My guess is Denard was injured
The low number of Denard passes, and the presence of Gardner makes me think that Denard's elbow may have been worse than people thought. Up until now the offensive playcalling has been good, as they learn what Denard can and can't do. I don't think Borges suddenly forgot how to call a game. Michigan has returned to Fort Schembechler, so I doubt we'll ever know the extent of Denard's heatlh, but this week off should be good for him and the whole team.
October 15th, 2011 at 4:47 PM ^
Well there is no need to guess anymore because Denard was definitely injured after that thuggish late hit by Rush towards the end of the game.
October 15th, 2011 at 4:54 PM ^
October 15th, 2011 at 4:51 PM ^
he just has terrible technique and when under pressure he reverts to throwing off his back foot with his hips wide open. No QB can be accurate throwing like that.
His oline did him no favors and he never had time to servey the defense.
October 15th, 2011 at 4:51 PM ^
still can't blame it on his elbow (which might have been like that since Minn.). Denard just played BAD today. I think he is trying so much to make sure that every throw is perfect, that it's making Tacopants go for 100+ yds.
October 15th, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^
Ok look I love Denard, absolutely love the kid. But, I would love to see as a "TEAM" Gardner in at qb. He throws a harder ball with more accuracy on it. Now what you do with Denard is line him up along side of Gardner or slot out. Show some motion plays putting him into slot and then some screen passes and then you got the ability to run option plays with him lined up as well in the backfield. Just I believe Denard does have the ability to throw the ball, he however needs more time and has to really work on mechanics. Throwing off his back foot constantly and on the run is tough for him. I know this is going to neg voted but this is what I believe is best for THE TEAM!
October 15th, 2011 at 5:03 PM ^
Agree with everything you say, but at some point you need to start asking yourself how long you can go while Denard works on his mechanics. Against average teams, you can get away with a lot, but moving forward we play a couple of good defenses. They will play us exactly the way Sparty did and probably have success until you have an effective passing game.
ESPN was saying that Denard had given up more INT's than any other QB in the country. Don't know if that is accurate but it probably isn't off my much if it isn't.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:16 PM ^
Denard is on his way to easily break the UM interception record.
October 15th, 2011 at 7:03 PM ^
I don't know if Denard can work much more on his mechanics. Theyre obviously horrible, but this is his third year in the program. I think it is what it is at this point.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:14 PM ^
And I also said that this team will only go as far as Denards ARM will take them (we know what his legs can do).
October 15th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
I've been calling for them to put Gardner in all year. Denard is a very fast dude, but his mechanics and decision making haven't improved enough. I think Devin may not have Denard's speed, but I think he's got a much higher ceiling.
Sad face. Four f'in games in a row. Bah!!
October 16th, 2011 at 10:09 AM ^
Had they not burned his redshirt on some meaningless snaps against Iowa he would still be a redshirt sophomore and get two years of good coaching by a competent staff. Looking at how he plays, he is a redshirt sophomore.
It seemed to me that Meyers comments yesterday (in between Spielmans dicknishess) showed that he's exactly what Meyer thought he would be and that's why he wasn't pursuing him as a Qb.
For the record...I still blame Hopson j/k
October 16th, 2011 at 10:29 AM ^
Had they not burned his redshirt on some meaningless snaps against Iowa he would still be a redshirt sophomoreHuh? Denard played in all 12 games in 2009.
October 19th, 2011 at 5:52 PM ^
My efforts to forget that year blocked out his 11 pass attempts before the Iowa game. I just remember him being thrown in to win the game and coming up just short.
I take the redshirt stuff back, but I still blame Hopson.
October 15th, 2011 at 4:55 PM ^
that was what was so mystifying. They kept going away from what we do best. If Denard is so injured that he can't run then he should not have been in the game at all and we should have just plyed Gardner the whole way. Instead we kept switching QB's so that neither could get a rythym or do what they do best.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:11 PM ^
You explain the lack of Denard running by MSU putting 8 men in the box to stop the run.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:24 PM ^
we have played and will play? We will always see 8 in the box with Denard and yet that hadn't stopped us from running Denard 20-25 times and playing to his strengths. If we aren't going to do that then he frankly should not be the QB anymore because he just is not effective throwing the ball.
October 16th, 2011 at 10:31 AM ^
The difference was that MSU's front seven is better than those teams'. They probably could hold a lot of teams in check playing straight up. With the safeties cheating? Forget it.
October 15th, 2011 at 4:57 PM ^
I never loved Robinson as a QB as much as the other people on this board.
I may be biased. Personality-wise? Dude's amazing. As a runner? All-time great. But Michigan's QB needs to throw more completions and less interceptions. Say what you want about Forcier but he got the ball in the spaces it needed to be, at a decent clip. We aren't beating good teams unless the light comes on as a passer for Denard. I'm starting to wonder if it will.
We don't have a prayer against Nick Saban's new team in Jerryworld, next year, unless Gardner pushes Robinson from here on out and over the summer.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:32 PM ^
Friend, you're not the only one. Denard is a great talent and fantastic human being, but his throwing arm and mechanics are currently a ceiling on his potential at the QB position.
October 15th, 2011 at 4:59 PM ^
trainee. Exactly the way the whole game was played.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:04 PM ^
Hey now, didn't you hear the announcers? Dantonio is a good clean coach who teaches his players to play hard but clean and with respect. The late hits, punches taunts etc by numerous different players was simplya coincedence. At least Dantonio punished the kids to show them their errors right?
October 15th, 2011 at 4:59 PM ^
Denard is now leading the country in interceptions, nuff said.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:02 PM ^
I think the wind was a slight factor as Denard does not have a huge arm. I don't think this was Borges best effort either. They should have called more high percentage passes to get Denard's confidence up. Also why did they not call any screens?
October 15th, 2011 at 5:44 PM ^
There was a notable lack of calls of classic "blitz-breakers" like inside draw, screens, and pop passes/quick slants to the spots the blitzing backers just left. Denard clearly was affected by the pressure/lack of time.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^
we'll bounce back
October 15th, 2011 at 5:11 PM ^
Every team so far has stacked the box to stop Denard's running threat. Unless Michigan has some viable passing threat, Denard will be contained as a runner. This seems obvious.
It's vacuous to suggest Denard should've run more today, because that's EXACTLY what EVERYONE gameplans to stop. MSU's defense is good. They'd've stopped it. Hence, Borges is trying as hard as possible to install a viable passing game.
That logic seems crystal clear.
Really, if Denard is all about the team -- and if his passing and decisionmaking and reads remain erratic -- maybe he wouldn't mind being used in alternate ways on the offense. Devin simply LOOKS LIKE a better passer (calmer, more polished).
In any case, to criticize Borges for not using a running game when MSU had 8 guys in the box all game, especially given the poor play from the line, is just inane.
October 15th, 2011 at 5:14 PM ^
nervous, jittery, confused, playing without much confidence
It's clear he doesn't understand the reads he's supposed to be making. So Borges needs to call plays where the first option is open. Al's gotta earn that paycheck this year, yo
October 15th, 2011 at 6:53 PM ^
I understand some of the frustration. Yes, Denard can be better but he is the only playmaker on offense. It's an one man show and we will live and die with him.
Imagine Denard with some of the better Michigan offenses. What if he had a player like Desmond Howard or Tyrone Wheatley? What if he had one of those old Michigan offensive lines littered with All Big Ten performers?
The kid needs help and he isn't gettting any.
October 15th, 2011 at 8:00 PM ^
You have a point. When you break it down, RR, for all his so-called wizardry, left us with precious few game-breakers on offense. Hemingway has obviously had some great moments. But we don't really have any burner receivers who consistently get separation. We have six RBs who are okay but nothing special. The tight ends have been largely invisible. More often than not, it's just Denard and his blockers.
October 19th, 2011 at 6:59 PM ^
I thought it was all Bush's fault?