Enough with the Denard Critiques
So in the wake of the Purdue mud bowl I've seen the following. Denard can't read defenses, Denard is slowing down, Denard can't scramble, Denard has no touch on long passes etc. I just checked the football database to make sure who we were talking about. Is this the same guy that plays qb for Michigan as a true Sophmore?
1 | Bryant Moniz | Hawai'i | JR | QB | 10 | 70 | 3374 | 449 | 3444 | 7.7 | 344.4 |
2 | Denard Robinson | Michigan | SO | QB | 10 | 1417 | 1990 | 412 | 3407 | 8.3 | 340.7 |
3 | Brandon Weeden | Okla St | JR | QB | 10 | -72 | 3391 | 400 | 3319 | 8.3 | 331.9 |
4 | Robert Griffin III | Baylor | SO | QB | 11 | 508 | 3071 | 501 | 3579 | 7.1 | 325.4 |
5 | Dominique Davis | ECU | JR | QB | 10 | 139 | 3065 | 532 | 3204 | 6.0 | 320.4 |
6 | Alex Carder | W Mich | SO | QB | 10 | 216 | 2920 | 490 | 3136 | 6.4 | 313.6 |
7 | Russell Wilson | NC State | JR | QB | 10 | 302 | 2814 | 495 | 3116 | 6.3 | 311.6 |
8 | Colin Kaepernick | Nevada | SR | QB | 10 | 946 | 2161 | 376 | 3107 | 8.3 | 310.7 |
9 | Dan Persa | N'western | JR | QB | 10 | 519 | 2581 | 466 | 3100 | 6.7 | 310.0 |
10 | G.J. Kinne | Tulsa | JR | QB | 10 | 502 | 2576 | 482 | 3078 | 6.4 |
307.8 |
I understand that Denard is not above criticism, but everyone needs to understand Tommie Frazier was never going to throw like Tom Brady and Tom Brady was never going to run for 200yds. Please enjoy Denard.
November 16th, 2010 at 8:00 PM ^
for Wisconsin....I think this is the PA QB Iso also known as the Carlos.
November 16th, 2010 at 5:15 PM ^
I agree that the "Can't Scramble" and "No Touch on Long Passes" ideas are a little ridiculous. These are things that he will improve upon over the next few years, but they aren't what is holding him back at QB right now.
Denard isn't 100% healthy, and this isn't a criticism. In football speak, he is hurt but not necessarily injured. He has 205 official carries (which includes sacks) in 10 games; he didn't play in large portions of the BGSU, Iowa and Illinois games, yet he still averages a little over 20 carries a game. He is nicked up in the same way that a RB with comparable carries would be right now, which is slowing him down slightly.
I think the accuracy and reading-defenses/decision-making observations are fair though as Magnus makes a good point about his 7/8 TD/INT ratio over the last 5 games. These observations are made with the intent of discussing and analyzing the present increase in interceptions; we're not the dumb**ses still saying that Denard should be moved to RB or WR and using the last few games as proof of this ridiculous idea. I would think most of us believe that (i) Denard should stay at QB, (2) he is a very good QB right now, and (3) he will improve all of these things in the future.
Part of the problem is that right now, Denard can't just be "very good" if we are to beat Wisconsin and/or Ohio State. Further, he certainly can't be "OK" or merely "somewhat bad" like he was against Purdue to have a prayer against our next two opponents.
He needs to play beyond his age/inexperience and play "Heisman-level great" to compensate for our defense. Two interceptions leading to short fields or pick-6s will not be overcome against Wisconsin or Ohio State. This is unfair to put on his shoulders, and nobody should hold it against him if he falls short, but he really is the key to us winning. His problems right now are understandable, but the critiques are valid. Hopefully he, along with the freshman on defense (to a much greater extent), can play beyond their years to finish out the regular season.
November 16th, 2010 at 5:16 PM ^
He deserves some heat! He has 8 turnovers the last 2 games. It's ok! The young man can take it. Besides, he's the starting QB and the criticism goes with the position. Let's not sugarcoat the shoelaces!
November 16th, 2010 at 7:49 PM ^
Also check your head while you're at it.
November 16th, 2010 at 5:19 PM ^
REGULAR SEASON NUMBERS:
Denard through 10 (semi-injured) games in 2010:
1990 Pass Yds, 1417 Rush Yds (6.9/attempt), 26 total TD's
Pat White (college) career highs:
1842 Pass Yds (2008), 1335 Rush Yds (2007), 31 total TD's (2006)
Pat White (sophomore-senior) Season Averages:
12.33 GP, 1740 Pass Yds, 1176 Rush Yds, 29.3 total TD's
November 16th, 2010 at 8:48 PM ^
is great.
November 16th, 2010 at 5:28 PM ^
Denards weakness... numbers?
Denard Cam
Rushing 3 nationally 141.70 y/game ranks 8 117.91 y/g
passing 59 nationally 199.0 y/g ranks 69 185.3 y/g
total offense 2 nationally 340.7 y/g ranks 12 303.2 y/g
Not sure why cam shows up under denards, the stats on the right are cam newtons
November 16th, 2010 at 7:45 PM ^
Is there a way we can look at the rankings when they are playing conference teams?
November 16th, 2010 at 5:32 PM ^
As of this moment, Denard has a higher passer rating this season than any year of Chad Henne's career (though that could of course change over the next two games).
And he's also the leading rusher in the Big 10 and has all but sewn up the league rushing title (he leads 2nd place Mikel LeShoure by 376 yards with just two games remaining).
The kid is the truth and is only going to get better going forward.
November 16th, 2010 at 5:59 PM ^
I agree with the sentiment, but passer rating is a poor measure of a QB in spread type offenses. Chad Henne was never going to have guys as wide open as Denard has had on the multiple long touchdown passes.
Remember a couple years ago when Pryor was the Big 10 leader in passer rating as a Freshman?
November 16th, 2010 at 6:04 PM ^
Mobile Qb's get many wide open looks that boost there ratings over pocket passers.
I don't care about any stats Pryor still blows.
November 16th, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^
Exactly my point. Additionally, all those "long hand-offs," a staple of the spread offense buoy passer ratings.
November 16th, 2010 at 5:36 PM ^
My critique: label your columns.
November 16th, 2010 at 6:13 PM ^
I don't get why you post this here Ziff, just about everyone here's on board for Denard. If you have beef with what's being said on talk radio don't listen or call up and try to convince them otherwise. Posting this here is preaching to the choir. (Not that Denard is above criticism).
November 16th, 2010 at 6:42 PM ^
if DRob is finding out here first that he's thrown a lot of INTs recently and he needs to make better decisions, than i think our entire coaching staff does indeed need to go.
most reasonable people realize that DRob is a true Soph and will improve. i think pointing out areas of improvement (wish list) is not off base here.
November 16th, 2010 at 7:40 PM ^
Denard has already:
-Rushed for more yards than Pat White's best rushing season
-Passed for more yards than Pat White's best passing season
And that's with two regular season games left!
Seriously, you can check it out for yourself.
Pat White '07: 1,335 rushing yards
Denard: 1,417 rushing yards
Pat White '08: 1,842 passing yards
Denard: 1,990 passing yards
He's also going to set the rushing record for a season for the QB position. This has been one of the greatest performances in college football and he's got a great shot at eclipsing 4,000 yards of offense. As a first year starter. That's insanely good.
November 17th, 2010 at 12:36 AM ^
Yeah, but most of that came at the hands of shitty defenses
/s.
November 17th, 2010 at 8:33 AM ^
Illinois only became a crappy defense after they got Denarded.
November 16th, 2010 at 8:07 PM ^
But I have followed M from Dreisbach, to Henne, to now. One of the saddest moments in the Big House was hearing fans boo senior Henne for frosh Mallett. The QB position will always be critiqued, especially by at least some of our critical thinking alumni.
November 17th, 2010 at 9:08 AM ^
I was there when they booed Brady for Henson, even though Brady was having a great season. It is the nature of sports - you always cheer for the guy who isn't on the field because, until he suits up, you are allowed to maintain your unrealistic expectations.