Is it time for a QB change with the Syracuse football team? Dino Babers doesn’t think so. After the game Eric Dungey received a vote of confidence.
After a soul crushing loss to the Pitt Panthers, the Syracuse football team is giving themselves a real hard look in the mirror. This team was on the cusp of being 6-0, but they’re 4-2 in all actuality.
A big reason why that is the case is because the offense has been lackluster in situational football. If the Orange turn one field goal into a touchdown or better play calling happens, the outlook for this team is very different.
One criticism in-particular that has been perhaps the loudest following this game is a potential quarterback controversy. Fans on social media have been screaming for Tommy DeVito time and many feel that the optimal time to make that change is during the upcoming bye week.
Although that is a pipe dream of the fans, not the head coach. Dino Babers gave a huge vote of confidence to his quarterback Eric Dungey following this loss to Pitt in his press conference:
"“Sometimes maybe Eric Dungey started to scramble too early in a couple of drives, I’ll go back and watch the tape. But here’s the thing, sometimes he leaves early and good things happen. I think he rushed for over 70 yards and was probably our leading rusher (he was by the way). As he goes, we go. He’s our guy and we are not going to trade him.”"
It’s been a very Jekyll and Hyde season for Dungey. At some points during this season we’ve heard his name discussed in the Heisman conversation. While in other respects he has looked pedestrian. One of those pedestrian moments in-particular occurred on the first and only play of overtime for the Orange.
Syracuse won the coin toss in overtime and decided to put the defense out first. Makes sense and that’s what college football teams do 99 percent of the time. Pitt runs the ball six straight times and punches it into the end zone. Now Syracuse has to respond.
On the very first play Eric Dungey rolls out to the right and throws a game ending interception in the endzone. That was the third turnover of the game for Dungey. A lot of people were criticizing the play selection after the game, Dino Babers was asked about that final play in his post game presser:
"“We were running a sprint out. We were cutting the perimeter and if it was zone, we’d have a guy 6-8 yards deep and if we run with Dungey he’s hard to stop on perimeter. Have you seen our quarterback on the perimeter? We are not second guessing that decision at all. If Dungey gets around the edge he could’ve scored a touchdown himself.”"
Since the end of the game, Syracuse fans have been calling for a QB switch during the upcoming bye week. So let's get an official poll, should the Orange bench Eric Dungey and ride with Tommy DeVito? #OITNF #OrangeNation
— InsideTheLoudHouse (@LoudHouseFS) October 6, 2018
The most popular player on any football team is the backup quarterback. Why? Because of the great unknown. That’s especially true with DeVito who has built up so much hype with pro football camps and limited playing time with the Orange.
There’s no argument, DeVito is a far better passer of the football than Dungey. But playing the quarterback position is much more than just passing the football. Despite all the hype, Babers appears to be sticking with his senior quarterback Eric Dungey for the foreseeable future.