JMU To Start Freshman QB Michael Birdsong Against GAST

[jmufan]

Not sure if you can read the rivals article, but Thorpe was benched this past weekend for true Freshman QB Michael Birdsong. He play half of the 3rd Quarter and all of the 4th Quarter almost bringing the Dukes back for a miraculous victory. http://jamesmadison.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1426010" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I know what people will say, experience matters and you are correct. With that said, Birdsong has played in 5 of the 7 games in mop-up duty, so he isn't without experience. If you are going to go with a new QB, best to start them against a not so good team like GAST.

I am very interested in seeing how he does playing 4 full quarters. Will he have a good start, a complete game? We shall see.

[YoUDeeMan]

Not sure if you can read the rivals article, but Thorpe was benched this past weekend for true Freshman QB Michael Birdsong. He play half of the 3rd Quarter and all of the 4th Quarter almost bringing the Dukes back for a miraculous victory. http://jamesmadison.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1426010" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I know what people will say, experience matters and you are correct. With that said, Birdsong has played in 5 of the 7 games in mop-up duty, so he isn't without experience. If you are going to go with a new QB, best to start them against a not so good team like GAST.

I am very interested in seeing how he does playing 4 full quarters. Will he have a good start, a complete game? We shall see.

Did anyone see someone next to Thorpe smoking something before the game?

[dal4018]

A true frosh starting at QB wow!!!!!

[SuperHornet]

The #1 team in the country is starting a freshperson quarterback.

Next?

[GannonFan]

We could run a contest and have the winning poster from this site start a game against GA State and they'd do well. This week is for practice, the real test begins with a trip to Orono in two weeks.

[LDopaPDX]

Not sure if you can read the rivals article, but Thorpe was benched this past weekend for true Freshman QB Michael Birdsong. He play half of the 3rd Quarter and all of the 4th Quarter almost bringing the Dukes back for a miraculous victory. http://jamesmadison.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1426010" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I know what people will say, experience matters and you are correct. With that said, Birdsong has played in 5 of the 7 games in mop-up duty, so he isn't without experience. If you are going to go with a new QB, best to start them against a not so good team like GAST.

I am very interested in seeing how he does playing 4 full quarters. Will he have a good start, a complete game? We shall see.

Who was the kid who played against Towson? All due respect to JMU, I wasn't impressed at all with that QB. It looked like an offense designed to have a few playmakers simply make plays, but without enough cohesion to do it efficiently or with any regularity. The talent level at JMU is definitely solid.

[jmufan]

Thorpe was the starting QB vs Towson. Not sure if Birdsong played against Towson though.

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[CAA Flagship]

JMU can win against Georgia St. if I was the starting QB.

[bluehenbillk]

Sure glad Thorpe got that 6th year.

[jmufan]

We'll see how Birdsong does. I am optimistic that he will do well. This Saturday will be telling and will be a good way for him to get reps and to get ready for Maine the following week. But first things first, win Saturday and get more experience.



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[HenZoneNation]

What happened to that 4 STAR transfer JMU got? Are they playing him at a different position?

[jmufan]

He is still around. When he transferred he was still battling hamstring issues and as far as I know he still is. Last I heard he is near 100% now. Not sure where he will be used, but QB is his goal.

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[State Line Liquors]

Taylor Reynolds. clap. clap. clap. clap. clap.

[HenZoneNation]

Taylor Reynolds. clap. clap. clap. clap. clap.

He's gonna look good...playing DB...

[jmufan]

Yeap, he was switched earlier this year.

[Dukie95]

Taylor Reynolds. clap. clap. clap. clap. clap.

Interestingly, he and Ian Fisher (the other highly-regarded* freshman) just moved up the depth chart for next year. It certainly seems that Thorpe has permanently lost his job and if he does return for that 6th year, it'll be at a different position.

*I say highly regarded, because coming into the season, Reynolds and Fisher got all the press, yet Birdsong is the one starting.

[BDKJMU]

The 'Ginja Ninja'
http://jamesmadison.rivals.com/barrier_ ... &mid=&rid=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MadMaxMonarch]

The 'Ginja Ninja'
http://jamesmadison.rivals.com/barrier_ ... &mid=&rid=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

More like 'Gingabread Man!'

[BDKJMU]

Birdsong didn't due well against GST.

Basically a coupy & paste on what I put on 3 of the Birdsong threads on the CAA Zone. There are 5 of them right now on the 1st page. Ridiculous.

"Birdsong may not have been awful, but he was below avg, mediocre at best.

"11 for 23, 119 Yds, 1 TD, 1 INT.
6 carries, 43 yds, 0 TD, 0 fumble

A lot of his passes were WAY off the mark. JT does the same thing, and people here are all over him, saying he sucks, he can't throw, blah, blah. Well, JT throwing the ball was usually better than Birdsong was today.

I said after the UR game I was on the fence but leaning towards starting Birdsong. Then I heard about JT's sideline issue after getting pulled, and that pretty much leaned me to think Birdsong should get a shot.

Birdsong did only have 1 turnover, which wasn't his fault BTW, as the ball bounced off the receivers chest before being picked. 1 per game is something that a team can live with if with the QB your'e going to avg 30+ passes & carries combined per game.

None of us are privy to game film, and it wasn't televised for most of us, so we can't go watch a recording of it. From what I saw in the stands, I think Birdsong should get one more shot. If he doesn't show improvement next week, then it should be bring back JT."

[BDKJMU]

1st of all, give GST some credit- 1st time I've seen them play this yr. Down 28-7 in the 4th qtr, they never quit.

On the one hand the game wasn't as close as the score indicated. JMU was up 28-7 in the 4th qtr, despite JMU's normally reliable kicker missing 3 FG from 41, 46, and 49 yds.

On the other hand, stats wise, the game was pretty even. GST actually outgained JMU 348-340. JMU' only had to go 23 yds for its 1st TD after JMU forced a fumble (big hit) on GST on it opening possession. JMU scored a TD off a blocked punt, and GST set up a TD with a 54 yd run off of a faked punt to the JMU 10 yd line, so offense vs defense it was basically 21-14, even 14-14 if give JMU's defense credit for setting up the 1st TD.

GST had been avg about 21 a game against CAA comp. GST Scored 24 last week vs Nova, and 54 of the 348 JMU gave up was on the fake punt, so not too disappointed with the JMU defense. Don't have a great defense, but a good one- a playoff defense.

Its the JMU offense that is the issue. GST had been giving up 33 points a game in CAA competition, and 41 to the decent teams.