Denard's INTs: Bad play-calling, bad decisions, or both?

Well, he threw one of them into double coverage, he threw one of them to tacopants, and he threw the one that was supposed to be a screen pass to tacopants who was sitting on the shoulders of his cousin, fajitashorts.  So from my perspective it was a combination of bad decisions and inaccuracy.

after watching the game it seemed evident that it was part of their gameplan to throw jump balls to their WR's. Given that I think that was the plan, I don;t think you could say they were bad decisions on Denards part. Also, I don't think it was really bad play calling either since it worked more often than not. It did lead to two interceptions, but it also lead to three touchdowns and a few other big plays. I have to wonder about throwing it up for grabs to a 5'9" WR, but he did pretty well.

This is just my opinion and I should state that I am still basking in the after-glow of the win Saturday night, so take it for what it's worth. 

I felt he experienced a lot of luck on some of those passes to. Gallon and Junior made a couple of really nice grabs. I think I read somewhere though that throwing the jump ball like that was on purpose because they thought ND's corners were not good at adjusting to the ball in the air and they felt our receivers could make plays on them. Either way it did seem a few of those balls were basically thrown up for grabs.

Yes, the screen pass was way over thrown.  It was like he pulled a Chuck Knoblauch.

Denard's strength is not in the long ball that Borges likes to run and it showed in the game. I think he felt like in the 2nd half he was going to have to win the game for Michigan so he did make some high risk throws which in hind sight were not the best decisions but the WR's were able to help him out and make some great plays on the ball in the air..

I hope that in the next couple of weeks we see Borges work on a shorter pass game where we let Denard and most of our slot ninjas do what they do best and create a play after the catch. In the end all that matters is a Michigan Win! Go BLUE!

As for the 3rd INT, on the one hand, if it were his first read it would be bizarre. But if you notice in the video (I couldn't get it to embed and start at the right time), it looks like it's his second read, unless he's looking off the safety so he can go to Gallon, his first read. Which, again, if true, would be bizarre. That's a great play when your receiver isn't 5'8" or whatever.

Bad decisions/accuracy by Denard.  But with that said, it's questionable whether he should be asked to be making the throws that he is making.  At some point, it becomes bad judgement by the OC to ask him to make those plays.  There are better ways to keep a defense honest than for your short, inexperienced-in-the-pocket QB to be dropping back and making downfield throws. 

The jump ball that Gallon caught for a TD was either a terrible throw or a terrible decision.  You don't throw a jump ball to a 5'8" receiver unless you are playing NCAA on your PS3 on the easiest difficulty level.

I think plays should be kept low yard (5 - 15 yards) for Denard. I really don't feel comfortable with him spraying the ball around praying that one of our receivers goes up and gets it.

That double coverage pass to Hemingway could have easily been an interception (see what happened to Rees when he tried to connect with Floyd in the endzone)

My point is that while we got out of prison in this game with the chips falling for us, we can't rely on it in every game. As a surprise change of pace - sure - but as bread and butter plays - no.

As many people posted, the jump-balls seemed to be designed - and for the most part they worked. Even the one that was picked I don't have a problem with play-call or decision wise - ND finally played the ball.

The picked screen pass wasn't a bad play call - it was actually there for a lot of yards. But it was a terrible throw - Denard panicked a bit and threw it before he got a look at Smith, and so he threw it to Tacopants.

The one into double-coverage, with the FB open on the sideline - that was a bad decision.

I really hope Fitz gets and stays healthy for the B1G schedule, or Vincent Smith sees more time or Shaw or Hopkins step up - a RB will give this offense a dimension that will let Denard complete some underneath passes. But our receivers also need to catch those - just as much as the 4th quarter was our receivers making plays and making Denard look good, the first half 2-9 was dropped passes as much as it was terrible throws.

on the screen, it was bad execution of the fake by Denard and throwing in a panic, so it was just a bad throw, the call was great.  The 2nd INT was a bad decision to throw by Denard into a guy who was pretty well covered.  The last INT was probably on Gallon not doing enough to turn around his defender and make a play on the ball. 

Denard just doesnt look comfortable as a drop back passer.  As for the risky passes, I think you have to when you are down late in the game.  Hopefully Denard gets more comfortable back there over the next stretch of easier games.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned was that zinger to Koger which seemed to finally ignite the offense.  On a night when Denard was off and WRs were dropping passes, Koger caught a bullet and seemed to start some momentum.  He did the same thing against Western, grabbing a tough pass and giving the offense some hope.

I'd like to see more passes to Koger, I think he's earned them.  I coudl be wrong, but it feels like they have only gone to him twice and he's made both (difficult) catches.

all the jump balls came because we were desperate and they were our only real chance at that point. Earlier on in the game there were far fewer of them but the passes Denard was supposed to be making were either getting dropped or thrown off target. I do think that Hemingway is easily the best jump ball WR we've had since Braylon. Pretty much anytime he's in a single coverage, I think a jump ball to him is a good play.

In his post-game presser, Hoke specifically said that the INT at the goal line in the 4th was not a bad decision by Denard.

The thing about the jump balls is if it's single coverage and the DB is chasing, it's an almost impossible play to defend. It will also lead to a lot of PI calls. There will be interceptions when the safety comes over to cherry pick or the DB isn't in bad position but then it's just an arm punt.

It's what Michigan did when other things didn't work and they won. I'm not going to criticize teh strategy that got Michigan 28 points in the 4th quarter.

Denard just has a long way to go and a lot to work on in regards to being a Quarterback. He's inaccurate and telegraphed a couple of throws. Just the difference in systems where in the spread the reads are different and WR's are usually wide open. The more reps he gets the better off he will be.

Back shoulder throws and jump balls are extremely effective whenever you've got a corner/defender who's either shorter or significantly slower than your target.

That said... you obviously don't want to have to rely on jump balls, especially when they're into double coverage (!!!!) b/c most safeties have the play in front of them and they're gonna see the ball go up.

Hemingway is a big kid and he can provide a mismatch a lot of times, so I'm okay with jump balls to him when he's one on one. He'll win that battle most of the time, he's good at posting up his guy and making a play.

There is no question the mistakes were Denard's fault. Maybe Borges needs to put him in better positions instead of long hail mary passes, but Denard should not have thrown the screen or the second pick.  The last one, well, we were trailing, and still it was a bad decision. 

It is just me or did Denard Robinson look like "The Predator" Saturday nite, out there hunting and killing the Irish!

The bomb to Gallon with 8 seconds left was the exact same play that he'd thrown an interception over the middle on earlier.  There was a guy on a wheel route on that play, as well - completely uncovered.

They pulled that play out and ND obligingly went into the same coverage, expecting Denard once again to force it to Hemingway over the middle - and there was little Jeremy on the wheel route with no one within 20 yards.  I'll give Borges and Denard some credit for seeing that one.

They actually did that play twice after the interception, the other time they hit the fullback for a 15 yd gain!

A big reason why we saw deep one on one coverage was the threat of Denard running kept others near or in the box.  Take a look at the last long pass from our 20 on the wheel route again, ND kept a couple of players in to spy on Denard in case he took off afraid that we would just send our guys deep, run off the d-backs, and turn Denard loose.  Play calling on offense and defense is about the whole package of what someone can do to you, not just a single play.  After last year, ND was going to make Denard beat them throwing the ball...and, in a weird sort of way, they succeeded!

Did anyone notice that most all of the passing plays were on the sidelines - they stayed away from Teo (and the middle) all night long.  

The Security and Exchange Commission makes disclosure mandatory, hence the expression, "Past performance is no indication of future performance."  That said, what's all the stress over whether or not the "jump balls" will work in the future?  Listen, evey DC we face will look at this game film, and try to aviod getting burned by these type of plays, but they worked against ND because of in-game adjustments!  If ND had eight in the box with tight coverage outside, then the slant and quick outs (you know, the 5-7 yd routes the board is screaming about) would not be available.  If, in the 1st half, there were no running lanes and the defense was only giving up the "long ball" and the accuracy and catching wasn't there, the the option left is to STOP overthrowing WR's and give them a chace, via jump balls, to do what they proved in the summer they could do! (see post game interviews)  ND DBs only once showed they could out perform UM's WRs with the ball in the air, result, the 3rd INT.

So, for the record, I am not concerned with whether or not this approach will work in the future, all I want is for sound, in-game adjustments to continue to be made to take advantage of what the defense gives us!  Go Blue!

The actual INT's were mostly denards fault. Take for example that screen to smith, he wayy overthrew him for the INT. If it was a good pass smith had the blockers for a first down at least. That one just sailed on him and isn't really anything to be worried about though.

On the first one (screen) Denard was unnecessarily lax with his footwork, and his fling badly missed the mark.

The second one (over the middle) was a bad decision.  The safeties are playing center field there and Denard lobbed it up to them.  I was surprised the ND defender didn't call for a fair catch.

The third one (by the endzone pylon) was as much on Gallon falling down as on Denard.  Denard through four underthrown jump balls into/near the endzone where the offensive guy usually has the advantage.  The dice turned up 3TDs and one INT.  A decent  aggregate outcome, if you ask me.