It was not a given Cameron Dantley would get a third straight start at quarterback for Syracuse.

Not after the junior’s shoddy effort (13-for-32, 110 yards) in the Orange’s 55-13 defeat to No. 16 Penn State. Not after head coach Greg Robinson invited speculation about Dantley’s place, saying a day after the defeat he’d ‘evaluate’ the position.

But Robinson squashed any of that lingering speculation Tuesday, saying Dantley would get the nod Saturday ahead of opening day starter Andrew Robinson when the Orange hosts Northeastern.

‘I think right now we’re going to go with Cam,’ Coach Robinson said at his weekly press conference. ‘I’m glad we got Andrew in for a few plays the other day. I know he’s prepared to be ready to go at any time.’

That means another chance for the former walk-on to cement his first-team place behind center. Another chance to show he can help fix the sluggish starts and inconsistency that have plagued the Orange offense early this season.

And, of course, it’s a chance for Dantley to show his meager outing against the Nittany Lions was an aberration.

‘I wouldn’t say it’s any easier,’ Dantley said of knowing he’d be starting. ‘Knowing that I’m going into the game as a starter, I’m still going to prepare the same way. I’m still going to prepare like this game means everything to me.’

That preparation didn’t pay dividends against Penn State. The Orange didn’t manage a first down until the 12:11 mark of the second quarter (it was already 28-0, Penn State). Dantley’s lone highlight – an 11-yard touchdown strike to freshman receiver Marcus Sales – came with SU trailing 45-6.

As the final seconds melted away, Dantley watched from the sidelines as Andrew Robinson took over the Orange’s final possession of the game (he went 0-for-3).

‘As an offense, it’s important that we execute early,’ Dantley said. ‘The Akron and the Penn State games, we didn’t get off to good starts, and I think that getting off on the right track and getting the ball moving early on should make things a lot better.’

A fast start will be especially important for Dantley this weekend against the Huskies. Any early sputters could tempt the SU coaching staff to turn back to Andrew Robinson.

Robinson, who admitted Tuesday that being benched was ‘a little bit shocking,’ has spent the past two weeks regrouping from a poor outing against Northwestern (14-for-28, 103 yards). In that time, Robinson said he’s corrected the flaw in his delivery – he wasn’t using his lower body more to create a consistent and efficient throwing motion.

Greg Robinson said Sunday he thought the junior was ‘back in a groove,’ that he felt the quarterback’s confidence was back. Andrew Robinson sure sounded like it Tuesday when asked if he’d have his job back by the end of the season.

‘I think I will,’ Robinson said. ‘I didn’t come here to be second-string quarterback.

‘I’ve been trying to improve every single day with the reps I get, which, for a backup during a game week aren’t a ton. But for the reps I do get I just try to be consistent.’

For now, at least it looks like those meager practice reps will have to suffice for Robinson. Greg Robinson said Tuesday he wouldn’t consider splitting playing time between the two hurlers against Northeastern.

That means all eyes are on Dantley, for at least one more week.

‘I always want to start, it’s just something about the lights being on you and you being the leader of the team,’ Dantley said. ‘I’m trying to execute as much as I can to prove to my coaches and teammates that I’m the right one for the job.’

Get Carter

Syracuse got some good news Monday morning, when an MRI revealed that sophomore tailback Delone Carter did not suffer a tear in the left hamstring. Carter injured the hamstring in the first quarter against Penn State and did not return.

The head coach refused to speculate on whether Carter, who missed all of last season with a dislocated hip, would be able to practice this week or play against Northeastern on Saturday.

‘Time will tell,’ Robinson said. ‘I don’t know that.’

Carter was receiving treatment prior to practice and was not available to be interviewed.

McKinnon back?

Robinson gave a more positive report on injured free safety Randy McKinnon, who missed last week’s game after suffering a bone bruise against Akron. The head coach said he thought McKinnon would be healthy enough to play against Northeastern

‘From every indication, even on Sunday, I think he’ll be back,’ Robinson said.

Robinson wouldn’t say whether McKinnon would start if healthy. But the sophomore would certainly provide a boost to the depleted Orange secondary also ravaged by an injury to cornerback Nico Scott (ankle). Bruce Williams, who played wide receiver the first two games of the season, started at free safety against Penn State.

jsclayto@syr.edu

Published on September 16, 2008 at 12:00 pm