Franken-Denard...Don't Forget Victor

Submitted by Meeechigan Dan on

All the Denard hype is nice and well deserved, but I think that misses the paradox of this team.
 
Tate was heralded in this system, although clearly not to the degree of Denard, but it suggests that people are focusing on the symptom rather than the underlying “illness.” RR is the virus and Denard is the infection, just as Pat White was the infection.

RR funnels his offensive genius through the QB position having concluded that danger emanating from the man with the ball every offensive play is the best way to stress defenses. Steven Threet and Ryan Mallett allow defenders to simplify their duties producing better performance; no LB has to worry about being embarrassed by their speed and elusiveness.

To generate the mismatches and opportunities that the QB position alone can generate, he wants the QB to threaten every defender on the field. Nick Sheridan threatened no one, Tate Forcier threatened much more and Denard scares everyone. But it is safe to say that RR would have inflated Scarecrow Pryor’s (“if I only had a brain”) stats to White/Robinson levels and intends on inflating Gardner’s to such levels.

But you can’t threaten if you can’t block and catch. I have seen the best WR blocking of my life from this team so far, and the OLine is doing stellar work with room for improvement, which is scary in itself. WVU had talented mobile lines, excellent blocking and diverse threats, which made his less heralded talent dynamic.

So, on one hand if we assume that RR will have a stream of talented dual-threat QBs passing through Michigan, we will always see White/DRob stat freaks at the helm. On the other hand, as the other positions rise to the level of RR’s vision, the redonkulousness of the stats will soften slightly as a Slaton comes on board and the OLine becomes polished.

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maizedandconfused

September 12th, 2010 at 5:07 PM ^

The simple sole fact of stats from a Q is that every single snap with excpetions of handoffs, end in stats for him. Add a WR, increase his stats. Add a RB that can catch out of the backfield, increase his stats.

Adding D Hart will almost guarentee that Dee will get his 100 and 1, but doing that also makes the read option that much more dangerous (two guys who run sub 4.5 with the option of throwing to the outside bubble..) So, the immediate thing that comes to mind, will be that teams will undoubtedly run cover 1 with 8 in the box. I forsee a lot of playactions, because Id take Roundtree and Stonum vs. almost anyone 1v1.

Seems to me that the only thing you can expect to change stat wise is the amount of points we put up...

and I think people are forgetting the fact that we didnt exactly open up the playbook yesterday.. again a situation of "if you cant stop it..." Im slightly giddy with the excitement of pumpfake fades, triple options, WR sweeps, etc.

Joined: 01/14/2010

MGoPoints: 4523

leftrare

September 12th, 2010 at 6:23 PM ^

As long as this post is heading down a path of ever more puffed up hyperbole, I'll add something to the fire.

RR could never recruit to WVU the way he will be able to at UM with a winning record under his belt.  If this board thinks he can get a White/Slaton/Reynaud combination, I'll raise that bet and say he can put together USC-type depth at all the skill positions. 

Yes, this new success is mostly to the credit of RR and his scheme and philosophy, but Denard is attracting a spotlight this team hasn't had since Woodson.  That's hugely important for recruiting.  Think about the loaded recruiting class Lloyd got after 1997.  (to refresh, and I may get some of these wrong, I believe it included Fargas, Cross, Foote, Hopson, June, Terrell, Walker and Henson.)  What was more attractive to those recruits -- the split mythical national championship or Woodson?  I'd say Woodson, hands down.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3213