Syracuse Football: Why a tree should determine the starting quarterback

When it comes to who will start at QB for Syracuse football in 2021, the question remains – will it be the incumbent or the newcomer?

Indeed, the great debate about who the starting quarterback should be when the Syracuse Orange football team kicks off its season continues.

Now, who do I think should be starting under center when the season starts?

Give me a tree.

Really.

I want the 2021 Syracuse football QB that is not only able to deliver a football, but also able to deliver a tree. Not an orange tree but rather, a beautifully full and comprehensive passing route tree. I want a route tree that is bold enough to use the middle of the field. Is groundbreaking enough to use the intermediate pass. Is cutting-edge enough to use the tight end.

It’s important to note, none of the above are truly bold, groundbreaking, or cutting-edge. But all are fundamentally important to a properly functioning college passing game.

To that point, I want a passing tree that consists of more than passes to the flat and to the deep sideline. I want a passing tree that forces the defense to think outside the box in defending because the offense will think outside of the box in play calling.

Syracuse football has a heated competition for starting quarterback in 2021.

Let’s face it. The passing play calling over the course of the 2020 season, that sad, sad 2020 season, consisted almost exclusively of a long series of screens, flats, and then heaves downfield that rarely connected and often landed well out of bounds.

Whether that was a result of an inability of the quarterback to make any other throws, or was the result of the coaching staff failing to call them, the end result was the same — a predictable, incredibly easy-to-defend offense that made it far too easy on opposing defenses.

Whereas “Orange is the New Fast” was the mantra of the early Babers years, “Orange is Just Plain  Predictable” has been more apropos of late. Game after game has been a heavy mix of runs, passes at or behind the line of scrimmage, and then a few deep chucks 30 yards downfield (typically on 3rd and medium when a far shorter pass would do).

Why? Is it because Tommy DeVito is unable to make the other throws? My hunch says he can make them, but I don’t see him in practice. Or, on the other hand, is the coaching staff simply refusing to call those passing plays for him?

Everyone looks at the shiny new object with affection. But I am fine giving the incumbent the first crack to start — if he can make those throws…if he can use the whole field. DeVito hasn’t yet demonstrated to me, yet, that he consistently can, but maybe it is, in fact, less on him than on the play calling. He deserves a chance to start if it’s the latter. But he needs a better playbook if he does.

That said, if Garrett Shrader demonstrates in practice that he is the one who is most adept at utilizing a diverse, comprehensive passing tree that can use all parts of the field, and can bring back the intermediate passing game to the Syracuse offense to complement his footwork, then he is the QB that I want behind center when the season kicks off vs. Ohio.

This is a critically important decision in a critically important season for both Syracuse football and for head coach Dino Babers. I am hopeful that Dino will make the right call out of the gate, but equally hopeful that he will be open to quickly adjusting if he realizes it is not working out.

Who is my pick for QB as we enter the 2021 Syracuse football season?

Bring on the branches. I choose the man with the tree.