Spring Break
The Daily OrangePaulus throws 2 more picks; Nassib falters
By Tyler Dunne
Posted: 11/9/09, 3:30 AM EST Section: Sports
|
"It was a normal screen like we've always done," quarterback Greg Paulus said. "They got a deflection on it and made a good play."
Headlined by a pick-six before the half, Syracuse's passing game struggled to adjust to life without Mike Williams in SU's 37-10 loss to Pitt Saturday. The problem wasn't universal, rather a pinch of everything. The Panthers' front four hassled both Paulus and backup Ryan Nassib, receivers couldn't get separation, the quarterbacks missed reads and the playcalling was safe.
It all added up to only 141 yards on 17-of-34 passing with three interceptions and six sacks.
Williams' pick before halftime hurt the most.
Trailing, 6-3, with 1:30 left in the second quarter, Syracuse seemed primed for a sucker punch before halftime. But like previous games, hopes turned south on one pass. Paulus took the shotgun snap, fired a quick screen to Mike Jones, and the ball was tipped. Williams snared it and raced 51 yards to the house. Instead of SU taking a lead into the half, the game eroded into a blowout.
Still, head coach Doug Marrone and several players denied the notion of the pick's demoralizing effect. Mainly because SU has been here before.
"I think they've worked hard enough to know they can still get back into these games," Marrone said. "To say that we've had a lot of practice at things like that, it has happened to us before and we haven't given up. So I didn't feel that sense at all from the players."
Added receiver Donte Davis, "We still had the mindset to go out there, attack and keep fighting hard."
In any event, the play sharply redirected the course of the game. Williams' pick was the swig of caffeine Pitt needed. And Syracuse's passing game never recovered.
The lack of a big-play threat shrunk SU's passing game to a collage of check-downs, slants and screens. Even when Pitt took a commanding lead in the second half, SU rarely pressed the ball downfield. Syracuse's longest completion to a wide receiver went for 18 yards.
Paulus wasn't at fault for the backbreaking pick. Neither was Nassib for his costly interception in the third quarter. After the Panthers extended their lead to 20-3 on the first drive of the second half, Nassib trotted out with the first-team offense. On the first play, he threw a post route on the money to Van Chew. The ball ricocheted into the air and Jarred Holley picked it off.
Be the first to comment on this story