Syracuse’s quarterback production this season was a tale of two halves.
The Orange had a promising 3-1 start to the season with Steve Angeli under center, but once Angeli went down with his season-ending Achilles tear, Syracuse’s offense cratered. Without Angeli, the Orange suffered through an eight-game losing streak to end the season at 3-9.
Last year, Syracuse won 10 games in its first year under head coach Fran Brown. This season was a completely different story as the Orange struggled to win games in the back half of their schedule without the Notre Dame transfer quarterback.
The final numbers from Syracuse’s quarterback room this year, and the difference in Angeli’s production compared to his peers, are staggering.
With Angeli under center, the Orange manned one of the best offenses in the country, as Syracuse averaged 38.25 points per game with him in the lineup. He also led the nation with 1,317 passing yards in the four games before his injury. Angeli threw 10 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions for Syracuse.
Without Angeli, Syracuse’s offense nosedived. The Orange averaged 11.1 points per game while their defense was hung out to dry, as the lack of offensive momentum and inability to push the ball downfield forced the defense into uncomfortable situations.
Whether it was Rickie Collins, Joe Filardi, or even Luke Carney, Syracuse’s offense stalled, and drives often ended in three-and-outs and a Jack Stonehouse punt.
Collins was given the most opportunity, throwing for 1,042 passing yards and 6 touchdowns, but he threw 10 interceptions across seven appearances. On October 4 at SMU and October 18 against Pitt, Collins threw a combined six interceptions. As a starter, his interception rate was one of the worst in the country.
Filardi started three games for the Orange, but he didn’t fare much better. The freshman walk-on produced 226 passing yards and two total touchdowns with just a 47.7% completion rate. All three of his interceptions came in Syracuse’s historic 70-7 blowout loss to Notre Dame, with the Fighting Irish returning two of them for pick-sixes.
Carney didn’t even attempt a pass in two of his appearances, throwing for only 22 yards and rushing for one touchdown. Combined, all three quarterbacks had fewer passing yards than Angeli.
While it remains to be seen when Angeli will return next season, it’s clear that he was a level above the rest of Syracuse’s quarterbacks this year. That’s unlikely to change in this offseason’s transfer portal, considering the other positions of need the Orange will likely target.
Angeli produced at an elite level when healthy, and with him expected to retake the starting role once he returns, it seems much of Syracuse’s success next year will depend on his health and post-injury production.
