The task for the new QB coach Rod Smith

When Spring Practice commences next week, much of the attention will be focused on the quarterback position as Michigan is implementing a new offensive system and is without an experienced quarterback. New quarterbacks coach Rod Smith (who took over for the highly regarded Scot Loeffler) is tasked with the responsibility of bringing Steven Threet, David Cone, and walk-on Nick Sheridan up to speed with the intricacies of the Spread Offense. In the fall, true freshman Justin Feagin (a true dual-threat QB) will arrive and be added to the mix. Coach Smith was the quarterbacks coach at WVU in 2007 after having spent the previous six seasons at the University of South Florida (2001-2006). He served as the Offensive Coordinator/QB coach at USF during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. At Michigan, Coach Smith's first challenge will be to train an inexperienced trio of signal callers whose only previous college coaching has been in a pro-style system. It will also be interesting to see during the Spring if running back Carlos Brown takes snaps at quarterback as he was a dual-threat quarterback in high school. Coach Smith's ability to impart to his charges the intricacies of the spread offense during the course of Spring Practice will be critical in determining whether the team is ready in the Fall. The ability to train someone from within is made all the more critical by the fact that it does not appear right now that there is any immediate help coming from the outside. Not only does it appear that 2008 super recruit Terrelle Pryor will commit elsewhere, but also that 2009 super recruit Russell Shepard [a 5-star dual-threat QB from Houston (TX) Cypress Ridge] will not attend Michigan as well as Shepard just verbally committed to LSU last week. Thus, rather than waiting for a big recruit to come "save" Michigan, it is Coach Smith's job to work with the talent the Wolverines have and prepare them to run Michigan's offense of the future. He has his work cut out for him. Go Blue!

QB David Cone- The Rodney Dangerfield of the M Football Team

QB David Cone gets no respect. Cone, who was a So./Fr. during the 2007 season, is a pro-style quarterback that was considered a find by QB Coach Scot Loeffler. Cone (6'6", 214 lbs.) participated in one of Coach Loeffler summer quarterback camps in 2005 and Coach Loeffler was so impressed with Cone's accuracy and command that Michigan decided to offer Cone a scholarship. Cone officially signed his commitment in February, 2006 and he joined the team in time for fall practice in August, 2006. During his prep career, Cone led Statesboro (Ga.) High School to three consecutive Class AAAA state championship games including a perfect 15-0 record and a state championship during his senior year.

Cone redshirted his freshman season (2006) at Michigan as QB Chad Henne was the designated starter and Jason Forcier was his back-up. Cone was impressive in the 2007 Spring Game and saw some (limited) action this past season playing as the #3 QB behind Sr. Chad Henne and all-world Fr. Ryan Mallett. Cone saw mop-up duty in two games and completed the only pass he threw for 21 yards. Despite his impressive background and his strong performance in the limited opportunity he has been given, Cone has been discounted (or worse) in discussions regarding Michigan's quarterback situation for 2008. Although much remains to be seen regarding the Wolverines QB situation (Coach Rodriguez has been quoted as saying he wants to bring in at least two scholarship quarterbacks), I think people should be rest assured that Cone is a talented player. He may or may not beat out Steve Threet on the depth chart but it will be more competitive than people think. People discount Cone too quickly because of his lean frame. However, there was a reason Loeffler had Coach Carr extend him a scholarship back in 2006. Cone is competitive, tough, and has an accurate arm. Fans should not be so quick to discount Cone because of his looks. Go Blue!

*Note: Photo of David Cone (12) and Nick Sheridan (8) from 2007 Spring Game by mzgoblue.

New look in 2007 for the field goal unit

For the past couple of seasons Michigan's kicking unit has operated like a well oiled machine during field goal and extra point attempts. However, with the graduations of Kicker Garrett Rivas, Holder Ross Ryan, and Long Snapper Turner Booth, there will be an entirely new kicking unit in place in 2007. Coach Carr will be using Spring Practice to audition players at each of the three positions. As noted in a previous post, Bryan Wright, Jason Gingell and K.C. Lopata will battle it out at the kicking position. It is unclear at this time who will be given an opportunity to be the holder on kicks. Often it is a backup quarterback. I suggest #12 David Cone (So./Fr. in 2007). Otherwise, the fourth-string scholarship quarterback will spend his entire career on the sidelines wearing a headset and relaying signals. As for long snapper, no one has emerged yet although Justin Boren, David Moosman and Tim McAvoy are fighting for the starting center position. A clearer picture regarding the new look kicking unit will emerge at the end of the 15 spring practice sessions. Go Blue!

*Note: Photo of Chad Henne (7) and David Cone (12) from Michigan State game on 10/7/06 by Robin Buckson/The Detroit News

Chad Henne should wear his red practice jersey 24/7 until 9/2/06

Michigan started its Fall Football Practice Schedule this week in preparation for its first game which will be played three weeks from today on Saturday, September 2, 2006 vs. Vanderbilt. So far, so good as there are no new injuries to report out of the first week of fall camp. During practices the quarterbacks wear red jerseys which signify to the other players not to have physical contact with them during any drills. The quarterbacks wear the red jerseys granting them this special exemption because the coaches do not want to run the risk of having a virtually irreplaceable skill position player suffer a season-ending injury in a freak accident during a practice drill. In light of the depth, or more accurately the lack thereof, at the quarterback position this year I believe that starting QB Chad Henne should have to wear his red practice jersey at all times until kickoff for the first game on September 2nd. I do not want anyone on campus accidentally bumping into Chad or dropping something on his foot or having any physical contact with him. It is imperative that Chad remain healthy for this season as the back-ups do NOT appear ready to take the reigns on a moments notice. Chad has started 24 consecutive games for the Wolverines (tied for 7th longest active streak in the NCAA) but even he is not immune to injury. If Chad were to suffer an injury then Coach Carr would be forced to look to the #2 man. The question to be answered during fall practice is will the guy designated #2 be ready?

The early favorite to be #2 on the depth chart was redshirt freshman Jason Forcier. However, after a shaky spring practice, Coach Carr announced that he would wait until true freshman David Cone arrived and then things would be re-evaluated. (See my post of May 29, 2006- 2006 Back-up QB's: Long on Talent, Short on Experience). Well Cone arrived in the summer to start working out with his new teammates and to start picking up the Michigan offense according to a recent news item written by Angelique S. Chengelis (a/k/a "The Angel of the Big House") of the Detroit News. I'm guessing that Cone's summer performance did not overwhelm Coach Carr because on Big Ten Media Day on August 2, 2006, Coach Carr said that he expected Jason Forcier to be Chad Henne's back-up. Thus, Coach Carr did not even wait to observe fall practices to sort out who would be #2 on the depth chart.

People need to remember how Chad Henne got his start. Heading into the 2004 season, it appeared as if Redshirt sophmore Matt Gutierrez was going to be the starter until he got injured in pre-season practice and then all of a sudden then true freshman Chad Henne was elevated to the starting spot. Henne was able to step into that starting role in 2004 and lead Michigan to the Rose Bowl. From all reports that I've read so far both Forcier (redshirt Fr.) and Cone (true Fr.) are still learning the offense. If Henne were to go down it seems doubtful that either back-up QB is ready to duplicate Henne's freshman feat of leading Michigan to the Big Ten title. Therefore, it is imperative that Chad try to avoid injury by wearing his red practice jersey at all times until the season starts. Go Blue!

2006 Back-up QBs: Long on Talent, Short on Experience

The depth chart is looking a little shallow at the QB position once you look beyond starter and All-Big 10 candidate Chad Henne (junior). With Henne firmly entrenched in the starting role, back-up Matt Gutierrez transferred to Division I-AA Idaho State to presumably take over the starting job at that school. The loss of the experienced Gutierrez, who would have been a 5th year senior this year, has left quite a void at the #2 spot on the depth chart. Currently, redshirt Sophmore Jason Forcier, who ran the scout team offense last year, is listed by default as the back-up quarterback. The projected #3 QB on the depth chart is David Cone, a true freshman-to-be, who won't even be enrolled in U-M until August, 2006. After that we have walk-ons including 5th-year senior Jeff Kastl who did see mop-up duty in 2 games last year and threw one incomplete pass. Uh, is it too late to ask Gutierrez to come back if we ask really nicely? Or, maybe, Mallett can take a whole lot of summer classes and graduate REALLY early so he can start at U-M this fall.

Actually, Forcier was pretty heavily recruited coming out of high school and is highly regarded for his running as well as his throwing ability. As the scout team QB last year he focused on playing the role of the opponent each week. The problem is that he did not have very much time to learn the Michigan offense. As their new #2, Forcier has been receiving a crash course this season regarding the main points of U of M's offense. The learning curve has sometimes been steep and the final spring practice was not very encouraging. Coach Carr's comments about Forcier were not exactly reassuring. One of the comments was along the lines of that he will have to re-evaluate things once David Cone arrives. Well who the heck is David Cone and when is he arriving?

David Cone is a lightly recruited QB (read: U-M was only major school to offer) from Statesboro, GA. Cone attended QB Coach Scott Loeffler's quarterbacks' camp last summer. Going into the camp, Cone had not received any major scholarship offers but Loeffler, a legendary judge of QB talent, was impressed with Cone's accuracy and command. According to "The Wolverine", U of M offered Cone a scholarship during the camp and Cone officially signed his letter of intent in February, 2006. He will enroll in U-M in August of this year. Cone has not even set foot on campus and he already has a real chance to play himself into the #2 spot on the depth chart.

I really hope Henne's good fortune holds out and he is able to stay healthy for a third consecutive season. If he doesn't, Forcier and/or Cone are going to get a shot of a lifetime. I just hope they can rise to the challenge. Go Blue!