{"id":2831,"date":"2011-08-22T21:17:55","date_gmt":"2011-08-23T01:17:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=2831"},"modified":"2011-08-22T23:18:06","modified_gmt":"2011-08-23T03:18:06","slug":"mickey-named-a-starter-already-seriously","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=2831","title":{"rendered":"Mickey Named a Starter Already. Seriously."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Mickey Matthews ended all speculation and named Justin Thorpe the starting QB today<\/a>. Yes, you read that right. JMU actually has a clear number 1 QB a full 12 days before the season starts. This past few years, I’d gotten used to not knowing who JMU’s true starting QB was 12 quarters into the season. Regardless of which QB you might have been hoping would win the job, this news has got to be greeted with great joy. Or at least relief that someone won separated himself from the competition and won the job.<\/p>\n

Thorpe outplayed the other contenders, Jace Edwards and Billy Cosh, and clinched the job after Saturday’s scrimmage. Fan opinion has always been pretty divided on Justin and I doubt this is going to change anything. It’s sort of a glass half-full versus glass half-empty thing. You can look at Justin and either see a QB who struggled throwing the ball as a redshirt freshman, or you can see a QB who closed that season with 4 wins and won the CAA Rookie of the Year. I’m going with the latter.<\/p>\n

There is no denying that Thorpe looked lost at times 2 years ago. It’s not being an apologist to point out that he was a redshirt freshman however. Or to point out the fact that he had the misfortune to be labeled the next Rodney Landers when fans’ memories of Landers’ heroics were still fresh. He got better as the season went on and helped a JMU team that clearly could have thrown in the towel, close the season with 4 straight wins. \u00a0Including wins on the road against both UMass and Delaware, two teams that the Dukes just don’t beat away from Bridgeforth. Had Thorpe not gotten hurt in the season opener last year, he might have taken the job from Dudzik anyway and been the clear starter heading into this season anyway.<\/p>\n

So I’m fully on board the Justin Thorpe bandwagon at this point. He sounds like he’s matured a bit and studied a lot more film after he got hurt last year<\/a>. And Dae’Quan Scott moved from wide receiver to assume the starting running back spot which should help make the Dukes a real threat out of the option. Plus the O-line should be better with another year of experience and the addition of Marshall transfer AJ Scott. And tight end Brian Barlow could become Thorpe’s best friend with his hands and big play ability. Dare I say it, but I think I’m actually starting to drink the Kool Aid for the Dukes offense this season.<\/p>\n