Observations from SU’s loss to Pitt: Angeli’s benching, inconsistent RBs
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PITTSBURGH — Syracuse needed a reset. The Orange had chance after chance to improve to 2-0 against Cal last week, yet they squandered every opportunity en route to a 21-18 loss.
SU had over 400 yards of offense but missed two two-point conversions and two field goals and two long punt returns were negated by penalties — it accrued 14 in the game. Steve Angeli also tossed three interceptions.
It’d been only two weeks, but Syracuse simply didn’t look capable of making a bowl game, and its schedule doesn’t do any favors. Both those stipulations made the Orange’s clash with Pitt on Thursday pivotal.
However, the Panthers bullied the Orange with a 17-0 lead before SU whittled it to 17-10 at halftime. In the second half, Syracuse squandered its momentum and scored just three points, falling 27-13.
Angeli went 13-for-25 for 161 yards and two interceptions, leading to his benching for Amari Odom in the fourth quarter. Kicker Tripp Woody was also swapped for freshman Shay Barker amid more struggles.
Here are some observations from Syracuse’s (1-2, 0-2 Atlantic Coast) loss to Pitt (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast) Thursday at Acrisure Stadium:
Angeli’s benching
Last week was Angeli’s worst game in a Syracuse uniform. Besides his aforementioned three picks, Angeli finished with a 48% completion percentage and one touchdown. It came a week after a flawless return against New Hampshire.
Angeli needed a get-right game versus Pitt. That didn’t happen. He eased into the game with quick throws to his running backs. It worked briefly, but SU’s first drive fizzled out when he missed Darius Johnson on a fourth down in Pitt territory. Angeli finished the first quarter 5-for-6, but he couldn’t get the big completion when needed.
Angeli finally got going to end the first half, though. He hit Umari Hatcher for 34 yards down the left sideline and 24 across the middle on the next. Woody’s shanked field goal killed the drive, but Ahmad Miller scored a touchdown on the next. Angeli’s efforts made it a one-score game at half.
His stat line at the break was serviceable — 11-for-19 for 155 yards.
He turned to SU’s running backs more in the third quarter, but when he threw again, it didn’t go well. Two straight drives ended in picks: first to Raion Strader intended for Cole Weaver, then to Braylan Lovelace in double coverage. Angeli had six passing yards in the second half. Odom entered the game with eight minutes left in the fourth.
At the end of the day, Angeli was only one reason the Orange lost. But he couldn’t prove that his performance versus Cal was a fluke.
Inconsistent rush attack
Before Thursday’s game, Syracuse running back Tylik Hill was officially made available after injuring his quad early against Cal.
That meant SU’s quartet of running backs — including Ju’Juan Johnson, Shavane Anderson Jr. and Miller — remained intact. Hill, though, didn’t appear.
The Orange favored Anderson to start, though he didn’t do much. His five handoffs netted zero yards on the series. Anderson and Johnson also both took screens for first downs. Though the Orange had some positive rushes, it felt like each step forward was followed by two steps back.
Syracuse primarily leaned on Johnson on its third series after moving into the red zone, but his two rushes totaled four yards and a wasted opportunity. And with a first-and-goal at the one-yard line on the next drive, it took four rushes and seven plays for Miller to score from two yards out.
Syracuse had 2.9 yards per attempt for 58 yards at the break. Hatcher, a receiver, was its leading rusher.
SU had a chance to set the pace in the second half, with Miller and Anderson combining for 48 yards on one series. Miller hit holes and had plenty of open real estate, leading to sustained drives. He finished with 78 yards after seeing little action in the first half.
But it didn’t amount to any scores — killing the Orange’s chances.
1st-half penalties
Another major concern entering the game was the Orange’s penalties. They had 12 against UNH and 14 against Cal.
More came in Week 3. First, a Noah Meyers 15-yard catch was killed by a 15-yard facemask penalty. Then, an Antoine Deslauriers personal foul set up Pitt’s first touchdown. Syracuse looked to respond before three more — including one on the kickoff that forced it to start from the eight-yard line — virtually gave it no chance.
On the next drive, the Orange looked to have forced a three-and-out before Demetres Samuel Jr. was called for pass interference. Brown was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the same play, resulting in Pitt’s second touchdown.
Early in the second quarter, SU had more penalty yards (80 on seven penalties) than total offensive yards (46). Even when Syracuse was disciplined for a good chunk of time, Chris Peal was tagged for a pass interference on a crucial third down late in the half.
To credit the Orange, they were more disciplined for most of the back 30 minutes. They finished with 10 penalties for 94 yards — eight in the first half. But their rough start set the stage for their eventual defeat.
Panthers run to victory
Syracuse got a slight break when Pitt running back Ja’Kyrian Turner was ruled out for the second straight week with an injury. Turner ran for 745 yards last year for the Panthers.
The Orange defense had allowed just 17 points combined across its last two games. But that broke against Pitt — no matter who lined up in the backfield.
Pitt tallied 245 rushing yards on the Orange, even with its backups. Justin Cook converted a first down in the first quarter with a 23-yard scamper, then La’Vell Wright punched in a two-yard touchdown. One drive later, Damon Ferguson Jr. bounced outside for a 32-yard score to make it 14-0.
It became 17-0 soon after, backed by two 15-plus-yard rushes from Wright and quarterback Mason Heintschel. Pitt had 119 rushing yards and 7.9 yards per rush at the half.
There was little adjustment to begin the second half. Out of the break, the Panthers ran the ball on four straight plays for 76 yards, and Heintschel made a nasty juke to dash in for six.
Though Syracuse got some necessary stops after that drive, the Panthers still ran for over 200 yards.
