Film Review: Syracuse defense shuts down Miami in 1st half despite loss
Syracuse’s defense stifled No. 18 Miami in the first half Saturday, not allowing a point in the first 28 minutes. Joe Zhao | Senior Staff Photographer
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Syracuse football delivered its best defensive stint of the season when it was least expected.
On the road against then-No. 18 Miami Saturday, the Orange went nearly the first 28 minutes without allowing a point. They sacked Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck twice and forced four consecutive punts to begin the game. With their backs against the wall facing bowl-game elimination, SU defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson’s group offered a supreme effort.
But it was short-lived. Syracuse’s offense got blanked in the first half, and its defense couldn’t win the game by itself. Though Saturday’s loss took the Orange out of bowl contention, their first-half defensive showing provided welcome signs for the future.
“When we’re playing at our best, we’re unstoppable,” SU linebacker Gary Bryant III said Saturday. “When we have the momentum, we’ve got to keep the momentum. They’re gonna make plays, we’re gonna make mistakes. That’s just the way the game goes.”
Here’s a breakdown of three big plays Syracuse’s (3-7, 1-6 Atlantic Coast) defense made in its 38-10 loss to Miami (7-2, 3-2 ACC):
1st quarter, 13:04 — Kerr assists Bryant for the sack
Syracuse’s pass rush has struggled this season. Its 63.2 pass-rushing grade, per Pro Football Focus, is 120th in the country. It only has three players who’ve tallied 2-plus sacks. But against Miami, the Orange became the first team this season to sack Beck multiple times in a game.
And it started with a good, ‘ole-fashioned cornerback blitz.
A couple minutes into Saturday’s contest, with SU defending a first-and-10 at the Hurricanes’ 46-yard line, the Orange lined up in their mainstay 4-2-5 set. Bryant and freshman Antoine Deslauriers were Syracuse’s two linebackers on this play. But keep your eyes on Bryant (No. 13 in white) on the weak side and slot cornerback Davien Kerr (No. 10) — in line with Bryant on the opposite side.
Kerr didn’t have a Miami receiver in front of him in the left slot. So, after creeping forward a few steps as Beck started his cadence, Kerr blitzed, shooting past the left side of the Hurricanes’ line and colliding with Miami running back Jordan Lyle. At the same time, Bryant charged from the second level completely unblocked, as the Hurricanes’ line was too occupied fending off SU’s four defensive linemen.
While Beck examined the field, Bryant closed in from five yards away, and Kerr drove Lyle back from the other side. But Beck didn’t notice Kerr’s momentum. Kerr knocked Lyle all the way back into Beck, causing the quarterback to stumble.
Bryant then zoomed toward Beck and brought him down for an eight-yard loss — his first full sack with the Orange. But it wouldn’t have been possible without Kerr’s execution on this cornerback blitz.
1st quarter, 1:43 — Orange swarm Beck for another sack
Here, the Orange dropped Beck again to stall another Miami drive. Eighth-year edge rusher David Reese made it happen. All he needed to use was a simple speed rush to get around Miami left tackle Markel Bell before forcing Beck to step into an infested pocket.
On a third-and-6 from the Hurricanes’ 42-yard line with time winding down in the first quarter, Robinson deployed another cornerback blitz, this time with outside corner Chris Peal rushing from Beck’s blind side.
Just like the previous play, Robinson sent six pass rushers at Beck. Peal, who started across from Miami wideout Keelan Marion, charged straight at Beck. SU’s four-man defensive front tried to pressure the quarterback as usual, but Mike linebacker Anwar Sparrow blitzed the C gap to disrupt from all angles.
A block from Lyle sealed Peal off. Beck turned his eyes right to find a receiver, which caused him to miss Reese from his blind side. Reese deployed a swim move and shoved Bell’s chest with his left hand, forcing the left tackle off balance. Reese easily reached Beck and wrapped his arms around the quarterback before Beck stepped up in the pocket to escape the sack.
It didn’t matter, though. Remember Sparrow coming through the C gap? Because Reese drew Beck to the middle of the pocket, all Sparrow had to do was turn his head around and see a helpless Beck. Sparrow brought Beck down with a shoestring tackle, forcing the Hurricanes’ second consecutive punt to begin the day.
4th quarter, 10:37 — Samuel Jr. gives glimpse into the future
Yes, this wasn’t part of Syracuse’s dominant defensive stretch to open Saturday’s contest. But even in garbage time, 17-year-old freshman cornerback Demetres Samuel Jr. was all over the field.
He finished tied for second on SU with five total tackles versus Miami. His best moment, though, came with 10:39 left in the fourth quarter, when he blew up a halfback screen — a play usually seen from star linebackers, not corners.
On a second-and-8 from Miami’s 41-yard line, the Hurricanes lined up in a shotgun formation with three receivers split right, including Malachi Toney in the slot. Syracuse showed man coverage, with Samuel positioned at outside cornerback at the bottom of your screen.
Miami put Toney into an “orbit” motion, where a receiver loops around the quarterback during a presnap movement. After Toney pivoted and ran around Beck toward the strong side of the field, Samuel stepped up a few paces, anticipating a swing pass, which Beck delivered immediately after receiving the shotgun snap.
This play became a race between Samuel and Miami receiver Akheem Mesidor, which, spoiler alert, ended with Samuel dusting him. Mesidor reacted a second too late to Samuel sprinting downhill. Mesidor flipped his hips left to block Samuel, but the cornerback had already run past him.
Toney caught the ball and looked forward. Samuel met him with a big hit, flipping him onto his back as he hit the ground. Samuel’s tackle forced an eight-yard Miami loss to set up a third-and-16. After the play, an energized Samuel stood up, maniacally nodded his head and flexed his arms — the 17-year-old phenom made a play the big boys regularly make.
