Eye Test Provides Better Look at SU Defense in Opener

The numbers don't lie, but they don't always tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, either.

Take, for example, the performance of the Syracuse University defense in Saturday's 31-6 loss to 18^th-ranked North Carolina at a fan-less Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Yes, the Orange defense allowed 31 points and 463 yards in their season opener against the high-powered Tar Heels' offense. But a closer look shows that the new unit kept the Orange in the game and gave the offense several chances to build a lead. Syracuse trailed only 10-6 at the end of three quarters, but the Tar Heels scored 21 points in the fourth quarter.

"Obviously, the defense did a fantastic job of getting the ball back to us," Orange head coach Dino Babers said. "I think we had numerous opportunities to try to punch something in on offense and make this thing a game.

"There were some big plays (by North Carolina), but a lot of that stuff was mental, too," Babers continued. "I thought that we tackled very well early, but these (North Carolina) backs are big and they're good backs, and then they wore us down a little bit from a conditioning standpoint."

Led by sophomore quarterback Sam Howell, the 2019 ACC Rookie of the Year, the Tar Heels passed for 303 yards and ran for 160. In the fourth quarter, the big plays started to mount and running back Javonte Williams finished the drives with touchdown runs of 1, 6 and 6 yards.

"We've just got to come together as a defense and finish the game, just finish the game off strong and finish it how we started it," Orange senior defensive lineman Kingsley Jonathan said. "If guys keep running around and making plays, we'll fix it and be ready to go next week."

The Syracuse defense made several big plays through the first three quarters. With the Orange trailing 7-0 midway through the first quarter, Howell tried to hit wide receiver Dyami Brown across the middle but Syracuse redshirt junior defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu tipped the ball and sophomore linebacker Mikel Jones grabbed it for his first career interception at the Tar Heels' 31.

On North Carolina's first possession of the second half, Orange preseason All-America defensive back Andre Cisco recorded his 13^th career interception as he grabbed Howell's deep pass at the Orange 24 and raced 28 yards upfield to set up the offense in Tar Heels' territory. Cisco leads all active FBS players in interceptions and is now tied with Walt Slovenski (1946-48) on Syracuse's all-time list.

.@OCHOClSCO is now tied for 4th in career interceptions at Syracuse (13)

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— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) September 12, 2020

The Orange did turn Cisco's interception into Andre Szymt's 24-yard field goal to slice the North Carolina lead to 7-6. And Jonathan's sack of Howell on a third-and-6 play from the Orange 9 forced the Tar Heels to take a field goal and Syracuse trailed only 10-6 with 3:18 remaining in the third quarter.

But as the Orange offense struggled to put together sustained drives, North Carolina's offense took control and scored on three consecutive possessions. The Tar Heels had a slight edge in the number of plays, 73-70, and a 32:10-27:50 advantage in time of possession.

"It's hard on a defense to play that many plays; but they understand that's our style and we're going to play that way," Babers said. "But if we're going to play the way we're going to play, we have to score points. And that's the key, we have to be able to score points so that we can take that pressure off the defense and make that offense that's chasing us one dimensional."

With the two interceptions and long snapper Aaron Bolinsky's fumble recovery on a muffed punt, the Orange won the turnover battle 3-1. And several of the young players on defense had big games: redshirt freshman defensive back Garrett Williams led the Orange with nine tackles in his first college appearance, while freshman linebacker Stefon Thompson and sophomore linebacker Geoff-Cantin-Arku had eight tackles in their first career starts.

"I think they can get better," Babers said. "I think in two to three weeks you're going to see a better defense, as long as they stay healthy. I was really encouraged by what I saw defensively."

Continuing a series that has been played annually since 1955, the Orange will face No. 25 Pittsburgh, their annual cross-division opponent, at noon Saturday at Heinz Field (ACC Network). Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett threw one touchdown pass and ran for another as Pitt scored on its first six possessions in its season-opening 55-0 whitewash of Austin Peay at Heinz Field Saturday.

Jonathan said the defense will look to play four strong quarters this week to support the offense against a Pitt team that upended the Orange 27-20 last Oct. 18 at the Dome.

"I'm just really looking forward to learning from the film and stepping it up to a whole other level next week," Jonathan said. "Our whole team is looking forward to watching the film and getting better, that's all we're thinking about right now."