RR needs to pick a QB and overall feeling of todays game

Submitted by goody on

Threet played "above average" today and Sheridan also had his
moments, but having two QBs play is hurting Michigan.  Threet had
atleast 3 passes that if they were on target and caught they would have
either been touchdowns or very long gains.  Each pass sailed over the
WR's head and IMO, this is because Threet and Sheridan are sharing reps
at practice.  And yes, I am talking about "practice, were're talking
about practice.  Not a game, but practice"  sorry...    

 

   
With the split time, either quaterback can't get the timing down with
their recievers.  This shows in all the deep throws that Michigan has
not been able to connect with this game and last week.  If Threet or
Sheridan were given the majority of snaps with the first string they
could build that cemistry and perhaps connect on a few of these long
plays.

 

So RR needs to choose a starter, cough Threet cough, and stick with them in practice and though the game. 

 

Anyways,
the running game looked a hell of a lot better this week and the OL and
DL has been able to enforce their will on people late in games because
of the extended emphasis on conditioning.  This bodes well for Michigan
later in the year when teams become tired and hurt and Michigan is
still going full speed at them.  

 

Good Win, not great.  Go Blue!

Comments

Sommy

September 6th, 2008 at 3:49 PM ^

Really, Threet's accuracy today was just awful. But I think you're right -- the only reason Sheridan didn't look bad when he came in is because (a) he only kept the ball once (hint: he was stopped) and (b) he either pitched or handed off the ball every time.

On the downside, I think the main reason Threet looked good running the ball is only because Miami didn't expect him to run at all. His fakes couldn't have been as good as they looked on TV in the first quarter.

willis j

September 6th, 2008 at 4:06 PM ^

his fakes were that great I just think Miami was not expecting him to run so they just ignored any fake and assumed the handoff, leaving gaping holes for him. The fakes looked pretty average. I think he needs to start though and see the full reps in practice. He clearly has the better arm and command of the offense. I think some of his accuracy problems are timing, some are probably nerves.

goody

September 6th, 2008 at 3:53 PM ^

Threet seems to sell the fakes better than Sheridan. Also, Threet seems to read the DE better on the read option. Threet kept it a couple of times and got good yardage(possibly b/c of your point)whereas, Sheridan seemed to hand it off all of the time.

wile_e8

September 6th, 2008 at 4:04 PM ^

I think the UFR will be interesting for this.  On the Threet runs in the 1st quarter, the DE was completely ignoring him, which gave him the room.  We the DEs actually respecting the run when Sheridan was in the game, leading to him (correctly) handing off every time?  Or could he have made some runs if he was better at recognition?

JDNorway

September 6th, 2008 at 4:36 PM ^

There were definitely a couple of times where the keeper seemed like the better read when Sheridan left it up to McGuffie to try to juke 3-4 poorly blocked defenders. Threet looked completely lost trying to throw the ball, though. After he connected with Odoms on the first play of the day he was 4/12 for 13 yards!!!

Sheridan was 4/5 for 40 yards. Granted, none of that was downfield, either, but still better percentage and he got it to receivers in spots where they could get some more yards.

STW P. Brabbs

September 6th, 2008 at 4:44 PM ^

Threet had Stonum and Hemingway > 3 yards open along the sidelines, with no pressure, and badly missed them each time.

These were absolutely ideal situations that a D-1 QB should be able to convert at least once. If he can't at least come close there, no amount of coaching is going to help him, and we are in for a long year.

On the plus side, once we get a QB who can hit intermediate routes and actually be a threat to run, look out. We saw a foretaste on the first drive, and the combo of Forcier (starter from day one) and Beaver (speed/size combo to be a terror with experience) is going to put us over the top.

I can get mad at Threet or Sheridan - they just aren't D-1 quarterbacks. But we are never going to have a credible offense this year.

formerlyanonymous

September 6th, 2008 at 5:06 PM ^

Neither qb at this point has been able to last a whole game. Why leave an option on the bench when your other qb isn't cutting it? i mean if one guy was able to carry us through a full 60 minutes, sure... but these guys aren't at that level yet.

hat

September 6th, 2008 at 6:00 PM ^

I don't see us developing a downfield passing game with Sheridan; he just doesn't have the arm. If we had Braylon around to haul in jump-ball throws, maybe we could survive, but with our current WR corps we need someone who can throw with velocity, and he isn't that guy. Threet is the only one with a realistic shot to become a downfield threat. He's just got to get his mechanics down ASAP.

NJWolverine

September 6th, 2008 at 6:19 PM ^

Even though Threet didn't play well (he missed some WIDE OPEN recievers), he should be the permanent starter from now on. What sealed it for me was watching Threet run. I actully think Threet is a better in game runner than Sheridan. Sheridan fails to read the play, does not explode to the hole and takes too much time to accelerate. Threet is simply smarter at identifying the hole and exploding in open space. He's a much smarter QB. Sure, Threet did sail some passes, but keep in mind these are passes Sheridan wouldn't have been able to throw. Sheridan is too slow identifying the play. He hesitants even on obvious screen plays. That scoring drive didn't happen because of Sheridan, but rather because RR discovered he could run McGuffie to the outside with success. Sheridan has no reason to be out there if he can't run or pass. I can see why Threet recieved a high recruit grade. He's a very intelligent QB who just needs to calm down on his throws. Unfortunately, we're going to have to hope he does that because Sheridan is not an option.

mooseman

September 6th, 2008 at 6:26 PM ^

I'll be happy when that kid graduates. He seems to be Threet's favorite receiver.
Seriously, I wonder if our previous QB coach would have been any better correcting the mechanics that result in the overthrows.

kgh10

September 7th, 2008 at 12:16 AM ^

I actually agree with the conjecture that keeping Loeffler would be much more helpful than having Smith as our QB coach and will still argue it till I'm blue in the face that Loeffler was a pretty darn good teacher of passing. It's probably unfair to use Pat White as an example of Rod Smith's QB coaching in the passing realm, but White is a terrible passer and didn't seem to improve even remotely. Although early to say, and I could be comparing apples to oranges here, Rod Smith was a downgrade from Loeffler.

Back on the topic of Threet/Sheridan, I say go with Threet until there's a serious reason for him to leave (i.e. interceptions, fumbles, just really dumb/dangerous plays). The only way he gets better at passing is if he actually gets more game time and sees his mistakes. Neither QB is good, but I think we give the position to the guy who shows the most promise to improve....Sheridan doesn't give me this feeling. He's as bad as Threet, if not worse, and doesn't show a great "ceiling" to strive for either.

RichRodFollower

September 6th, 2008 at 8:02 PM ^

To the untrained eye, it sure looks like Threet reads the defense quicker and makes faster decisions than Sheridan.  Threet looks more comfortable on the field.  I think getting all the practice snaps would help his timing and accuracy.

Polisci

September 6th, 2008 at 9:23 PM ^

To my untrained eye it seemed like it took Threet longer to get the short passes out and since anything longer than 8 yards is pointless for both QBs, I might lean toward Sheridan.

Of course, this is choosing between "oh no!" and "what the?"

And Andre Ware doesn't know bunk about what was happening in the game. I'm fine with changing QBs when one accomplishes nothing.

gater

September 6th, 2008 at 11:44 PM ^

it seems to me that threet struggles to check down. it's like he follows his first option with his eyes and gives everything away. i do think this will get better with more playing time (remember he's still a "freshman"). I'm all for naming him the starter and bringing sheridan in for change of pace.

Ellipses Man

September 7th, 2008 at 2:06 AM ^

Hey man we're still finding out who we can win with! I hope it comes to the point of,"Sheridan.......strike 9...........Sheridan strike 10." "Hey isn't it three strikes and youre out." "Not for the coaches son dude,".........Sheridan strike 11." There's no competition dude, theres only preference. There never was a competition. There was the semblance of one. More sooner than later the Sheridan lovers are going to go more and more quiet. They'll attack your sentence structure. Offer IF filled statements and delusions. In the NFL or anywhere really, this QB race is a done deal. There shouldn't even be a competition at this point based off GAME 2 today. Game 3 to follow. 

chitownblue (not verified)

September 7th, 2008 at 8:42 AM ^

Ellipses man, if you think I was ever a proponent of Nick Sheridan, you read worse than you type.