Back in March, French published an excellent analysis of incoming quarterback transfer Michael Brewer. Given the limited film available, he did as thorough a job as possible. However, French's breakdown focussed on X's and O's gleaned from the tape; how Brewer throws moving outside the pocket, his arm strength, throwing motion, and concern over batted balls. Unfortunately, there was no discussion of the intangibles: moxy, leadership, desire.
How do we know what type of person Michael Brewer is? As of right now, we don't know anything about this kid's character. That probably worries you. It definitely concerns me. If he doesn't have it going on upstairs and in his heart, he'll do nothing but tread water in Loeffler's offense. Fact.
What makes the situation worse is I didn't get to see the kid pitch around this spring. All I needed to calm my nerves this April was to watch Brewer run downfield to celebrate after dropping a perfect ball into the receiver's hands on a vertical score.
I've been thinking to myself, how can I find out what this kid is all about? And then it hit me: Social media.
He shot down, what, 20-something doves with finger pistols. Rivals.com doesn't take that into consideration when they're doling out stars. That takes accuracy, but more importantly determination and patience. The latter two characteristics are implicit to a strong work ethic.
This kid's both a team player and smart. He knows the five guys up front are responsible for any success he'll have, and seemingly knows how to treat them right. Leadership is defined by the field general taking care of his troops.
His grandfather Charley played quarterback at Texas. His father and uncle also played QB at Texas. Football is in this kid's DNA.
Can calmly handle a rattler. Fact: There are no ACC defensive linemen scarier than a snake.
Doesn't even blink when a snake's around his neck.
That's poise for you. He won't break under the pressure of a tight game. He'll step up into the pocket and complete that pass on third-and-long to extend a game winning drive, and he'll do it without breaking a sweat.
Brewer wants to spend all of his free time outdoors, so I don't have any concerns about him getting into trouble downtown on a bye week. Unless it's with the game warden.
After perusing Brewer's Instagram, I feel like I know a little bit more about the person rather than the player, and I feel good about... WOAH. WOAH. WOAH. TURKEYS?
Thank you to Grantland's Holly Anderson for starting me down the rabbit hole.
Comments
Hopefully he didn't finger-pistol all those dove. I'm pretty sure the daily limit in Texas is 15. Sweet pics though, they've oddly evoked some pretty strong nostalgia/homesickness.
mexico
I believe the correct term is "finger-bang"
gonna finger bang bang you into my life. girl you like to finger bang and that's all right!
And yes, you get a leg for that
gonna finger bang bang you ev-er-y night!
Man I hope the no shirt under jean bib coveralls look comes back in style in VA... Lucky Texas bastards!!!
When did it go out of style?
This was a fantastic thing to wake up and see. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing Joe! I appreciate the insider look at the mystery man's life. This is going to be a fun ride, seeing this cat sling the ball all over the yard. I lived in Texas for 4 years, and let me tell you...them boys love to hunt. They have a saying in TX: "If it flies it dies...if it crawls, it falls".
Gig'em Mike!
"Pew pew.. pew pew pew"
If his finger pistols are half of what Clint has, I think we've found something.
Or Shooter!
NOT THE TURKEYS! Not our delicious, smoky flavored mascot! Wait...maybe he could work out a supplier deal with concessions at Lane.
If he can handle the UVA, GT, Miami, Duke, NC defenses like he did the rattle snake, the ACC is in serious trouble. First he has to beat out Motley and Leal.
Dare I say, there's something BREWING in Blacksburg?
I'll see myself out.
Possibly. All depends on if he can BEER the responsibilities of being a starting QB for a full season.
He'll have a lot of work to do. Hopefully he HOPS to it as soon as possible.
I hope he's CHUGGING through the playbook right now.
I wonder if he prefers to take a SHOTGUN snap.
If he memorizes the whole playbook, he should play like a SAISONed veteran from day 1.
If the VT O-line holds up, he should stand STOUT in the pocket to find his open receiver.
With all of Loeffler's tutelage, he'll WEIZEN every day.
I think opposing defenses would be ALE-ing after playing us if that's the case.
Hopefully Coach L TAPS into his potential
If he does, he'll be quite the DRAFT pick.
As long as the coaches don't beat around the BUSCH, he'll develop quite nicely.
Legs!! Legs!! Legs for everyone!! I can BARLEY contain myself
I can't wait to see him manage and FOSTER the offense.
I tried to look up a good "you can't handle the snake" gif...
I may be getting a call from HR before the end of the day
I didn't know Tim Riggins played O-Line for Texas Tech...
You missed this gem
Woah woah woah... his high school mascot is the CAVALIERS??!?!?
Woah now. So was mine. We can't all control these things. At least the school's colors weren't blue and orange.
Everyone has their dark years... its alright, I won't hold it against you
yeah, my kids will go to a HS with a Cavalier as their mascot...hopefully they rebrand the logo to lose the dopey scissors before that happens, then i can accept it a little easier...
CFB's High School mascot (now) is the Cavaliers, and one of their colors is blue
#Fact. #source: Went to school there.
Soooo..only if you're a southerner / hunter, then you're an awesome person?
Guess I'm not a very good person then
*TIC*
The Southwestern VA cultural fit may have played into his decision for where to transfer. We do have a bass fishing championship after all.
Not exclusively...but it sure as hell helps!
Yes this is true (TIC)
Michael Brewer really looks smaller compared to his former O-linemen. Size really doesnt matter, its how you read defenses.
That's why we have O-linemen.
It's great having a mascot that tastes good, but having a QB that shoots our mascot is going to take some getting used to.
Can I be honest? I find this a little creepy, funny, but creepy.
OK community, here is the deal. The man hunts down and kills things.
But more importantly, he shoots doves.
In order to shoot a dove, you must lead your target. You have to time its flight across your field of fire, and put the shot where the prey will fly into your kill zone. Sound familiar?
The man will have to put balls into the path of streak runners, like Carlis Parker, leading them into the money lane.
Apparently that is his hobby.
I am so stoked. If Brewer can clock doves at different angles, left and right, he as the muscle memory and depth perception to be a monster in Lefty's scheme.
Dead doves = Passing Prowess
I know, I grew up in Texas and I know that dove is the filet mignon of the sky.
Better than our previous attempts at the QB position, which essentially entailed using a rocket launcher to deliver an egg to an incubator
The real test will be when Stanford is sprinting straight at him, below the horizon, at 35 mph. Those are the throws that separate the men from the boys. May not be part of our route tree, though. I don't know, I'm not an X's and O's guy.
Ah yes, the classic "get the player and the ball movnig at eachother at the highest velocity possible" play. Known for it's high likelihood for all the touchdowns.
He chased down and killed that deer with his bare hands, not even a finger pistol in sight. Good show.
Reminds me of Wilson chasing down that rabbit.
Sam Rogers doesn't need to shoot it or chase it...he just told the deer to lay down and die...and it did.
This is one my favorite posts ever on TKP.
Those overalls better be OshKosh B'gosh
He could be best friends with Sergio Render who has been known to wear camo overalls without a shirt underneath.
that pic did remind me of the pics from the 'murica party with miller, benedict, and gibson (i think?) a while back.
Surprise no one posted this yet, but it appears Brewer has found the New River with his new O-linemen:
new river? dont eat it fellas!
I actually have no idea where they fished, but I'm guessing it's somewhere in the NRV...
That's a grass carp, so probably Claytor Lake
'How does he know this?'
Umm...I don't see any lines fellas. I think Caleb caught this with his bare hands. I wonder if Sereals has them noodling as part of their summer conditioning.
Sam Rogers did a cannonball just downstream. It simultaneously stopped the flow of the water and launched all the fish out onto the shore.
Michael Brewer could be the next Johnny Football.They're about the same height and weight.
Both determining factors in greatness.