Photo by: Bryan Fuller
Orange Extra: Kick Lines and Sack Packs
10/17/2018 12:20:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse bounces back from its bye week with a key encounter against North Carolina in the Dome on Saturday. It is Homecoming/Orange Central Weekend on campus and the Orange are hoping to halt their modest two-game losing streak and remain unbeaten at home this season.
ORANGE WRECKING CREW
Syracuse's defense has made significant improvement during Coach Brian Ward's tenure as defensive coordinator and the numbers bear that out. After the staff's first season in 2016, the Orange were ranked 120th nationally in scoring defense. After six games this fall, Syracuse is ranked 61st in the same category. There's also been a significant rankings upgrade over that time span in rushing defense (108th-91st), first downs allowed (81st-36th), third down defense (82nd-3rd), red-zone defense (47th-7th) and sacks (115th-7th).
Pressure from the defensive line has played a large part in the increased production. The unit has averaged 3.3 sacks per game, a mark that improves to 4.25 when including just the last three contests.
Junior defensive ends Kendall Coleman and Alton Robinson each have six sacks to date. Together, they rank second among ACC duos in 2018. Only Boston College's Wyatt Ray and Zach Allen, with 13 sacks, exceed Coleman's and Robinson's combined total of 12.
Sophomore defensive end Kingsley Jonathan (2.5) and senior linebacker Kielan Whitner (1.5) also have multiple sack totals for the Orange in 2018.
The defensive line has had a member selected as a game captain three times out of six games this fall. Robinson, Coleman and defensive tackle Chris Slayton have each taken a turn.
DID YOU KNOW
Syracuse and North Carolina have evenly split the four gridiron meetings they have had. The visiting team has won the contest each time.
BEST KICK LINE THIS SIDE OF THE ROCKETTES
The Syracuse kickers have been one of the most consistent groups on the Orange roster this fall. Redshirt freshman placekicker Andre Szmyt and punter Sterling Hofrichter, a redshirt junior, have produced results that are among the best in the FBS ranks.
Both were recognized this week for their stellar starts. Szmyt was named a midseason All-American by ESPN, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, the Associated Press, USA Today(second team), The Athletic (second team) and Athlon (second team). Meanwhile, Hofrichter earned USA Today Midseason All-America Second Team honors. Szmyt also earned a special honor from Dino Babers during the bye week that was announced at the coach's Monday press conference.
"Andre Szmyt has received a scholarship," Babers proclaimed.
Szmyt came to Syracuse in the fall of 2017 as a walk-on and redshirted his first season. After a successful August camp, he was named the program's placekicker the week of the season opener at Western Michigan.
He has accumulated 78 points in the first six games, the top total by a kicker heading into this weekend's games. Szmyt also leads all FBS kickers in field goals per game (2.67), extra-point percentage (1.000), and he ranks fifth in field-goal percentage (.941).
Szmyt has converted all 30 of his point-after kicks and 16-of-17 field-goal tries. His longest to date is a 54-yarder.
Hofrichter once again is handling punting duties in spectacular fashion. He has punted 28 times for a 45.2 average (14th nationally). Thirteen of his 28 punts have landed inside the opposition's 20-yard line. Only four of his punts have been returned and Syracuse's foes average -1.8 yards per return. Hofrichter has averaged at least 41 yards per attempt in each of the six games Syracuse has played.
Hofrichter also takes care of kickoff chores for the Orange. He has kicked off 52 times and averaged 58.8 yards per kickoff with 27 touchbacks.
DID YOU KNOW II
Syracuse has a streak of seven consecutive games with a takeaway that dates back to the final game of 2017 against Boston College.
Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
ORANGE WRECKING CREW
Syracuse's defense has made significant improvement during Coach Brian Ward's tenure as defensive coordinator and the numbers bear that out. After the staff's first season in 2016, the Orange were ranked 120th nationally in scoring defense. After six games this fall, Syracuse is ranked 61st in the same category. There's also been a significant rankings upgrade over that time span in rushing defense (108th-91st), first downs allowed (81st-36th), third down defense (82nd-3rd), red-zone defense (47th-7th) and sacks (115th-7th).
Pressure from the defensive line has played a large part in the increased production. The unit has averaged 3.3 sacks per game, a mark that improves to 4.25 when including just the last three contests.
Junior defensive ends Kendall Coleman and Alton Robinson each have six sacks to date. Together, they rank second among ACC duos in 2018. Only Boston College's Wyatt Ray and Zach Allen, with 13 sacks, exceed Coleman's and Robinson's combined total of 12.
Sophomore defensive end Kingsley Jonathan (2.5) and senior linebacker Kielan Whitner (1.5) also have multiple sack totals for the Orange in 2018.
The defensive line has had a member selected as a game captain three times out of six games this fall. Robinson, Coleman and defensive tackle Chris Slayton have each taken a turn.
DID YOU KNOW
Syracuse and North Carolina have evenly split the four gridiron meetings they have had. The visiting team has won the contest each time.
BEST KICK LINE THIS SIDE OF THE ROCKETTES
The Syracuse kickers have been one of the most consistent groups on the Orange roster this fall. Redshirt freshman placekicker Andre Szmyt and punter Sterling Hofrichter, a redshirt junior, have produced results that are among the best in the FBS ranks.
Both were recognized this week for their stellar starts. Szmyt was named a midseason All-American by ESPN, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, the Associated Press, USA Today(second team), The Athletic (second team) and Athlon (second team). Meanwhile, Hofrichter earned USA Today Midseason All-America Second Team honors. Szmyt also earned a special honor from Dino Babers during the bye week that was announced at the coach's Monday press conference.
"Andre Szmyt has received a scholarship," Babers proclaimed.
Szmyt came to Syracuse in the fall of 2017 as a walk-on and redshirted his first season. After a successful August camp, he was named the program's placekicker the week of the season opener at Western Michigan.
He has accumulated 78 points in the first six games, the top total by a kicker heading into this weekend's games. Szmyt also leads all FBS kickers in field goals per game (2.67), extra-point percentage (1.000), and he ranks fifth in field-goal percentage (.941).
Szmyt has converted all 30 of his point-after kicks and 16-of-17 field-goal tries. His longest to date is a 54-yarder.
Hofrichter once again is handling punting duties in spectacular fashion. He has punted 28 times for a 45.2 average (14th nationally). Thirteen of his 28 punts have landed inside the opposition's 20-yard line. Only four of his punts have been returned and Syracuse's foes average -1.8 yards per return. Hofrichter has averaged at least 41 yards per attempt in each of the six games Syracuse has played.
Hofrichter also takes care of kickoff chores for the Orange. He has kicked off 52 times and averaged 58.8 yards per kickoff with 27 touchbacks.
DID YOU KNOW II
Syracuse has a streak of seven consecutive games with a takeaway that dates back to the final game of 2017 against Boston College.
Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
K
/ Football
LB
/ FootballHighlights | Syracuse at Miami
Saturday, November 08
Sitdown with Coach Brown | Miami Week
Friday, November 07
Fran Brown Show
Thursday, November 06
Fran Brown Press Conference | Miami Week
Monday, November 03
