Dee Hart's Speed
If this is considered blasphemous to question Hart's speed, I apologize in advance...
Really though, from watching his highlights, I just cant get a sense of whether or not he is fast. Obviously he is faster than HS kids, but will he be fast when he gets to the Big 10? To me, he looks like a little bigger, little shiftier version of Vincent Smith, with a little more speed. Now, thats not all that bad my any means, but I also get a little cautious when I hear people talking about Dee being the missing piece, or saying our offense will be better than Oregon's when he gets here. Maybe he is fast, maybe he will be great, and maybe he wont see the field at all next year. We will have Shaw, V Smith (hopefully back at 100 pct), Fitz, Hopkins. Cox has looked great but it doesnt appear he's ever going to get his chance, I wouldnt be surprised to see him and Teric perhaps look elsewhere.
So I guess my question is...is Dee considered to have average speed, above average? Is it his versatility that makes him perfect for this offense? Someone give me the scouting report.
October 23rd, 2010 at 9:50 AM ^
I believe the term is aboverage.
October 23rd, 2010 at 9:51 AM ^
"He's the love child of Usain Bolt and a wild Hyena, with the shiftiness of a crack addicted dog running from his own tail. And don't start me on his catching ability, it's like someone put super glue on Batman"
October 23rd, 2010 at 9:54 AM ^
It's hard to type with tears of laughter filling your eyes.
October 23rd, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^
is that you? Funny super glue on Batman. hillarious
October 23rd, 2010 at 12:34 PM ^
I think this is the most epic coach Jackson quote i've seen on this blog. Truly amazing. Crying right now.
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:02 AM ^
I think RB production is one thing that is keeping this offense from being even more dynamic. (Well..that and turnovers) With a "home run threat" in the backfield, it would take a lot of pressure off Denard. Hoping that Dee is that back, but still unsure. I also believe Shaw and Smith are fine for this offense, just need to get a little healthier.
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:13 AM ^
the reviews I have read of Dee (specifically from his Hello post) comment that he is not a home run threat, that he does not have home run or great speed. he is fast, but not "aboverage" as I recall. shifty, great hands, not overly fast....
that being said i am excited to see a backfield with Hopkins and Dee mixing it up. Imagine 2012 with Hopkins here 2.5 years and Dee here 1.5 years into the program... oh, and Denard too.
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:30 AM ^
Hopkins is the back on the team I'm most excited about right now. I have a feeling defenders are going to think themselves dizzy trying to decide who to try to stop if we ever put Denard, Dee, and Hopkins in at once. You've gotta be running downhill to take Hopkins down, but if you come up too fast, all takes is a juke from Dee and he's past you. And Denard is Denard.
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^
Wait, isn't McGuffie still our home run threat?
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:20 AM ^
I love speed and the spread and shred. But given that we play teams like Meat-Machine Wisconsin and Iowa, I think we need a bit more Cox early in games to wear on the defenses. Denard and Co. will have much easier sledding in the 3rd and 4th quarter if the LBs and safeties of the opposing team are a bit dinged up from tackling Mike "the Ox" Cox. Also by switching it up and running a thumper up the gut at random, it will keep the defenses off balance, and is definitely a great option to have inside the redzone (an area we have struggled in the last two games as the field shrinks).
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:22 AM ^
But you have to wonder if Cox cant crack the rotation now, maybe he never will. He certainly has talent, but RR went with a banged up V Smith the whole way when Shaw was out, and now Hopkins is getting reps. Thats why I wonder if maybe Cox will end up elsewhere. Not trying to start transfer speculation, but it seems like a crowded backfield with him on the outside looking in.
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:38 AM ^
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:07 AM ^
comparison. Mike Cox may be talented but he makes too many mental mistakes. Coaches will not tolerate mental mistakes.
October 23rd, 2010 at 12:02 PM ^
October 23rd, 2010 at 2:10 PM ^
I see what you did there.
Okay, heh!
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:53 AM ^
October 23rd, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^
Cox blocks are also unbelievably frustrating.
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^
He is running away from some of the top talent in the state of Florida. I know, SEC speed derp derp, but I think Florida does have a lot of speedy athletes. Hart's speed may not be his strength but it won't be a weakness either.
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:22 AM ^
4.43 40 with blue chip speed which is their highest rating. Scout has him listed at a 4.5. All of which is irrelavent because you don't play football in shorts. With Dee's build I would guess putting the pads on isn't going to slow him down much from his reported 40 times so he should be plenty fast enough.
October 23rd, 2010 at 12:17 PM ^
As good as it gets, is their top rating. Blue Chip is 2nd. D-1 Player is 3rd.
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:16 PM ^
"As good as it gets" is superior to "blue chip", although it is very, very rarely given out.
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:23 AM ^
I think the knock on Dee Hart's speed is that for as explosive as he is he doesn't have that extra gear in the open field that Denard has who just runs away from people. Whereas Vincent Smith has had trouble post-injury with hitting the holes quick enough to take advantage of what the OLine is creating, and then when there is contact he goes down rather easy compared to some other Michigan backs like Mike Hart, Minor and now Hopkins. I think the assumption with Dee is he an upgrade over Smith on both.
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:23 AM ^
Faster than you are.
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:38 AM ^
...enough. You know, Barry Sanders' speed was always questioned, but he was fast enough for those 20 to 40 yard gains and the occasional homerun.
I think part of the reason it's difficult to judge Hart's speed is because he's a very smooth, efficient runner without much wasted motion. These guys always look a little slower than the frenetic, "arms and legs everywhere" ball carriers.
He'll be an absolutely perfect fit for the offense barring the pesky injuries that plague so many of our backs.
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:10 AM ^
is not slow. He ran 4.3 in the 40s. The only reason why he seems to get caught behind is he does a lot of juking, spinning, hurdling, anything not to get tackled. When you do that much work, you're bound to be tired and the defenders will still get an angle on him because of the work that Barry has done.
Some people claimed that he ran 4.25 but his official time was 4.37 which is fast. http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/release.aspx?release_id=1206
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^
I would guess that Barry ran a fast 40 because he had tremendous acceleration, not because he had a great top end speed. He regularly got caught from behind.
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:24 AM ^
because he does a lot of work in trying to avoid defenders in the first 10-15 yards and it's hard to get to the top speed once you break out of the pile with the defenders having an angle on Barry.
October 23rd, 2010 at 3:50 PM ^
he got caught from behind often, and not because he got winded juking people the first few yards he gained. He shifted first and second gear like no other on the fly, but his speed if anything was slightly above average.
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:37 AM ^
He's fast enough for you, old man.
He's made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs.
October 23rd, 2010 at 12:05 PM ^
is more than fast enough, don't worry about his speed
October 23rd, 2010 at 12:18 PM ^
The 40 faster than i can call you a dipshit
October 23rd, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^
commented, he had read that with Dee Hart our Offense would be better than Oregons; I really believe it's more than personnel.
The one thing that our QB's lack is they have not fully exploited the "read" in the read option. Both Tate and Denard have shown that they will miss opportunities this year.
The second part is Oregons tempo you cannot ignore this distinct difference OU's tempo is much much quicker. The good part is that will come in time as the Sophmores gain experience, the coaches gain confidence. We'll see Michigan's full potential and it will not be Denard only with the rediculous yardage stats at the end of the game.
As far as his flat out speed not too concerned anyone of Michigans backs at some point can be a home run threat. It's the shiftiness the wiggle the quickness and how quicly a player can stop and then how quickly he can get to full speed. Dee also seems to be able to impress with his talent for catching out of the backfield.
The real question we are not asking is can he protect? his blocking if it is deficient will keep him off the field as a freshman.
October 23rd, 2010 at 12:41 PM ^
Better than aboverage speed, not top-end burner speed.
Incredibly Shifty.
Stop on a dime.
0-60 in no time.
Excellent receiver out of the backfield or the slot.
Aboverage blocker.
Perfect fit for this offense.
October 23rd, 2010 at 1:47 PM ^
Did you just coin a new term? Aboverage? I like it, above + average = aboverage. Hopefully we can get some more aboverage recruits this year!!!!!
October 23rd, 2010 at 12:46 PM ^
Seriously, I would like to see a chart of the 40 times of the RBs in the Big Ten vs their YPC.
Mike Hart was great because he DIDN'T FUMBLE, and he had this preternatural knack for finding the right lane.
October 23rd, 2010 at 12:48 PM ^
Dee is perfectly fast enough for this offense, though yeah, he's probably not going to be the fastest guy on the field at all times. That said, a slightly faster, shiftier, bigger Vincent Smith is pretty scary.
October 23rd, 2010 at 1:16 PM ^
but he since he is going to play in the big10, he will have to leave it in florida
October 23rd, 2010 at 1:56 PM ^
Straight line speed he's not very fast at all, and you can see that in his film. But it really doesn't matter because he's a complete runningback (Well, I can't vouch for his blocking, I haven't seen it), he has all the skills you need.
October 23rd, 2010 at 2:25 PM ^
acceleration is much more important than speed. you're not often able to get to top speed on the field. but its how fast you can get from stopped to flying that makes the difference.
October 23rd, 2010 at 6:10 PM ^
Unless you're Denard. Then, if you make it past the first level, you will be able to showcase your speed going 87 yards for a TD
October 23rd, 2010 at 2:48 PM ^
Runnin' from the cops speed?
<br>Thank you Gus Johnson.
October 23rd, 2010 at 10:08 PM ^
PUUUUUURE!!!!!