Forcier vs. Barkley vs. Clausen - first game

Submitted by bronxblue on
Purely for comparison purposes, since all I've been hearing about the past week is how USC is starting a true freshman and how you cannot expect much. And, just for fun, next week's QB and his first game.
namecattydsTDintrsh ydsrsh TD
Barkley151923310-50
Forcier132017930370
Clausen463400-140
MGoBoard
football
Forcier

Tater

September 5th, 2009 at 7:55 PM ^

Forcier proved to be a bona fide major-college QB, and Robinson got some opportunities as a change of pace. Robinson's TD changed everything; it appeared to totally disorient WMU's defense for the rest of the first half. Also, Sheridan has probably cemented his place as human victory cigar, even though it went to the Coner today. Better yet, UM won handily without revealing much to the ND staff for next week. There weren't any glaring schematic mismatches today; UM just won with superior speed, execution, and athleticism. Next week is looking like it will be exciting. And the UM/ND game will now have some national relevance. From the tone of the commentary, the answer to the question of what UM has to do to become nationally relevant again is to look the way they looked today. Since it appears that the national media have become much more "what have you done for me lately" than they used to be, I think a decisive victory against ND next week could get them ranked. This week should be a lot more fun than last week was.

Joined: 08/13/2008

MGoPoints: 30584

maizenbluedevil

September 5th, 2009 at 8:21 PM ^

It was a real bummer to see Sheridan's one series end like that.... He kind of got his back put against a wall after that penalty. The run which the penalty negated looked great. There's no way last year's Sheridan makes a run like that. I hope he doesn't see the field again this year, and it's Tate and Denard from here on out, but Sheridan looked like a better player than he did last year... props to him for putting in the effort and improving.

Joined: 09/12/2008

MGoPoints: 6906

foreverbluemaize

September 5th, 2009 at 8:33 PM ^

I hate to be a negative nelly here but Forcier did not look all that great. Did he look like a playmaker yes did he look like a competent QB yes did he look like an absolute breath of fresh air after the year that we had last year?yes, ABSOFU#$&^LUTELY, but he did look like a freshman (a well balanced and poised freshman, but a freshman just the same) I expect he will not look so good against a competent defense. Not trying to be a buzzkill here but let's keep it in perspective. If we can go to say Iowa or Sparty and he can still pick them apart I will then be very impressed. In the meantime I will enjoy the win and say my prayers for next week.

Joined: 02/03/2009

MGoPoints: 817

foreverbluemaize

September 5th, 2009 at 9:18 PM ^

If you will refer back to Tater's comments that he "proved to be a Bona Fide major college QB". This is the overexaggerating that I had in mind. TF did look really good for a freshman playing his first game ever at that level and I am very excited for the future. TF is about 9,000% better than what we had last year, I just want to keep it a little bit real.

Joined: 02/03/2009

MGoPoints: 817

jwfsouthpaw

September 5th, 2009 at 10:14 PM ^

But you said he "did not look all that great," which strongly implies that he looked somewhere between "meh" and "average." I doubt any of us could have expected better for his first collegiate game as a true freshman -- against any opponent. Under the circumstances, I thought he was excellent today. We'll see about next week.

Joined: 01/14/2009

MGoPoints: 1278

joeyb

September 5th, 2009 at 8:53 PM ^

I think you are right to some extent, but we have a QB that possesses 3 things that our QBs didn't last year; speed, accuracy, and the ability to throw a deep ball. I won't predict a Big Ten championship, but I don't feel like I am alone when I say that I am upgrading my expectations this season from 7-5 to 8-4.

Joined: 10/12/2008

MGoPoints: 16845

StuckinKY

September 5th, 2009 at 8:39 PM ^

I was disappointed in Sheridan as well....but his play today only reinforced that QB play killed us last year. On the interception he made a bad decision by throwing late accross his body over the middle of the field into coverage...his brain thinks his body can do things it cannot. He needs to stay off the field. I don't want to get too down on the kid but his role on this team is not on the field if we are going to be successful. Great win today.

Joined: 01/05/2009

MGoPoints: 2

Bixler

September 5th, 2009 at 11:29 PM ^

Barkley has gotten all the hype this week, but Forcier had similar stats. Barkley net yards= 228, Forcier=216, and Tate had two more passing touchdowns.

Joined: 03/20/2009

MGoPoints: 113

GoIrish

September 5th, 2009 at 11:31 PM ^

How do you even lump Clausen in with the rest of those guys? He played the last five minutes of the fourth quarter in his first appearance.

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 7

Brodie

September 6th, 2009 at 2:39 AM ^

Yeah, this. Jimmah's first start stats are more accurate, and while they're still the worst of the bunch they paint a more balanced picture. C/Att 17/32 Yards 144 AVG 4.5 TD 0 INT 1

Joined: 11/19/2008

MGoPoints: 10712