A bitter loss leads to some polarizing results in the grade book this week.
This time around, the Syracuse Orange (6-3, 3-3) ended up falling short trying to come from behind from a second-straight double-digit deficit in what turned into a 37-31 road loss to the Boston College Eagles (5-4, 2-3).
The major big picture stories of the day: Boston College’s 313 yards (!!!) on the ground overcame a nearly 400-yard passing day from Kyle McCord, while a handful of old demons returned at Chestnut Hill — penalties, shaky line play on both ends and questionable decision-making.
The result is a lot of grades to hand out across the spectrum in both directions. Here are your grades for the Orange’s after their single-digit loss to BC:
Quarterbacks: A-
Kyle McCord’s lone turnover — a fumble which led to a safety and BC regaining the lead for good — turned momentum in the game around completely. Outside of that, it is really hard to nit-pick anything McCord specifically did that was bad. He finished with 31/49 in the air, a 65% completion percentage, 392 yards, 8.2 yards per pass and two touchdowns.
Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Running Backs: B
LeQuint Allen was limited to 16 carries for 50 yards (3.1 YPC) in a game BC out-gained the Orange and then some. With that said, Allen still ran in for two scores and Syracuse really opted for slants and quick throws in certain points of the game over running the ball. As pretty much the lone back against BC, there’s not much more you can ask for, especially since Allen also finished with five catches for 57 yards.
Wide Receivers: B+
Jackson Meeks (seven catches, 105 yards, 15 YPC) again proved how valuable he is in the lineup next to some of Syracuse’s other receiving options. Darrell Gill Jr. caught two catches for 50 yards, Trebor Pena still had six catches for 47 yards and Justus Ross-Simmons caught a pair of passes as well. Again, the receivers collectively didn’t play their unquestioned best game of the year but still had a pretty good performance, outside of Umari Hatcher.
Tight Ends: A+
After a quiet game versus Virginia Tech, Oronde Gadsden reminded fans just how much me can wreck havoc on an opposing defense. Eight catches, 102 yards and 12.8 YPC came up big throughout the game, especially as the offense tried to fight back in the second half. We also can’t ignore this dark-horse “Catch of the Year” candidate:
I’m going the A+ because the stats don’t back it up, but it looks like Dan Villari has found his role less as a pass catcher and more getting the ball directly in the wildcat and more creative formations. It at least worked on the like two plays he was directly used in.
Offensive Line: F-
A story as old as time: Syracuse’s offensive line collectively didn’t have a great day. The PFF grades will not look great at all and the unit contributed to some of those penalties. More consequential, it completely led Syracuse to effectively abandon the run and force McCord to again make plays with his legs and as a thrower on the run. The safety coming from a McCord fumble after BC only rushed four embodied half of what went wrong for the Orange.
Defensive Line: D-
This is where we have a stretch where the grades are running under water here. Yes, the defensive line has critical absences which I’m sure played a factor. But, Syracuse legit had no control on the line of scrimmage at all defensively. No one in the unit recorded a sack and neither BC quarterback really faced pressure in a game Syracuse needed to contain the Eagles rushing attack.
Linebackers: C-
Of all the position groups, at least the linebackers did make a few plays during the game. Even with a few really not great penalties, Justin Barron led the Orange in tackles, solo tackles and tackles for loss. He also recorded a sack. Next to Marlowe Wax, that is probably the one part of the defense that is at least good enough.
Defensive Backs: D-
I couldn’t go the full F because at least Jayden Bellamy had a pick, but wow was the performance not inspiring from Syracuse’s defensive backs. Alijah Clark had the second-most tackles on the Orange, and yet there’s a clear case he played his worst game of the year (the game tape tells more than the counting stats). Thomas Castellanos missed several very wide open BC receivers, but the coverage was still not good and the tackling collectively wasn’t anything amazing.
Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Special Teams: B+
The unit didn’t do much, but those two onside kick attempts late were executed to perfection… outside of Syracuse ending up with the ball. That leads to a huge bump in the grade this week for special teams. Jack Stonehouse punted three times for 38.3 YPK Jackson Kennedy was 5/5 on kicks (four extra points, one field goal).
Coaching: D+
Starting off this segment with the usual caveat that I will never be a coach (unless the Miami Hurricanes are really desperate for a new defensive coordinator), so please take this all with a few grains of salt.
Syracuse would likely win this game had one of either the O-line or D-line played better than they did. BC threw for 65 yards. The Orange had to test BC’s quarterbacks to make a play in the air. The game plan was super simple: keep the QB in the pocket and stop the run. The BC quarterbacks didn’t move out the pocket, but two different running backs for the Eagles finished with 130+ yards including Kye Robichaux having 198 rushing yards. Considering BC’s offense could only run the ball and not do much else, the defense didn’t make enough impact plays outside the one pick.
Syracuse didn’t to go full nine in the box (the 4th quarter BC touchdown explains why in itself), but the middle of the field needed to be contained more than it was.
Offensively, I think it was the right idea to establish the run early. When it didn’t work and considering the shaky O-line play, it was smart to opt for quicker slant routes and working the middle-medium portion of the field. What was questionable was why Syracuse abandoned that and kept sticking to the sidelines, especially since BC had little answer in coverage.
The staff will need to make some key adjustments with another road game looming next weekend.
Now it’s your turn: how would you grade the Orange’s performance versus BC? Where do you agree or disagree with the most?