JMU's Thorpe Gets Sixth Year

[mcveyrl]

Just saw this in the Harrisonburg paper. Looks like the school found out over the weekend and Mickey mentioned it in his press conference yesterday.

http://www.dnronline.com/article/jmu_football_10_2_12" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's a pay article. The basic point is now we have too many QBs next year...

I'm sure JMU fans have mixed emotions about this.

[ASUG8]

Thorpe will be 30 when his eligibility runs out.

[bluehenbillk]

"..Roll one, smoke one, when you live this you're supposed to party..."

[BDKJMU]

Just saw this in the Harrisonburg paper. Looks like the school found out over the weekend and Mickey mentioned it in his press conference yesterday.

http://www.dnronline.com/article/jmu_football_10_2_12" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's a pay article. The basic point is now we have too many QBs next year...

I'm sure JMU fans have mixed emotions about this.

The response on the Zone is overwhelmingly positive.

[BDKJMU]

2009- Justin Thorpe T as an rFr sucked his 1st 3 starts:

-Start #1 one against UR: UR was the defending NC, had beaten Duke, ranked #1 at the time, and lost in the qtrfinals that yr to App State.
-Start #2 against Villanova: Villanova was ranked 6th at the time, had beaten Temple, and went on to win the NC.
-Start #3 against W&M: W&M was top 5 at the time, had beaten UVGay, and went on to lose in the semis.

But after that the competition level dropped, he showed improvement, and went 4-0 vs CAA in his last 4 games.

2010- went down for the season in the opener vs Morehead St.

2011- suspended 5 games. As a starter vs I-AA competition went 6-1/3-0, with the only loss being @ NDSU.

2012- so far as a starter vs I-AA 3-0/1-0.

So in his last 14 starts vs I-AA, he has gone 13-1, 8-0 CAA.

This yr's stats:
PASSING GP Effic Cmp-Att-Int Pct Yards TD Long Avg/G
Justin Thorpe 4 133.3 61-98-4 62.2 728 5 41 182.0

RUSHING GP Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G
Justin Thorpe 4 47 286 25 261 5.6 3 32 65.2

[GannonFan]

To be fair, though, he hasn't really played against quality CAA competition in a few years. Last year, I believe, he played the W&M, URI, and UMass games - those teams were a combined 13-20 last year and neither had a winning record. This year he's gone against URI again, and they and GSU will fight for the bottom of the CAA. Towson will be the best CAA team he's faced since 2009. And that sentence says a lot considering how bad Towson was back in 2009 - times have changed a lot since then.

I think he's fine as a QB. He's not a game changer but he doesn't hurt JMU either. And obviously age and physical maturity makes him a better choice than a younger guy. He's not Landers (not a knock - who is?) but he's the best of the bunch for now.

[BDKJMU]

Yep, I said before the season for JMU to make a playoff run JT would have to complete at least 60% of his passes with a 2 to 1 TD to turnover ratio.

Right now he is completely 62.5%, and has 8 TDs (5 passing/3 rushing) to 4 turnovers (4 INT, 0 fumbles).

6'2", and is now listed at 225. Last yr was listed at 215 and Mickey said ran a 4.4. Mickey exaggerates, and he has added 10 lbs. So probably in the 4.5 ballpark. Big arm. For a starting CAA QB:

-Physical tools: top notch.
-Rushing ability: great (getting good but not great results though).
-Decision making read option running game: avg (big improvement since 09' though).

-Arm: top notch.
-Accuracy: avg (big improvement since 09' though).
-Decision making passing game: avg (big improvement since 09' though).
-Ability to see 2nd-3rd receivers; below avg.

[BDKJMU]

In the past its almost always been when the primary receiver wasn't open or he got pressure would just tuck n run. I was at the URI game and he threw about 4-5 passes away because the o line was giving him time, he wasn't following his past tuck and run tendencies, and either the WR weren't getting open or he didn't see them (I don't know as I am usually focused on the line). It was almost like he refused to tuck-n-run. Maybe the JMU coaches are trying to break him of that and he's turning over a new leaf. We'll see if that was a one game thing or not.

[BDKJMU]

JMU will have a QB glut next yr. 6 QBs/5 schollie currently on roster:
:Thorpe
: Lafonte Thorougood- rFr Vandy transfer still battling a hamstring issue he's had for the past yr
: 3 true fr QBs, one of whom Michael Birdsong, is the current backup and has played in each of the 1st 4 games.
: an rFr walkon who isn't a factor.

Have a verbal from an HS senior, which would make 7. But by next Aug odds are at least one will no longer be on the team, and at least one will be moved to another position.

In 2010 JMU signed 2 HS QBs from TX, and in 2011 had a QB transfer from K State. All 3 would be rSo this yr, but none are still on the team.