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Syracuse’s offensive identity for the last month of the 2023 season was its running game. With quarterback Garrett Shrader faltering with a shoulder injury, the Orange had no passing game threat. So they turned to their biggest strength: establishing the run.

Backup quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson failed to snap Syracuse’s four-game losing streak versus Boston College on Nov. 3, 2023, but running back LeQuint Allen Jr. rushed for a then-season-high 142 rushing yards. From that point, SU’s offense adopted the wildcat offense with Allen Jr. and tight end Dan Villari taking most snaps under center.

The Orange’s running game blossomed. Allen Jr. built off his 142-yard performance versus BC with three more games with 100 or more rushing yards while Villari tacked on an additional 286. Syracuse reached a bowl game for the second consecutive season despite its passing-game deficiencies.

Ahead of the 2024 season, SU brought in Ohio State transfer quarterback Kyle McCord to sure up its aerial attack while retaining Allen Jr. — who had 1,064 rushing yards in 2023 — to lead the backfield. Thus far in Fran Brown’s first season as Syracuse’s head coach and Jeff Nixon’s first as its offensive coordinator, the Orange are running the ball at just a 33% clip. SU’s 25.3 rushing attempts per game are tied with Oklahoma State for 127th out of 134 Division-I teams.

“We also have a few good running backs, so we have to make sure that we’re able to implement them into the football game,” Brown said Monday.

In comparison to the Orange’s 33% run play rate, Atlantic Coast Conference foes Miami, Louisville and Clemson boast 41.3%, 44.4% and 41.3% clips, respectively. The Hurricanes are ranked No. 7 in the AP Poll while the Cardinals are No. 15 and the Tigers are No. 17. SU had been receiving votes in the AP Poll after its Week 2 win over Georgia Tech and its bye week, but it didn’t receive any after falling 26-24 to Stanford Friday.

SU has a litany of options in the passing game, headlined by Oronde Gadsden II and Trebor Peña, but its running back group is one of the team’s strengths. Allen Jr., who was an All-ACC Second-Team selection a year ago, has a 75.6 Pro Football Focus grade, just behind Gadsden’s 76.8 mark and Peña’s 76.6. Allen Jr. has rushed for 206 yards on 38 carries (5.4 yards per carry) while adding a touchdown and 114 receiving yards.

Will Nixon, who missed Friday’s game due to injury, has also been a contributor. In the Orange’s win over the Yellow Jackets, he had 38 rushing yards on nine attempts while adding a catch for 20 yards. Syracuse also has true freshman Yasin Willis, who has seen limited playing time.

To begin their season, the Orange had 30 rushing attempts versus Ohio and 32 versus GT, but it was abundantly clear SU wanted to do most of its work through the air. In those two games, it worked to perfection.

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Besides his opening drive, where he nearly threw two interceptions as SU went three and out, and a fourth-quarter interception, McCord began his career with the Orange in brilliant fashion. Dropping back to pass 39 times, which was more than any SU passer corralled in a single game last year, McCord threw for a career-high 354 yards and four touchdowns en route to Syracuse’s 38-22 win.

A week later, hosting then-No. 23 Georgia Tech, the Orange amplified their air raid even further. McCord again took his game to another level, putting together arguably the best game of his D-I career. Throwing a career-high 46 passes, the quarterback also set personal bests with 32 completions, 381 passing yards and four touchdowns while not turning the ball over.

“I think if we can be a little more balanced, I think it would open both areas,” McCord said after Syracuse’s loss to Stanford. “If we’re able to run the ball, I think we’re able to pass the ball better. You look at all the great offenses, they’re able to do both.”

Syracuse not only leaned on throwing the ball throughout its dominant start to the season, but it also leaned on throwing it in bunches. Against Ohio, SU had five sequences where McCord dropped back looking to throw three or more times in a row. A week later, that figure increased to seven.

McCord’s performance through two weeks even propelled him into early Heisman Trophy conversations, as he was 59-for-85 passing for 735 yards and eight touchdowns. Because of how well he played before its bye week, Syracuse again heavily leaned on McCord versus Stanford. This time, however, he couldn’t lift it to its third straight win.

Uncharacteristically, SU’s passing attack got off to a slow start. Besides a 67-yard catch and run touchdown pass from McCord to Umari Hatcher, the Orange’s offense drastically struggled creating a 13-10 halftime deficit. Throughout the first half, Allen Jr. and Willis combined for just six carries.

With Syracuse trailing for almost the entire second half, it remained pass-happy. After having McCord drop back to pass on three straight plays in the first 30 minutes, SU dialed up four such sequences in the second half. While McCord finished the game passing for 339 yards and two touchdowns on 42 attempts, he also threw two interceptions — both of which came in the second half.

Meanwhile, as the Cardinal upset them on a walk-off field goal as time expired, Allen Jr. and Willis combined for 12 carries, mustering 34 yards. McCord added a 19-yard rushing touchdown, the first of his college career, but he finished with -8 rushing yards on five carries mostly due to sacks. The Orange’s 17 rushing attempts were their fewest in a game since they ran as many times in a 41-10 loss to USF on Nov. 17, 2007.

“You want to get the playmakers the ball, so just whatever it takes to get the ‘W’ in the win column,” Brown said.

Published on September 23, 2024 at 11:23 pm

Contact Justin: justingirshon@gmail.com | @JustinGirshon