Many fans came to Saturday afternoon’s Spring Game hoping for a glimpse of Syracuse’s new West Coast-style offense. If that’s all they came to see, they probably went home unsatisfied because Syracuse largely kept the new offense in check.

Quarterbacks coach Major Applewhite said the coaching staff didn’t want to reveal too much of its offense. They kept a simplified group of plays and ran each several times.

‘We stayed very, very conservative,’ Applewhite said. ‘We didn’t want to show a lot. We understood that and knew that coming in. We knew we were holding back offensively and defensively.’

While fans scrutinized the new offense, they also kept a close eye on Syracuse’s quarterback competition. Junior Perry Patterson started the last nine games for the Orange in 2004, but since SU head coach Greg Robinson took over, he is again battling Joe Fields for the starting spot.

Neither quarterback did anything to separate himself from the other on Saturday.

‘We stayed extremely basic,’ Applewhite said. ‘When you limit yourself like that, the main thing you’re really worried about is the team functioning in and out of the huddle.’

Patterson led the Syracuse offense for nine possessions while Fields managed the unit for seven. Patterson completed 9 of 22 passing attempts for 97 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown pass to Landel Bembo in the second half. Patterson also led the offense on a 7-play, 40-yard drive in the first half that resulted in a field goal.

Fields managed just one score, a 14-play, 49-yard drive, which earned a field goal. Fields went 10-for-20 on 72 yards but underthrew one pass that resulted in an interception.

Both quarterbacks had their moments. Fields looked more composed early and hit the short to medium-range passes with greater precision.

‘I feel good,’ Fields said. ‘I came out here today and had fun and had a chance to compete.’

After a dismal 6-for-16 first half, Patterson completed 3-of-6 passes for 43 yards. He threw a perfectly lofted pass to Bembo into the back of the end zone on one possession but threw behind or at the feet of the receivers on many others in the first half.

Patterson stayed in the pocket more when protection wore down and looked to throw first. He did use his speed to pick up 12 yards on third-and-three.

‘I was a little slow in the beginning, but I knew I could shrug it off,’ Patterson said. ‘Once I got going I’d be able to hit the open receivers and things like that. We didn’t throw too much at them. We just kept it real basic.’

When the defense pressured Fields, he looked to run more and utilize his speed. On a second-half play action bootleg, Fields saw a huge hole and took off for 18 yards.

‘Sometimes it was guys in the second offense versus the one defense, and we have to take all that into consideration,’ Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson said. ‘To tell you that I really have a feel for it, I would be kidding you if I told you I did. We will assess all that next week and try to get a feel for exactly where we are at.’

Sophomore Matt Hale threw well but mostly against the second and third-team defenses. He completed two touchdowns on 5-of-9 passing for 76 yards with an interception. It’s believed to be a two-man race between Patterson and Fields for the starting nod.

Applewhite said the competition will continue into preseason camp and it’s unsure when a starter will be named. Syracuse waited until the final week of practice last year to name a starter. It doesn’t appear it will wait that long this time.

‘Definitely before the season starts,’ Robinson said about naming a starter. ‘I really haven’t spent time with the coaching staff talking much about it. I have really just tried to watch these guys develop and that’s what it’s been. I think now we have to start talking more about the strategy of our upcoming season and how we have to deal with all that.’

Published on April 24, 2005 at 12:00 pm