The Orange air-raid is unlike anything ever assembled in CNY
Under a year ago, the Syracuse Orange resorted to running out of the wildcat to generate any semblance of an offense.
Oh how the tables have turned since then.
The Orange are now one of the best offensive teams in the entire nation, averaging the 14th most yards per game through Week 6. The current unit is on pace to break the program’s all-time record for yards in a single season:
Update: Here are the top ten Syracuse yards per game per the Syracuse media guide
MOST TOTAL YARDS PER GAME Season Avg. (Games/Total Yards) Year
1. 476.0 (13/6,188) 2012
2. 463.9 (13/6,031) 2018
3. 456.3 (12/5,476) 2017
4. 451.5 (10/4,515) 1959 (led the country)
5. 440.8 (12/5,290) 2016
6. 440.3 (11/4,843) 1987
7. 433.5 (11/4,769) 1992
8. 430.0 (11/4,730) 1998
9. 427.3 (12/5,127) 1997
10. 407.9 (11/4,487) 1979
The revitalized Orange are led by an explosive air attack generating the third most passing yards per game (369.0), behind only Miami and Ole Miss. The program’s record high was averaging 321.3 passing yards per game in 2016.
It’s mainly thanks to the electric arm of Kyle McCord, the nation’s leading passer. McCord has thrown for over 300 yards in each of his five starts, the first ‘Cuse QB to ever do so. He averaged 317 yards per game as a junior at Ohio State and has increased that number to 362.8 this season.
Kyle also has the second most passing touchdowns (17), trailing the U’s Cam Ward – who has played one more game – by three. He is only seven away from matching his total from last year, and nine from tying the SU single-season record.
Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images
As if those numbers weren’t impressive enough, SU has converted 55% (44/80) of third downs, the 5th-best rate nationally. They were 63rd last season and haven’t finished in the Top 60 since 2012 at #8.
They’re also 6/8 on 4th down tries and have the third-best rate of overall first downs.
The question of course becomes ‘Is this sustainable?’. To the extent of the first five games… probably not. But it doesn’t have to be.
Those first five games were all played indoors, so it made sense to use a very pass-heavy playbook. Four of the next five are outdoors, meaning the ground game should get more involved moving forward.
RB LeQuint Allen battled through pain to put up the best performance of his career against UNLV, and Yasin Willis and (when healthy) Will Nixon have shown they can be solid supplemental backs. After facing two great run defenses, SU plays an NC State outfit allowing over 160 yards on the ground. Plus as good as his arm is, McCord has a combined 113 pass attempts the last two games – that’s gotta start taking a toll on him.
There are certainly growing pains with the 2024 football squad. Yes it can be frustrating to watch endless three-man rushes and some special teams disasters, but in spite of all that, this is a team that was one stop away from being 5-0. They’ve fought extremely hard to get to this point, and we’ll continue to watch them go as far as the offense carries them.