The Daily OrangePaulus to remain Syracuse's starting quarterback
By Jared Diamond
Posted: 11/17/09, 12:05 AM EST Section: Sports
Greg Paulus will remain Syracuse's starting quarterback, head coach Doug Marrone confirmed Monday afternoon. Speaking at his weekly press conference with local media, Marrone said that even with his team mathematically eliminated from bowl contention, Paulus still gives the Orange (3-7, 0-5 Big East) a better chance to win its final two games than backup Ryan Nassib.
After connecting on 12-of-16 passes Saturday in SU's loss to Louisville, Paulus holds a completion percentage of .658, putting him on pace to break Bill Scharr's program mark of .633 set in 1989. Marrone called Paulus' potential milestone "unnoticed" because of the team's poor record and cited his accuracy as the primary reason for his decision to stick with him this weekend against Rutgers (7-2, 2-2).
"We're still looking for packages for Ryan, too" Marrone said of his backup quarterback. "We're still going out there to win games, not to give people experience for next year. It's not next year until the last game is over. The way people are getting experience now on this team is through injury, unfortunately."
Despite Paulus' impressive completion percentage, he has struggled with his decision-making at times. He has completed 156-for-237 passes for 1,586 yards with 10 touchdowns this season, but his brief college football career will likely be remembered for throws to the opposing team more than anything else.
Paulus' 14 interceptions places him third in school history for most picks in a season, tied with Bernie Curtis (1948) and Troy Nunes (2000). Dave Warner holds the record with 16, a number he posted in 1980.
Considering Syracuse cannot qualify for the postseason and Paulus holds no NCAA eligibility after this season, now seems like an opportunity to start grooming Nassib for 2010. Nassib, who Marrone named this season's starter before Paulus' arrival, has been relegated to the second leg in an unorthodox two-quarterback system.
Nassib possesses superior arm strength, but Marrone has been reluctant to hand him the full-time reigns, despite Paulus' struggles. Nassib has completed 25-of-53 passes for 289 yards with two touchdowns and an interception this year, and has seen more snaps each of the last several weeks.
After connecting on 12-of-16 passes Saturday in SU's loss to Louisville, Paulus holds a completion percentage of .658, putting him on pace to break Bill Scharr's program mark of .633 set in 1989. Marrone called Paulus' potential milestone "unnoticed" because of the team's poor record and cited his accuracy as the primary reason for his decision to stick with him this weekend against Rutgers (7-2, 2-2).
"We're still looking for packages for Ryan, too" Marrone said of his backup quarterback. "We're still going out there to win games, not to give people experience for next year. It's not next year until the last game is over. The way people are getting experience now on this team is through injury, unfortunately."
Despite Paulus' impressive completion percentage, he has struggled with his decision-making at times. He has completed 156-for-237 passes for 1,586 yards with 10 touchdowns this season, but his brief college football career will likely be remembered for throws to the opposing team more than anything else.
Paulus' 14 interceptions places him third in school history for most picks in a season, tied with Bernie Curtis (1948) and Troy Nunes (2000). Dave Warner holds the record with 16, a number he posted in 1980.
Considering Syracuse cannot qualify for the postseason and Paulus holds no NCAA eligibility after this season, now seems like an opportunity to start grooming Nassib for 2010. Nassib, who Marrone named this season's starter before Paulus' arrival, has been relegated to the second leg in an unorthodox two-quarterback system.
Nassib possesses superior arm strength, but Marrone has been reluctant to hand him the full-time reigns, despite Paulus' struggles. Nassib has completed 25-of-53 passes for 289 yards with two touchdowns and an interception this year, and has seen more snaps each of the last several weeks.
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