Luke Carney | Page 6 | Syracusefan.com

Luke Carney

What would worse look like?

Carney fumbles every snap and literally craps his pants on the field?

They don't teach that in Texas, sports fans.

I think he'd be alright.
Can he wear lifts? I think some are worried his passes will get knocked down. The irony there.
 
I thought we hired someone whose specific job was to evaluate portal talent and find those that are a fit. While I know this can't be an exact science, is Collins that big a miss that he never should have been offered in the first place? Granted he had a limited background to analyze, but were there indications going forward that he had issues?
He was analyzed based on athleticism and arm strength. In drills he probably looks great. Coaches did not have game reps to evaluate. They went with potential. After spring ball they knew they needed another option. They got Angeli (sp). They hoped Ricky would be ready if necessary it just hasn’t worked out so far.
 
What would worse look like?

Carney fumbles every snap and literally craps his pants on the field?

They don't teach that in Texas, sports fans.

I think he'd be alright.
So much of qb is more than just the throw. It’s getting into the right play, changing pass protection, etc. it’s the unseen stuff. Like RBs it’s just not all the ability to break a run. Thats not to say Luke cannot do it. But that’s why a lot of freshman don’t play much. Given we are playing 12-15 a game though, I’d give a series or two and see what we have. You can clearly pull a starter to motivate
 
One other thing to consider is what happens if Angeli maybe needs a little more time and isn't quite ready for fall camp? Who is the more likely player to have on the roster that you're comfortable handing the ball to for a little while?
 
So much of qb is more than just the throw. It’s getting into the right play, changing pass protection, etc. it’s the unseen stuff. Like RBs it’s just not all the ability to break a run. Thats not to say Luke cannot do it. But that’s why a lot of freshman don’t play much. Given we are playing 12-15 a game though, I’d give a series or two and see what we have. You can clearly pull a starter to motivate
This. I don't see why we can't - at a minimum - rotate him in for a series each half and play it by ear.
 
So much of qb is more than just the throw. It’s getting into the right play, changing pass protection, etc. it’s the unseen stuff. Like RBs it’s just not all the ability to break a run. Thats not to say Luke cannot do it. But that’s why a lot of freshman don’t play much. Given we are playing 12-15 a game though, I’d give a series or two and see what we have. You can clearly pull a starter to motivate
I expect we'll play Rickie until we have lost 7, then will switch to Carney to see how he does, and hopefully to get a sense of whether he has "it" or not. Then make offseason portal plans accordingly.
 
I expect we'll play Rickie until we have lost 7, then will switch to Carney to see how he does, and hopefully to get a sense of whether he has "it" or not. Then make offseason portal plans accordingly.
I don’t think so. I think if there is not notable improvement by Pittsburgh, then we make the change the following week.
 
I don’t think so. I think if there is not notable improvement by Pittsburgh, then we make the change the following week.
Yeah, I don't see any benefit to holding off on a change until we're solidly out of bowl contention.

If you make a move, it's to try and keep a winning season alive.

And I can't stop myself from thinking that Collins has been at his best when the defenses call off the dogs. When they play for real he hasn't shown much.
 
Yeah, I don't see any benefit to holding off on a change until we're solidly out of bowl contention.

If you make a move, it's to try and keep a winning season alive.

And I can't stop myself from thinking that Collins has been at his best when the defenses call off the dogs. When they play for real he hasn't shown much.
Yeah it’s all about his feet. When he is set he is ok. I say ok because even the passes he does complete over 15 yards feel like they are into coverage and the WR needs to make an unreal adjustment (see Ross)
 
Yeah it’s all about his feet. When he is set he is ok. I say ok because even the passes he does complete over 15 yards feel like they are into coverage and the WR needs to make an unreal adjustment (see Ross)

Those are the issues. He won't always be able to set his feet (accuracy issue) and even if he is accurate he makes bad decisions. It is a double whammy.
 
Yeah it’s all about his feet. When he is set he is ok. I say ok because even the passes he does complete over 15 yards feel like they are into coverage and the WR needs to make an unreal adjustment (see Ross)
I think part of the issue is his long windup. It just takes longer for the pass to get out and get there. The pass has to be zipped to make up for the windup. On certain deep routes, that works well. On others, once he begins that windup, the safeties can react. I am not sure if/how you fix that.

Imaleava has stunk for UCLA this year. Against PSU, he ran for 100+ yards. Separately... his best QBR game of the season and also going back to last year. He only ran for 30 yards a game last year. If you have to devote a LB to spying on the QB, that might free up someone else somewhere else. Maybe it would help our offense to at least try that before giving up on Ricky?

I also think it makes sense to get Carney some work. You do not have to make someone a starter to get pass attempts here and there. The way Marrone used Nassib in 2009. SMU got their backup QB in to run a trick play and throw a pass. Why have we not tried a single explosive offensive trick play all year??? If not SMU, then when? Our trick plays have been an onside kick, 2 Villari plays, and not kicking gimme FGs/XPs too early in games.
 
Fran Jr and Jaden Hart were asked to say one thing about a freshman and they chose how "fast" Luke Carney is. He put up a lot of passing yardage numbers in HS but if you're flashing RB speed, the dual threat aspect makes him dangerous. He showed no fear or hesitation in the one designed run against Colgate.

Is Ricky so bad that we can't mix in Carney for a series or package or does that become too threatening to him? Dungey started as a true freshman from Oregon who didn't enroll early. Carney's was here in the spring, he has big time speed. He may have played at a small school but he played in Dallas, TX and has a ton of experience relative to most HS QBs.

Similar to the Giants, would you rather lose with Russell Wilson, who can't play anymore or Jaxson Dart, who at least brings hope and excitement?

Angeli might be the QB for the next two years so lets throw Luke into the fire and see what we have. We know Collins won't be coming back. It does get messy if Luke isn't up to the task and you have to go back to Collins or Jakahi but I don't think throwing away a season is very DART.
 
Is Ricky so bad that we can't mix in Carney for a series or package or does that become too threatening to him? Dungey started as a true freshman from Oregon who didn't enroll early. Carney's was here in the spring, he has big time speed. He may have played at a small school but he played in Dallas, TX and has a ton of experience relative to most HS QBs.
THIS is my point. Why will we not get him experience? I could see if Rickie was playing at 90% of Angeli. We have six games left. If Carney plays 7 games, then it was a worthwhile use of the redshirt year AND he can still use it in a future year. And that is assuming that 5 years to play 5 seasons is not the rule moving forward anyway. If that is the case, then redshirting is no longer really a thing. Forget about having him start... can he get a series here or there?
 
If Fran keeps Rickie in the rest of the year and we get the same results from him every game. That is the definition of coaching malpractice
Doing things the same and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.
 
The idea 6 months ago was Collins as QB1 and Carney (or Williams) as QB2. It is rare in today's game that QB1 plays the entire season. So if the plan was to have QB2 be someone who is not good enough, then the coaches are stupid.
Hence why you saw a transfer of Angeli to SU after the spring. Likely would have been someone else had Angeli won the ND job. Would guess the plan was to not play Carney this season.
 
Doing things the same and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

I am not sure how Fran is going to handle this but perhaps the best approach will be to work Carney in a few sets at first and not throw him headlong into the frying pan immediately.

The reality is this season is looking like a complete writeoff with the defense so terrible and Collins clearly not fit-for-purpose as a D1 QB, sadly. Collins will be gone next year, Angeli will hopefully back, and if Carney is to be an heir-apparent to Angeli, casting him off into the deep end this season might not be the best approach... or maybe it could be like Pitt just did with their QB change??

Lots of ifs and question marks here.

Sad to see a semi-promising season start fly off the rails so completely by October (again)... Was hoping we'd see the last of that happening after Dino left due to talent issues after injuries, but it would appear we are still battling that problem (along with a completely dysfunctional EROB defense.)
 
Last edited:
Ultimately I think you prefer to give QB's more than 2 games, that said I don't think Collins is good QB1 material and I have never seen it. His HS highlights were nothing spectacular, although there wasn't much to watch. his HS stats were not all that impressive. We had never seen him play in a spring game. I haven't been impressed with his interviews. Doesn't come across as a confident, I'm in charge, do whatever it takes leader to me that would bring confidence to a team. The Teams recent play seems to reflect that. He seems to not go through progressions and locks on to one receiver. Additionally I don't think he has good timing with the offense. That seems to be a lot of what the Nixon passing game is and I see none of that with Rickie. The only think really giving me hope with him before the year was that he was an Elite 11 finalist and that Fran and Co originally named him starter and said he was neck and neck with Angeli up to the end. Pretty sure he was named starter because we had little else at that time. And Carney had just gotten there. You'd prefer to give a QB like Rickie more time to prove it than 3 games, but really he doesn't show the ability to command an offense. I think the staff hoped and though Collins would do a bit better than he's doing. But its hard to know for sure until you throw a kid into actual live game setting. Carney was just a true frosh learning the offense and trying to build confidence as a young man. The things Collins doesn't have are more apparent in a live game setting. There is still some chance he could be somewhat adequate but i don't think his celling is very high. I think i'd be willing to pull the plug now assuming they think highly of Carney. But if Rickie doesn't show it after Pitt you almost surely have to go to Carney, else you risk losing the team. When the team has no faith they can win with a player everyone loses motivation. You can't go that may games in a season looking inept. That weighs on the current team, and recruits. If you wait until there are only 3 more regular season games to preserve a Carney redshirt, while looking inept, that is not a good look with the current team.

Carney on the other hand, i've been very excited for, despite him not getting offers from the big boys in TX. From all of the staff interviews and handling of questions, i'm positive Carney is next man up. Somehow he was somewhat under the radar, which seems to be just because he was at a private school in TX. Did he not go to camps? I mean he has adequate height, a solid build, and is a hell of athlete that put up a lot of rushing yards as well. He put up ridiculous numbers for 4 years in HS and is a proven winner as a 4 time state champion leading QB for private schools. His HS highlights look great to me. His arm is strong enough and he looks to have the skills that Nixon's offense values, command of an offense, goes through his progressions and has nice timing and accuracy. Just because they staff didn't have him as next man up to start his true freshman season, doesn't mean this kid doesn't have what it takes. The plan was never to play him this season. But I think things have changed. I think he gets the start either against Pitt or the game after against GT. I wanted to preserve his redshirt this year as I think it makes it the most likely he remains at SU.

I don't know what him or his camp wants. All kids want to play but I woudn't be surprised if they prefer him to redshirt this season knowing it is what is best. But situations change. He has been here a bit longer now and he can play 6 more games or possibly 7 if he performs well enough. If he's somewhat solid, we could win 3 more regular season games. Expecting more than that with a true freshman leading the charge is probably pushing it. But wins over UNC, BC and possibly Pitt is doable. But it is possible he is only a tad more productive than Collins considering he is so young.

As far as i can tell Steve Angeli can't get a medical redshirt as you have to have played in less than 30% of their schedule games. Assuming scheduled means regular season. 30% of 12 is 3.8 games. He has played 4 games. So If Carney steps in and does well for the rest of 2025, Angeli and Carney can fight it out for the starting role next year. Then if Carney gets beat out as the 2026 starter, he uses a redshirt year.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
174,540
Messages
5,167,189
Members
6,139
Latest member
Cusebanwago

Online statistics

Members online
231
Guests online
3,273
Total visitors
3,504


...
Top Bottom