SU changes game plan for Calvin Russell III in 17-catch day vs. NC State
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RALEIGH, N.C. — As Calvin Russell III filed into the visiting team press conference room, he sauntered behind the podium, taking his spot to the far right. Umari Hatcher and Justus Ross-Simmons followed.
Hatcher settled into the middle, with Ross-Simmons on his left. But Hatcher didn’t want the spotlight. The sixth-year receiver had already gotten his taste of it plenty of times this season. He knew who should take center stage.
Hatcher sidled to his right, motioning for Russell, the five-star freshman phenom, to stand front and center.
It’s fitting. Russell was the focal point of the Orange’s (5-5, 3-5 Atlantic Coast) offense in their 34-31 comeback win over NC State (4-6, 2-5 ACC) Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. Syracuse tried to get him the ball in numerous ways, via screen passes, receptions behind the line of scrimmage and even a designed pass play.
As a result, Russell had 20 touches, finishing with 161 scrimmage yards. Through the air, he had 17 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown, tying an ACC single-game receptions record. His usage powered Syracuse to the win, which moves it one victory away from bowl game qualification.
“The coaches believed in me,” Russell said postgame. “Just me knowing that when the ball comes my way, I’m gonna catch it and make a play.”
“It’s just a great game plan from our offensive staff, and we did a great job executing today as players,” Steve Angeli added regarding emphasizing the short passes.
Calvin Russell III lines up outside during Syracuse’s 34-31 win over NC State. Russell tied the ACC single-game receptions record with 17 against the Wolfpack. Peter Hua Radosh | Asst. Digital Editor
Syracuse’s players and head coach Fran Brown confirmed that feeding Russell was a focus in practice all week. They wanted to get him the ball “30 times a game,” cornerback Demetres Samuel Jr. joked.
Brown said getting the ball to Russell was a way to take pressure off Hatcher. In the middle of the season, Hatcher had a four-game stretch where he totaled at least 100 yards each time, solidifying himself as one of the best receivers in the country. His peak performance came when he gashed Louisville for 224 yards.
That’s when defenses started to take Hatcher away. In the final game of that four-game run against UNC, Hatcher had just 27 yards outside of a 76-yard touchdown amid double coverage. He was limited to just 12 yards last week against Clemson as cornerback Ashton Hampton locked him down.
That gave Russell an avenue to more touches against UNC, Clemson and now NC State. With Russell’s involvement Saturday, Hatcher had four catches for 81 yards.
“You want to make sure you involve other guys,” Brown said. “So when you have all those guys, you can’t really go and double one guy. It’s like, OK, they got different weapons, so you got to figure out who to double.”
Syracuse’s game plan involved getting the ball out early, often using Russell on bubble screens and shallow crossers. Angeli said it allows him to get in a rhythm and helps the offense get moving with positive plays to open drives. He also mentioned it takes pressure off the offensive line, not having to strain as hard in pass protection.
Brown pointed to Russell’s ability to break tackles as the reason why he received those quick throws. You may not know it by his lanky, 6-foot-5 build that also features on the basketball court, though.
“He’s been a lot stronger than he would appear,” Brown said. “He’s a basketball player, so you would think (he’s not), but he’s extremely strong.”
Calvin Russell III talks with Fran Brown during SU’s win over NC State. Brown got Russell involved in several ways against the Wolfpack, as he had 20 total touches. Peter Hua Radosh | Asst. Digital Editor
That plan was apparent early, as Angeli targeted Russell four times on the opening drive, with three being either at the line of scrimmage or behind it. He hauled in five receptions on another series in the second quarter, entering halftime with nine catches for 53 yards. Some went for losses or minimal gains, the downside of the Orange’s blueprint.
Russell hauled in eight more passes in the second half, including a two-yard touchdown. On that play from the 2-yard line, Angeli faked a handoff, and Russell faked a block before leaking out into the middle of the field. Angeli hit him for the easy score.
Late in the third quarter, Syracuse even had Russell pass. At that point, the Orange’s offense had gone stagnant, letting NC State score three touchdowns to turn a 7-6 lead into 28-13. Angeli took the snap and handed it to Russell, who tracked back to SU’s 15. Russell launched a left-handed strike 45 yards down the field intended for Hatcher, but he couldn’t corral it.
When asked about the play, Brown said he “was just seeing if it would work.” Russell said he feels comfortable passing the ball and that it’s something Syracuse has run in practice.
“I feel good, but I threw a ball that I don’t throw in practice,” Russell said.
Syracuse just wanted to get him the ball in any way possible. It didn’t matter when it was, where SU had the ball or what the score was. Russell was often going to be Angeli’s first read.
Russell had been used often leading up to Saturday’s game, as one would with a five-star recruit. But he’d never been used like this.
“It was what was open, so (we) want to take what’s open and be able to help us,” Brown said.
