To support student journalism and the content you love, become a member of The Daily Orange today.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Dino Babers kept quiet all week on who would start against Pittsburgh. He made it clear that there was no quarterback battle, and that if Garrett Shrader was healthy, he’d start.
But Shrader wasn’t 100%. From the moment he jogged out to midfield at Acrisure stadium for warmups 90 minutes prior to kickoff, something was off. He stood 10 yards away from Carlos Del Rio-Wilson at the 50-yard line, nonchalantly throwing 10- to 20- yard passes as he began to stretch his arm out. He looked hobbled when he tried to move around and imitate a pocket throw.
Meanwhile, Del Rio-Wilson, donning a pair of white headphones, quickly slung passes to a receiver. Unbeknownst to everyone outside of SU’s locker room, he was zoning in to start his first collegiate game. Shrader jogged out of the opposing tunnel in orange shorts, a blue Syracuse No. 6 t-shirt and a Syracuse hat. Shrader didn’t lose the starting job, but whatever his injury was, Babers once again believed the quarterback couldn’t compete.
Then, Del Rio-Wilson trotted out and proceeded to lead the most bland, unproductive and ineffective offensive performance all season. After six first downs and six points in the first half, the Orange were down 10-6 going into the half. That last drive — overthrowing Oronde Gadsden by at least five yards and then taking a sack — ensured Syracuse (6-3, 2-3 Atlantic Coast) wouldn’t come back in a 19-9 loss to Pittbsurgh (5-4, 2-3 ACC). He’d thrown a bomb, 45-yard pass down the far sideline to D’Marcus Adams on Syracuse’s last drive.
But he overthrew Oronde Gadsden by at least five yards and was sacked. A completion would have set up the Orange at the goal line, possibly down by just four.
Instead, Brady Denaburg squibbed a kick, and Syracuse’s defense, in a last gasp to stop Pittsburgh, wilted by the legs of Rodney Hammond Jr., who finished with a career-high 124 rushing yards. Then Syracuse collapsed. After Sam Vander Haar pinned the Orange at the 1-yard line, Pittsburgh sacked Del Rio-Wilson, ruling a safety. The Orange, once the No. 14 team in the country, fell for their third straight game.
Syracuse’s offense hasn’t come out as flat as it did against Pittsburgh all season. Last year, nine points and the opponent having more rushing yards than its total yards was common. That’s why the Orange fired Sterlin Gilbert and hired one of the most seasoned offensive coordinators in the country. But Del Rio-Wilson led a horrific offensive performance that only boasted 145 total yards. Maybe Shrader would have done more, but the Orange are on a three-game skid with many more questions.
In training camp, it was clear Del Rio-Wilson had talent. He quickly solidified himself as the backup to Shrader, at times beckoning calls from fans to replace Shrader. Del Rio-Wilson had an above-average arm and the ability to rush as well as any quarterback out of high school.
Babers said after the Notre Dame loss that Shrader was banged up, but good. He’d been visibly limping since after the loss to then-No. 5 Clemson and had a possible head injury following a hard hit. The head coach wasn’t going to reveal which quarterback would play, though Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said in his weekly press conference that the Panthers prepared for both quarterbacks. Narduzzi said he didn’t foresee Syracuse’s offense changing much if it switched to Del-Rio Wilson.
Babers also noted that opponents barely had any tape on Del Rio-Wilson before the Notre Dame game — he’d attempted just five passes before. After playing an entire half, teams got the first taste of what the former four-star quarterback would look like in a Robert Anae offense. Del Rio-Wilson did “okay” by Babers’ estimation against the Fighting Irish, but he’d need to be more than okay to beat Pittsburgh.
Del Rio-Wilson flashed his dual-threat ability again, scampering out of a few tackles on a 1st-and-10 to begin Syracuse’s fourth drive. He faked once, then cut up again to avoid another tackle before finally lofting a pass to Damien Alford, who was one-on-one on a fade down the far sideline. Del Rio-Wilson placed it high enough for Alford to extend and leap over his defender for the diving catch and a 31-yard completion.
But the Orange finished the first half with just 94 total yards, mustering two drives that stalled out before Del Rio-Wilson could get them into the end zone. An average 6-for-12 passing and 79 passing yards mirrored his second half against Notre Dame. He was inaccurate, routinely overthrowing wide open receivers, frustrating those who could get open. Gadsden was notably absent, though he was targeted plenty of times.
Syracuse needed Del Rio-Wilson to make a play, anything to drum up momentum. Down 7-6, the Orange hoped to execute a drive that would at least give them the lead at halftime. Del Rio-Wilson had Courtney Jackson streaking to the Pittsburgh sideline across the field. But the throw from Del-Rio Wilson sailed far above Jackson’s head and out of bounds.
Babers stated the obvious in his weekly press conference on Monday: Pittsburgh would play tremendous defense and run the ball. Syracuse was held to just 10 points the last time it played at Acrisure)Stadium. The Panther defensive line certainly disrupted Del Rio-Wilson throughout the game, forcing him to step up and roll out. Del Rio-Wilson could adapt for some time, but got sacked six times and missed more receivers because of it.
Entering the fourth quarter with just two field goals and one red zone trip didn’t entirely fall on Del Rio-Wilson. He looked rushed, unprepared and surprised throughout the game, but there were dropped passes and receivers who couldn’t get open. Pittsburgh’s rushing game was unstoppable despite being without star back Israel Abanikanda. Kedon Slovis did what he could and found enough success to finish 16-for-23 and 178 yards.
But that fourth drive in the second half, one that started on Pittsburgh’s own 20-yard line following a horrendous punt, continued the tenor of the game into the final 12 and a half minutes. There was one final drive, helped along by his 15-yard scramble and a bomb throw down the seam. But he still missed a wide open Gadsden and was sacked the next play. Andre Szmyt did bang through his 49-yard field goal, but the Orange were still down 17-9.
First, Del Rio-Wilson handed the ball off to Sean Tucker on the first down, and Tucker ran into Chris Bleich and lost a yard. Then Del Rio-Wilson dropped back and surveyed four tightly-covered receivers. He rolled to his right and tried to squeeze in a short pass to Gadsden who sat five yards away in double coverage. Incomplete.
That set up a 3rd-and-11, one that the Panthers rushed six defenders on. Del Rio-Wilson wanted Jackson on the out route, but the ball got tipped at the line. So Szmyt trotted out for a 46-yard field goal attempt.
Szmyt made one earlier from 48 kicking with the wind. Now, he faced it. Like the offense, like the stagnant rush game, like Del Rio-Wilson’s first collegiate start, it fell just short, effectively solidifying another Syracuse loss.
The post Syracuse’s offense stalls in Carlos Del Rio-Wilson’s 1st collegiate start appeared first on The Daily Orange.