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The Daily OrangeFB | Dantley ends year with thud, turns in 6-for-23 performance
By John Clayton
Posted: 12/2/08, 3:38 AM EST Section: Sports
CINCINNATI - Cameron Dantley was still Syracuse's quarterback by the time the season expired Saturday, a fourth-straight poor outing not enough to shake his status as the starter. Dantley took every snap against Cincinnati. The Orange coaches, as they have all year, stuck with the junior through every struggle and setback.
And there were plenty of those against the Bearcats. Dantley was 1-for-13 through three quarters of Saturday's 30-10 loss, piloting a dormant offense that never gave the Orange a chance.
Dantley finished 6-of-23 for 59 yards - another step back in what has been a miserable month for the former walk-on.
"When you get one completion through three quarters, you're not going to get much done on offense," Dantley said after Saturday's debacle, ice bags strapped to his right arm and leg. "… To know our capabilities, it's tough not to reach our goals and what we're trying to do in the passing game."
That passing game hasn't looked solid in quite some time. In the last four games, Dantley has completed 34.2 percent of his passes (26-for-76) and averaged 59.5 passing yards per game. Syracuse is 1-3 in that span.
Still, the junior made his 11th-straight start Saturday since taking over for Andrew Robinson in week two. He's averaged 118 passing yards per game in those starts - hardly impressive, even in Syracuse's run-heavy offense. He threw 11 touchdowns and five interceptions this season.
"I don't think he played up to his standard," Syracuse offensive coordinator Mitch Browning said of Dantley's outing at Cincinnati. "That happens sometimes. But when you only go out and play 12 games, you have to be on your A-game every week."
By the time Dantley completed his second pass of the game - an 8-yard pass to freshman wideout Marcus Sales early in the fourth quarter - the quarterback had gone over 40 minutes without a completion.
Syracuse had five passing yards at that point.
"All we're doing is running the ball," Dantley said. "We can't get a completion, we're making mistakes. … It comes down to me, too. I put a lot of it on myself. I just feel I didn't perform to my capabilities today."
And there were plenty of those against the Bearcats. Dantley was 1-for-13 through three quarters of Saturday's 30-10 loss, piloting a dormant offense that never gave the Orange a chance.
Dantley finished 6-of-23 for 59 yards - another step back in what has been a miserable month for the former walk-on.
"When you get one completion through three quarters, you're not going to get much done on offense," Dantley said after Saturday's debacle, ice bags strapped to his right arm and leg. "… To know our capabilities, it's tough not to reach our goals and what we're trying to do in the passing game."
That passing game hasn't looked solid in quite some time. In the last four games, Dantley has completed 34.2 percent of his passes (26-for-76) and averaged 59.5 passing yards per game. Syracuse is 1-3 in that span.
Still, the junior made his 11th-straight start Saturday since taking over for Andrew Robinson in week two. He's averaged 118 passing yards per game in those starts - hardly impressive, even in Syracuse's run-heavy offense. He threw 11 touchdowns and five interceptions this season.
"I don't think he played up to his standard," Syracuse offensive coordinator Mitch Browning said of Dantley's outing at Cincinnati. "That happens sometimes. But when you only go out and play 12 games, you have to be on your A-game every week."
By the time Dantley completed his second pass of the game - an 8-yard pass to freshman wideout Marcus Sales early in the fourth quarter - the quarterback had gone over 40 minutes without a completion.
Syracuse had five passing yards at that point.
"All we're doing is running the ball," Dantley said. "We can't get a completion, we're making mistakes. … It comes down to me, too. I put a lot of it on myself. I just feel I didn't perform to my capabilities today."
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