Denard article from Jags site
This is an article about Denard from the Jaguars website. Despite the in-house source it doesn't come across as just PR to me. It talks about how he is now focused now on being a running back, whereas last year there was uncertainty as to whether he'd be a WR, RB, punt or kick returner. It also says that he added 15 lbs, and spent time on ball security issues.
http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Denard-Robinson-Focused…
Anyway, like most people on this board, I'm a huge Denard fan and am hoping that he has a chance to prove what he can do, and that at the very least featuring him on their team website means that the Jaguars expect that he can play a bigger role this year.
MOD EDIT - edited the title. News about Denard Robinson or any former Michigan athlete is always on topic. - LSA
Denard should never be even semi OT.
Yeah Denard is never OT.
My all time favorite Wolverine Football player. Denard went through a lot of adversity while playing at the University of Michigan and always came though wearing a smile. I hope he has a lot of success playing in the NFL.
I think "OT" in this case refers to "only topic." Like Denard is the only topic any of us should ever be considering, except not completely, so therefore "semi-OT."
/ best I got
The Jags fans seem to be pretty excited based on the comments
or anything about Denard makes me smile
I've been following Michigan football since the early 80's and Denard is probably the most beloved player I've seen in that time.
Some guys make a big impact but then you kind of forget about them once they leave. But not Denard. Never Denard.
I hope he is one of the faces we perpetually see around campus for years and years to come. He's from Florida, but of Michigan.
Same era and have always drank from the Manball Kool-Aid Jug. I always thought that DR was sent by the M Gods to show UM (post wishbone) what a running QB can do and maybe help them to learn how to stop them and lastly to wreak vengeance upon ND... F you Tony Rice.
"The ability to focus on a weakness and strive to improve is something Bradley said he values in a player. When Robinson approached Bradley late last season asking where he needed to improve, Bradley said it stuck out as a key to the running back’s chances of developing into a consistent player."
Denard's work ethic when he was in Ann Arbor was incredible and it is great to see him unchanged in that regard. What I quoted above is what I believe always separated Denard from a lot of his peers - the constant striving to be the best player he could be in whatever role he was asked to play. He did that as a QB here, and here is trying to be the best RB he can be as well. Most workplaces beyond the NFL desperately need more Denards in this respect.
The theme of his life has been to work hard to overcome doubters at every stage of his life. And succeeding at it.
It absolutely blows my mind that people could look at Denard's tape and think "WR". He need to be an RB.
Well, that's just not true, but at least now he's working to correct it. I really do think a big part of the problem was his lack of upper body strength. In college, and even prepping for the NFL, he didn't want to gain a ton of upper body bulk in order to maintain flexibility up there. His legs have always been pretty thick and he can move some piles, but his arms are thin, leaving a lot of space for people to reach in and get the ball and for the ball to pop out.
Hopefully his arms and chest got a bit bigger and he really focused on keeping the ball high in tight in the off season. I still think he has pretty good potential at RB, but it needs to start showing itself with consistency, and quickly. The NFL opportunity doesn't last long otherwise.
I thought the same thing and was heading down to the bottom of the page to make the same comment. It's certainly not the first time he's had ball security issues. He always held the ball rather loosely and constantly kept it in his left hand.
“This is my first time having ball-security issues,” he said. “So, now, it’s just focusing on it.”
yea i never knew he thought like this. Most of his career was either a big play or a turnover
I know it's not fair to compare Devin to him, but when Devin is about to get hit I cringe at some of the things he does (turning backward). I know he's taller and running was not his game like it was denards but, I always respected denard for how he ran the ball.
How great would it be to see Denard lead some change in Jax? His electricity could get fans in the door if he could earn some consistent playing time. Also I have him as a low-cost keeper in my fantasy football league, so it would be nice for that to pay off.
Interesting he weighs 212 lbs now. Curious to see his new build and if he maintaned his speed.
I just... I just want to see him do well.
Can he still beat Usain Bolt in the 50 meters?
Probably not. But Usain Bolt doesn't own any records like passing for 2500 yards and running for 1500 yards in the same season either.
He's just gotta untie his shoes. Too much pressure on the toes causing a distraction; hence the fumble problems. It's basic geometry
Glad to here he's moving forward. His claims about ball security being a new issue seemed off because, well, the guy fumbled a decent amount. But as a RB full-time now, I think he'll figure it all out.
I know he's never done it, but I really feel like he would make an excellent cornerback. He's really quick in small spaces and doesn't shy away from contact. If/when he gets INT's he would be a nightmare for offenses to get down... Plus his issues related to his grip wouldn't be anything to worry about anymore. His experience at QB would also help him make reads and take chances for turnovers. Thoughts?
For one, CB quickness is a totally different kind of quickness. We're not sure how Denard is out of a back peddle, we don't know how he reacts on the ball, things like that would just take way too long for him to learn and get good at that he would be out of the league before he could make the transistion.
While he's not afraid of contact, I wouldn't call him a good tackler either. And lastly, by moving him to CB you're taking away his most dangerous asset, which is him with the ball in his hands. He needs to be on the offensive side of the ball IMO.