Maryland Football: 3 takeaways from blowout of No. 21 Syracuse

1. The Syracuse offense just is not the same without Eric Dungey

College football presents strategic issues baked into the system. Losing a multi-year starter at quarterback is always going to be tough for a program trying to ascend among the top teams in the country. For all that Syracuse was given the benefit of the doubt in the offseason, though, the Terrapins proved on Saturday just how much the Orange miss Eric Dungey.

That is no knock on Tommy DeVito, who finished with a respectable 330 passing yards and three touchdowns. While he threw an interception, he also completed 28 of his 39 attempts. But DeVito also took several costly sacks that killed the rhythm of the game when the Orange had the football.

Far less mobile than his predecessor, DeVito’s inability to threaten the Terrapins with his legs transferred over to the rest of the running game. Maryland’s run defense pinned its ears back and dared their visitors to run the football, and Syracuse responded with only 70 net yards on the ground on 29 total carries. It certainly didn’t help that they quickly found themselves buried on the scoreboard, forcing more passing situations and limiting the ability to keep the Terps defense honest.

Syracuse is going to plummet out of the AP Top 25 this week after suffering through such a lopsided defeat. Maryland is likely to take their place somewhere in the poll after making a statement at home.