1. When Nick Sheridan came into the game in the second quarter and then started the second half, I had to look over to the sideline to see if Charlie Weis was coaching the Wolverines. I don’t like the quarterback rotations at all.
I don’t know who the better player in practice is, and I’m not breaking down film after every game, but it seems like Steven Threet is more capable of running the offense. The bad thing so far is, with the exception of the touchdown pass to Junior Hemingway last week, all of his passes have sailed over the receivers’ heads. If he can get his precision down, this offense will be much more dynamic (or at least capable of sustaining drives).
Threet seems mobile enough to run the offense, though not quite the mobile quarterback Rodriguez wants to run this offense. However, he’s not going to get the quarterback he wants this year, so I’d like to see him pick a quarterback and stick with him.
2. I like what I saw today from freshmen Sam McGuffie, Michael Shaw, and Martavious Odoms when they got the ball in the open field. They are quick little guys capable of turning short plays into big gains. However, I don’t like seeing them run the ball up the middle.
With the offensive line that Michigan has this season, there aren’t going to be gaping holes to run through. McGuffie and Shaw fall over whenever a defender touches them, unlike Mike Hart who had the lower-body strength to keep moving forward after contact for the past four years.
I would like to see Brandon Minor, Carlos Brown, and Kevin Grady get more carries and let McGuffie and Shaw do their work in the open field.
3. A positive from the first two games is the lack of penalties. So far, Michigan has 10 penalties for a total of 68 yards through two games. Utah and Miami combined for 19 penalties for 207 yards in those games.
5 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Evan Jelley 10 months ago
Good article! I agree I had know idea what rich Rodriguez was thinking when he brought in Sheridan. He changed the rythm of the offense.
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Justin Potts 10 months ago
Thanks for the comment Evan. I just don't like the QB rotation. It didn't work at all for Notre Dame last year and we're kind of in the same boat, without a solid #1 guy. But I think we have to just stick with one guy and let him keep the rhythm and build momentum throughout the season. I think the only time a QB rotation can work is when you have two different guys, like a Leak-Tebow or a Boeckman-Pryor combination. We don't have that.
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Jeff Contizano 10 months ago
Sheridan actually marched the team on an 87-yard drive. Next year with Beaver/Forcier or whoever they use, the spread option will be much more of a possibility. Our offense still needs to work hard this week in practice, but after watching Notre Dame, its probably going to be a struggle.
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Evan Jelley 10 months ago
I am not saying Sheridan shouldn't play. I just think he came in at the wrong time. Threet had been running the offense well and when Sheridan in the momentum stopped. If Sheridan does come in he should come in the start of the half.
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Andrew Smith 10 months ago
Nice article, Justin. I agree about Threet--if he can get those passes straightened out, he'll be the top choice. I was surprised by his running ability against Miami, too.
One note about the delay of game penalties: both of them were on punts, so neither were even quarterback mistakes. Playing disciplined is encouraging.
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