Shouldn't the ability to physically throw basic passes be a pre-requisite to being a college QB?

[JeffCuse]

This isn't meant to be snarky, just trying to understand this.

Ive heard repeatedly that we can't expect a freshman or an inexperienced backup QB to be able to come in and throw the football. I'm not talking about run a complete offense, im not talking about throwing downfield deep or making aggressive throws into coverage. Im literally talking about throwing simple 8-10 yard passes.

Yet, for multiple years over the pass 5-6 seasons, the loss of a starting QB resulted in an offense that was completely non functional.

I understand that we arent a high level power 5 program and arent going to have 3 or 4 4 star QBs ready and waiting to go. But shouldnt an absolute pre-requisite to being a power 5 QB be the ability to physically throw the football?

My youngest son goes to Delaware. This was their first year at FBS in C-USA. Their NIL budget is probably a tiny percentage of what Syracuse's budget it. First game this season, their starter tore his ACL and was lost for the season. Did their season become an ugly mess of run run run to 3-9? No. Their backup, Nick Minicucci, led them to the 4th best passing offense in the country en route a bowl win in their first FBS season.

Why is Syracuse so unable weather these type of injuries when compared ao so many other programs? And again...I dont expect no drop off. I dont expect the play sheet to not be pared down significantly. But in recent years were seen offenses run (emphasis on "run") by walk-on lacrosse players, tight ends, and "QB"s who were quite literally forbidden to throw a pass.

I've had so many Syracuse fans push back saying "you can't expect a freshman to be able to pass the ball" which i find crazy. Again..10-15 safe, 8-10 yard passes a game, just enough to keep a D offense. Seems insane that by late in the season even a true freshman hasn't learned enough plays to at least try.

Is this a sign of an epic recruiting failure (that cuts across 2 coaching regimes mind you)? If not what the heck is it? And its not unrealistic expectations to say, can't our QB depth at least be as good as Delaware's?

 

[CA Monk]

It is surprising and nauseating to be that bereft of talent when QB1 goes down. I don't know exactly what back up quarterback failure isa function of, but perhaps these backup QBs do well in practice when things aren't exactly full speed and urgent, then they get performance anxiety during the games. That's why I love Angeli and McCord. They're cool customer back there, able to go through their reads and that's not an easy thing to do.

 

[dasher]

First Jeff, you can't compare the t

This isn't meant to be snarky, just trying to understand this.

Ive heard repeatedly that we can't expect a freshman or an inexperienced backup QB to be able to come in and throw the football. I'm not talking about run a complete offense, im not talking about throwing downfield deep or making aggressive throws into coverage. Im literally talking about throwing simple 8-10 yard passes.

Yet, for multiple years over the pass 5-6 seasons, the loss of a starting QB resulted in an offense that was completely non functional.

I understand that we arent a high level power 5 program and arent going to have 3 or 4 4 star QBs ready and waiting to go. But shouldnt an absolute pre-requisite to being a power 5 QB be the ability to physically throw the football?

My youngest son goes to Delaware. This was their first year at FBS in C-USA. Their NIL budget is probably a tiny percentage of what Syracuse's budget it. First game this season, their starter tore his ACL and was lost for the season. Did their season become an ugly mess of run run run to 3-9? No. Their backup, Nick Minicucci, led them to the 4th best passing offense in the country en route a bowl win in their first FBS season.

Why is Syracuse so unable weather these type of injuries when compared ao so many other programs? And again...I dont expect no drop off. I dont expect the play sheet to not be pared down significantly. But in recent years were seen offenses run (emphasis on "run") by walk-on lacrosse players, tight ends, and "QB"s who were quite literally forbidden to throw a pass.

I've had so many Syracuse fans push back saying "you can't expect a freshman to be able to pass the ball" which i find crazy. Again..10-15 safe, 8-10 yard passes a game, just enough to keep a D offense. Seems insane that by late in the season even a true freshman hasn't learned enough plays to at least try.

Is this a sign of an epic recruiting failure (that cuts across 2 coaching regimes mind you)? If not what the heck is it? And its not unrealistic expectations to say, can't our QB depth at least be as good as Delaware's?

you can't compare the teams that Syracuse is playing against with the teams that Delaware is playing against. The size and the speed of the game effects what these kids can do. If you go to a high school game, any game, the kids on both teams can throw the ball in what appears to be better than what we saw this year. Now those guys couldn't do that at Syracuse and in all likelihood neither could those kids at Delaware. I bet that some of our guys, if they were suddenly put on Delaware, they would look fine. I am not knocking Delaware by the way. Just that the different levels are big. Look at some great college QB's we have seen and what they look like in the NFL.

 

[JeffCuse]

First Jeff, you can't compare the t

you can't compare the teams that Syracuse is playing against with the teams that Delaware is playing against. The size and the speed of the game effects what these kids can do. If you go to a high school game, any game, the kids on both teams can throw the ball in what appears to be better than what we saw this year. Now those guys couldn't do that at Syracuse and in all likelihood neither could those kids at Delaware. I bet that some of our guys, if they were suddenly put on Delaware, they would look fine. I am not knocking Delaware by the way. Just that the different levels are big. Look at some great college QB's we have seen and what they look like in the NFL.

Thats fair. I still think, though, that needs to be a factor in recruiting. Syracuse has more money than a school like Delaware so should theoretically be able to afford a QB room of a higher caliber floor.

End of the day. If our starting passing game is a Ferrari, id like our backup to be a Honda...or even a Hyundai. Not a bicycle. Hopefully as Brown has more recruiting cycles be finds a way to ensure the QB room is all guys that can throw very basic passes against ACC caliber competition at a minimum. Again, I absolutely get there will alwsys be a vast drop-off but I would love a drop-off to a backup QB vs effectively a RB in the role. More NIL would likely help.

 

[dasher]

Thats fair. I still think, though, that needs to be a factor in recruiting. Syracuse has more money than a school like Delaware so should theoretically be able to afford a QB room of a higher caliber floor.

End of the day. If our starting passing game is a Ferrari, id like our backup to be a Honda...or even a Hyundai. Not a bicycle. Hopefully as Brown has more recruiting cycles be finds a way to ensure the QB room is all guys that can throw very basic passes against ACC caliber competition at a minimum. Again, I absolutely get there will alwsys be a vast drop-off but I would love a drop-off to a backup QB vs effectively a RB in the role. More NIL would likely help.

I don't disagree with any of that. What we saw this year was clearly not acceptable. We actually played a walk on for a bunch of games. And a guy that I don't think we will see play another game at Syracuse in football.

 

[Archbold44]

I don't disagree with any of that. What we saw this year was clearly not acceptable. We actually played a walk on for a bunch of games. And a guy that I don't think we will see play another game at Syracuse in football.

Rickie playing hoops? Can we trade?

 

[upperdeck]

you mean like the NFL who cant seem to find kickers or QBs that can manage an offense?

 

[OttosShoes]

But shouldnt an absolute pre-requisite to being a power 5 QB be the ability to physically throw the football?

They can.

Respectfully, I think you are underestimating the level of competition here quite badly. These defenses all have secondaries who are not far off olympic sprinter pace. The linebackers aren’t much slower, and the lineman are big enough to end careers with a bad hit.

Any of our QBs would look like an absolute deity against a HS level defense. Instead, we’re facing defenses basically one step below world class. The pointy end has no low hanging fruit left; it’s a little bit like NASCAR where the difference between first and last is seconds.

Don’t get me wrong, we saw some ugly throws. I don’t think that would’ve happened if the QBs had more time.

 

[orangencpolice]

First Jeff, you can't compare the t

you can't compare the teams that Syracuse is playing against with the teams that Delaware is playing against. The size and the speed of the game effects what these kids can do. If you go to a high school game, any game, the kids on both teams can throw the ball in what appears to be better than what we saw this year. Now those guys couldn't do that at Syracuse and in all likelihood neither could those kids at Delaware. I bet that some of our guys, if they were suddenly put on Delaware, they would look fine. I am not knocking Delaware by the way. Just that the different levels are big. Look at some great college QB's we have seen and what they look like in the NFL.

Yes. Absolutely true, however you scout the players to determine what level of college football they can play at or not play at all. There is no excuse to not have at least one serviceable quarterback out of four or five players.

 

[Chip]

Ours was unique, disappointing, and hopefully not repeatable.

Collins could throw forward passes, he just often threw his very catchable ball to the other team.

We need to do a better job evaluating how we get our #2 from the portal, and we need to recruit higher end freshmen.

Comparing ourselves to Delaware isn't very useful, unless we want to go get that QB. Comparing ourselves to Pitt, whose freshman with only MAC offers was able to do what he did, is more applicable and frustrating.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Ours was unique, disappointing, and hopefully not repeatable.

Collins could throw forward passes, he just often threw his very catchable ball to the other team.

We need to do a better job evaluating how we get our #2 from the portal, and we need to recruit higher end freshmen.

Comparing ourselves to Delaware isn't very useful, unless we want to go get that QB. Comparing ourselves to Pitt, whose freshman with only MAC offers was able to do what he did, is more applicable and frustrating.

Our HS QB recruiting has been a joke for years. Pitt's QB was the 43rd ranked QB in his class. The last time we had a guy higher than that was the 2021 class.

 

[Chip]

Our HS QB recruiting has been a joke for years. Pitt's QB was the 43rd ranked QB in his class. The last time we had a guy higher than that was the 2021 class.

Even with Pitt, that's not a home run pick. 43rd and only MAC offers outside of them. That's just better talent evaluation.

We end up with Carney, who we already tell is a project that we're going to redshirt, but he's 3rd string out of the gate, and then give up on that after the first year.

Lott's ranking isn't great either (better than Carney and Belin). But in his case, you can at least say that as a North Carolina kid, he had offers from UNC and NC State. (and FSU, VT, BC). So hopefully there's something there. When the in state schools don't offer the in state kid (Carney), that's always a concern.

 

[CNYGuy]

you mean like the NFL who cant seem to find kickers or QBs that can manage an offense?

Kirk Cousins actually had a pretty good press conference quote about this recently.

Long story short - Said early in his career coaches would give him certain reads like half field or set progressions based on what the defense came out in to help his processing, he just had to identify coverage and that made his choice for him, but said the defenses have gotten so good at disguising things in recent years that it makes it way harder on young QBs now.

Rickie’s issue wasn’t arm talent, it was reading the defense.

 

[Eric15]

you can't compare the teams that Syracuse is playing against with the teams that Delaware is playing against. The size and the speed of the game effects what these kids can do.

Obviously we played a much harder schedule than Delaware, but FWIW they beat teams on their schedule (e.g. 9-3 UConn (who had us on the ropes WITH Angeli), 7-5 Florida International, 7-5 Louisiana Tech) that are better than the 1-10 Boston College team who we were completely helpless moving the ball against.

 

[Eric15]

This isn't meant to be snarky, just trying to understand this.

Ive heard repeatedly that we can't expect a freshman or an inexperienced backup QB to be able to come in and throw the football. I'm not talking about run a complete offense, im not talking about throwing downfield deep or making aggressive throws into coverage. Im literally talking about throwing simple 8-10 yard passes.

Yet, for multiple years over the pass 5-6 seasons, the loss of a starting QB resulted in an offense that was completely non functional.

I understand that we arent a high level power 5 program and arent going to have 3 or 4 4 star QBs ready and waiting to go. But shouldnt an absolute pre-requisite to being a power 5 QB be the ability to physically throw the football?

My youngest son goes to Delaware. This was their first year at FBS in C-USA. Their NIL budget is probably a tiny percentage of what Syracuse's budget it. First game this season, their starter tore his ACL and was lost for the season. Did their season become an ugly mess of run run run to 3-9? No. Their backup, Nick Minicucci, led them to the 4th best passing offense in the country en route a bowl win in their first FBS season.

Why is Syracuse so unable weather these type of injuries when compared ao so many other programs? And again...I dont expect no drop off. I dont expect the play sheet to not be pared down significantly. But in recent years were seen offenses run (emphasis on "run") by walk-on lacrosse players, tight ends, and "QB"s who were quite literally forbidden to throw a pass.

I've had so many Syracuse fans push back saying "you can't expect a freshman to be able to pass the ball" which i find crazy. Again..10-15 safe, 8-10 yard passes a game, just enough to keep a D offense. Seems insane that by late in the season even a true freshman hasn't learned enough plays to at least try.

Is this a sign of an epic recruiting failure (that cuts across 2 coaching regimes mind you)? If not what the heck is it? And its not unrealistic expectations to say, can't our QB depth at least be as good as Delaware's?

I started a thread about this a little while back.

Thread 'Losing our starting QB mid-season. Are we literally cursed?'

Oct 19, 2025

I find it hard to believe that any over P4 program has had as bad of luck than we have over the past decade in terms of losing our starting QB and having it completely derail our season. In 8 out of the past 11 seasons, our starting QB getting hurt has completely ephed the entire season due to not having a serviceable backup.

2014: we started 2-3 with Terrell Hunt, who vacillated between being average and good. He went down midseason, and we had to start AJ Long and Austin Wilson who were not equipped to play at this level at all -- we finished 3-9.

2015: Dungey went down in...

• Eric15
• Replies: 15
• Forum: Syracuse Football Board

• 

There's absolutely no excuse for not having a functional backup QB on the roster who can simply be a game manager. We don't need him to be a Heisman candidate -- just run a conservative offense and let skill players make plays.

 

[DoctorBombay]

If this was just a one-off w/ one staff, you'd say "Ok- job NOT well done"! But this same issue has happened w/ multiple coaching staffs, and w/ different regimes over the years
Back in the day, SU lost QB Bill Hurley to an injury and even with talent like Art Monk and Joe Morris on offense, they largely collapsed under HC Frank Maloney. So it's certainly not unique for Schafer, or Dino, or HCFB.
Hopefully w/ our improved recruiting and portal moves under Fran, we can have some adequate, not even capable, but adequate backup at that position.
QBs can be hit or miss, yes- but this year was an abomination that should never happen again.

 

[Hokie Mark]

Kirk Cousins actually had a pretty good press conference quote about this recently.

Long story short - Said early in his career coaches would give him certain reads like half field or set progressions based on what the defense came out in to help his processing, he just had to identify coverage and that made his choice for him, but said the defenses have gotten so good at disguising things in recent years that it makes it way harder on young QBs now.

Rickie’s issue wasn’t arm talent, it was reading the defense.

Rx: Play-action passes simplify defenses.

 

[NineOneSeven]

What I saw this year after a month almost makes me not want to renew my tickets. It was that much of a complete embarrassment. Plus, they are probably going up in price and it appears we don’t have know to get 7 home game (?).

I’ll say it again… absolutely unfathomable how horrific our team was after September.

 

[007]

Scouting and projecting QB talent is rarely a sure thing even for the NFL. And water is wet.

To date, QB evaluation and development, apart from Angeli, has not been good for this staff. McCord was a unicorn situation and a no brainer. Fran has seemingly addressed one major red flag area with the move to a proven DC, X's and O's guy with a HC background.

Addressing the QB room is his next major hurdle. Fingers crossed on the timing and extent of Angeli's recovery and finding 2 functional QBs from the portal.

 

[BrooklynCuse]

We did have Terrel Hunt go down in the first game and his back up was a freshman Eric Dungey. Lightening in a bottle I guess

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Even with Pitt, that's not a home run pick. 43rd and only MAC offers outside of them. That's just better talent evaluation.

We end up with Carney, who we already tell is a project that we're going to redshirt, but he's 3rd string out of the gate, and then give up on that after the first year.

Lott's ranking isn't great either (better than Carney and Belin). But in his case, you can at least say that as a North Carolina kid, he had offers from UNC and NC State. (and FSU, VT, BC). So hopefully there's something there. When the in state schools don't offer the in state kid (Carney), that's always a concern.

We need to be throwing numbers at it and eventually in theory you should hit on a QB2, or even a QB1. Just looking at the roster that has not happened either year under Fran and was not either under Dino.

IMO we should be bringing in a Top 50 HS QB every year. Between Fran's recruiting, our pass happy O, and only 68 P4 schools this shouldn't be some tall task.

Then we should bringing in a under recruited HS kid who we hope to hit on. Most of the time these will be misses but every now and then you get a QB1 (see Nassib or Dungey).

Then we should be bringing in a xfer former highly rated kid from a bigger program who is buried on the depth chart. Most of the time there will be a reason the kid isn't playing. But sometimes being recruited over, or being a poor fit, or just needing a change will result in a finding someone.

On top of that we should get a lower level kid who is an upperclassman. At worst they offer maturity and experience to the QB room. At best they can be QB2.

You add those 4 every year and you are bound to find a QB2.

For QB1 if none of the above fit then you go out and buy a portal QB.


QB is such a important position and yet we haven't been doing enough IMO to address it.