Time runs out on QB plan

Brady inherits a mess, but not enough clock, as Carr's system nally fails

T.J.Berka TEEING OFF

EAST LANSING - Michigan coach Lloyd Carr was faced with an extremely difficult decision when practice opened this summer. Carr had to choose between two enticing quarterbacks in battle-tested senior Tom Brady and the super-talented sophomore Drew Henson.

This decision was so difficult for Carr that he didn't make it during preseason practice. Instead, he decided to rotate the two - Brady in the first quarter, Henson in the second, and whoever had the hot hand in the second half. But Carr was still i

MICHELLE SWELNIS/Daily Veteran starter Tom Brady (10) passed for 241 yards on three scoring drives in the second half Saturday, but was benched for most of the third quarter.

ntent on picking a top guy.

But it proved to be too difficult for the coach. The Wolverines went 3-0 during the nonconference season, so Carr decided to keep putting it off.

That seemed to be fine for Carr and the Wolverines. Michigan whipped Wisconsin and thumped Purdue, so Carr decided to keep putting off the all-important decision of who will be the starting quarterback.

Saturday, Carr's procrastination finally caught up with the Wolverines. Michigan was an offensive mess for three quarters as Carr shuttled in Brady and Henson. That, coupled with an explosive offensive performance by Michigan State, sent the third-ranked Wolverines down in defeat, 34-31.

After playing brilliantly in the wins over Wisconsin and Purdue, Brady started off slow against the Spartans, leading Michigan to only 48 yards in the opening quarter.

While this wasn't what Carr was looking for, it had been the norm for teams playing the Spartans, who boast the nation's top rushing defense. But instead of letting the senior work out the kinks associated with a rivalry game of incredible magnitude, he put him on the bench for the sophomore.

Big mistake.

Yes, Henson did throw an 81-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Knight - in which Knight made a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch and broke away from Michigan State safety Richard Newsome - but he did play a big role in Michigan losing this game.

Before the pass to Knight, Henson and the Wolverines were driving at the Michigan State 33-yard line. On second-and-seven, Henson received a blitz and threw the ball into the ground, drawing an intentional grounding penalty.

The 16-yard loss and the loss of down killed Michigan momentum, causing the Wolverines to punt.

In the third quarter, Henson felt pressure deep in Michigan territory and threw the ball hurriedly across the middle to Michigan State safety Aric Morris. Morris' return to the Michigan 18 set the Spartans up in excellent scoring opportunity. They capitalized, as Bill Burke found Plaxico Burress for a 15-yard touchdown to put the Spartans up, 27-10.

Meanwhile, Brady took over the mess that Henson left him at the end of the third quarter and performed marvelously, connecting on 24 of 29 passes and throwing three touchdown passes to almost single-handedly bring the Wolverines back from the dead.

While Michigan fell, a question was raised. What if Carr had let Brady get his feel for the game instead of benching him for Henson, a youngster who has yet to face the intensity of a blockbuster game at the collegiate level?

I don't know what would happen. And I'm sick of asking that question every week.

Even in wins against the Badgers and Boilermakers, Michigan has had to deal with a break in momentum when the quarterback change comes. While it is routine and the players and coaches say that there is no difference, there obviously is.

Brady and Henson are not the same quarterback. One is a grizzled veteran. One is still learning the ropes. The three years of difference between the fifth-year senior Brady and the sophomore Henson have been apparent in every game that Michigan has played.

Carr has had the spring, the summer, and six games to decide, so I think he might need some help.

I will provide a little nugget of assistance - play Brady.

The offense needs continuity. Brady has won 15 out of the 19 games he has started at Michigan. He is cool under pressure and has control of his teammates and the game situations at all times.

Henson is a great talent, perhaps even better than Brady. He will be a superstar someday. But Saturday was not his day, and the five other Saturdays of this season will not be his day either.

Henson is good. But Brady is good, experienced, and smart.

The decision needs to be made. Now.

- T.J. Berka can be reached via email at berkat@umich.edu.

10-11-99