.

My key takeaways from Syracuse football's season-opening victory versus Ohio.

The run defense needs improvements
The Syracuse run defense was the biggest question mark going into the 2024 season. There was a scheme change with Elijah Robinson going from a 3-3-5 to a 4-2-5. The front four in particular had trouble setting the edge and got pushed off the line of scrimmage way too often by an inexperienced Ohio Bobcats offensive line. Past that, linebackers and safeties missed tackles and took poor angles way too often.

This led to Ohio running for 255 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries. In particular, Anthony Tyus III for the Bobcats had a fantastic game with 16 carries, 203 yards, and both touchdowns. The former Northwestern Wildcat looks like a Power Four-level player, but that doesn't hide the fact that Syracuse needs to improve this part of the game. Georgia Tech, the week-two opponent for the Orange, just ran for 190 yards and three touchdowns against a much better Florida State front a week ago and Syracuse plays great running backs in Bhayshul Tuten, Jaydn Ott and Damien Martinez later on in the year.

Kyle McCord is the real deal
After DJ Uiagalelei had a rough debut against Georgia Tech, I was worried about McCord to an extent. Especially after he nearly threw two interceptions in his first three plays. But he settled in and turned one of the best Syracuse passing performances in a long time. He went 27-39 for 354 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception. The last time a Syracuse quarterback threw for as many yards and touchdowns in the same game was when Zack Mahoney threw for 440 yards and five touchdowns in the 76-61 shootout against Pittsburgh in 2016.

McCord was at his best throwing deep balls to the sideline. He found Trebor Pena in the left corner of the end zone at the end of the first half and also found Georgia transfers Jackson Meeks and Yazeed Haynes on streaks. But McCord can make every throw on the field and he showed that with some tight window throws in the seams and by the sidelines.

Penalties are still a problem
On paper, Syracuse had fewer penalties than in years past. Syracuse football only committed six penalties for 47 yards while in 2023, Dino Babers' team averaged 7.3 penalties and 61.6 yards per game. I noticed that there weren't any procedural penalties - false starts, offsides, etc., but stupid penalties were still a problem and led to the game being closer than it should have been.

Syracuse football LB Josh Kubala had a running into the kicker call that extended an Ohio drive when Syracuse was down 3-0. Later on, defensive back Justin Barron hit Tyus III out of bounds - giving away a free 15 yards. That same drive, Syracuse had a holding penalty in the redzone, extending a drive that against a better team, would likely lead to points. Lastly, offensive lineman Savion Washington gave up a holding late in the game that wiped out a 44-yard completion to Oronde Gadsden II in the fourth quarter. On the next play, McCord threw an interception on a 50/50 ball.

I will say that the officiating was poor all around. A long touchdown for Tyus was aided by a missed holding call, and you can argue that Washington only held because of a missed illegal hands-to-the-face call earlier. Helping Syracuse, the officials let a lot of hand-fighting between receivers and DBs slide, which benefitted Syracuse football and missed holds on the Orange. Either way, I want to see fewer penalties as the season moves on.