Donovan Edwards interview: responds to question about slow start to season
4 minute interview.
I believe he feels things are going "great", count for yourself.
Addresses questions about slow start to the season. Recognizes what he needs to work on and what he has been doing well. Says coaches have been helpful keeping him focused and grounded.
Great advice on realities of how things are going to go in life.
Side note:
I appreciate all the wins, but what makes it fun being a Michigan fan is knowing the quality of people who come in and are developed during their time in school. This is one of the things I love about Harbaugh being coach. He get's the part beyond the field.
October 4th, 2023 at 1:10 PM ^
So, his "up there with Walter Payton and Barry Sanders" plan is still taking shape? ;-)
I try to always support our players, but there is a big difference between self-confidence and hubris...
October 4th, 2023 at 1:21 PM ^
Context is important. He was talking about changing how the position is played and trying to be an all time great. His comments were about being a dual threat back. Did it come off poorly - sure - but he wasn't saying he was as great as those guys.
TBF, what he should really be looking at is guys like Reggie Bush and Marshall Faulk and La'Dainian Tomlinson for comps and understand that the dual threat RB has already been done quite successfully at the college and NFL levels, so he wouldn't really be "revolutionizing" the position if he reaches such heights.
October 4th, 2023 at 1:34 PM ^
He could revolutionize the position by showing off his passing skills, like he did against Iowa two years ago...
...but even that has been done before by Tomlinson, who completed 8/12 career passes for 7 touchdowns.
October 4th, 2023 at 1:45 PM ^
Indeed. Tomlinson and Faulk are often overlooked in the all time great convo.
Barry, Walter, Sayers, Brown all exceptional traditional backs - Barry being the greatest pure runner imo, Brown the best all around athlete (not a great dude unfortunately), Sayers so silky smooth, and Walter just sweetness with longevity. Others like OJ and Emmitt and Bo also in that convo quite often.
Faulk and Tomlinson just dont seem to come up too often.
October 4th, 2023 at 6:23 PM ^
List must include Earl Campbell
October 4th, 2023 at 2:59 PM ^
Honestly, I don't want to harp on Donovan, because I do think he is a good kid overall, but I am not sure "putting the quote in context" changes the fact that it was a whole, whole, WHOLE lot of hubris. Here is the full context.
Paraphrasing, the question the PFF guy asked him was, "When you become a lead running back, what can we expect from Donovan Edwards?"
His answer is:
“I will go down as one of the greatest running backs to ever play the game. I’ll be up there with Walter Payton, Barry Sanders. I believe I will revolutionize the game and the position. This is the perfect time for me because the NFL wants running backs who can catch. If the NFL wants a linebacker on me, good luck with that. I don’t care who you are. Good luck guarding me. I see all the stuff right now with how the running backs aren’t getting paid. I believe that I’ll get paid for how I play the game."
The full video is here and this quote starts around the 22:00 minute mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgI5N0xGJqU&t=1s.
October 4th, 2023 at 3:03 PM ^
From the tone of his voice and how he answered the question, I think the first 1/3 of the season has been a little humbling. This will serve him well in the long run. Though we all enjoyed it when he was running all over OSU, the whole "The Don" thing was a bit overdone. We haven't heard that much yet this year, which again is fine. To be fair, some of his early season struggles has been the linemen needing to figure things out too. Our RB's aren't hitting on lots of long runs but rather are consistently grinding out 4 - 5 yds a carry. Edwards' game is much more geared to find a seam and explode for 20+ yds. To my untrained eye, he has been a little impatient with his running (he was better in the Neb game) looking to hit the big run. Once the linemen create more of these seams - especially getting to the 2nd level - and once Edwards remains a little more patient allowing his blocking to develop, he will start ripping off some long runs. Before this year is over, we will need Edwards operating at peak capacity.
October 4th, 2023 at 3:46 PM ^
While the "Don" thing may have been overdone, will always be amazing how "Tommy Two Thumbs" got whacked by the Don in Columbus.
October 4th, 2023 at 6:15 PM ^
Soon we'll be back to him saying "which long TD are you referring to?"
October 4th, 2023 at 1:47 PM ^
Do we know that he is not going to be? I say shoot for the stars. Nobody ever became great by aspiring to “serviceable.”
October 4th, 2023 at 3:00 PM ^
Yes, but the world needs ditch diggers, too...
October 4th, 2023 at 4:24 PM ^
And provided he stays healthy he may be able to change things if he can make the development. He'll have to have massive commitment, endurance, and find his own way to "revolutionize" things. He had a huge game against 2022 OSU last year. Despite most of the rest of the season OSU had a monster game against Georgia and only lost by a field goal. "Early" this, "Early" that. The endless refrain I've been hearing. I hope he's phenomenal against Penn State, et al. in the next few games so those idiots will finally shut up. I do think he has hubris and I've yet to seen him take the further step beyond some admittedly good moves, but I hope he lays it down because I'm tired of listening to other people's whining.
October 4th, 2023 at 1:47 PM ^
It was a pretty bold predicition that I think he used the wrong comps for. I'm willing to give a 20 year old a bit of a pass on being overly-confident in his own comparisons; and based off what he was coming off last year at the end of the season, I get it.
I'm just glad our coach isn't out there talking about hanging 100 and Michigan against the world, and how he's going to Washington DC to take back the White House.
October 4th, 2023 at 5:12 PM ^
I just took it to be a college-aged kid, pro-wrestling-style self-promotion, and the inanity of sports media. What's he supposed to say? "My goal for the season is to be decent"?
The media wanted red meat and he obliged with a slab of sirloin. Gives him a reason to motivate himself, to boot. The only people taking it seriously, are taking it too seriously.
October 4th, 2023 at 5:24 PM ^
In all fairness, he is out gaining them combined this year.
October 4th, 2023 at 5:47 PM ^
"Do not allow my confidence to offend your insecurity"
- D. Edwards / D. Sanders
October 4th, 2023 at 7:39 PM ^
“Use the Force, Wesley Crusher”
-Abraham Lincoln
October 4th, 2023 at 7:38 PM ^
Yes, and if some 19-year-old DARES to show hubris--DARES to be so absurdly ambitious--"Faux Mo" and other anonymous mgoblog regulars will arrive to take him down a peg! The nerve of the kid! :)
October 4th, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^
Great perspective. As the O-line gels, I expect to see more big plays in the run game as the holes will be there more often and the backs will become more patient and know what and where to hit. A tenth of a second here or there is often the difference between a run for a loss or a 3 yard gain, or a 3 yard gain vs. a 50 yard explosive run. Timing and an inch here or there is everything.
For an explosive, home run threat like DE, this is often even more obvious and exaggerated as he is less likely to grind out the extra 2-3 yards that Corum and Mullings will as true power backs. Hopefully we see a few explosive runs this Saturday so us spoiled fans can find something else to gripe about.
October 4th, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^
I'd love to see Donovan stay one more year, selfishly, to showcase what he can do. He seems like the kind of back who would thrive as the guy (see: post-Corum injury last year) but may need to be in a groove that sharing snaps makes more challenging than for someone like Blake.
Keeping him as RB#1 and having Mullings as RB#2 would be a great backfield for Jadyn Davis/Whoever wins the QB battle post-JJ for what's going to be a tough season schedule-wise.
Alas, he may just go and get drafted on his athletic potential. We'll see, have to enjoy the embarrassment of riches we have this year
October 4th, 2023 at 1:51 PM ^
I'd love that too, but I worry that if he doesn't get the NFL feedback he wants, he might take the Hunter Dickinson route and cash out his senior year while getting a guarantee at a ton of carries.
October 4th, 2023 at 2:48 PM ^
Man I can't stand Dickinson.
October 4th, 2023 at 3:10 PM ^
I don't think it would be guaranteed to go the same way even if Donovan wanted to "cash out his senior year." I think the context of Hunter was very important - he was a great basketball player, on an average (generously) basketball team, at a football school. The Michigan NIL community didn't have much incentive to open the pocketbooks to keep him around, not when there were better areas (football) to dedicate those resources.
For Donovan, I think the incentive will be there to pay what it costs to bring him back. Michigan should bring back a good defense no matter what happens in the draft, plus plenty of OL who have had a long time in the program. We could very well be looking for offensive skill position players to be the difference between a good and great team in 2024, and in that event there'd be a LOT of value in luring Donovan to stay 1 more year.
October 4th, 2023 at 3:12 PM ^
Apples and oranges. Michigan football players don't seem to lack for NIL opportunities. And you'd be hard-pressed to find a better opportunity for a tailback than to play at Michigan, behind our OL, with Corum leaving.
October 4th, 2023 at 4:53 PM ^
Also, he doesn't want a ton of touches. Even in his recruitment he said he wanted to split the backfield with someone to lessen his touches because of the shelf life of a running back.
October 4th, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^
Wait until he hears what Lou Holtz said about him.
October 4th, 2023 at 1:17 PM ^
it was noticeable that he was running harder this week. Only a matter of time before he breaks out again
October 4th, 2023 at 1:17 PM ^
"I believe he feels things are going "great", count for yourself."
To be specific, "great" was in reference to the team.
October 4th, 2023 at 2:35 PM ^
That was purely a reference to the number of times he said how great the team was, how great things are, how great the coaches are, how great the play has been...great, you know, great.
October 4th, 2023 at 4:05 PM ^
i thought it was great... and i agree with him, the team looks great, so far the season has been great.....
i hope it all stays................great.
October 4th, 2023 at 2:06 PM ^
So he needs more work to best Walter and Barry....
October 4th, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
I really like this from him. Was getting a little worried about some of his offseason comments about being the best ever, but there's nothing wrong with being ambitious as long as you take setbacks in stride and always stay a team player. Thought he was great in this interview.
October 4th, 2023 at 4:04 PM ^
I'm glad every word I said when I was 20 didn't get scrutinized the way a college football player's words do.
Sometimes people forget what it was like to be that young, still in school, etc.
October 6th, 2023 at 5:10 PM ^
I think about this a lot. At 20 I was what I thought to be a relatively smart kid at Michigan doing the right things, getting by. But jesus, if the me of today were to scrutinize everything I did and said at that age I'm certain I'd think I was an idiot.
October 4th, 2023 at 4:09 PM ^
I really like his responses. He's openly acknowledging the less then amazing start, but he's not freaking out about it and is maintaining a really positive perspective. I'd be concerned if it was the opposite. As to those talking about hubris and such, I read this much more as ambition and self-confidence. You gotta believe in yourself to have a chance at greatness.
October 4th, 2023 at 4:16 PM ^
I hope Edwards has a great season but if all we got from him was 75 yards and 85 years on November 26, 2022, I would be content.
October 4th, 2023 at 5:06 PM ^
If we're still playing the game I believe I counted 11 "great" things and 3 "not great" things
October 4th, 2023 at 5:31 PM ^
"Donovan you're undefeated and none of the games have been close, you're ranked #2, have the highest rated QB, the leader in rushing TD's, the leader in receiving TD's, and have largely played your 2nd & 3rd string squads for the 2nd halfs of all the games so far. What do you think the problem is?"
October 4th, 2023 at 6:46 PM ^
So--Donovan Edwards is already a great college football player, he's working hard, and I wish him nothing but success.
Also: college football players are not heroes or role models. If they do good things, cheer. If they do bad things--don't put them on a pedestal.
I'm reacting to the portion of the OP that says:
I appreciate all the wins, but what makes it fun being a Michigan fan is knowing the quality of people who come in and are developed during their time in school.
Let's hope so. It was not quite a year ago when this same young man made what appears to have been a mind-bogglingly stupid choice regarding spreading hateful speech. Remember?
I hope and trust that Mr. Edwards learned and has grown from his mistake. And I would hate to be judged by my comments and conduct when I was in college. Also: he, like the rest of us, is human. Not a hero.
October 5th, 2023 at 12:16 AM ^
I think his comments about there being set backs in life and having to keep trying to get to the top speaks to his maturity and understanding. I do remember his unfortunate choice. I also remember his response. I also recognize the character he has shown so far this season.
The world might be a better place if we spent more time recognizing and celebrating people's positive traits instead of holding onto all the negative ones. As you point out, no one is perfect. Humans are flawed. Disappointments are a given. But we are all also capable of incredible good. Yay???
October 4th, 2023 at 6:52 PM ^
I think he’ll be fine and the coaches, thankfully, don’t freak as much as fans. Sadly he may end up the number 3 back if Saturday wasn’t a fluke.
October 4th, 2023 at 6:52 PM ^
I think the biggest issue with Donovan Edwards is he does not have natural RB skills. Although he is fast and athletic with great hands, he doesn't not break many tackles or make guys miss near the LOS.
October 4th, 2023 at 8:05 PM ^
Can I get a word count on "you know" and "like"? I hope one of his classes at UM teaches public speaking, dealing with the media and you know like, not saying "you know" and "like" every sentence.
Athleticism is one thing (and he's great), carrying yourself like a thoughtful, educated, well spoken person is another.
October 5th, 2023 at 8:53 AM ^
I'd rather Edwards have a slow start to the season than end. As long as he is 100% and ready to get after it from PSU-Playoffs thats what matters.
October 7th, 2023 at 6:32 PM ^
It's almost like there's a correlation of sports karma between athletes saying stupid shit, and then tripping on their own d*cks when it comes time perform on the field 🤔.
My advice Dom, booby, baby, take a page from Blake Corum, and just stfu and worry about performing and let your play on the field speak for itself...