Coming off of a heartbreaking loss in Death Valley, the Orange are looking to bounce back this Saturday. With 13 minutes remaining and a 10 point lead, it seemed as if Syracuse was in position to pull off another heroic win over Clemson. The Orange would spend the next 13 minutes witnessing one of the most talented running backs in the country, Travis Etienne, tear up their defense en route to a 27-23 Clemson win. Despite the loss, the Orange are beginning to establish themselves as one of the most exciting up-and-coming football programs in the FBS; there is a lot to be excited about in Syracuse. The Orange boast a 4-1 record and have come up with wins over Florida State, Western Michigan, UConn and Wagner. In spite of the loss at Clemson, fans of the team are starting to believe that Syracuse deserves a top 25 ranking and national recognition. One criticism of the Orange’s success this year has been a weak strength of schedule. In order to silence the critics, they need to continue to dominate weaker teams every chance they get. A big win on the road will help the get Orange ranked.
This week the Orange travel to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers. The Panthers have a 2-3 record (1-1 in conference) with victories over Albany and Georgia Tech. Last week, they lost to 13th ranked University of Central Florida 45-14 on the road. Syracuse took home a 27-24 victory in last season’s matchup between the teams. Quarterback Eric Dungey threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns along with 48 yards on the ground and a score. While last year’s game was close, the Orange are looking for a decisive win this week. They bring a much-improved team to Pittsburgh this season, and the scoreboard should reflect that. On the opposing side, Pittsburgh is looking to end their rough patch. The Panthers have lost three out of their last four games, including a 51-6 annihilation at the hands of Penn State, and they have been outscored by an average of 18.5 points per game over that stretch.
So what do the Panthers bring to the table? Size. Pittsburgh has big linemen on both sides of the ball, including defensive ends Dewayne Hendrix (6’4 265 lbs) and Rashad Weaver (6’5 260 lbs). The Syracuse offense can’t only focus on Pitt’s defensive line, they also need to give attention to linebacker Quintin Wirginis. To start the year, Wirginis has recorded 33 tackles (21 solo), six hits behind the line of scrimmage, and two sacks, in just five games. It is likely Wirginis will play a crucial role in spying on Eric Dungey.
SU Goals for the game:
1. Win the line of scrimmage
They need to own the line of scrimmage. The Orange front needs to continue to protect as well as they have in the first five weeks. Eric Dungey needs time to set himself in the pocket and have the space to scramble for runs. The run blocking for Dontae Strickland and Mo Neal needs to continue as well. The run game is always crucial to the SU offense. The Orange only managed 61 rushing yards against Clemson, which was a major factor in their second half offensive struggles.
2. Play a complete defensive game
The Syracuse defense needs to continue to stay engaged for all four quarters. There were a number of missed tackles in the fourth quarter against Clemson that allowed Etienne to put together a several big runs. Freshman safety Andre Cisco continues to be important the much-improved Syracuse secondary.
3. Build upon the Clemson game
The final key for the Orange this week is to have a short-term memory. The Clemson loss was devastating at the time, but there were plenty of positives to pull from the game. If Syracuse can build on early offensive success from the Clemson game, and continue to lock down opposing quarterbacks, they should be able to beat the Panthers with ease. It is geared up to be an exciting game against the Panthers at Heinz Field.
Tune in to WAER this Saturday at 11:50am for Countdown to Kickoff on 88.3
The Orange are the clear favorite heading into the battle against Pittsburgh. If they can overcome the size of the Pitt D-line, they should be able to run all over the Panther defense. The Syracuse offense is looking to come out of the gate strong once again.