A Sea Of Red

With the spring practice season in the rear view mirror and everyone looking ahead to the 2012 season opener Sept 1, I thought Id take my annual look at the returning players position by position.

Players Lost

Mike Brown 196-299 2664 yards 18 TDs 10 INT 130 Rush 437 yards 9 TD

Players Returning
Brian Hudson 14-21 145 Yards 2 TD 0 INT
Tyler Brennan 14-25 164 Yards 1 TD 1 INT
Josh Woodrum (not Woodram) 2011 redshirt

Mike Brown finished his career with his name all over Liberty top 5 all time lists: 5th in total passing yards (6,072), 5th in rushing touchdowns (29), 4th in passing touchdowns (45) just to name a few. He was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award twice, and was invited to Jacksonville Jaguars rookie minicamp this spring. Its quite an act to follow, and Turner Gill announced recently that that task will be given to Woodrum, a redshirt in 2011 who starred for Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, and Hudson, who spent the last two years as the #3 QB behind Brown and Brennan. Brennan, who was Mike Brown's backup the last two years, traded places with Hudson and the redshirt senior goes into the fall as the third QB.

It would help if your commentary gave us something more than what we already know even if its just an opinion.

My lean is toward Hudson at this point because he has the in game experience that Woodrum lacks. Gill was a pretty athletic QB and he brought in a pretty athletic QB in Dailey to be the position coach so it wouldnt surprise me if they go with Josh. I think itll depend on what kind of shift we take in offensive philosophy with Coach Wagner.

My belief is that Hudson will start the year as the guy. He proved in his short game action last year that he can run and has an accurate cannon. At some point, with more experience, Josh will move to starting.

Rooster Cogburn wrote:My belief is that Hudson will start the year as the guy. He proved in his short game action last year that he can run and has an accurate cannon. At some point, with more experience, Josh will move to starting.

Until I actually see it, I wont believe in Hudson. The Charleston Southern game last year was my first impression.

BJWilliams wrote:My lean is toward Hudson at this point because he has the in game experience that Woodrum lacks. Gill was a pretty athletic QB and he brought in a pretty athletic QB in Dailey to be the position coach so it wouldnt surprise me if they go with Josh. I think itll depend on what kind of shift we take in offensive philosophy with Coach Wagner.

This is all true but Jordan Webb(Gill's starting QB at Kansas) was anything but a balanced QB. He was strictly a pocket QB. Zach Maynard, on the other hand, (Gill's QB at UB) was very balanced and ran for 300 yards in '09. Gill could either way this fall with Woodrum or Hudson. I've watched Woodrum play since high-school and I would say he's better from a pure talent perspective. His playing style resembles Andrew Luck, in that he is a pocket QB but has more mobility than given credit for. I think both Hudson and Woodrum are talented QB's and both have unique assets. Sometimes this comes down to whose thrown fewer interceptions in practice, experience, or even who the OL feels more comfortable with. Ultimately, I see Gill following what UVA did last year, and the younger QB (Woodrum) gets the start.

R i wrote:

Rooster Cogburn wrote:My belief is that Hudson will start the year as the guy. He proved in his short game action last year that he can run and has an accurate cannon. At some point, with more experience, Josh will move to starting.

Until I actually see it, I wont believe in Hudson. The Charleston Southern game last year was my first impression.

Exactly. We looked horrible that 2nd half.

cjsweat wrote:

BJWilliams wrote:My lean is toward Hudson at this point because he has the in game experience that Woodrum lacks. Gill was a pretty athletic QB and he brought in a pretty athletic QB in Dailey to be the position coach so it wouldnt surprise me if they go with Josh. I think itll depend on what kind of shift we take in offensive philosophy with Coach Wagner.

This is all true but Jordan Webb(Gill's starting QB at Kansas) was anything but a balanced QB. He was strictly a pocket QB. Zach Maynard, on the other hand, (Gill's QB at UB) was very balanced and ran for 300 yards in '09. Gill could either way this fall with Woodrum or Hudson. I've watched Woodrum play since high-school and I would say he's better from a pure talent perspective. His playing style resembles Andrew Luck, in that he is a pocket QB but has more mobility than given credit for. I think both Hudson and Woodrum are talented QB's and both have unique assets. Sometimes this comes down to whose thrown fewer interceptions in practice, experience, or even who the OL feels more comfortable with. Ultimately, I see Gill following what UVA did last year, and the younger QB (Woodrum) gets the start.

True...really for me itll depend on the overall offensive philosophy of Coach Wagner as well as Coach Gill's playcalling style. Remember, with Mike running the show we were a high flying team that pretty much had a goal of outscoring everyone (you see how many games we scored 30 or more in the last couple seasons?).

BJWilliams wrote:

cjsweat wrote:

BJWilliams wrote:My lean is toward Hudson at this point because he has the in game experience that Woodrum lacks. Gill was a pretty athletic QB and he brought in a pretty athletic QB in Dailey to be the position coach so it wouldnt surprise me if they go with Josh. I think itll depend on what kind of shift we take in offensive philosophy with Coach Wagner.

This is all true but Jordan Webb(Gill's starting QB at Kansas) was anything but a balanced QB. He was strictly a pocket QB. Zach Maynard, on the other hand, (Gill's QB at UB) was very balanced and ran for 300 yards in '09. Gill could either way this fall with Woodrum or Hudson. I've watched Woodrum play since high-school and I would say he's better from a pure talent perspective. His playing style resembles Andrew Luck, in that he is a pocket QB but has more mobility than given credit for. I think both Hudson and Woodrum are talented QB's and both have unique assets. Sometimes this comes down to whose thrown fewer interceptions in practice, experience, or even who the OL feels more comfortable with. Ultimately, I see Gill following what UVA did last year, and the younger QB (Woodrum) gets the start.

True...really for me itll depend on the overall offensive philosophy of Coach Wagner as well as Coach Gill's playcalling style. Remember, with Mike running the show we were a high flying team that pretty much had a goal of outscoring everyone (you see how many games we scored 30 or more in the last couple seasons?).

Also true. However, we also lost many close games against good teams. Almost every game that kept us from getting to playoffs was decided because of the offense's inability to score when it mattered. Having a run first QB or a balanced QB makes that very difficult. Honestly, I wasn't impressed with Hudson during that CSU game, but I think either of these guys can work out. They both bring a certain uniqueness that has advantages and disadvantages. If I were the coach, Woodrum would be my starter but that's because of my coaching philosophy. Ultimately, coaching philosophy is likely what determines this decision. So, I agree.

Itll be an interesting dynamic now that we will only be carrying two QBs on the roster and a QB turned WR (in Henderson).

Javan Shashaty will also be on the team.

And I wouldn't rule out a late transfer.

I forgot about Shashaty (thanks for that). My Season Preview posts will start coming here first week of August so that will be something to watch out for in the weeks leading up to the start of camp.

BJWilliams wrote:My Season Preview posts will start coming here first week of August so that will be something to watch out for in the weeks leading up to the start of camp.

Can't wait!

philip sims was just declared eligible to play this year at UVA. I have no inside knowledge but my gut feeling just tells me that London is going to play him. Could open the door for Mr. Rocco's return.

Yeah not so sure Rocco would come here now.

Agree with jc...either way that is a decision that he is gonna have to make soon. If he gets beat out by Sims in fall camp, Im pretty sure he isnt going to be able to transfer anywhere for this season.

Is his dad still the A.D. at LCA?

If so I dont see why he would not come back, Hes very welcome. He had a good year last year.

Follow him on twitter. He has a ton of friends amd connections to lu way more than richmond. Dr is the only connection there.

Mike would be a great pickup if only from the experience standpoint.

When is Mike going to transfer?

Today? That would give him enough time to learn the offense to compete in fall camp.
August/September? No way he beats out Tyler and/or Brian.
After this season? He will then only have 1 season of eligibility remaining after we have already committed an entire season to a QB who could have as much as 3 seasons remaining. Why would we derail that?

Rocco coming here is a pipe dream.

jcmanson wrote:When is Mike going to transfer?

Today? That would give him enough time to learn the offense to compete in fall camp.
August/September? No way he beats out Tyler and/or Brian.
After this season? He will then only have 1 season of eligibility remaining after we have already committed an entire season to a QB who could have as much as 3 seasons remaining. Why would we derail that?

Rocco coming here is a pipe dream.

you mean Josh because Tyler isnt with the program anymore remember?

jcmanson wrote:When is Mike going to transfer?

Today? That would give him enough time to learn the offense to compete in fall camp.
August/September? No way he beats out Tyler and/or Brian.
After this season? He will then only have 1 season of eligibility remaining after we have already committed an entire season to a QB who could have as much as 3 seasons remaining. Why would we derail that?

Rocco coming here is a pipe dream.

Yeah, that didn't work out too well for Wisconsin last year. That Wilson fella was a total flop. Programs take QB's for 1 or 2 years all the time, especially transfers at the FCS level. I am not saying he is coming but it would be a great opportunity for Liberty if he did. I know SMOOTH is a hater, but I think he is a very good and accurate QB who has always been looking over his shoulder at UVa, and that is never a good thing for a QB. He doesn't have a cannon for an arm, but I would rather have accuracy then distance, sort of like golf!

Ok, when Mike Rocco transfers in I'll take everything I said back.