Der-
this thread
"The team..The team...The team"
A Really Basic Statement
Did you perhaps think it is because he is being utilized in a slightly different offense? I don't think he has literally lost speed. He's being used differently than in the past.
"Funny isn't it, how naughty dentists always make that one fatal mistake."
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I totally did the math and he
I totally did the math and he is literally slower. Last year he ran 50 yards in 5.5278 seconds and this year it's 5.5279 seconds. I think the only logical option is to panic.
“We're still a long way from being where we need to be.”
If either of those numbers is
If either of those numbers is accurate, Denard has indeed lost a lot of speed. That tight end speed you're looking at.
Hail.
No, he actually ran laterally
No, he actually ran laterally during those timed runs to the tune af about 75.692341 yards, plus the 50 yards means that he ran 125.692341 in 5 seconds. Pretty much still the fastest human being in the world ever, still.
"Wasn't that Michigan drive just great. That's like Patton riding into Berlin." ~Bob Ufer
I disagree
He looked pretty fast to me on his td run. Sdsu had some good angles when they caught him.
Yeah hes only leading the
Yeah hes only leading the country in rushing, imagine if he had elite speed!
I'm really worried about Demens play at lineback as well.
You have some studying to do
You have some studying to do before you take the LSAT, my friend; logic does not appear to be your forte.
Angles
I don't think he's lost speed, I think that people have just realized how fast he is and have adjusted their pursuit angles accordingly.
EEB c/o 2014
Agreed. Good coaching staffs
Agreed. Good coaching staffs will practice pursuit angles all week when going against a star player with unprecedented speed.
"Wasn't that Michigan drive just great. That's like Patton riding into Berlin." ~Bob Ufer
you
must have missed the option read. you know, the one where he didnt get caught. or even touched for that matter
So hot. Milk was a bad choice.
I once saw Ryan Mallett not
I once saw Ryan Mallett not get caught on an option read. Guess what that means? I'll help you: it means jack shit. That Denard didn't get caught on an option read does not mean he hasn't lost some of his speed over the past two years. How has this point escaped you?
That raises a good point
Option, ya say....... huh. That option has looked pretty damn good so far this year. If we are seaching for a base set, perhaps the option look is not a bad idea. You can still throw out of it, and with the defense off balance at that. I say shotgun now, shotgun forever, with a significant amount of option in the mix.
I really thought this was a
I really thought this was a sarcasm post making fun of the Kenny Demens one, but I guess I just gave too much credit to the Michigan fanbase.
Denard does have elite
Denard does have elite top-end speed, definitely among the fastest in the nation. However, he has THE best acceleration, burst, and quickness. That is what makes him Denard.
I've decided to lay off the food for a while, and go on the booze.
Acceleration maybe.
Acceleration maybe. Quickness? Have you seen LaMichael James lately?
But does he have grit? Moxy?
But does he have grit? Moxy?
Funny
I was actually thinking he's a shade quicker this year than before. He always had the incredible straight-line speed but this year he seems more able to stop on a dime and change directions.
His wiki page says that he
His wiki page says that he has run a 4.32 in the past.
I don't know, but as I was watching Jeff Demps' TD bee-line TD run vs. Kentucky this week, I couldn't help but think that I haven't seen Denard unleash that type of speed yet this season. Yes, I get that Denard is a QB and that his chances to uncork that kind of a run are much less likely to happen, and I do know that Demps is a hair faster, but I haven't seen a Denard run yet this year where everyone just eats his dust.
I am sure Denard is still fast, and I think many fans would gladly trade a little speed if the trade-off were extra durability.
"And they'll never catch him!"
Demps is also a sprinter on
Demps is also a sprinter on the Florida track team and I believe he set state records in high school. While he is probably a little faster, he's not as good as Denard on a football field.
That said, both kids can fly.
Yeah
But Denard is/was(?) a sprinter on the Michigan Track team too.
Not sure if he is running again this year, but he did last year.
not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user
Wondering the same thing
I was wondering that same thing recently - anyone know if Denard is planning on running track this winter? Or is he done in order to focus solely on football?
Disgruntled former moderator. I got a lot of problems with you people!
I am pretty sure Denard only
I am pretty sure Denard only ran track his freshman season, I don't recall anything about Denard and track last year.
Interesting
Its interesting that he would run his freshman year (when the football learning curve is the greatest) but not after that. Seems like a good way to stay in great shape but maybe his body just needs rest. Not to mention time to focus on his studies.
Anyone know if Wheatley ran track all 4 years? I know he was the B1G champion in hurdles but I'm not sure if he gave up track or kept running his whole time in college.
Disgruntled former moderator. I got a lot of problems with you people!
Jeff Demps
Denard may have the edge in quickness and changing directions, but he is a ways off of being as fast as Jeff Demps in a straight line. Demps holds the junior 100m world record 10.01 and ran a 6.53 60m. Denard ran a 6.83 60m in The Dual when he ran track at UM.
Demps could be argued as the fastest player to ever play college fb and is without a doubt the fastest straight line runner in college FB right now. I don't think denard ran indoor track coming into this season, so it would be suprising if he starts running again.
feanor
Nice name. Better book.
not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user
Jeff Dems a hari slower
Jeff Demps a hair faster than Denard? Lol your funny, jeff demps has WORLD CLASS speed. His fastest 100 is 9.9....9.9!!! Denards fastest time 10.28 thats fast but thats not Jeff Demps speed. Demps would solidly beat Denard in a foot race on the field or off.
Meh....
Maybe he has, maybe he
Maybe he has, maybe he hasn't. He definitely looks a little bigger, and has added a lot more muscle on his body. That might have slowed him down a very small amount. I'll take a stronger Denard that can take some hits that is still incredibly fast any day.
This isn't a bad question
Denard has been getting tackled from behind as you mentioned, but these tackles have been from a desperate, lunging swipe at his ankles that just so happen to connect. No, I don't think he has lost any speed. Some people have already pointed out that he didn't get touched on the 53 yarder, but I think that point is just as stong as saying he is continuously being caught from beind- Vince would have scored on that run untouched. He wouldn't have gotten to the endzone nearly as fast, but saying that simply because he scored without having someone touch him doesn't hold weight in the argument that he hasn't lost speed. Nonetheless, I agree with raptor that it deals more with proper pursuit angles than a change in Denard's speed.
Bring back Keith Jackson
But that's the problem
Everyone is judging this subjectively from watching TV, and worse, the rewatching/memory of the ND TD in 2010. That ND TD was perfectly blocked, and included the incredible block of Omameh on Teo that ended up taking out the safety that had a great angle on Denard until he was bludgeoned by a LB.
Yes Denard is getting caught, but it's because teams are no longer surprised. Except for the first QB option. If you noticed the QB option play was called again, and Denard almost kept the ball. Actually he pump faked the option pitch, and then pitched it, and my first throught was "crap here comes a fumble", but the RB (I think it was Vincent, but would have to watch the game again to be sure) caught it and had a great run up the sideline because the optioned defender had finally committed to Denard. SDSU had that play pretty well defended on just the second time seeing it. And they were focusing on Denard, and somehow Denard was able to add a QB oh noes to it.
Ultimately it doesn't matter if Denard is incrementally slower. Go check out Brian's links to the article talking about SDSU Head Coach not letting his players talk to the press because they were so devastated from having been Denarded!
Denard isn't slower, he's just not a surprise. But even though people prepare for him, they realize, they can't prepare for him.
Expect this hype and discussion to continue through every Big Ten team that has a dual threat QB. It's the meme of the season.
But Seriously,
"That's all there is...there isn't anymore"
No need to be dicks about it
No need to be dicks about it guys. I have noticed him getting tackled from behind too, but most of them have been desperation, diving shoelace tackles (no pun intended). I think it's more luck than anything.
Edit: Oops, beaten by Mwolve. I think I've lost some of my speed.
Can't Wait
Can't wait for the next OP to show up tonight...yeesh.
IF he has lost any speed,
IF he has lost any speed, it's because of the good weight he has put on this offseason. He has shown that he still has great top end speed this year, but I think we can all agree that if he has sacrificed a step or two and is still the fastest guy out on the field AND that weight means he's not as injury prone as last year, it's for the best.
"I'm the guy who does his job. You must be the other guy."
Naw
The only thing I've noticed is his tendency to run out of bounds or safely dive to avoid hits (which I have no problem with). Sure he could possibly break a tackle a bust one, but he could also get tackled and bust our season. Denard is fine ... running-wise. lol
You have to be kidding me? If
You have to be kidding me? If Denard has lost a step, then I am traveling backwards in time when I run.
Assassinate Hitler please.
Assassinate Hitler please.
Sent From My Commodore 64
And the people that invent
And the people that invent stairs. Each one until you finally see escalators in all buildings. I hate stairs but the exhilaration of riding an escalator never ceases.
"Wasn't that Michigan drive just great. That's like Patton riding into Berlin." ~Bob Ufer
Yeah, I noticed that also...
Yeah, I noticed that also... Wait he is leading the NCAA in rushing? Next thing you know someone will say that Demens is our leading tackler.
Everytime he was caught from
Everytime he was caught from behind was when he had another defender up ahead of him. I'm assuming this means he has to slow down a bit to change directions and such. But that straight run on the option was explosive and as fast as ever.
Probably shouldn't derp the
Probably shouldn't derp the OP for his point of view if Magnus is making the same points:
"On top of the scattershot arm, it seems to me that Robinson looks a bit slower this year than he did last season"
http://touchthebanner.blogspot.com/2011/09/michigan-28-san-diego-state-7...
Though I think (/hope) it's merely coincidence he's been caught from behind a couple of times.
Is Magnus untouchable all of a sudden?
He'd get the exact same response if he posted this OP.
I put up a tough front, but deep down I just want to be held.
That doesn't mean he'd be
That doesn't mean he'd be wrong.
The defensiveness in this thread is really weird. A world in which Denard is a tiny fraction of a bit slower is not necessarily a world in which Denard is not an unbelievably good runner and a better overall football player.
That is the point. Do we
That is the point. Do we really need to start a thread because Denard is a tiny fraction of a bit slower?
Also, Denard (and any player for that matter) will not get better if they are slower. Why would a football player be better if they are slower?
Answer:
Why would a football player be better if they are slower?
There are many potential causes for improvement, some directly related to a marginal decrease in speed and some incidental to it.
Most relevant here: Denard clearly made a decision in the offseason to add a little weight. I have no doubt that this improves his ability as a runner; he's better able to grind out tough yards when needed, and his body is better able to absorb the impacts he's inevitably going to take. But while I think an added 10 pounds makes him an overall more effective and valuable player, it's not unreasonable to think that it may have cost him a very (very) small amount of speed. I'll take the tradeoff.
In other public service announcement type matters, Big Blue is either Kentucky or that IBM computer.
What in the fuck makes
What in the fuck makes Magnus credible about anything? He is a junior high football coach... so was my dad.Neither know a shit about football.
or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.
wow ur cool
wow ur cool
NIce. I don't have anything
NIce. I don't have anything to add. But, very nice.
When did your mother let you out of the basement Mr. Rosenberg?
Probably shouldn't derp the
Probably shouldn't derp the OP for his point of view if Magnus is making the same points
Good. Fucking. Grief.
Trust me, that Magnus is making a point doesn't mean it isn't absurd. Read enough of his comments and you'll realize that.
"Come on, you Wolverines!"
P