Syracuse, N.Y. — During the preseason, Syracuse football’s offensive scheme for 2022 was advertised as a more balanced blend of the passing and rushing games.
Through SU’s first four games, it’s seemed more like the pass-heavy offense coordinator Robert Anae ran at his previous program. Syracuse already has 1,000 passing yards through four games, and eight of the team’s 14 touchdowns have been through the air.
There are a number of reasons the Orange’s run game has not been as prominent: Opposing defenses shutting down running back Sean Tucker and quarterback Garrett Shrader finding career levels of success through the air are the two most obvious.
But Shrader teased after Tuesday’s practice the team will debut a new look to the offense Saturday against Wagner in an effort to reignite the team’s run game with Tucker.
“Moving forward, I think we’re doing some different stuff,” Shrader said. “We’ve got a new plan. (Tucker’s) still a key part of the offense, and we’re gonna give him the ball as much as we can. It’ll be fun moving forward. It will look a little different, but I think it’ll be more explosive.”
Shrader has accounted for a large share Syracuse’s rushing yards this season. He’s averaging 53 yards per game and is up to 212 on the season. SU has 668 rushing yards through four games.
As a result, Shrader has taken his fair share of blows. His helmet was knocked loose twice against Louisville. He bounced off the field upside down as the result of a tackle during the Purdue game. And on Friday in the Orange’s 22-20 win over Virginia, he was sacked six times.
Shrader was wearing a brace on his left ankle when he spoke with media Tuesday.
“I feel good,” Shrader said. “Most of the sacks were just from miscues, guys running the wrong routes or not seeing it the right way. Put a lot more stress on the O-line. ... I’m not worried about that. The number looks a lot worse than it is.”
Tucker, who had a historic 2021 season, has only amassed 314 rushing yards on an average of 78.5 yards per game. After rushing for more than 100 yards against both Louisville and Connecticut, he hasn’t broken 60 yards or scored a touchdown the past two weeks.
Pair those numbers from a talented back and the total amount of times Shrader’s been sacked (13), and questions begin to rise about how much blame for the lack of success in the run game can be pinned to the offensive line.
“Everybody can do something, and we gotta make sure they’re doing the stuff they’re good at,” Syracuse coach Dino Babers said. “Not necessarily the stuff that we think we wanna do. If we can’t get ‘em to do something, to get ‘em to get better in some of the areas that they’re weaker in, then we need to focus on the areas that they’re really good at and make that happen.”
Concerns about the O-line were relatively low heading into the season. Babers expressed confidence in his starting five — all are veterans — and there were no major injuries.
But when asked Monday if he thought he still had the best five guys on the line, Babers’ answer wasn’t one of confidence.
“Everything’s under consideration,” he said. “Everything’s being examined.”
If the changes Syracuse has made to its offensive scheme do open the run game more, Tucker will likely bump into the program’s top 10 for career rushing yards against Wagner. He needs 116 yards to pass former quarterback Bill Hurley (No. 10) and 124 yards to pass Moe Neal (No. 9).
Here’s a look at where Tucker stands in ACC and national rankings, as well as the SU record book after passing Ernie Davis in career rushing yards last week.
Contact Emily Leiker anytime: Email | Twitter
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