Fitz: 2012 Heisman candidate?

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December 15th, 2011 at 2:44 PM
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sheepdog
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Fitz: 2012 Heisman candidate?

Admittedly, I don’t usually care for Michael Rothstein’s writing, but he throws out the opportunity that Fitz could be a Heisman candidate as early as next year, which I like.  Fitz ran for 1000+ yards in basically 10 games so far.  DNP against ND and only two carries against MSU.  He is obviously the feature back and it looks like he could consistently see 20-25 carries per game next year.  If he averages, say 22.5 carries per game at this year’s YPC (5.8), he would end up with 1696 yards (13 games).

I have never thought of Fitz being THAT good, but he was seriously impressive from Purdue through the end of season.  Here are some recent Heisman contender/winner RB stats:

2011 T Richardson: 1583 yards/20 TD/6.0 YPC

2011 M Ball: 1759 yards/32 TD/ 6.4 YPC

2010 L James: 1731 yards/21 TD/5.9 YPC

2009 M Ingram: 1658 yards/17 TD/6.1 YPC

2009 T Gerhart: 1871 yards/27 TD/5.5 YDC

My first thought was that it might be more realistic for Fitz’s senior year when Denard isn’t there to take away carries and yards.  But, DRob may be part of the reason Fitz is cashing in.  Regardless, we currently have a potential GREAT back at Michigan.

MGoCommunity thoughts?

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December 15th, 2011 at 2:45 PM | Obvi. (Score:3 Normal)
WolvinLA2
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Obvi.

December 15th, 2011 at 3:08 PM | :) (Score:1)
snakedog
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2012 Heisman Winner: Denard Robinson - University of Michigan.

2012 Heisman Winner: Fitzgerald Touissant - University of Michigan.

 

... look me in the face and tell me I'm wrong, ha.

"This might sound arrogant and if it is, it is .... but we're Michigan." -Brady Hoke

December 15th, 2011 at 3:23 PM | Looks good to me (Score:5 Normal)
trueblue262
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that SHOE (lace) FITZ

GRwolverine73

December 15th, 2011 at 5:28 PM | nice (Score:1)
rymgoblue11
Joined: 03/14/2011
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make a shirt.

December 15th, 2011 at 3:25 PM | posted from iPhone (Score:1)
Mateo
Joined: 02/12/2010
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That'd be pretty sweet to have co-winners on the same team in 2012

December 16th, 2011 at 1:45 AM | But you ARE wrong, lol (Score:1)
MichiWolv
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And with that, Michigan becomes the first school in College Football History to have TWO Heisman winners in the same YEAR. (You put them both down for the 2012 Heisman Winner).   

December 15th, 2011 at 2:48 PM | If I was to create 2012 (Score:2 Normal)
MAgoBLUE
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If I was to create 2012 Heisman odds off the top of my head I'd have Denard at something like 5-1 and Fitz at something like 12-1.

 

 

"fumbles the snap, takes off. . ."

(9/5/09)

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December 15th, 2011 at 5:25 PM | If you were vegas (Score:3 Normal)
Space Coyote
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You would probably lose a lot of money with those odds.  5-1 to win the Heisman is really high.  Andrew Luck was the outright leader at the start of the season and he was something like 5 - 1 and no offense to Denard, but he threw a lot of picks and isn't anywhere near the frontrunner as Luck.  And having a second person at 12-1 is crazy.  I would love if those odds matched reality, but I don't think they do.

6/11/13 - breakdownsports.blogspot.com - Inside Michigan's Playbook Makes Them Pay

December 15th, 2011 at 2:49 PM | Obviously Not (Score:5 Normal)
Hokemania
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Same problem as Montee Ball + Russell Wilson. Denard and Fitz will both be too individually great next year for either to get the credit they deserve.

Whatcha gonna do, little brother?

December 15th, 2011 at 2:52 PM | have faith hokemania. (Score:1)
Chima es REY.
Joined: 02/09/2011
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have faith hokemania.

Now you may speak.

December 15th, 2011 at 2:56 PM | First ever double Heisman? I (Score:2)
Hokemania
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First ever double Heisman? I see now...

Whatcha gonna do, little brother?

December 15th, 2011 at 3:08 PM | All Hoke has to do is double (Score:3 Normal)
ak47
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All Hoke has to do is double point at the heisman trophy and then there will be two, its that simple.

December 15th, 2011 at 3:12 PM | Finalist teammates (Score:1)
mwieder
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Have there ever been 2 heisman finalists from the same team?? Can't remember any off the top of my head.

December 15th, 2011 at 3:23 PM | Yes - 2004 had 5 finalists (Score:3 Normal)
Trebor
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Yes - 2004 had 5 finalists from 3 schools: Leinart and Bush from USC, White and Peterson from Oklahoma, and Smith from Utah.

December 15th, 2011 at 4:50 PM | In 2005... (Score:0)
December 15th, 2011 at 5:27 PM | Not sure if they were both (Score:1)
althegreat23
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Not sure if they were both finalists but in 2002, Ken Dorsey and Willis McGahee both finished in the top 6.

"A Michigan Man will coach a Michigan Team"

December 15th, 2011 at 2:52 PM | Agreed (Score:2)
ChiBlueBoy
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Only way it happens is if DR is not playing at full capacity, and Fitz steps into the vaccuum. A long shot, and one I definitely wouldn't want to have happen.

"Mattison must break you. Jake Ryan is his tool."

December 15th, 2011 at 4:53 PM | Ball and Wilson play for Wisconsin. (Score:2)
hart20
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Denard and Fitz play for Michigan. The Michigan name is enough for the media to jump on the story and create a victory. Wisconsin, and most other teams not in the SEC, don't have that privilege.

Yep, that's Simba made out of a pineapple.

December 16th, 2011 at 1:52 AM | Not necessarily though... (Score:1)
MichiWolv
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Look at history.  In 2004 Leihart won it and teammate Reggie Bush finished 5th.  The next year when Bush won it, Leihart finished 3rd.  So two years in a row they were able to win with split votes.  

December 15th, 2011 at 2:53 PM | Uh ... nope (Score:2 Normal)
Indiana Blue
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Fitz has plenty of upside and has separated himself on the roster, but he won't be listed in the top 3 of B1G running backs in 2012.

Go Blue!

No place on earth I'd rather be on a football Saturday than Michigan Stadium !

December 15th, 2011 at 3:11 PM | I would argue Fitz can easily (Score:2 Normal)
snakedog
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I would argue Fitz can easily be a top 3 B1G back next year?  Why shouldn't he be, a Junior RB, seeing the bulk of the carries.. look for him to get more comfortable and confident and less designed QB runs to be called for Denard. He too will get comfortable in his 2nd year in the system and his rush yard will come from scrambles, as we have seen.

"This might sound arrogant and if it is, it is .... but we're Michigan." -Brady Hoke

December 15th, 2011 at 5:37 PM | I wouldn't say easily (Score:2)
Space Coyote
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He can be a top 3 back, but it won't be easy by any means and depends greatly on who is coming back.  Ball (Wisc, Jr), Coker (Iowa, So), Burkhead (Neb., Jr), Redd (PSU, So) are all ahead of Fitz and Denard at the moment.  

I think Ball is gone and the rest are coming back.  And Ball gets replaced by White (averaged 5.1 ypc this year, and 6.7 for 1052 yards in 2010).  Then you have situations like Bell (MSU, So) who didn't start getting a lot of touches until later either, and averaged 5.5 (900 total and compared to Fitz' 5.8) and had 11 TDs (to Fitz' 8) and Houston (Ind, So) who averaged 5.3 ypc and didn't get more than 9 carries in their first 4 games.

There are a lot of good backs in the Big Ten, and Fitz can be a top 3 back.  He could also be a top 7 back.  Either way, there is no way to justify anyone, outside of Ball returning, to be easily a top 3 back in the Big Ten.

6/11/13 - breakdownsports.blogspot.com - Inside Michigan's Playbook Makes Them Pay

December 15th, 2011 at 2:55 PM | Point the first: anyone who (Score:2 Normal)
enlightenedbum
Joined: 06/06/2009
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Point the first: anyone who talks about the Heisman before mid-October next fall should be shot.  Coincidentally, suddenly college football journalism would improve infinitely.

Point the second: Denard is too well known nationally for anyone else on the team to win it.

December 15th, 2011 at 3:01 PM | we have 4 HUGE (Score:1)
sheepdog
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nationally televised games before November next season.  It will be possible for Fitz (or Denard of course) to play himself into the conversation fairly easily with this kind of exposure.  so I kind of disagree.

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December 15th, 2011 at 3:21 PM | 4 games? (Score:1)
Lionsfan
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What 4 games are you thinking before November? Bama, ND, MSU and Nebraska?

If you're doing nothing, how do you know when you're finished?

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December 15th, 2011 at 3:04 PM | Oh sure. Name one year that didn't have a September (Score:-1 Flamebait)
December 15th, 2011 at 3:08 PM | ^^^ I concur e-bum (Score:-1 Overrated)
December 15th, 2011 at 2:57 PM | they complement each other, (Score:1)
DaBigDaddy
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they complement each other, that's why they both did pretty good this season

Playing football on Wall Street

December 15th, 2011 at 3:09 PM | Overshadowed by Robinson (Score:1)
BlueVball8
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I really think that will be his biggest problem.  Robinson is one of the most exciting and noticeable players in the NCAA.  I don't know if he will be able to get out his shadow.  That being said do you guys actually think that Fitz will stay till his Senior year.  I mean he is already eligible for the Draft (RS Soph).  I just have really strong doubts that he would stay that long as RBs have very few carrys in them.  I feel like he would want to get as many carrys in the NFL as possible.

December 15th, 2011 at 3:10 PM | the losses on the OL will (Score:1)
coldnjl
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the losses on the OL will hurt his cause

December 15th, 2011 at 3:47 PM | I think our Oline will be (Score:1)
yoopergoblue
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I think our Oline will be actually be improved next year.  We lose our All-American center Molk but we have a senior to step in to replace him.  Huyge leaves and we'll have Mike Schofield to step in.  The only thing we'll be lacking is depth.

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December 15th, 2011 at 3:10 PM | Hate to say it, but (Score:3 Normal)
Geary_maize
Joined: 09/07/2011
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If Fitz has a good year in 2012, he's gone to the NFL. He's already been here 3 years, and with the short shelf life of runningbacks, it's hard to see him stay 5 years in the Big 10. 

December 15th, 2011 at 3:24 PM | Yeah but it hasn't been 3 (Score:1)
Lionsfan
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Yeah but it hasn't been 3 years of 250 touches a year. He was redshirted first, and last year he didn't see the playing field due to freak injuries that aren't really RB related (his knee issue was only 3 games). I don't think it's a streak to see him around in 2013

If you're doing nothing, how do you know when you're finished?

StraightDave owes me a steak dinner

December 15th, 2011 at 5:24 PM | But how many 5th-year senior (Score:1)
jmblue
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But how many 5th-year senior tailbacks are out there?  If he puts up two straight 1,000-yard seasons, that's a good college career right there.  If he stays five years I'll be thrilled, but it would not surprise me if he didn't.

December 15th, 2011 at 3:13 PM | It is not out of the realm of possibility (Score:2 Informative)
96goblue00
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Fitz did arrive at Michigan as a VERY highly touted RB.

He was selected as the nation's 95th-best prospect by Tom Lemming; four-star prospect and the No. 8 all-purpose back nationally according to Rivals.com; selected as the 14th-best player in the state of Ohio and the 239th overall prospect nationally according to Rivals.com; rated the 28th-best player nationally by ESPN.com; listed as the No. 61 overall prospect in the Midwest by SuperPrep; listed as the No. 21 running back in the country according to Scouts, Inc. etc. etc.

December 15th, 2011 at 3:49 PM | He was the #28 running back (Score:2 Normal)
Trebor
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He was the #28 running back for ESPN, not #28 overall.

December 15th, 2011 at 3:17 PM | posted from iPhone (Score:0 Overrated)
December 15th, 2011 at 3:40 PM | Mark Ingram = Ancient (Score:3 Normal)
Hokemania
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Mark Ingram = Ancient History?

Whatcha gonna do, little brother?

December 15th, 2011 at 3:23 PM | I doubt it. (Score:4 Normal)
Magnus
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I doubt it.

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December 15th, 2011 at 3:53 PM | We could have conceivably had (Score:2)
turtleboy
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We could have conceivably had two 1,500 rushers this year, so it's not out of the question for us to have one next year. If Fitz and Denard weren't in a transitional offense, that is if they had maintained their peak averages, run a consistant scheme throughout the season, and maintained 20+ carries per game, then Fitz would have had at least 80 more carries, and Denard would have had around 50+ more carries this year. It's concievable that playing with the additional carries (and featuring at all in 2 entire games) that Fitz could have achieved 489 additional yards and broken the 1500 mark. He averaged 5.8 for the season, 80 additional carries alone at 5.8 would make 464 yards. Denard was even closer to 1500 being just 337 yards shy. With just his average of 5.6 he would have averaged 280 yards out of 50 more touches. 

"that's why you don't go to Ohio State, Lawrence"

December 15th, 2011 at 3:59 PM | posted from iPhone (Score:1)
natesezgoblue
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If he is he or denard would have no shot at winning as they would take votes from eachother.

December 15th, 2011 at 4:12 PM | If Fitz (Score:2)
Hardware Sushi
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If Fitz can average 22.5 carries a game at 5.8 yards per carry, Brian will eat a lemon.

/causei'mnoteatingone

Intensity is a lot of guys that run fast.

December 15th, 2011 at 5:57 PM | Fitz averaged 22.4 carries at (Score:2)
turtleboy
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Fitz averaged 22.4 carries at 6.05 yards per carry for most of  the B1G schedule (after the MSU game where he sat out) The only reason his season averages are less is because he was splitting carries with Shaw and Smith early in the year.

"that's why you don't go to Ohio State, Lawrence"

December 15th, 2011 at 4:25 PM | If Shoelace gets (Score:1)
biakabutuka exp...
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If Shoelace gets out-Heismaned on his own team...well, I'll have to see that to believe it.

December 15th, 2011 at 4:30 PM | This could be like the USC teams of earlier (Score:2)
hart20
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This decade. Denard wins 1 year, Fitz the next. Of course, Denard won't be there when Fitz wins and Denard won't be taking ballet and Fotz won't be getting paid by an agent.

Yep, that's Simba made out of a pineapple.

December 15th, 2011 at 5:13 PM | whoa (Score:1 Overrated)
yeahrice
Joined: 09/09/2011
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way too soon. Lets focus on the Sugar Bowl!

Biochemistry

Class of 2010.

 

December 15th, 2011 at 5:16 PM | Like it, a lot (Score:1)
Bo is God
Joined: 11/22/2011
MGoPoints: 13

I look forward to three things in the next two years:

1. Fitz thrashing the Sparty D and V. Smith pointing his guns at Narduzzi
2. The Big Blue D stuffing and crushing Dee Hart
3. Brionte Dunn being lit up by( insert safety or linebacker) each time he touches the ball.

I now add a fourth.....Fitz raising the Heisman with Woodson and Desmond flanking him. Looks so good. Cannot wait until January 3rd.

Go Blue!

December 15th, 2011 at 5:26 PM | Probably not, because I think (Score:1)
jmblue
Joined: 11/07/2008
MGoPoints: 29060

Probably not, because I think the consensus is that Denard is the top player on the team.  I do think Denard, with a good bowl game, could be a preseason candidate.

December 15th, 2011 at 5:35 PM | This is not going to happen, (Score:1)
thisisme08
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This is not going to happen, so many things need to go right for him namely; not get hurt.  As we all know his first couple years were he was bit by the injury bug early and often, the last 6 games saw him nary a scratch doubtful it will happen again. 

Blue is Faster

December 15th, 2011 at 5:43 PM | I don't see that happening (Score:1)
Look Up_See Blue
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I don't see that happening until his senior year.  It could happen next year but they would have to be in the Championship hunt for him to have a chance.  Unless he just goes off in certain games like RGIII did this year.  Next year will be very interesting how Borges balances Denard/Fitz based on how successful the offense was this year.

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