Sheridan V Threet

I feel like a lot of this so called "controversy" surrounding who starts at quarterback against Utah has its roots in the fact that practices for the first time are open to the public.  I know this doesn't address your question directly, but I think as a community we aren't maybe used to the commotion that commonly surrounds pre-season football as Lloyd effectively made sure there was nothing to talk about.  I think every quarterback competition comes down to who runs the offense more successfully, but in this case, we as a community and the local press wants to use our newfound access to analyze Threet's and Sheridan's respective skills.  The only problem is we have taken that analysis to far.  

 I think RichRod is fortunate that he has the skill players to limit the plays out quarterback have to make this year.  If any aspect of our team as been overlooked this summer, I feel that it's the skill players on offense.  I mean, hey, its an oversimplification, but I kinda feel like all we have to do is get the ball to a Stonum, Hemmingway, Minor and let them do their stuff.  

I think maybe what I enjoy the most is how we can look at increased access simply as a window through which to view RichRod's system and how it differs from the old regime.  I've enjoyed the tangible differences we've seen from the conditioning program to the amount of competition between players and the intensity of the coaches.  I definitely agree we really don't have the right to pass judgment on the performances of kids that young.  But I do enjoy the more tangible, less debatable changes we've seen that we can be excited about but not risk over analyzing.  

 Oh, and MaizeAndBlueWahoo, it that Wahoo at the end of your name a reference to the cavaliers? 

I do really like Charlottesville.  It was a fantastic place to grow up.  I couldn't help but look at your blog and see the picture of George Welsh, maybe?  I was pretty young and generally unaware of his importance when he retired.  But he did a lot for the program.  I have to confess, though, I'm not as die-hard as a UVA fan as I should be.  I grew up a U of M fan and was just never able to follow the Hoo's as much as I did the Wolverines.  

There was some moderate competition between Henne as a sophomore and post-surgury Guttierrez. Insider information at that time expressed concern over Henne's throwing, particularly in short routes (prophetic) and stated that Guttz looked generally better, more confident, and more accurate. Henne, of course, retained the starting position with a healthy Guttz alternating between holding kicks and holding a clipboard. Most just assumed that this was Lloyd staying loyal to his starter regardless of who was best.

Granted, I'm not really sure if the insider information that I heard about was true--it was someone who attended several practices during camp that August and told my father directly, but I have no recollection of who it was and what experience they had in making such an assessment. Also, I'm not really sure that those rumblings took hold, except maybe within the cluster of season-ticket holders in the immediate vicinity of my father. But it illustrates a few points, some of which have already been expressed:

• The access is probably better, because we're more likely to know the source--it's likely to be a member of the media who have a reputation to guard . . . not always a good reputation, but a reputation nonetheless.
• You have to take it in context: chitownblue hit on this above, and I think it's a good point. We're looking at video clips from mgoblue.com fluffpieces and from the Michigan rivals site. Even reporters are only seeing 30 minutes of practice once a week or so. At this point in the season, the coaches are the only ones who have been around 100% of the time, and they know the players personally, including how comfortable they are with the system and what kind of a leadership role they're capable of taking, plus they're like professionals and stuff. Anumal wears the "in Rod we trust" shirt for a reason.