Film Review: Plays that led to Steve Angeli’s 4th-quarter benching vs. Pitt
Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.
Steve Angeli didn’t have much to say. It was nearing midnight at Acrisure Stadium, and he was about an hour removed from being benched in Syracuse’s loss to Pittsburgh.
Angeli’s answers were brief. He didn’t have a strong explanation for his two fourth-quarter interceptions that sealed the Orange’s defeat.
“They do a good job of bringing pressure. Overall, just a talented football team,” he said when asked about Pitt’s defense.
Fran Brown replaced Angeli with Amari Odom following the picks. Immediately after the game, Angeli said Brown didn’t specify why he chose Odom but that he didn’t question his coach’s decision.
“I’m not sure, I haven’t really talked to Coach yet,” Angeli said regarding his benching.
Angeli’s night started inconspicuously, finishing the first half 11-for-18 for 155 yards and no turnovers. SU trailed 17-10 at halftime. But Angeli tallied just six second-half passing yards and continued to struggle with turnovers, leading to the Orange’s 27-13 defeat. They’re now in a dire spot after only a quarter of the season, partly due to Angeli’s struggles.
Here’s a breakdown of four plays that defined Angeli’s inconsistent day against the Panthers:
2nd quarter, 12:18 — Angeli’s 1st big completion
Angeli wasn’t perfect in the first half but kept Syracuse in the game. He didn’t get going until the second quarter, though, highlighted by this big completion to Umari Hatcher.
The Orange had the ball at Pitt’s 48-yard line on a first-and-10 early in the second quarter. SU needed points after the Panthers extended their lead to 14-0 a drive prior.
Syracuse lines up with two receivers on the left and one on the right, with Hatcher at the top of the screen. Angeli briefly looks right, but it’s clear Hatcher’s his first read. Hatcher — who’s become SU’s No. 1 receiver in an unproven group — runs a go route and breezes by Pitt defensive back Shawn Lee Jr.
Angeli sees him open and doesn’t hesitate, uncorking a deep ball down the left sideline. His throw is a bit to Hatcher’s right, so he doesn’t hit him in stride despite Hatcher’s step on Lee.
But the sixth-year receiver had enough separation to prevent Lee from making a play. Hatcher twists his body toward the sideline and corrals the ball for a 34-yard gain to Pitt’s 14. SU’s drive eventually stalls out, and Tripp Woody misses a 29-yard field goal, but that doesn’t erase this connection.
2nd quarter, 0:37 — A perfect pass to Ross-Simmons
As the first half wound down, the Orange cut into Pitt’s lead. Ahmad Miller scored a two-yard touchdown, then SU got the ball back via Davien Kerr’s pick. On a pivotal drive with a minute left, Angeli was on his A game.
After moving across midfield with 43 seconds left, Angeli takes a quick snap with two receivers on either side. Again, he focuses on one read. This time, it’s Justus Ross-Simmons, the bottommost player on the screen, in just his second game back after his eligibility was officially restored before Syracuse’s matchup with Cal.
Ross-Simmons cuts inside to get a step and a half of separation on Pitt’s Raion Strader. Angeli sees it and licks his chops. He may not have noticed Cruce Brookins speeding in to make a play, but it doesn’t matter.
Angeli unleashes a dart into a tight window — just over Strader’s outstretched hand and ahead of a charging Brookins — that Ross-Simmons high points for a 25-yard catch. Brookins is a second late, and Ross-Simmons holds on amid a big hit.
The reception moves the ball to Pitt’s 21, eventually resulting in a Shay Barker field goal that cut the score to 17-10 at half.
4th quarter, 14:19 — Angeli’s 1st step back
Angeli’s strong end to the half was undone across a four-minute span in the fourth quarter. His capitulation took time, as the Orange leaned on the run game in the third.
Pitt had just punted before this play, and SU looked to make it a one-score game.
In Panthers territory again, Angeli takes the snap as the Orange employ a two-tight end set. Cole Weaver and Hatcher are the lone receivers. Both run crossing routes, and Weaver’s the intended target on a shorter crosser at the top of the screen.
It’s a run-pass option, and Angeli fakes a handoff to Miller once he sees Weaver open at the 30. Angeli doesn’t think twice. The problem? The ball is about two yards to Weaver’s left.
Maybe it’s because Pitt’s D’Angelo Stocker gets in Angeli’s face before the throw after Miller misses his block. Or because Angeli simply misfired, but it sails right into Strader’s arms. He may have made a play even if the throw was on target, as he was hot on Weaver’s tail before Angeli gave him a gift.
It marked Angeli’s fourth second-half interception in two games, killing the Orange’s momentum at the worst time.
4th quarter, 11:35 — 2 drives, 2 picks
Although Angeli’s first pick was unfortunate, Syracuse forced a three-and-out on Pitt’s ensuing drive. No worries, right? Incorrect.
Angeli’s second interception sealed SU’s fate. Just three plays later, Syracuse faced a third-and-12 from its 16. It had about 12 minutes to score two touchdowns — hard but not impossible.
This time, Angeli has five options, including four receivers and Ju’Juan Johnson for a last-resort checkdown. SU’s offensive line gives him a clean pocket, so Angeli doesn’t have that excuse this time. He looks left briefly, then locks on Daunte Bacheyie down the seam.
Bacheyie runs a post, cutting into the middle of the field at the 30. Not only does Bacheyie get little separation, as two players are on top of him, but Angeli’s throw falls short. Pitt linebacker Braylan Lovelace reads the play perfectly, starting on the edge before dropping into coverage. Simultaneously, Cole Woodson has it covered from behind, forcing a perfect throw from SU’s quarterback.
That’s not the case, and Lovelace easily picks the underthrown pass at Syracuse’s 41. Bacheyie doesn’t even get a hand on it.
It was the end of Angeli’s night, as Odom replaced him on the next drive.
