All Ryan Nassib can do is comply with confusion. He’s wanted, kind of. He’s a vital part of this year’s team, sort of.

After a breakthrough performance Saturday, Nassib remains exactly where he’s been all season. Waiting, watching and wondering. Immediately after Syracuse’s 34-13 loss to West Virginia Saturday, head coach Doug Marrone cleared the air. Paulus is the starter. Nassib is the backup. Don’t go there.

And that’s a shame. Saturday was the final piece of evidence Marrone needed to pull the plug on this experiment. Oh, it was fun while it lasted. The sideline-to-sideline high-wire acts, the floor-slapping intensity, the serene homecoming storyline. All of it was worthwhile.

But now, it’s clear. Ryan Nassib needs to be Syracuse’s new starting quarterback.

Marrone’s logic has been right all along – start the best player. For a while, that seemed to be Paulus. Until Big East play began. In two games, Paulus has regressed into a turnover machine. There’s no point in starting Paulus if he’s not the obvious, home-run, no-room-for-debate starter. Otherwise, he’s simply delaying the progress of a promising redshirt freshman.

Paulus is a rent-a-player. He’s here for kicks. He’s gone after December. Nassib could be a long-term answer. Whenever Nassib’s ability inched past Paulus’, Marrone needed to make the switch. After a gruesome interception, Marrone did exactly that during halftime Saturday. And stopped there.

Immediately after the game, Marrone reaffirmed Paulus as SU’s starting quarterback four times. He didn’t exactly pump up Nassib, either.

‘Do I think Ryan did a nice job? He did a good job of knowing the plan, but that comes a lot from Greg,’ Marrone said. ‘Greg does a lot of work and supports Ryan and does a lot of work for Ryan.’

Marrone is standing by his starter with Paulus’ approval rating at a David Paterson-low. Admirable, yes. But SU’s new head coach shouldn’t feel like he owes Paulus anything. Despite the hoopla, despite those No. 2 jerseys dangling in stores on Marshall Street and despite the huge risk Paulus took. Two huge Big East flops is enough justification.

Last week, Paulus threw five careless interceptions. This week, he threw one and deteriorated into a placeholder. The ensuing drives of six, nine, minus-seven, 17 and three yards were as lifeless as you’ll see. Afterward, wide receiver Alec Lemon admitted Paulus wasn’t his old, fired-up self.

Nassib was the polar opposite Saturday, fiery and productive. Albeit with the game out of hand, he woke the offense up. Nassib finished 7-of-16 for 120 yards and two touchdowns – solid numbers tainted by four drops. A deep seam to Antwon Bailey, a first down to Alec Lemon, a 20-yarder to Donte Davis and a slick bomb on the run to Delone Carter were all dropped.

Afterward, Nassib pointed the blame. To himself.

‘A lot of those were on me,’ Nassib said. ‘Coming in, I definitely put the ball with a little too much velocity on a lot of those throws and I definitely take responsibility for them.’

That’s like a waiter apologizing to patrons for service being too quick. Those drops weren’t Nassib’s fault. Maybe it’s nobody’s fault. Maybe the receivers became accustomed to Paulus’ softballs. The tight, whistling spirals were something new. Paulus has been witty in the pocket, meandering around for game-changing plays. No play is dead to him. But without a big-league arm, he hasn’t been able to slice passes into small windows. Hence, Syracuse’s horrendous 18-of-71 third-down rate this season.

Nassib gives the offense a fighting chance on third-and-long. He’s more decisive and more direct. His ball has more mustard on it than any SU quarterbacks in recent memory.

So back to the bench he goes. A Stallion snap here, a Stallion snap there. Headset and clipboard, optional.

By now, the poor guy must think he’s stuck in some cruel third dimension. Even the staunchest Dukie needs to sympathize for Ryan Nassib. After going through all of spring practice as the starter, his job was hijacked one week into summer training camp. He fought and clawed his way back, upstaged Paulus with a string of bullets and was sent back to a backup role.

At the podium after the game, Nassib stayed stoic and civil when he could have pounded the podium with his fist in anger.

‘All I need to do is keep working, do what I need to do and prepare for every game,’ Nassib said. ‘Any time, my number could be called, so I need to make sure I’m ready.’

The time for Nassib is now. It wouldn’t mortgage the present for the future. In a two-quarter audition, Nassib teased that he is better. He left everybody wanting more. This bye week could’ve been spent transitioning Nassib as the starter with Paulus as his wise mentor as Marrone alluded.

Of course, it’s a role Paulus is all too familiar with. In his last year at Duke, coaches weaned him off the court in favor of a younger, more promising point guard.

It’s time for Syracuse to do the same thing on the football field.

Tyler Dunne is a staff writer for The Daily Orange, where his column appears occasionally. He can be reached at thdunne@syr.edu.

Published on October 11, 2009 at 12:00 pm