Denard and his progression forum topic # 544,543.
Ok so I really wanted to post earlier but drug out to target to buy baby food and diapers.
From my analysis of todays game denard did what denard does. Al Borges realizes that to keep his confidence up during this transition he has to let denard loose when he is struggling passing the football. Denard is comfortable running the read option, and QB power. What we are seeing is a very Inteligent coaching staff molding him not only for this season but for the next. Each week you can bet they are working on the fundamentals. Whats awesome is our defense is helping us through it. Denard will be our QB no matter who screams and yells about it. The coaches believe in him and much like the defense has improved, Denard will do the same.
Furthermore we have been blessed with 5 home games in a row. We open the big ten against minesota and this will be another denardfest 200+ rushing shoelaces flopping in wind heisman stiff arm in the face of manti teo game. I predict Borges as smart as he is (afterall we seen some speed option today) will implement some short quick passes to get the ball moving in the air. Some bubble screens or some quick hitches will improve denards confidence. Watch what hoke, mattison and Borges are building. I can see that we are better where it matters. Defense wins championships and from what im watching its a team helping the team improve. Last year denard had to bail the defense out this year the defense is fighting to help their leader progress in the pro style o. Just get ready for a 6 and 0 start and when its time to face sparty we will be up for the challenge.
September 24th, 2011 at 8:00 PM ^
The option looks were pretty nice to see today.
September 24th, 2011 at 8:42 PM ^
Moar option runs please!
September 24th, 2011 at 8:01 PM ^
Ok, I'll bite. Denard needs to get at least a minimum comfort level throwing the ball, and quickly. What we are doing now is not sustainable.
SDSU was beginning to shut down the zone read in the second half because we were not a passing threat. Borges needs to mix in some short passes, slants, bubble screens early to get Denard warmed up passing and to take some pressure off the zone read run.
Our wole offense in the B1G can't just be Denard's legs, or we will repeat last year.
September 24th, 2011 at 8:04 PM ^
We will see the passing game improve.
September 24th, 2011 at 8:11 PM ^
I really believe Denard is a better passer than he's exhibited. His issue is with slowing down to make reads. It's like his mind is made before the snap. A perfect example is his frosh year against Iowa on the road. He went for a home run when he had a first down wide open. He's got to develop the ability to go through progressions. It'll take time but he needs to get comfortable.
September 24th, 2011 at 8:55 PM ^
I don't really want more short throws. Those can be defended (as they have been) by safeties that have been brought up to cheat against the run. What I want to see is more of a vertical passing game - specifically, on non-obvious passing downs. That's the best way you can punish a defense that's cheating up to the line of scrimmage.
I'm confused as to why the outside receivers have been seemingly completely out of the gameplan the last two weeks after having so much success against ND. Hemingway had one pass thrown his direction today (which he caught for 10 yards), and only one or two last week. When your passing game is struggling, and a guy like that is in single coverage (which he was virtually all game), why not throw it up for him?
September 25th, 2011 at 2:30 PM ^
there are open passing lanes. Sadly, that is DR's problem. He cannot as better passing QB's do throw and complete passes when passing lanes are not clear. In pro ball and against good college defenses, passing lanes usually are not open. This is where better QB's use touch and accuracy to complete passes. As talented as DR is, he lacks this skill.
You watch in future games and you will see he can complete passes WHEN he has a direct and clear passing lane.If the lane is block he either does not throw it to the open receiver or unable to throw it to him accurately.
FWIW, SDS adjusted in the second halve by not being too agressive with essentially an eight man front and forcing DR to throw the ball and blocking his passing lanes and not attacking the line of scrimmage preventing his running.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:35 PM ^
there are open passing lanes. Sadly, that is DR's problem. He cannot (as better passing QB's do) throw and complete passes when passing lanes are not clear. In pro ball and against good college defenses, passing lanes usually are not open. This is where better QB's use touch and accuracy to complete passes. As talented as DR is, he lacks this skill.
You watch in future games and you will see he can complete passes WHEN he has a direct and clear passing lane.If the lane is block he either does not throw it to the open receiver or unable to throw it to him accurately.
FWIW, SDS adjusted in the second half (according to the SD coaches) by not being too agressive with essentially an eight man front and forcing DR to throw the ball and blocking his passing lanes and not attacking the line of scrimmage preventing his running. Look for teams to use this defense.
September 25th, 2011 at 2:36 PM ^
there are open passing lanes. Sadly, that is DR's problem. He cannot (as better passing QB's do) throw and complete passes when passing lanes are not clear. In pro ball and against good college defenses, passing lanes usually are not open. This is where better QB's use touch and accuracy to complete passes. As talented as DR is, he lacks this skill.
You watch in future games and you will see he can complete passes WHEN he has a direct and clear passing lane.If the lane is block, he either does not throw it to the open receiver or unable to throw it to him accurately.
FWIW, SDS adjusted in the second half (according to the SD coaches) by not being too agressive with essentially an eight man front and forcing DR to throw the ball and blocking his passing lanes and not attacking the line of scrimmage preventing his running. Look for teams to use this defense.
September 24th, 2011 at 8:04 PM ^
Why is this happening?
= \
September 24th, 2011 at 8:21 PM ^
September 24th, 2011 at 9:03 PM ^
There is always room for improvement. Our passing game can perform better than it has. It's a legitimate topic for discussion. Having said that, I agree that this was a fine overall team performance and if people are down on the team as a whole, that's crazy. We toyed with a pretty solid team today.
September 24th, 2011 at 9:30 PM ^
Koger dropped an easy first down on the little pop pass. I think he probably could have caught the pass that ended up being the second pick too. Denard just overthrew Roundtree on that ball where he was open about sixty yards downfield (hard to do if you can't throw).
If just two of those are completed the numbers look completely different. When you just throw it 17 times the statistical shit can swing wildly. Denard hasn't played his best football yet but the fact that were are still 4-0 without that should be ridiculously encouraging.
September 24th, 2011 at 10:32 PM ^
are talking about this, because what do you think is going to happen after Minnesota? Do you think Denard is going to rush for 200 yds from here on out? Seriously, if you think today is nitpicking about just a few bad throws... then you are in denial.
Either Denard improves throwing the football... or Michigan is headed for a lean October and November. Teams are going to take away the run, and sit on those underneath throws... then what?
I agree with jmblue. Get the outside guys involved early, and make the other team defend the whole field. With the defense cheating, receivers are open. If he can hit a couple and keep the defense honest... then Denard will be able to do what he does best.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:11 AM ^
Well at least our defense is better right? JFC, I swear to god that no one even noticed we gave up 7 points to a pretty decent offense today. Instead, let's bag on the part of the game we really didn't even try to use.
September 24th, 2011 at 11:13 PM ^
It's already been said above, but the method of production is not sustainable against better teams. This is obvious.
Denard has to make easy throws. Has to. Relative to what I see everywhere else in college football, there is nothing particularly difficult about the passes he's blowing right now.
September 24th, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^
He NEVER is committed to a pass. He is always thinking run. Occasionally, he knows he needs to pass the ball and only focuses on the primary receiver.
Denard does not have a passing touch or instinct. Let's be honest about this. He is an inept passer and I doubt very much we will see any improvement. The coverage in the Big Ten will be tighter and he will have less time to throw. He does not have the skill to release quickly and accurately. It is what it is.
That said, he is a gifted runner and probably the most exciting player in the country.
September 24th, 2011 at 8:27 PM ^
Denard isn't gonna beat many teams with his arm. Let's face it. This season, as a thrower, he's had one fantastic quarter and 14 pretty bleh ones. We'll see whether he can run circles around better opponents.
September 24th, 2011 at 11:15 PM ^
His fantastic quarter saw more jump balls with great efforts from the wideouts than truly solid pass attempts.
September 24th, 2011 at 9:06 PM ^
I don't agree. If Denard's instinct is to always take off, why did he almost never scramble last year?
I think his problem is more that he's overthinking the fundamental things (like the number of steps in his drop when he's under center) and it's throwing him off. Those things will eventually become automatic for him.
September 24th, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^
I agree, jm, I agree with you! I think Denard's out of his comfort zone in this "new" offense. He hit his groove in the spread option last year and hit those passing plays with fair ease. Now its different and the passing attack is definitely different - it even has a different feel to it. He's only going to get better, which should be extremely scary for opponents.
/I think I'm in love with Denard
September 25th, 2011 at 1:03 AM ^
But it is a realistic possibility that denard simply is not and will not be a good passer
September 24th, 2011 at 10:48 PM ^
"He NEVER is committed to a pass. He is always thinking run. "
That's funny...
Because one of the most frustrating things I've seen from Denard is when he forces a pass with nothing but green in front of him. It happened at least once today and several times already this year... Although, seemingly not as much as last year (oddly enough).
September 24th, 2011 at 11:36 PM ^
Valenti?
September 24th, 2011 at 8:27 PM ^
While Denard definitely made some bad throws, guys gotta catch the good ones. Woulda been a long completion for a TD if Koger had held on to that throw down the middle.
September 24th, 2011 at 8:40 PM ^
Some of the WR's did not run their routes. I believe the WR's may be getting a little lax. DR can't get them the ball, he is off to the races after looking at his first progression option not wanting or feeling comfortable enough to look elsewhere. Need more screens, drag routes, and short hitches. Stop the deep passing for awhile.
September 24th, 2011 at 8:42 PM ^
Got to get Junior Hemingway involved in the offense. The guy has 4 catches this year. 1 catch per game average for a playmaker like Hemingway is unexceptable.
September 24th, 2011 at 8:47 PM ^
it's not unacceptable.
September 24th, 2011 at 8:50 PM ^
You're smarter than me. I even googled it first. True story.
September 25th, 2011 at 12:04 AM ^
you do realize we won 28-7 today?
September 24th, 2011 at 8:42 PM ^
September 24th, 2011 at 9:01 PM ^
God,
You alone gave Denard the abiity to carry the rock better than any QB in the history of college football. And we've seen him make some tremendous throws, so we thank You for giving him that abiity as well.
Since Denard is such a hard worker, making full use of the talents You've given him, would You multiply and enhance his QB skill set so he can read defenses better and become a more consistent passer?
Thanks.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot...thanks for that smile You gave him...and thanks for leading him to MIchigan.
September 24th, 2011 at 9:39 PM ^
Granted the passing game wasn't great today, but I'm not convinced it was as bad as the numbers show. Also, I feel like Borges has a handful of slick plays in the bag still... Indications were that reverse bubble screen to Gallon and another inside slant (i think) where Denard feigned a run and then took a one step drop.
Don't think that Hoke wanted to necessarily torch SDSU for more either.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:29 AM ^
I though it was worse than the numbers. I don't remember 8 completions. I thought he only had 4 or so.
September 24th, 2011 at 11:26 PM ^
September 24th, 2011 at 11:29 PM ^
but has he once thrown a ball away?
September 25th, 2011 at 1:40 AM ^
I recall there being 1 TA on the Hennechart last week.
September 25th, 2011 at 12:04 AM ^
September 25th, 2011 at 12:39 AM ^
I find it absolutely nuts that Denard didn't run the zone read basically at all last year. From being a staple of the offense at WVU, to never being used at Michigan. What was that deal about? It seemed Denard was no Pat White/Juice Williams wtih the exchange, so maybe Rich Rod just junked it
September 25th, 2011 at 1:16 AM ^
That and there was no Steve Slayton. Everyone keyed Denard and no one else could exploit it. I think RR finally just said screw it, we will give Denard a lead blocker and he will produce a ton.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:44 AM ^
I've wondered the same thing and I think tenerson's guess is probably a good one.
I'm actually really hoping that some insight is gained into these sort of strategic decision-making type things in Bacon's upcoming book. I don't know if he had access to those sorts of coaching meetings where strategic decisions like that were made, but, if he did that'll be interesting to hear about.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:27 PM ^
We ran it, but every opposing defense coached its DE to take Denard and let the tailback have the ball.
September 25th, 2011 at 1:15 AM ^
I will bet money if you ask any DC in the Big Ten who haunts them the most it is still Denard. It will be all season. Our offense will be fine. It won't be last year in terms of yards but I bet points will be about the same. That added to a defense that seems to be able to get off the field every once in awhile will yield more wins. I think everyone just wants to look for something to worry about.