Michigan Football: Coach’s Corner — Breaking down the QB’s

Posted at 6:00am — 4/21/2008

Michigan Football: Coach’s Corner — Breaking down the QB’s

GBMWolverine broke down some of the quarterbacks in several different categories.

Among these quarterbacks is Kevin Newsome (’09 recruit), Tate Forcier (’09 recruit), Shavodrick Beaver (’09 recruit), Eugene Smith (’09 recruit), Justin Feagin (’08 Michigan freshmen), and Terrell Pryor (’08 Ohio State freshmen).

Arm Strength:
1) Pryor: He has very strong arm.
2) Newsome: Close to Pryor, another very strong arm.
3) Beaver: Strong arm, just touch less
4) Smith: He has plenty of arm, just not quite on par with others.
5) Feagin and Forcier: (Tie) Feagin arm is just average still has enough arm to be very success. Forcier has good not great arm strength, but makes up for this with superior mechanics and accuracy he has plenty of arm to succeed in Coach Rod’s offense.

Touch:
1) Beaver: He throws excellent ball, that is very easy to catch, and excellent spiral.
2) Smith, Forcier and Feagin: (Tie) Smith also has very easy to catch ball. Forcier throws excellent ball with nice tight spiral that is easy to catch. Feagin throws a nice easy to catch ball.
5) Pryor and Newsome: (Tie) Pryor needs to learn to take something off short pass, and Newsome spiral needs work.

Release:
1) Beaver: He has excellent release and nice short arm motion, does need to force ball up at times.
2) Newsome, Pryor, Forcier and Feagin: (Tie) Newsome and Pryor have tendency to wind up instead of zipping with the wrist. Forcier has very good release, short compact motion. Feagin has nice compact throwing motion and quick release.
6) Smith: He holds the ball to low, and release point needs to be higher.

Footwork:
All had good footwork, but all also need work. Of all areas, that high school quarterbacks need to improve footwork is generally #1. Too many do not understand they need to throw with their feet as much as arm.

Feagin has excellent footwork already. It is one of strengths of his game.

Mechanics:
1) Beaver: He has pure smooth arm motion.
2) Feagin and Forcier: (Tie) Feagin forces ball up and gets shoulder and feet around on boot. Forcier is technically sound, forces ball up, and see’s entire field.
4) Pryor: He has solid mechanics.
5) Newsome: Had him almost tied with Pryor, but has this little hitch at times.
6) Smith: Again, holds ball too low and releases point is low.

Reading Defenses:
This real tough one, without knowing what play is called or system this real guess/ semi educated.

1) Beaver: Film shows him adjusting and pointing to defenders.
2) Forcier: Ranks right behind Beaver. You can see him adjusting to defenses and even appears to slide protection to pick up blitz.
3) Smith and Feagin: (Tie) Smith is the same as Beaver. Feagin on film you can see him pointing out defenders and getting balls to check down receivers.
5) Newsome and Pryor: (Tie) there are signs of both reading defenses so I do no think this is problem just that Beaver in particular looks advanced at this time.

Decision-making:
Remember these are highlights, so bad things are not shown on clips.

1) Beaver, Forcier and Feagin: (Tie) Beaver holds onto the ball as long as possible, and does not seem to force into coverage. Feagin’s film shows him making right read in option offense and hitting under receiver instead of forcing ball deep. Forcier takes what defense gives, not forcing the ball into coverage. also checks down to under receiver very well.
4) Smith: He is close to these guys.
5) Pryor and Newsome: (Tie) Guys with strong arms have habit of trying to force everything, thinking they can use arm strength to get it done. Think Farve and Elway.

Quickness:
None of these guys are slow, all have plenty of quickness.

1) Newsome: He has great feet and explosion.
2) Smith: He has super quick feet.
3) Feagin: On quickness, not up with Newsome, but more than enough to be effective in Michigan’s offense.
4) Pryor, Forcier and Beaver: (Tie) again no problem here, good quickness, just not on par with top three.

Speed:
1) Newsome: Kid could play number of positions
2) Pryor: If not for Newsome’s elite speed, Pryor has outstanding speed also.
3) Smith, Beaver, Forcier and Feagin: (Tie) Smith and Beaver both have plenty of speed. Feagin had good speed but not elite level like Pryor and Newsome, but plenty to get job done. Forcier no problem here he has plenty of speed. just not quite up with top three.

Elusiveness:
1) Newsome and Pryor: (Tie) both have take it to the house skills.
3) Smith and Feagin: (Tie) Smith is excellent in space and good creator. Feagin is very good in space.
5) Beaver and Forcier: (Tie) Again not a problem, others just better.

Overall potential:
1) Pryor: Potential difference maker.
2) Beaver and Newsome: (Tie) different, but all three have potential to be outstanding.
4) Smith, Forcier and Feagin: (Tie) No disrespect and would be happy to have either one with Feagin – Just like others better. Forcier although not sure he is quite the fit as Feagin or Smith. He still shows enough skill to succeed in this offense.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff

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