Justin Feagin

Submitted by Henne for Heis… on

Just watched the rivals practice video from this week, and I saw Feagins get some reps. Has he been getting reps in previous weeks or is this a new development?

 ps. where is J. H. Scramble?

k bizzle

October 16th, 2008 at 2:24 PM ^

The video wasn't that long and just showed him making some throws in the drills with the other QBs. So yes he has been practicing with them but the video only showed maybe 5 passes or so. It didn't say or show him taking any reps at the slot which he may also be doing. Maybe he does get a few plays back there this weekend.

RonnieVod

October 16th, 2008 at 2:19 PM ^

Based on Brian's assessment in UFR that Threet was pretty banged up, I was wondering the same thing.  All indications were that Feagin was completely lost coming into the season.  But if a Sheridan-led offense can't put up points on Toledo, does that mean we're better off running 95% of the time, and doing it with Feagin at QB?  I mean, if the DB is 5-10 yards off the LOS, can he at least noodle-arm a screen or long hand-off every now and then?

lhglrkwg

October 16th, 2008 at 2:26 PM ^

the daily referenced feagin possibly playing in the slot. i dont think they mentioned him playing qb. maybe we'll try some o that crazy wildcat nonsense they do in miami, except resulting in miserable failure instead of multiple touchdowns

Anonymous Coward (not verified)

October 16th, 2008 at 2:36 PM ^

Why wouldn't he get reps each week? That's the only way that they are going to be able to evaluate him to see if he makes correct decisions on the option. At this point in the season, there is no reason to bring him into a game unless both Threet's injury is serious and something happens to Sheridan.

I wouldn't read too much into it.

chitownblue (not verified)

October 16th, 2008 at 2:39 PM ^

RR had also said that, given Threet's questionable availability, they were going to have to get Feagin prepared in case of an emergency. He had suggested that Feagin hadn't practiced as a qB for awhile.

Anonymous Coward (not verified)

October 16th, 2008 at 2:48 PM ^

I can soooo see a reverse designed to be a pass play for Feagin, with an option for him to just run it.  Think Randle El when he was on the Steelers.

Anonymous Coward (not verified)

October 16th, 2008 at 6:31 PM ^

I can tell you from first hand observation of a practice, when Feagin was running the scout team as Juice in preparation for Illinois, that he scored 7 TDs on the 1st team defense and honestly had some of the coaches shaking their heads.  We all know that he is more of an athlete than a passer but this should tell you a little about why they are not redshirting him and I wouldn't be shocked that we see him at QB if things keep going the way they are right now.

ISUWolverineFan21

October 16th, 2008 at 8:46 PM ^

Could we so any worse on offense with Feagin in there???

 

I would rather run the ball 90% of the time running the zone read then these short little passes that get -3 yards all of the time...  

sentinelvov

October 16th, 2008 at 8:56 PM ^

That's not really playing to the "strength" of our personnel though.  As bad as our offensive line has been, the one thing they've actually managed to do a decent job of is pass protection.  Run blocking has been horrid however.  I don't think you can go to a system where the defense can key on the run when our blockers are consistently being pushed 3 yards in the backfield.

Lordfoul

October 16th, 2008 at 11:31 PM ^

I hope Feagin gets a good long look against Penn St at QB, especially if Threet doesn't play.  I really don't think he could be much worse than Sheridan and if Threet does start, I hope they put Feagin in for garbage time once the game is out of reach (like maybe the 2nd quarter).

mjv

October 16th, 2008 at 11:36 PM ^

Does anyone remember how bad Jimmah Claussen looked last year against us?  That is a lot worse than Sheridan has looked.  I think Feagins would look worse than Jimmah circa 2007.  There is no reason to believe that he would even be functional with no arm to throw with and no line to run block with. 

If Feagins plays, Sheridan will likely have been taken off in a cart like he got hit by Alan Branch.  

mjv

October 17th, 2008 at 9:28 AM ^

I don't seem to recall any snaps dropped or keystone cops moments with Sheridan this year.  Jimmah 2007 in AA was just silly.  I'm not saying Sheridan has played great, rather Jimmah was Yakety Sax.  Feagin would be worse than Yakety Sax.

Lordfoul

October 17th, 2008 at 9:55 AM ^

I don't see how we can possibly assume this "Yakety Sax" business.  We haven't seen Feagin and while he was obviously too raw to get a look at the beginning of the season, maybe he has improved some.  His mobility might give us an edge that we really need and be suprising to the Penn St defense as well.  I just think we should throw him in there since he will be lost in the depths of the depth chart next year anyway.  Burn that redshirt!

imafreak1

October 17th, 2008 at 11:39 AM ^

Feagin isn't practicing at QB. He was having problems with grasping the offense as a FRESHMAN QB.

I think it is safe to say that RR has a good idea what Feagin will do 'in a game situation.'

None the less, if Threet can't go and Sheridan gets hurt Feagin will 'get a shot.'

chitownblue (not verified)

October 17th, 2008 at 10:47 AM ^

To make it clear: since the Utah game, Feagin has not even practiced, at all, at QB, until this week. He has practiced, for weeks, as a slot receiver.

RR from earlier in the week:

"He'll be in the slot. I think he feels comfortable there and he's got some good skills. Having played quarterback has helped him understand the offense. Again, he's a true freshman.



"With Threet's situation … we've got a lot of tough, physical ball games coming up, so you've got to have some quarterbacks ready. He'll take some reps at quarterback too, but he's way behind in that respect, so he'll be mainly in the slot."

willywill9

October 17th, 2008 at 11:36 AM ^

I was on CBS' Sportsline.com, and came across this quote from Senor Rodriguez:

CBSSports.com: How would Ryan Mallett have been in this offense? (The highly-regarded quarterback transferred to Arkansas shortly after Rodriguez was hired)

Rodriguez: "There's a misconception in this offense that you have to have the runner in this offense. (Tulane's) Shaun King was a good runner, he wasn't a great runner. We've had passers in the past. We can feature whatever that guy does well.

Now, I'm not necessarily suggesting that David Cone should be starter; however,  I think we all know that Sheridan is not the most equipped to run the Offense.  (NOTE: I was, however, completely surprised and even impressed at Nick Sheridan's last drive against *gasp* Toledo.  Then again, McGuffie took a beating and still held onto that floater over the middle.)

I guess my point is, if we're really going to use Feagin as a slot receiver, and assuming Threet is out due to injury, is David Cone so incompatible with the offense that Sheridan gets the nod?  The answer is probably yes, but I'm not too impressed with Sheridan's running ability, although I can only imagine how dreadful Cone's running ability is.  Referring back to the quote above.  If you don't have to have a runner in this offense, then why not give Cone a shot?  I know RR runs a different style of offense, but perhaps a more effective passing game will open up the run game?  Unless Cone isn't enough of an improvement to the pass game, if he's even an improvement at all.  I don't mean to question RR and his staff on the depth chart, but the mere fact that Sheridan started over Threet to open the season makes me curious.  I know I'm off base here but just adding my thoughts, FWIW.

 As for Penn State this weekend, I think i may play a drinking game--  every time the ball hits the ground on Michigan drives, I'm drinking.

chitownblue (not verified)

October 17th, 2008 at 11:53 AM ^

"____ couldn't be much worse" is the dumbest argument, ever. Do you really think that Steven Threet is the absolute nadir of all Division one college quarterbacks? Do you really think that he's playing at a level that could possibly not "get worse"?

It's hackneyed, but true saying: there is no one more popular than the backup QB of a losing football team.

Sommy

October 17th, 2008 at 3:02 PM ^

I remember in '05, Henne either got hurt in one game or was pulled because it was so late in the game and they wanted to get Forcier some reps, but Forcier came in and played well, and then I don't think he saw the field again.  Naturally, after Henne had one bad game a month later, I kept hearing students on campus "WHY DO WE ALWAYS HAVE THIS STATUE QB I MEAN HENNE'S REALLY NOT VERY GOOD FORCIER IS WAY BETTER WE SHOULD PLAY FORCIER ALL THE TIME."

Though in retrospect, it'd be nice to have Forcier right about now.

chitownblue (not verified)

October 17th, 2008 at 3:09 PM ^

Yeah - it's hard to fault a guy (Lloyd) for landing the #1 QB recruit in the nation, but shit, getting Mallett hurt this team. First, it was the rationale behind Jason Forcier transferring - he'd probably be our starting QB this year. Second, Mallett showed up, basically acted like a cock to everyone, and then left us high and dry. Yay!

ShockFX

October 17th, 2008 at 3:24 PM ^

I wonder if the number of xfers in the past 2 years (pre Horror) was appreciably higher than in years previous.  Forcier would have been a Junior this year right?  So he has 2 potential years at Stanford? One?

We need to stop bringing up the possibility we'd have had a junior mobile QB this year.  It just makes me really, really sad.

Sommy

October 17th, 2008 at 4:30 PM ^

He did leave us high and dry, but even if he hadn't left, would he be any better in this offense?

I'm a pretty easy going guy, but few things get under my skin more than hearing people blather on about how much better this team would be this year with Mallett (yes, I realize this isn't what you're saying, but you mentioned Mallett and I felt a rant coming on).  Really?  With our OLine the way it is?  I mean, granted, we're rarely lining up under center, so I guess he wouldn't fumble the snap as much as he did last year, but be realistic.

I listen to a lot of Valenti fairly often, and I actually think he's pretty insightful most of the time (for a Sparty slappy), but when he started going on about how "Mallett would be throwing the ball all over the place in this offense," I about lost it.  A year and a half ago, he was bashing the kid before he even took a snap, and was saying things like, "I don't know why Michigan always goes for this type of QB instead of someone more mobile," and then was bashing the kid for his completion percentage in the middle of the season

ShockFX

October 17th, 2008 at 7:22 PM ^

Mallett actually completed like 65% or something in high school right?  He operated out of the shotgun.  It's not impossible to imagine he'd be throwing the ball all over.  But, yeah, the dude was a bit immature.

Jim Harbaugh S…

October 18th, 2008 at 12:05 AM ^

1. i spilled beer on my keyboard - so i've been reduced to the iphone for the most part.

 

2. the board jumped the shark after the toledo game, imo of course

 

i've been lurking mostly i'll be back when the time is right 

[if u really need some scramble facebook me]

hat

October 18th, 2008 at 1:08 PM ^

I think we are better off selling our souls than waiting for God to have mercy on us Michigan fans...

Yes, poor us and our whole 40-consecutive-winning-regular-seasons thing.