Denard Robinson the Starting QB...Bold Prediction?

Submitted by blue16 on
Kind of new as a member but I've been reading the forums for a long time. Basic consensus seems to be that Tate will start at QB and if Gardner is too good, he'll take over eventually or beat out Denard for the backup position, at which point Denard will be swtiched to another position to make sure he sees the field. What I'm wondering is, is it so far out there to envision Denard winning the starting job next year? Yeah Tate has more experience, but Denard got some time in there. Tate performed better but had 8 months on campus before Game 1, whereas Denard had just one. With an entire year under his belt, the speed that he has, and the throwing numbers he had in high school, don't you guys think that it's much more possible that he wins the starting job outright than we give him credit for? Physically he is an absolute beast, once he gets the system/mental aspect down, which it's not inconceivable that this could happen in his first off season, he could be a deadly good spread QB. Personally, I still think it's likely Tate starts and they split time, but I'm just wondering what your thoughts are.
MGoBoard
Offense
Tate Forcier
Devin Gardner
Denard Robinson
2010
QB

DoctorSherwin

January 20th, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^

It may not be probable.... but it is certainly possible. With athletes, you never want to put anything past someone. Especially not someone with Denard's explosive athleticism and playmaking abilities. I wrote this earlier: I expect Shoelace to be a completely different QB this year. The difference should be like night and day. Having missed Spring Ball, the game was moving too fast for him last year.... causing him to make poor decisions with the ball. His arm was never the problem. He can be a very good passer. His problem was his decision making. Forcing the ball into doubles and triples and throwing off his backfoot at times when under the rush. GETTING SPRING BALL UNDER HIS BELT WILL CAUSE THE GAME TO SLOW DOWN FOR HIM, thus, greatly improving his decision making. Expect big things from Shoelace at QB this year. With DG, Tate and Shoelace, I love our stable of quarterbacks.

Joined: 11/21/2009

MGoPoints: 78

MGOARMY

January 20th, 2010 at 1:03 PM ^

The only way DROB starts at QB is if he makes major strides as a passer. To awnser you're question no, I dont think it's that far out there envision him as our starter. He could end up being an amazing QB in this system, it just all depends on how much he can improve from now till the spring game.

Joined: 06/22/2009

MGoPoints: 687

CRex

January 20th, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^

Almost everyone near the program that I've spoken with orseen post here has said that Denard has a canon for an arm and great speed, but lacks the mental tools to make reads/run the offense. No one really seemed high on him starting as the main QB, so I'd be surprised it if happens.

Joined: 09/28/2009

MGoPoints: 9010

willis j

January 20th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^

if he ever learned to make reads and be a better passer of the ball he would be insane good in this offense as a qb. But I feel he will be insane good in this offense at another position when its all said and done.

Joined: 08/11/2008

MGoPoints: 187

foore

January 20th, 2010 at 1:15 PM ^

I think we'll see something similar to last year. Both players will see the field, DR getting his first season start after our first L. The good news is, both TF and DR are perfect for this system, good luck to both!

Joined: 12/21/2009

MGoPoints: 97

Blazefire

January 20th, 2010 at 1:45 PM ^

You really think that after that torture these freshman QB's went through last season, Rodriguez would pull whoever wins out (Tate. I'm sorry, but for every improvement Denard makes, Tate will improve too, and he's already out in front), after ONE loss? Yeah, that'll help their nerves and the team's stability and confidence. Now, if we have three consecutive losses, we might try something.

Joined: 04/17/2009

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Beavis

January 20th, 2010 at 1:14 PM ^

It could happen. But to put it in context: If it's July 2009 and you're wondering what the odds are for Michigan's 2010 starting QB, it would have looked something like: T. Forcier 2.5:1 D. Robinson 4:1 Other 10:1 Today, however, I think it'd look more like: T. Forcier 2:1 D. Robinson 10:1 D. Gardner 7:1 Not to say that Denard can't make it happen. I hate Pat White references, but I seem to remember him doing pretty well as a RS Frosh (aka true Soph, like Denard). So if RR sees a lot of RS Frosh White in the True Soph Robinson, we might be seeing a lot of him at QB this year. But yeah... 10:1.

Joined: 07/28/2009

MGoPoints: 5993

Baldbill

January 20th, 2010 at 1:15 PM ^

I like the fact that we have two guys that are competing for the job. I think Tate more likely to win and get the majority of the snaps, I like the fact that they are both good players/teammates and are helping to make the team better. Devin G. will just help to make sure we have more stablility in this important position in the future.

Joined: 04/09/2009

MGoPoints: 7988

jtmc33

January 20th, 2010 at 1:15 PM ^

Either way, there will be some, if not a lot, of talk about a qb controversy this year. But with Tate a Soph. returning starter, and DRob a Soph. returning contributor, and Gardner a highly rated early enrollee freshman.... I welcome 2010's "OMG Who WIll Start at QB" debates 100X more than 2009's when it was between two true freshman and a walk-on. May the best man win the first snap against UCONN. And, hopefully, may that man succeed for the duration of 13 games.

Joined: 04/15/2009

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UMaD

January 20th, 2010 at 1:34 PM ^

Tate is your likely starter but there is a chance DRob puts it all together and beats him out. Probably not this year (lets keep in mind Tate is improving also) but maybe JR or SR year he could surpass him. My money would be on Tate though. The bigger issue, to me anyway, is DRob as compared to Gardner and the idea that DRob should step aside. I know everyone loves to hype up incoming recruits, but I'd be surprised if Gardner beats out DRob this year. Regardless of that opinion, with only Tate and Gardner at QB, the position would be woefully thin if DRob is switched to another position. And if DRob is moved to RB or WR, who is to say his skills make him better than Odoms, Roundtree, Shaw, etc. We don't know about his route running, catching, ability to hold on to the ball, awareness, etc. Keep him at QB for depth and security and the possibility of him developing into a star. Draw up special plays to get him on the field and use him in formations with Tate/Gardner at the same time...but KEEP HIM AT QB! Wouldn't mind seeing him take a shot at kickoff returns though...

Joined: 07/02/2008

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Blazefire

January 20th, 2010 at 1:50 PM ^

I'll definitely agree with you on that. Practice him at QB all the time, make sure he's ready. However, when you practice at QB, you have to know what everybody's doing, especially receivers. Put him in the slot or on the edge and throw him a horizontal one every now and then and let him burn it. What could it hurt?

Joined: 04/17/2009

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The Bugle

January 20th, 2010 at 1:37 PM ^

Everything is a possibility. However, as many people have said - DRob made a lot of mistakes last year. If he makes a large leap in decision making, he will probably be behind Tate again this year. I don't think we will see him as a starter - but I do hope he can be seen as some sort of passing threat. If so- I hope to see a Leak/Teabow like combination of Tate/DRob at QB.

Joined: 10/22/2009

MGoPoints: 129

maize_n_blue

January 20th, 2010 at 1:50 PM ^

I personally can't wait when the time comes to move Denard permanently to running back/receiver. Judging by the track pictures, Barwis is getting him ripped already. I think he has the potential to be an unbelievable running back in Michigan's offense.

Joined: 01/20/2010

MGoPoints: 2

Maize and Blue…

January 20th, 2010 at 1:57 PM ^

1) HS completion % under 50 2) Didn't run read option once in a game last year 3) Didn't make quick enough decision when passing last year 4) Supremely gifted athlete 5) RR & staff need to find a way to get the ball in his hands more often I love what DRob brings to the table, but I don't believe QB will be his final destination.

Joined: 03/15/2009

MGoPoints: 6750

UMaD

January 20th, 2010 at 2:18 PM ^

Most people seem to say RB or WR but we have no idea if he has the hands, strength, or route-running to work at that position, especially if talking about an every down player (which presumably is the issue for him being at QB). FWIW, Florida was recruiting him as a DB, not WR/RB. It seems presumptuous to think that he has Harvin's skills just because he's fast fast fast. Plus, total waste of a great arm. Lets let him have a little time to get QB decision-making down before we send him off to be a WR/RB. Theres no better position to "get the ball in his hands more".

Joined: 07/02/2008

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Blazefire

January 20th, 2010 at 2:48 PM ^

My Dad and I both said the same thing after seeing him live last year: "He shouldn't be under center." He has world class speed, but he needs a second or two, especially in pads, to get it going. Putting him under center in the Zone Read gives him almost no time to get that started. On the couple of occasions when things went WRONG and attention was diverted from him, that's when his legs shone brightest. I recall a fumble, a totally broken play, he turned into a hands down brilliant touchdown.

Joined: 04/17/2009

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mattkast

January 20th, 2010 at 2:09 PM ^

Just based on personality alone, I want DRob to win the starting job. It gets hard defending Tate when talking to other students when he is such an asshole to all of them.

Joined: 11/03/2009

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mattkast

January 20th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^

Sorry to even bring it up, but I have heard from many students on different occasions that Tate is generally a jerk to people. While I know that arrogance/confidence is sometimes necessary and common in young athletes, all the students that have met him (that I have talked to - more than 5 or 6, I'd say) have said that he is really demeaning and stuck up. I'm not just pulling this out of my ass, and actually I have to defend Tate a lot to people who believe that DG will be amazing right out the gate and that Tate should transfer now. Denard, on the other hand, is supposed to be extremely friendly and generally awesome, when he slows down enough to let people talk to him.

Joined: 11/03/2009

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burtcomma

January 20th, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^

Hard to know how much to take the jerk or not comments made by various students at the University. Common wisdom back in the days when I was at the U was that Rick Leach was a jerk, Jim Harbaugh was a jerk, Anthony Carter was a really nice guy, LP Reid was cool, Bubba Paris was quiet, Ed Muransky was a flaming a hole and on and on. For someone to be under the age of 25 and a bit immature and seen by others as a jerk seems to be quite normal to me. Let's assume they are all still learning how to be not only better football players but better Michigan Men as well!

Joined: 11/01/2009

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mtzlblk

January 31st, 2010 at 2:59 PM ^

Let's try to keep some perspective here. Tate was under a lot of pressure last year and I don't think most people realize or have experience with what his daily life must have been like from the second he first stepped on campus. Try to picture yourself shouldering that burden, while going to school and trying to live some semblance of a personal life. Try to imagine the number of people that present themselves to Tate on a daily basis with comments (supportive or not), waves, chit-chat, etc. If you stop and talk to every single person that wants your time, that would be a difficult thing to manage given what his schedule must be like. Now factor in how last season went results-wise. Then consider that he was home-schooled and may still be adjusting to being in a campus environment with a huge number of other students. People should check themselves a bit and give him some space before sniping at his personality.

Joined: 01/20/2009

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mattkast

January 20th, 2010 at 4:13 PM ^

I'm a realist - I know Tate is the best option, and a great football player, no matter what happens off the field. As per someone else's comments above, I hope he grows not just in football, but as a person as well during his time at Michigan.

Joined: 11/03/2009

MGoPoints: -234

Magnus

January 20th, 2010 at 2:18 PM ^

Barring injury or some unforeseen discipline issue, Forcier will be Michigan's starting QB in 2010. I'm putting the chances at 1% that Denard is our starting QB this year.

Joined: 07/17/2008

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shorts

January 20th, 2010 at 2:30 PM ^

I'm with Magnus. Unless Tate gets hurt, Denard won't be the starter (and even in that case, it might be Gardner). He might make huge strides in the offseason, but he's never going to be a GOOD passer and he didn't run the zone read at all last year. With him on the field, our offense isn't just one-dimensional, it's 1/2-dimensional (there's not even the threat of another guy getting a handoff).

Joined: 08/28/2008

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ontarioblue

January 20th, 2010 at 2:39 PM ^

That was the sound throughout the stadium last year when Tate was a little slow getting up, or was pulled in favor of Robinson. Rich Rod has to win this year, and he is not willing to put his future in the hands of a talented runner who has a hard time throwing to the right team. I see Denard as a true wildcat in this system as well as lining up in the slot position a fair amount as well.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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