Copyright syracuse.com
Syracuse, N.Y. — One of the repeated adages in football is “if you have two quarterbacks, then you have none.” So what does it mean that Syracuse trotted out its third and fourth quarterbacks of the season with freshman walk-on Joe Filardi and freshman Luke Carney taking the JMA Dome turf against North Carolina on Halloween Night? After what we saw during SU’s 27-10 loss to North Carolina, it means Syracuse has a quarterback emergency on its hands. It means Fran Brown is trying to Frankenstein-monster a quarterback from the available parts left in the room because Filardi, Carney and Rickie Collins have demonstrated a startling free fall at the most important position in sports since Steve Angeli went down against Clemson on Sept. 20 with a torn Achilles. SU fans in attendance on Friday night were left wondering what time the JV game would be over and if they’d see the varsity team take Ernie Davis Legends Field. Those that were unable to watch the Syracuse-North Carolina game due to YouTube TV’s carriage dispute with ESPN could only say “thank you.” A ghost from SU’s near past was in attendance as Kyle McCord, who attained Orange legend status in just one year at the helm, was back in town for a visit during the Philadelphia Eagles’ bye week. McCord was greeted with the loudest cheer of the night from a half-filled dome and perhaps a wish or two from the home crowd for him to pull a Chad Powers and get back out on the field any way he could in a Halloween disguise. The fish will only get bigger every time fans tell the tale of McCord’s time at Syracuse with the level of quarterback play they have been subjected to in the Orange’s five-game losing streak. Brown hit the transfer portal lottery with McCord. The portal appeared to gift Syracuse another gem with Angeli, who was leading the nation in passing when he went down. They looked like pros commanding the Orange offense in a era where college players are paid more in some cases than backups in the National Football League. Collins appears to be a big-money bust. Filardi and Carney are freshman that are just too green to be on the field for a Power Four football program at the moment. Syracuse is running out of options with trips to No. 9 Miami and No. 12 Notre Dame looming as its next two games. Brown stated earlier this week that he benched Collins due to 0-4 record as a starter and that “you have to open that competition up and make sure you’re giving an opportunity for us to go out and win.” Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse at quarterback for the Orange, it has. So what does Brown do now? Eat some humble pie and go back to Collins? Give two more freshman a chance? Jakhari Williams and Rich Belin, you’re next? Anyone in the student body that can throw a football please report to the John A. Lally football facility at your first convenience? No matter what, it’s going to be a loooooong wait until Angeli comes back as a conquering hero in that quarterback room. Filardi’s firsts After receiving a nice ovation from a half-filled dome, Filardi’s first offensive series was like getting a box of raisins in the Halloween pumpkin as the Orange walked off the field in the hole five yards after he was sacked on 3rd-and-9. That Filardi was on the field for that pass attempt was a change from when Carney was pulled on the same down and distance earlier in the season against Pittsburgh. Filardi didn’t exactly seize the moment from there. Filardi’s first official pass attempt was a nice ball to Johntay Cook on 2nd-and-7 that was broken up by UNC’s Kaleb Cost. A 3rd-and-7 pass to Darrell Gill that followed was behind the route with Gill unable to reach back for the ball. Filardi’s first earned first-down came on a 14-yard scramble with 2:39 remaining in the first quarter on SU’s third offensive series. That also turned out to be the freshman’s first scoring drive, which was a bit of a mixed bag. He couldn’t connect with Cook or Gill on shots to the end zone. Filardi dropped the ball and was sacked on a 2nd-and-4 attempt and put too much mustard on a pass to an open Dan Villari. A 25-yard flea flicker that barely got home to Darius “Boobie” Johnson from Filardi was his first completion. It didn’t come until 6:12 was remaining in the second quarter. Filardi was 0-of-10 passing beforehand. Filardi went to halftime with a line of 1-of-11 passing for 25 yards. He finished the game 4-of-18 for 39 yards. His best days at Syracuse may be ahead as a Top 50 lacrosse prospect for Gary Gait’s squad. That’s where the story ends. He’s simply not ready to quarterback a team at the ACC level. Carney’s quick chance Luke Carney ‘s opportunity to inject life into the SU offense came with 13:10 remaining in the third quarter. After handing the ball off four straight times, Carney showed off his wheels up the gut for an 18-yard gain. On an obvious passing down on 2nd-and-14, he was stopped after a two-yard keeper. On 3rd-and-12, Carney was promptly sacked before he could get off his first pass attempt in a Syracuse uniform. A nine-play drive stalled out. Carney played two offensive series against the Tar Heels. Carney has now played in three games in a Syracuse uniform and has yet to attempt a pass. It’s clear the SU coaching staff doesn’t trust him to do so and his packages are run-only. He finished Friday night’s game with three carries for 18 yards.
