OT: assessment of Mallet

Submitted by blueheron on

Happy DAC (day after Christmas), MGoBlog readers.  Most of you are probably quite familiar with Ryan Mallet, who may or may not have been *run off* by Coach Rodriguez.  Here's an interesting take by The Sporting News on his play this year:

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/feed/2010-09/draft-dish/story/draft-dis…

Later in the article you'll see some material on Mississippi State's Derek Sherrod, whom we'll see in a few days.

There are a few Big Ten players in their "Fab 40."  I noticed Adrian Clayborn is still well-regarded.  Wasn't he neutralized by Taylor Lewan for most of that game?  My memory might be spotty.

Sven_Da_M

December 26th, 2010 at 8:25 AM ^

... I was expecting the typical idiot sportswriter gushing over Mallet the Meathead.

I see Ryan as the latest in the Ryan Leaf -- Jimmay Clausen wing of the QB family.  

The intrepid tOSU linebacking corps will be after Mallet all day in the Sugar Bowl. I see more INTs than TDs.

Note how his teammates aren't helping him get back into the huddle:

Maximinus Thrax

December 26th, 2010 at 9:18 AM ^

I am having a difficulty grasping the mathematics of eligibility.  Mallet burned one year with us, burned one year sitting out (maybe that is where I am having a problem--perhaps the year spent sitting out does not count against eligibility??), and two years playing for the swine.  But this article states that he has one year of eligibility left.  What gives?

Don

December 26th, 2010 at 9:22 AM ^

There is not now, nor has there ever been, any evidence worth the definition of the word that Ryan Mallett was "run off" or otherwise sent packing by RR. Not only that, Mallett has never once said one single word in support of that notion.

Michigan4Life

December 26th, 2010 at 10:56 AM ^

If Arkansas hadn't taken Mustain, they would've gotten Mallett.  Mallett grew up a Razorback fan and knew that he wouldn't see PT asap and saw that Henne has one more year of eligibility so he would go to Michigan for 3 years to start at a pro-style offense then go to NFL.

decadoug

December 27th, 2010 at 7:53 AM ^

Some of the soldiers I met in Afghanistan from an Arkansas National Guard engineer unit told me some things about this. Apparently, one of the soldiers cousins is friends with Mallett. He told me Mallett said he wasn't forced out. He liked Michigan, but preferred to be closer to home, and the coaching change, along with the new scheme (spread vs. pro) he figured it was a good time/excuse to transfer.

I realize this is considered hearsay, because I didn't hear it directly from the source, but these guys had no reason to lie about what their family member told them. I also saw pictures of the Soldier with his cousin, and his cousin with Mallett, so I consider this to be true information.

Hoken's Heroes

December 26th, 2010 at 10:26 AM ^

..for had he not, DROB would most likely never have come to Michigan. And we all know RROD did not run Mallett off. Mallett realized he would have to learn how to read a defense under RichRod and decided that would be too much work along with having to take orders from Barwis.

PhillipFulmersPants

December 26th, 2010 at 10:52 AM ^

surprised if Mallett comes out that someone doesn't take him high. I figured Tim Tebow wouldn't get drafted until the 3rd round at earliest beacuse of his delivery, not enough experience running a sophisticated passing attack, etc. Seemed like too much of a project, but along comes Denver in round 1. Mallett seems less risky in 2010 than Tebow 2009.

Was very surprised to see Clayborn at #8 in this mock draft and Ryan Kerrigan at #26. 

PhillipFulmersPants

December 26th, 2010 at 6:05 PM ^

don't know that he doesn't have those qualities, unless you've been playing with him in Fayatteville for the last three years. 

Tebow happened to wear his emotions on his sleeve, make impassioned speeches in front of television cameras, and happened play with a roster of exceptional talent that helped him succeed as much as he helped his teammates succeed. Because Mallett doesn't doesn't make him Jeff George or Jamarcus Russell. The level of success he's achieved at Arkansas hasn't  been a result of screwing around, being lazy, or being indifferent to winning, I'd wager. Does he equal TT in that department? Who knows. But to suggest he's got none of it is silly. He may have been an imature 18-year old in Ann Arbor, but that wouldn't have made him an anomoly in college football.

Also, while yes those qualities in Tebow likely factored in to Denver's decision to take him in the first, unless they thought he could physically make the transition and mentally adjust to the NFL QB position, they wouldn't have taken him that high. NFL QBs don't make the correct reads quickly and then fit footballs into exceptionally tiny windows with an "undying determination to win."  If so, then guys like Doug Flutie, Tommy Frazier, and Ty Detmer would have been first rounders and hall of famers. The Broncos figured Tebow's defficiencies can be overcome with experience and coaching--they very well may be right in the long run. But you'll remember they took a PR beating in the aftermath of the draft. Most teams didn't think Tebow was worth a high draft slot.  But it only takes one. That was my point.

If someone takes Mallett in the 1st round, particularly where Tebow was selected (somewhere from 20-25, IIRC), you'll hear very little sniggering, I suspect.

MGoShoe

December 26th, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^

...also known as Boxing Day in the UK and Commonwealth nations.  In the spirit of Boxing Day, I'd rather we didn't devolve into dumping on Ryan Mallet.  IME, the photo doesn't show him not getting helped up by his line because there's no way to know what's happening in the play.

Mallet seems to have gotten his head straight after transferring to Arkansas and when he goes to the NFL, he'll be one of the first QBs taken in the draft.  Whether or not he pans out is another story.  He seems to have the tools, but NFL QB success is hardly a given for anyone.  In the end, my hope is that Mallet has success. 

M-Wolverine

December 26th, 2010 at 3:10 PM ^

For all the name calling, Mallett has been nothing but class about leaving Michigan, which is far more than a number of the posters here can say. I mean if there was one guy who's words would really been able to throw Rich under the bus, it would be the all everything QB who left. But rather than make stuff up like Boren, he's gone out of his way to say nice things. For all the big dumb and slow comments, he's got his team in the Sugar Bowl, and we're just headed to the Gator (and we have a pretty good QB too...and Arkansas is hardly an annual powerhouse).



Here's a guy who helped save a season when our senior QB was hurt. Was he an immature freshman? Yeah sure. Braylon Edwards, Chris Perry, Tate Forcier etc., etc. say "hi!" (Heck, even Brady wanted to transfer at one point). Newsflash, young men can mature. Whether they play football or not. But from this thread, it shows that's not a given.



I for one will be rooting for Mallett, AND rooting against Ohio State. I don't think they'll win, but there will be zero regret (can't say that about rooting for Saban versus MSU).

mackbru

December 26th, 2010 at 1:41 PM ^

There's no credible proof that Richrod ran Mallett off. I'm sure it was just pretty obvious to Mallett that RR's offense wasn't right for him. Because it wasn't. 

Inasmuch as RR claimed he would fit his system to his roster, that was bullshit. He, to a large degree, made Threet and Sheridan run a spread offense. It was absurd. I felt so bad for Threet (who turned out to be a decent qb). He and Mallett were both right to leave.

the_white_tiger

December 26th, 2010 at 4:42 PM ^

There's no credible proof...

...I'm sure it was just pretty obvious...

Duly noted. You can have your uninformed opinion, which is fine, I mean you're entitled to your confirmation bias regarding Rodriguez, but conjecture and surmisation holds nothing here when there is not any proof. 

Threet was benched on a team that didn't make a bowl game this year.

MGoDemon

December 26th, 2010 at 5:56 PM ^

There are few posts on this or any site dominated by Rodriguez leg-humpers nowadays.

This post holds that the PLAYERS weren't to blame for the disaster that has been Rodriguez since he took over. Imagine that? No attacks on players' characters? Who'd think you'd see this on a blog where Rodriguez seems to be absolved of everything, when everything is pretty much his fault?

Interesting that still, three years later, people want to attack Threet, Sheridan, and mallet--especially Mallet, who has not said any MEANIE things about Rodriguez or michigan since leaving.

How great things have been without Mallet around for the last three years to ruin Michigan football, eh?

dennisblundon

December 26th, 2010 at 8:51 PM ^

This a pretty broad statement from a guy who just joined today. You won't find many attacking Threet or Sheridan around here. That was a tough year for UM because neither QB was very good, at least not in RR's system.

There are a few Mallet haters out there but by and large most reasonable fans do not harbor any ill will towards him. Many of us will be rooting for him against OSU.

As for RR leg humpers, well that is just a stupid statement.

Edit- this was in response to someone who must have been banned

MGoBlue96

December 26th, 2010 at 3:04 PM ^

16 tds to 14 ints are pretty mediocre stats for a junior QB. The 2008 offense was going to struggle no matter what style was used. There was no point in running something other than a spread for Sheridan and Threet's sake, when it would have put the rest of the players on offense a year behind, in terms of development. The fact of the matter is both Sheridan and Threet would have struggled in a pro style offense, that year, as well. In fact, ASU runs a spread offense with Threet. It is  more of a passing spread like TTU, but still a spread style none the less.

As far as the claim that RR would not have changed the offense to fit Mallet if he stayed, I am not sure how well that holds up considering he did it with King at Tulane, when he was the offensive cordinator.

KOB Returns

December 26th, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^

Interestng to see people here doing what Michigan Message Board Guy does best--attack Ryan Mallet the person--even though he has never said any mean things about Rich Rodriguez or Michigan.

Man, what a benefit the last three years have been without Mallet around to ruin Michigan football, eh?