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!

Don't despair, the cupboard is (allegedly) not bare

The Free Press did a profile today on Steven Threet the Michigan freshman who may be the Wolverines' starting QB next season. Threet (6'5", 228) is from Adrian (MI) High School and was the #12 prep player in the State of Michigan in the 2007 class. He graduated from high school early and enrolled at Georgia Tech in January, 2007. He participated in spring practice but was unable to secure the starting QB position. After the two coaches who recruited Threet left Georgia Tech for other schools, Threet decided to transfer. He transferred to Michigan before the start of the 2007 season and joined the team but had to sit out because of the NCAA transfer rules. He used his redshirt year and he still has four (4) years of eligibility remaining to play for the Wolverines. Go Blue!

*Note: Photo of Steven Threet from his high school days at Adrian High School by RASHAUN RUCKER/Detroit Free Press