who's the starting qb? who cares?
For those of you who keep up with the constant media buzz out of Michigan camp, it seems like the QB competition this fall is close:
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/football/index.ssf/2008/08/notes_competition_for_um_quart.html
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/football/index.ssf/2008/08/rodriguez_not_tipping_his_hand.html
and finally:
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/football/index.ssf/2008/08/ums_backfield_hype_builds_shaw.html
Yes, I know that last one is about running backs. Keep in mind for later.
Rodriguez says this about the QBs...
Could that be taken to mean the Wolverines will go with two quarterbacks?
"Oh, I don't know," Rodriguez said. "I mean, I know. I'm just not ready to tell you."
And, from QBs coach Smith:
"We're interested in wins and losses," Smith said. "If it takes two, it takes two. If it takes five, it takes five." [Empahsis mine.]
hmmmm......
First, is it too early to panic about the QBs? And does this mean Threet is no good? And how many QBs will Michigan use? What is it that RR knows that he won't tell us?
In my opinion the answers are, no- go ahead and panic (but see below), yes (at least for now), at least 4, and he won't tell us that basically, "we haven't got one." No offense to Sheridan, but if a supposedly good recruit in Threat is not clearly better than someone from Saline then he is currently not impressing anyone. I know that so far Justin Feagan has been no good in practice, but mark my words he will play, even if it's only that he learns 3 plays by heart and does only those. (Waggle, anyone? Ok, probably not.)
So, when RR names the starter in a few days (he says he will in a few more practices), it's not going to matter one bit who it is. At least it won't now.
So minor injuries aside (hopefully), I take the 3rd article above as more or less proof that Carlos Brown will be playing "quarterback" a lot, and that position is going to require quotation marks this season. If CB plays "QB", we will require more running backs, and the new guys are good, so they get to play. That is not a huge surprise since Brown has lined up as QB in practice and everyone has seen him doing it. However, everyone seems to be focusing on Threet and Sheridan- but aren't we missing something?
It's hard to tell what to make of Michigan's new information-Rich environment, but I think the conslusion here is that the QB "race" between our two "throwers" isn't actually that important- I mean it's important in that we aren't going to have a really good QB this year, but now that neither of them are that special, it's not that important WHICH of the "throwers" plays.
We were deperately hoping that Threet could be the guy. He was rated coming out of Adrian, and at least had been in school a year. But he's not that guy. If he was, we'd know. If he was any good at all, no other QB would see the light of day. Whatever RR disinformation you might believe in, Threet having a tough time so far is not disinformation. Now that he's not THE guy:
1. We are going to run all the time. Last year WVU ran about 70% of the time. This year we will approach 80%. I think RR was prepared for this, even lining up Carlos Brown in the spring. We were going to run a lot anyway, now we're going to run more. Since the emphasis will be on "running", I think the plan is simply to play more "runners" and less "throwers" at QB. I bet you see some zero QB sets this year. The "throwing" we will do will be all short throws- bubbles and misdirections to pint-sized receivers.
2. The backfield sets will include no less than a billion crazy sets in which we have lots of different running backs running, running backs (Carlos Brown) playing "QB", and electron wide outs running on misdirection plays. This is a simple calculation, our RBs are so much better than our QBs that we will simply choose one position over the other since we are going to run a lot anyway.
3. The hope is that Justin Feagan will play more and more as the year goes on. At the moment this doesn't seem really super likely but don't think he won't get the chance against MAC teams like Toledo and Notre Dame (zing!).
4. I would start to be concerned about the OL at this point, because the offensive season is in their hands now, and news is not encouraging. Now that we know the QBs aren't super good, the OL is the biggest X factor left- and with inuries it's becoming more X by the day. We are moving DLs to OL- alarm bells are ringing.
5. No, we are not going to consider the possibility that Sheridan becomes a good and able starting quarterback. I'll go ahead and hope that I'm wrong to dismiss that possibility, but I'm not.
So, what's the point? The point is that this was the likely scenario all along, and RR was prepared for that. It's too bad that it's true, but it is, and it's not a surprise. So, should we be worried about the quarterback? Capital Y-E-S. But keep in mind Threet being awesome wasn't the planned scenario, we just had kind of hoped that it would all work out Somehow. Now that the situation we had kind of been hoping for in the back of our minds has not come true, we shouldn't be any more worried than we were last fall, or than we were this spring. I think it's unlikely that any of the quarterbacks from this year plays extensively next year, with a double asterisk for Feagan (* suddenly becoming awesome, less likely, ** switching positions, more likely), and by the time October 2009 comes around we'll never see them again. But really, if you think about it, that was the hope anyway.
The yards-after-catch numbers should up for the WR's, if they are moving in space. The hope is they find the seam and break one otherwise it be a lot of horizontal sprinting/spinning/juking and then running over the opposing coaches sneakers on the far sideline. If they do not fare well statistically or in the win loss column everyone will just write if off quickly as a rebuilding year. Which it is. Threet and Sheridan have literally embraced the idea of dual playing time which is great. If there's little to no ego between those two when it comes to playing time it is a win win for Michigan and it's fanbase.
Also: Because once a walk-on quarterback was successful, all walk-on quarterbacks will be successful.
We're going to run 80% of the time? Please. First of all, that's a ridiculous number. But second, Michigan has way more talent at the WR positions than WVU did/does. And third, Threet is at least comparable to Pat White in the throwing department, and Sheridan probably is, too. They will at least be able to throw the screens and quick hitches that Rodriguez called at WVU.
We'll be a run-heavy team, but I think that percentage will be at 70% or below.
www.touchthebanner.blogspot.com
"No duh" is a product of fear.
Yes, a 5th year senior who started as a walk-on, playing alongside one of the greatest defenses in Michigan history, with a bulldozer offensive line and above average experienced skill players around him is 100% comparable to a sophomore walk on/redshirt freshman QB playing behind an o-line consisting of freshman and converted DTs and a good (but no way in hell 1997 good) defense. Absolutely the same.
great and omniscient Grand Poobah of the WLA
Brian Griese
Im gonna go ahead and say what were all thinking.... NC baby. yea.
By the power of greyskull!
If Feagin is showing no ability to make the reads to operate the offense, why play him? It would be a disaster. And there is a significant likelihood that if he isn't able to make a contribution this fall, he will be behind the two new QBs next fall (Beav + ??). A redshirt gives him a greater chance to make a position switch and have an impact somewhere on the field.
Go Blue!! Viva La Revolucion!!
www.wolverineliberationarmy.com
It's what the mods and insiders such as "Maizeman" say - they say he's not remotely ready to play.
I seriously doubt we will run 80% of the time. You can't exactly run on 3rd and 10 very often. What Michigan may do, instead, is lots of dinky passes and screens off action and run looks.I think it is unlikely that CB will play QB 'a lot.' I can't see how a RB can be more than a change of pace, trick play guy at QB.
This thought occurred to me, as I was trying to figure out how Sheridan could be the starter over Threet. I've heard Sheridan is the better running QB. It is possible that Threet just isn't proficient enough at passing to over come Sheridan's increased mobility. So, RR has decided to go with a rather lame, but more conservative, run based spread. We'll rely on the defense and keep the offense simple and safe.
I also doubt RR is using 'misinformation.' First, because he hasn't told anyone anything. Second, because he still plans on announcing the starter days before he runs out on the field (ha ha Charlie Weis!)Maybe he hasn't told the players yet or maybe he just doesn't see any reason to make an announcement and give Utah more time. I also think the starter's hold on the position is more tenuous than most (except Demetrious Jones who Weis gave about 3 plays as starter before he had to quit the team!)
Give it to Wheatley!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No offense, OP but you're spewing nonsense.
more tiresome than the sky is falling posts are the sarcastic sky is falling posts. some of these people have a point.
You know, 4 years ago you would have said that having a true freshman start at QB and RB would lead to a OMG 3-9 season. I think we were all pleasantly suprised.
that's an invalid comparison because aside from henne and hart, that was a pretty experienced bunch. if we had a couple of seniors and juniors on our OL, the comparison might stand.
The only way to know what kind of QB we have is to let him play. It is funny to think back to a game that we were playing when a guy named Tom Brady was our back up. The game was out of reach and Carr inserted Brady in a meaningless 4th quarter. I remember the fans chanting "LET BRADY THROW!" You really don't know what you have until the games begin. Whether it is Threet or Sheridan I really don't care, just as long as RR lets the best QB play.
Obviously anyone who is paying attention is between slightly and incredibly concerned about the QB situation, but that doesn't mean it's going to be a nightmare. Nor does that we're not going to throw at all. There's no way we even come close to an 80-20 run-pass split, not with the wideouts we have.
Look, I know it's fun to speculate, but working yourself into an apocalyptic lather about something that we really have very little information about seems silly. Things will be bumpy, but they could very well turn out just fine. Perhaps Threet just needs some time and he turns into Shawn King 2.0. Sure, that's unlikely, but it's not out of the question.
Point being: we should probably wait until we actually see the offense against live bullets before we start preparing for nuclear annihilation. Unless of course, this is just one of those "I'm going to convince myself that the worst possible scenario is the most likely one and thus set myself up to be pleasantly surprised down the road" kind of things. In which case, carry on.
No way we'll run 80% of the time if our O-line is the mess it's looking to turn out to be. More like we'll punt it back on first down and let the D try to do something.
But more seriously, no way Threet and Sheridan are worse passers that White is/was. I understand that White's running was a threat that opened up the passing game for him, but at least Threet can see over his blockers.
There are no corners in space.
I have figured out the plan on scoring. Have the offense entirely run/throw screens. When that doesn't work, punt. Then have the defense create turnovers that they run back for TDs or get within field goal range. Also, have special teams score for us.
Essentially, Zoltan will move the ball downfield for us, and our defense will take it back. It's the perfect plan. Nothing could be wrong with it.
LOVE IT!
By the power of greyskull!
in playing Feagin this year if he is just going to be a running QB, we already have Brown and Minor for that.
a snap under center this season barring injuries to those in front of him, at least with the way that he's looked and Rodriguez has talked about him.
Writing Threet and Sheridian off before we've so much as seen one snap in an actual game is a bit much if you ask me.
I'll also go ahead and say that we won't be running 80% of the time, we have way too much talent on the outside to not get them the football.
GO BLUE!
FWIW, several of the Rivals and Scout mods believe Feagin will redshirt.
redshirting feagin would make no sense, wont happen.