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Posted on Sun, Aug 30, 2009 : 6 a.m.

Watch out, Rich Rodriguez's three-quarterback setup could be dizzying to watch

By Michael Rothstein

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The questions came rapidfire about Michigan’s quarterback situation. And this was after the Wolverines’ media day Sunday.

Ever since Rich Rodriguez announced his intention to play three quarterbacks in Michigan’s opener Saturday against Western Michigan, he’s been met with people who think it is the smartest thing to do.

And people who think he’s lost his mind.

While Rodriguez displays confidence in his three-quarterback decision, one that may go on as long as Michigan’s quarterbacks don’t separate themselves, there is another nagging feeling.

This has happened before.

Not to Rodriguez, who has played two quarterbacks often but never three, but at Michigan’s second opponent: Notre Dame.

And the results in 2007 created a spectacle, a circus and, inevitably, a failure.

Even the candidates are similar. Nick Sheridan compares to Notre Dame’s Evan Sharpley - a guy who you know what he can do and know the top end of his playing level. Tate Forcier compares to Demetrius Jones - the guy in the present. The guy who you will likely go with to start the season. He’s also the guy you’d like to see succeed and has played the best in camp, but not by much.

Finally, Denard Robinson equates to Jimmy Clausen, minus the ESPN The Magazine-story hype. The raw talent is there, for Clausen it was in his arm, for Robinson it is in his speed. Same were the comparisons: Clausen to every drop-back passer who was ever successful and Robinson to arguably the best spread-option quarterback in college football history, Pat White.

(Note to fans: Feel free to insert Devin Gardner’s name as well when talking about Robinson.)

How did it fail? Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis played musical quarterbacks the entire season. Jones transferred by not boarding the bus to Ann Arbor before the Michigan game. Clausen was never truly healthy most of the season. There was always the sense that there was division in the locker room about which quarterback the players wanted to play and gave them the best chance to win.

And there was the attempt to at least install parts of an entirely new offense just for Jones.

These, it seems, are not problems Rodriguez is going to have. If he stuck with his spread last year when he had pocket-passer Steven Threet, then he’ll absolutely stick with it now. Plus, Rodriguez’ offense makes the quarterback a decision-maker, but one who can be masked by good running backs, which Michigan has a lot of in Brandon Minor, Carlos Brown, Vincent Smith, Michael Shaw and Mike Cox.

There are aspects of this, though, that are downright scary.

“We have an idea in mind as far as what plays each guy runs well, what they execute well,” Rodriguez said. “You kind of go into the game plan with that mind.”

Rodriguez stopped short of saying he’d go play-to-play with his three quarterback system. But, he said there could be points where a quarterback would go one play and out, although it wouldn’t be a constant thing.

Running backs often say the more carries they get, the better rhythm they have. Same with quarterbacks and snaps. So if we are to take Rodriguez at his word here, there’s at least a chance that none of Michigan’s quarterbacks could feel completely comfortable, especially Forcier and Robinson, who will play in their first college game.

He did say, though, that he’ll likely have specific packages for each of the quarterbacks. This goes back to that Notre Dame example.

Jones was the spread guy. Clausen was the base offense guy and Sharpley the two-minute guy.

That’s what they ran the best - all the way to a 3-9 season.

Rodriguez seems content with his three-QB conundrum and said as long as none of them regress, they’ll continue along this way.

“Let’s not make it bigger than what it is,” Rodriguez said. “People say ‘Well, you’ve got to settle on one.’ I don’t know why. If all three of them are playing well, you don’t have to.”

For one game, it might work. It might even thrive. But for a season, Rodriguez better watch out. That’s where history could end up repeating.

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball at annarbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com and follow on Twitter @mikerothstein.

Comments

uminks

Sun, Aug 30, 2009 : 11:14 p.m.

I'm fairly confident Fourcier will be the starter. Though Robinson has been playing fairly well recently, so he may get some time in the WMU game. Though if Fourcier falters than Robinson will be starting. Sheridan will be used only in case of an emergency!

kingky

Sun, Aug 30, 2009 : 4:34 p.m.

Yup, and in E.L. whoever pummeled a helpless kids face in the best, will see the most time for Dantonio

ohiowolverine

Sun, Aug 30, 2009 : 8:13 a.m.

superbuck, why don't you comment about Trashel talking about going to the NFL next year. He wants out of Columbus before RR starts spanking him and he is forced to leave. GO BLUE SPANK OSU!

tater

Sun, Aug 30, 2009 : 5:33 a.m.

I hope the three-QB system becomes a two-QB system by the ND game. I also hope RR doesn't name a starter for ND week and forces them to prepare for three QB's. Eventually, it would be great to see Forcier and D Rob alternate series-to-series.

tater

Sun, Aug 30, 2009 : 5:27 a.m.

The only reason OSU fans are even here is because they know RR is about to start spanking Trashel the way Trashel spanked Carr. If I were an OSU fan, I would probably be filling comment fields with unsubstantiated horse pucky about RR, too. If RR was truly a bad coach, OSU fans would be cheering for UM to keep him for as long as OSU kept Cooper. Instead, they are grasping at straws and already making alibis for the losses they know OSU will soon sustain. The way OSU and their fanbase turned on Maurice Clarett as soon as he got caught says all one really needs to know about OSU.