Syracuse’s offense couldn’t seem to get out of its own way against Maryland.

Poor execution and even poorer discipline highlighted the Orange’s failures to finish its otherwise smooth drives. When asked why SU stalled out in the red zone so often, head coach Scott Shafer kept it simple.

“Because we didn’t finish getting the ball over the goal line,” was Shafer’s response.

The solution is a little more complicated than that, but regardless, Syracuse’s inability to capitalize in the red zone was its biggest flaw in its 34-20 loss to Maryland (3-1) on Saturday. The last time the Orange (2-1) played in the Carrier Dome, it was able to escape with a win over Villanova despite repeatedly swinging at the end zone and missing.

SU’s 589 yards were impressive on Saturday. Terrel Hunt rushed for 156 of them and fifth-year running back Prince-Tyson Gulley gashed the Terrapins for 138 yards on the ground.

It was only a weak offensive showing in the place it matters most — the scoreboard.

If Syracuse’s up-tempo offense is going to help develop the Orange into a serious contender in the Atlantic Coast Conference, only cashing in on four red-zone trips for a mere 10 points through the first 58 minutes of the game is not going to cut it.

“We just couldn’t do it,” Gulley said. “It’s very frustrating because you do get down there but you don’t punch it in, so it’s like you got down there for nothing.”

Just once did Syracuse capitalize in the red zone with the game in doubt, when Hunt plunged into the end zone from 8 yards out on the first play of the second quarter.

Hunt took a carry into end the zone again, but with 48 seconds left on the clock. Too many missed chances in between had put Syracuse in a two-touchdown deficit and directed the Orange to its first loss of 2014.

Gulley chalked up SU’s failures to execution, but poor discipline did its part as well.

Take SU’s final drive of the first half. Trailing 31-13, a 39-yard dash by Gulley and a 25-yard completion moved Syracuse inside UMD’s 10-yard line.

To partially make up for its early defensive errors, SU was presented a chance to cut into the Terrapins’ lead before halftime, make it a game again and head into the locker room with confidence.

“We had some opportunities and crossed them up and everybody’s cheering, including Coach Shafe,” Shafer said, “and then all of a sudden that flag comes out.”

An illegal shift by Gulley backed SU up 5 yards. A scramble into the end zone by Hunt was called back because of holding on offensive tackle Ivan Foy. All of a sudden Syracuse was out of the red zone and into the “fringe” — between the 20- and 30-yard lines.

“It seemed like every time we were getting there, something bad was happening,” left tackle Sean Hickey said.

And for good measure, a holding call on Nick Robinson pushed the Orange back to the 29. Syracuse made the seemingly safe call to try a 25-yard field goal with five seconds left in the half, but it sailed wide off Ryan Norton’s foot and the boos that followed the decision also shadowed the Orange into the tunnel.

“I think every drive has an opportunity to be a game changer,” Shafer said. “But coming up short and having some holding penalties, they really knocked us back and put us in a tough situation.”

The beauty of a well-conditioned offense running at a faster pace is supposed to be the worn-down defense it lines up against at the end of the drive. In theory, touchdowns should come easier for Syracuse when the defense is huffing and puffing at the tail end of the drive.

But through three games, it certainly hasn’t looked that way.

Phil D’Abbraccio is an assistant sports editor at The Daily Orange where his column appears occasionally. He can be reached at pmdabbra@syr.edu or on Twitter at @PhilDAbb.

Published on September 22, 2014 at 12:17 am