Let’s get some intel on Syracuse, which Florida state defeated 45-14 in the Carrier Dome in 2016.
Syracuse comes to Tallahassee on November 4th, right after FSU’s trip to Boston College, but before the Seminoles’ trip to Clemson. If Syracuse is again not very good, preparing for the high-flying offensive attack could be a good style primer for the Clemson game.
Syracuse’s offense could be dangerous
Syracuse runs the old Baylor offense. They are going to run a blistering tempo, chuck the ball deep, and cause defenses problems. Even without a ton of talent, the scheme is a headache to play against, and the defense has to be on the field for a ton of plays due to the tempo.
It’s not clear who will be the QB for Syracuse, though the Orange actually do have some very solid options in Eric Dungey, or perhaps true freshman Tommy Devito.
Syracuse will occasionally run the ball, but despite the defense never expecting it, the Orange still were not very good at it.
Ultimately, Syracuse’s offensive line was not good enough to protect on the inevitable third down situations that arise against defenses in the ACC like Clemson, FSU, Miami, and NC State.
Babers’ teams have a habit of making huge leaps in Year 2, but we’ll see.
Its defense will likely be awful. Again. But maybe less awful.
Syracuse returns a lot of experience on defense, but it is not clear that it returns actual talent.
I suspect that the defense’s experience will cut down on some of the big plays allowed
Syracuse allowed 75 gains of 20-plus yards (116th in the country) and 12 passes of 50-plus yards (126th). The season was up and down until the end, when it was just down.
But still, the defense had the ball repeatedly run down its throat. And to solve that, it needs some grown men. And a lot of them, due to the pace at which the offense plays as defenders get tired defending so many snaps. It’s not clear those players exist in the numbers Syracuse needs.
What Syracuse site Nunes Magician said
It’s never been easy to face Florida State, and things are no different this year, despite Syracuse coming off a bye week for this one. The middle of the 2017 schedule is a bear once again, and it’s likely the Orange have already taken some lumps by early November. But even with a fully healthy squad, the trip down to Doak Campbell just isn’t set to be a pleasant one this year. Even an improved SU defense will still struggle to stop the Seminoles’ offense, and the FSU secondary’s just too good to put up big numbers on. That’s an even bigger problem when you don’t have a run game. Syracuse probably falls by three or four touchdowns, at least. Take solace in the fact that Florida State is probably the best team in the country, though.
What will likely happen
It’s a lookahead game to Clemson does present an opportunity for a letdown. But would a letdown be a loss? Probably not, it would more likely be a closer game than some want.
Still, if the lesser teams in the league aren’t going to be good, they can at least be exciting. Syracuse is that.