I will still go with ED fellas. ED's decision making and play making ability is obviously hindered by his injury. Devito was brought in to make down field throws when they needed it. Thats what he did and has proven he can do. What he hasnt proven is starting a ACC game after being scouted and game planned for. Two different things. There's still a level of unknowing. We do know that ED is the leading rusher and leader of this team. You start him and bring TD in if you have to. That seems to work. They have won every game when that happened. Why change that?
And Devito hasn't had the chance to get starters reps in practice. He hasn't had the chance to get packages and a game plan installed to fit his strengths. He has shown that he can take a comatose Dungey led offense and inject life into it (remember, we had 6 points at halftime against FSU, despite the defense dominating). Imagine how much better positioned Devito will be actually knowing he will be the starter and being mentally prepared for it. Other teams being able to scout and gameplan for him is such a comparatively small thing - mostly because Dungey's deficiencies limit what Syracuse can attempt to do on offense. Much more of the offense is accessible with Devito.
This is seriously flawed thinking, and can be used to justify playing a less productive and less talented older player over a more productive, more talented younger player. It is about the program, not the player. The better, more productive player plays. It is plainly obvious to anyone watching these games that Dungey is severely limiting the offense with his lack of accuracy, poor arm strength, and questionable decision making. If you bench Devito and start Dungey, you signal to the entire team that results don't matter.
Alabama did it. Clemson did it. Notre Dame did it. Syracuse needs to do it.
I have never seen an SU QB with the kind of arm that Tommy has.
He also threw a bad INT due to his inexperience.
I would start Dungey and bring Tommy out of the bullpen.
I went back and re-watched the game last night. Dungey had at least 3 throws that should have been INT's. Two of those were thrown horribly behind the intended target such that the ball popped up in the air. Those almost always end in INT's, but fortunately for Syracuse fell to the ground. Those don't include the perpetually underthrown deep balls, which are always at risk for an INT.
At least Devito is freshman learning from mistakes. He has to go through those growing pains at some point. I'd rather take the redshirt freshman with the quick release and NFL arm who is the future of the program, and has shown the ability to move the ball, over the senior who continues to have accuracy issues, lacks arm strenths (injury influenced or not) and is prone to hero ball.
If we had to play that game over, which QB do you think UNC would want us to start?
