The DeVito catharsis thread

[Eric15]

This is super random, but Tommy kind of reminds me of Johnnie Morant in a way.

Both very nice kids, from New Jersey, highly recruited, all the physical tools to be excellent. But each appear to lack that intangible "feel for the game" that great players have.

 

[richmondcuse03]

He was never "fine." He had big time arm talent, but a poor feel for the game.

In shorts, in drills -- he looked like an NFL prospect, because he had a beautiful arm and terrific mechanics.

When the pass rush got live, and he had to worry about getting hit, his lack of game instincts negated the arm talent.

Bingo. And he needed a fresh start. When a pocket slightly broke down, he went into shell shock mode. Almost like he had PTSD here. He needed to go somewhere else. No ill will toward him.

Even when he had great protection, I still didn't see him reading defenses and scanning the field well. He locked onto his first option way too many times. He missed open guys. And then his dad ripped the rest of the team. It was a disaster and there was only one option going forward.

Wish him and his mom the best of luck.

 

[richmondcuse03]

I actually think when Tommy came into the ND game, his first series was great. He threw a beautiful deep ball right off the bat that was reminiscent of the UNC throw. He was being told to go back to a formula. The WR didn’t make the catch. Then another was dropped in the middle. ND had a great D that year, especially in the middle. After the WRs dropped the first series, Clark Lea dialed it up (they were a SS pressure defense) and it was over. He hits on one of those passes in that first series, and maybe it keeps the pressure at bay. We all know what came after that.

the WR also got tackled and there should have been pass interference. Entire game changed right then. Still annoys me. After that it was over, as we know.

 

[RandomGuy]

I think Tommy will have a very good year.
He'll lead our QB's in every category. Yeah, he'll lead in sacks, as well, but not INTs.

The question will be whether those stats are padded numbers, or lead to on field success. I really think he'll have a good year. If their offense is geared to his strengths, he may just have a great year.

He's a good kid. One of the guys. I am most definitely rooting for him.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

I agree he struggled with game sense, but I think the lack of an o-line with any shred of talent is what caused a lot of those issues. In 2019 syracuse had arguably the second worst line in the country ahead of only Florida State, and TD was getting obliterated every other snap. It’s hard to keep your mental clock right when you’re getting 2.5 seconds at most. He was obviously not a perfect player, but I think he was far better then what the team allowed him to show after the 18 season.

Dino's system led to a lot of sacks. It is part of the risk reward. With Dungey and what was considered a pretty decent OL in 2018, we were 110th out of 130 teams in sacks allowed per game. And that doesn't even count all the times Dungey escaped sacks. It also doesn't factor in that most teams are less likely to bring pressure vs a running QB. Yes, the 2019 OL was much worse but TD would have been under a lot of pressure even with a decent OL.

So IMO the system didn't help. On top of that TD didn't help. He lacked the ability to escape the rush and IMO he held onto the ball too long too often. Look at the sacks when he has was in the game for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 vs the other QBs. That is a hell of a coincidence if it had nothing to do with him.

 

[orangenauburn]

I would never wish bad on any one that wore SU jersey. Hope he does well.

How do you think Taj will do?

I think he has a strong year, probably will lead their team in reception

 

[Cusefan69]

I am pretty sure everyone on this board did something when younger that you would like a "redo" on.(talking about his departure comments). By all accounts he was a good kid, it just didn't work out but he got injured trying to help our team during his time here. Wish him well and move on.

 

[RandomGuy]

How do you think Taj will do?

I think he has a strong year, probably will lead their team in reception

I'm thinking Devito, Harris; Benson all put up big numbers.

Interesting if all 3 put up their best year.

 

[rrlbees]

I'm thinking Devito, Harris; Benson all put up big numbers.

Interesting if all 3 put up their best year.

Remind me, where did Benson go?

 

[RandomGuy]

Remind me, where did Benson go?

Gtech

Looks like they may actually throw to the TE.

 

[shu 49]

How do you think Taj will do?

I think he has a strong year, probably will lead their team in reception

I wasn’t a Taj fan after he started having tantrums. Loved him first year. After middle finger I was done and as a h.s coach he woulda been gone. Cancer can go thru team quickly so cut it out. Hope he does well. Hate rutgirls though lol

 

[orangefog]

I wasn’t a Taj fan after he started having tantrums. Loved him first year. After middle finger I was done and as a h.s coach he woulda been gone. Cancer can go thru team quickly so cut it out. Hope he does well. Hate rutgirls though lol

He feels kind of right at Rutgers though, doesn't he?

 

[All4SU]

How do you think Taj will do?

I think he has a strong year, probably will lead their team in reception

I wish TD no ill will. But Taj is dead to me.

 

[Roger N]

How do you think Taj will do?

I think he has a strong year, probably will lead their team in reception

Did you say "probably lead the team in perception"

 

[orangepassion]

This is super random, but Tommy kind of reminds me of Johnnie Morant in a way.

Both very nice kids, from New Jersey, highly recruited, all the physical tools to be excellent. But each appear to lack that intangible "feel for the game" that great players have.

He reminds me of a more athletic Ken O'brien from the jets of the 80's. If you gave him time, he had an excellent, accurate arm and could rip you apart, but greatly struggled with pressure.
My enduring memory (if it is correct) of Devito was the game after the UNC game where Dungey was benched and Devito comes in to save the game and there's then a question of who will start the next game, I believe NC State. In that game, Dungey makes a great play for a Touchdown and Devito runs down the field to celebrate with him. A lot of guys in that position wouldn't do that.

 

[RMH44]

His numbers were always good

But that doesn’t tell the whole story…….

Exactly, he simply wasn't game smart...no clue about down and distance. How many time did he intentionally throw the ball out of bounds on 4th down?

 

[SUFaninNJ]

Oh wait, I think maybe I’m in the wrong place. I thought this thread was about that DeVito guy from Jersey.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

View attachment 219243
Oh wait, I think maybe I’m in the wrong place. I thought this thread was about that DeVito guy from Jersey.

 

[ottodaorange]

I liked Tommy and wish him well. I think he got gun shy after being sacked repeatedly due to a miserable offensive line. I hope he gets better protection at Illinois and succeeds.

 

[RandomGuy]

I liked Tommy and wish him well. I think he got gun shy after being sacked repeatedly due to a miserable offensive line. I hope he gets better protection at Illinois and succeeds.

Working on tempo, instead of blitz pickup came back to bite us.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

Illinois fans still think Devito is their savior

I remember those days

Not the ones I know. They all seem to be in the, we’ve been here before, let’s see if this new guy offers anything new, way of thinking. Low to middling expectations.

 

[Millhouse]

Life is too short to actually watch Illinois football. but i can quickly look at their stats. Their team passing rating has been so bad just about every year

if this were any other no name qb at illinois, I would expect their passing game to stink because why should this year be any different from any other?

 

[JRHEETER]

Life is too short to actually watch Illinois football. but i can quickly look at their stats. Their team passing rating has been so bad just about every year

if this were any other no name qb at illinois, I would expect their passing game to stink because we should this year be any different from any other?

I’m watching because it’s on tomorrow and I’ve been craving college football for months

 

[ECE '76]

OK, I looked it up. Game is on Big Ten Network at 4PM.

 

[Cuse'91]

Honestly, why wouldn't you watch? It's the first day of the new season. Personally, I'm going to flip between watching the Illini offense, and scouting UConn, while Illinois' defense is on the field.