The Syracuse Orange (1-1, 0-1) played a sloppy game and it cost them. A game they still should have won. A game they easily could have won, but instead they handed their ACC opener to the visiting California Golden Bears (1-1, 1-0). Let’s get to the three takeaways….
QB1 was not on target
Steve Angeli went 24-49 and threw three interceptions, one that was returned for the winning score, and one that ended the game with the Orange inside Cal territory. I’m not going to play internet Doctor but Angeli wasn’t
seeing the field well all game long. He ignored some open throws underneath and had several passes that could have been intercepted and weren’t.
The Orange aren’t going to turn to Amari Odom yet, but unlike last season, Angeli’s got to play better to keep this starting job. Turnovers are sometimes the result of bad luck, but the decision-making today wasn’t where it needed to be. The loss isn’t entirely on him, but Syracuse needs him to be better if they want to be competititve.
“Slop em up”
Syracuse doesn’t have the talent to overcome self-inflicted wounds. Angeli had a bad day and still it should have been enough to survive with an ugly win. Tripp Woody missed a 31 yard field goal. Syracuse had four possessions in the 4th quarter of a game they were leading 18-14 and went missed field goal, interception, missed field goal and interception.
They lost a game where the defense didn’t allow a point in the fourth. They lost by 3 in a game where Tylik Hill pulled a muscle on a sure touchdown, Demetres Samuel, Jr. had a punt return touchdown negated and a smart play by Davien Kerr to grab a loose ball and return it into field goal range before the half was wiped out by a (dubious) penalty. Overall, Syracuse committed 15 penalties for 132 yards.
Sliver of Hope
Many of you will just want to focus on all that went wrong, but let’s not overlook what the defense did today against a very good QB. Syracuse held Cal to 249 total yards and 3-13 on third and fourth down conversions. Cal scored 3 touchdowns- one on an interception return, and one after an interception return set them up at the Syracuse 29. Yes, there were some breakdowns in the secondary, but overall Vince Kehres kept the pressure on Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and the defense did more than enough to win the game.
The fourth down fake punt jump pass was well executed by Jimmy Gregg and David Omopariola.
Justus Ross-Simmons came back and had 5 receptions for 82 yards showing an ability to make contested catches. Daunte Bacheyie grabbed 4 passes for 73 yards and showed he might be pushing for more playing time.
This loss stings for sure, but the season is early and there are some things to build upon.
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What were your takeaways from this one?
