The Syracuse defense struggled in week one against Ohio. Week two it was special teams that had some trouble. But SU overcame both.
The pattern kept this past Friday, as this time Syracuse’s offense found its weakness. But in week three, the Orange couldn’t fully overcome it, dropping 26-24 to Stanford on a walk-off field goal.
Here’s where Syracuse’s offense went wrong.
Running game
Everyone knows quarterback Kyle McCord has a good arm. But a run game is essential for any team. And it seemed like that should be no trouble for the Orange. The Cardinal gave up over 100 rushing yards a game entering Friday’s contest.
But that all changed at the Dome. Stanford gave up only 26 rushing yards on 17 carries. LeQuint Allen had an uncharacteristic 25 yard game. Yasin Willis was under 10 yards total. And McCord finished in the negative despite a career-high 19-yard touchdown rush.
It didn’t help that backup running back Will Nixon didn’t dress for the game. Or that PFF didn’t grade a single Orange offensive lineman over 60.
McCord was frank about his connection with tight end Oronde Gadsden after the game.
“Every time I looked for him, he was in one way, shape or form, being doubled,” McCord said.
Usually the top target for Syracuse, Gadsden had just two receptions for 12 yards, the second-lowest on the team.
Not counting an injury-shortened game last year, that’s the fewest targets and yards that Gadsden has had since 2021, where the receiver had just two receptions and 24 yards in two game appearances.
Turnovers
It was far from a perfect game for McCord. The senior had 339 yards, two touchdowns and a QB rating of 138.3. But two interceptions certainly clouded up his performances.
The first one was one of the uglier plays Syracuse’s defense has had this season. A pass up the middle was intercepted and returned 71 yards for a touchdown by Mitch Leigber in the third.
Then in the fourth, on the first play of a Syracuse drive, Jay Green stepped in front of a pass intended for Jackson Meeks and caught Stanford’s second turnover of the day. It gave the Cardinal a crucial three points in the final quarter.
