Other coaches inquiring about Denard?
per Joe Shads twitter..Art Taylor(denards HS coach) says other coaches from around the country have called.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:55 PM ^
You're kidding, right? Keeping Denard Robinson is the difference between maybe winning nine games and maybe winning six. Do you really want to see a depth chart of Devin, Jack Kennedy, and whoever else they can get to walk on or take a few snaps at QB? The only chance this team has of keeping any momentum whatsoever is to keep Denard Robinson.
Devin could do a decent job for his first year, but if Denard was gone and there was no realistic depth at the position, Devin would be handcuffed because Hoke wouldn't risk him getting hurt.
Make no mistake about it; this team needs Denard Robinson more than it needs any other player on the team right now.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:59 PM ^
Denard came here because he was offered the opportunity to play QB in a specific offense. Who the hell are you to question a man who always deflected praise away from himself and towards his team. If he wants to play in a system that best utilizes his talents and Michigan can't provide it he deserves that opportunity. I hope Denard does what is right for Denard because it's his future not yours. Put your fandom aside, we'd all love him to stay but Denard needs to look out for his future not some internet blogger who makes idiotic statements about him not being a team player/competitor.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:01 PM ^
I personally want him to transfer so that he can be used to the best of his abilities. Unless he does some crazy throwing work over the off season I just can't see him being efficient as a pocket passer
January 12th, 2011 at 6:09 PM ^
This may not be popular opinion amongst us fans, but I completely agree. I hope he stays, but he should do what he feels is best for him
January 12th, 2011 at 6:25 PM ^
If he leaves then it really hurts his teammates and him leaving is all about valuing himself as more important than his teammates that he has deflected all of his personal accolades to. I am just saying that the way Denard acts and has represented himself, this decision to transfer and remain mum while leaving his teammates guessing and having to answer for him is not what UM needs with this coaching change.
Denard has every right to transfer but my personal opinion on him will change if he does. Just as I felt that Ryan Mallett/Justin Boren had every right to transfer, but in my opinion their decisions exemplified what type of teammates they really were.
Obviously the offense would miss Denards athletic ability but lets remember that any coach other than RR wouldnt run him 25 times a game to get his rushing yards up there. The offense was too dependent on Denard and others need to step up. Just like Tate did against Illinois and Iowa when Denard got hurt.
Denard's leadership is his best quality and if he leaves someone else will step up. Just like when other leaders have left UM, theres always someone else to step up.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:54 PM ^
I didn't blame Mallet and I wouldn't blame Denard, either (much as I hope he stays). Mallet left for a situation that better suited his talents and now stands to make millions in the NFL draft. And you think he should have stayed in a system that didn't fit him so he could be a good teammate?
Same for Denard. I hope the coaches do what is necessary to tailor their philosophy to his skills. They are crazy if they don't. In that case Denard would have a decision to make, but that decision would be "stay at Michigan and try to learn the new system or change positions, as opposed to transferring to another school where I can play QB in the system that fits me." It would not be "be a good teammate or be a bad one."
January 12th, 2011 at 6:26 PM ^
I agree...but, what Denard might prefer to do and what might be in Denard's best interest are not necessarily the same thing.
Denard might prefer (I have no idea what he prefers, naturally) to continue to play QB in a read option system that would be the best fit for his abilities while in college. However, that would probably not be in his best interest long term. While Denard has the potential to be a great college QB, he has little (no?) chance of playing QB in the NFL. Very likely, his long term future (e.g. draft position) would be better served by changing positions to one he would be better suited for in the NFL while still in college.
Either way, I hope Denard stays at UM...obviously.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:26 PM ^
I hope Denard does what is right for Denard because it's his future not yours.
And by future you mean the next 2-3 years, right? Because the NFL isn't impressed with a QB's ability to run 20 times a game.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:35 PM ^
however they have no problems with converting said qbs into wrs
January 12th, 2011 at 6:41 PM ^
If Denard leaves it would be catostrophic, given our current QB depth chart.
Do you realize that if that happens, and Tate doesn't come back, a redshirt freshman (albeit a talented one) will be our only viable QB on the roster for next season?
Do you further realize that it would then be another 2 seasons w/o having a viable upperclassman QB on the roster, for a total of 5 consecutive seasons?
Whatever needs to be done to convince Denard to stay needs to be done. The OC selection was not a good start.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:50 PM ^
January 12th, 2011 at 5:56 PM ^
It's definitely mine if that helps.
(Probably doesn't, but whatever.)
January 12th, 2011 at 5:58 PM ^
I +1ed you because your number scared me
January 12th, 2011 at 6:00 PM ^
I posted and kind of heard the Twilight Zone song in my head. I was thinking about just hitting reply to my post, but +1 to you for getting me out of that mess in a classy way.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:02 PM ^
Couldn't Hoke pull a JoePa and just deny a transfer request like he did to Bolden?
January 12th, 2011 at 6:11 PM ^
Hoke's not a douche. He shouldn't do that. No one would support him
January 12th, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
If Denard wants to leave, he will leave. He can write his ticket to any school in the country that runs a spread offense.
Imagine him in Oregon? Oww, my head...it hurts...
January 12th, 2011 at 6:15 PM ^
Oregon's definitely a perfect fit for him. I was just thinking today that if Masoli had not gotten in trouble, etc. the National Championship game may have turned out differently had OU reached it. Masoli was a bowling ball while running, and as a senior, he would have had more experience than Darren Thomas, no disrespect, etc.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:37 PM ^
...Ole Miss had a good year or anything....
January 12th, 2011 at 6:17 PM ^
I would love to see him there... I bet he 'runs' away with the heisman and how fun would that team be to watch
January 12th, 2011 at 6:45 PM ^
is about you wanting Denard to leave. Go back to your bucknuts blog troll.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:11 PM ^
Regardless of what Denard does, we desperately need a QB in this class now. If he does leave, the QB situation will be a disaster.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:22 PM ^
...after Devin Gardner.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:45 PM ^
and he could be a star in any system. However, having only one viable QB on the roster would be a disaster, yes.
January 12th, 2011 at 7:18 PM ^
Devin Gardner---The Jake Locker project 2.0?
Hopefully more wins though
January 12th, 2011 at 6:29 PM ^
That's Dirty....
Hopefully, we don't have a Cammy Cam on our hands.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:45 PM ^
He has a New Hoke and no more Dark Side Forcier.
January 12th, 2011 at 7:37 PM ^
Link to Larry Lage AP article re: Art Taylor:
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/41045590/ns/sports-college_football/
Let's stop the panic. The questions he's telling Denard to ask are legit imate ones about his role in the offense.
"I talked to Denard this morning and told him, 'You have to ask the new coach questions about the offense and what your role will be,'" Taylor recalled Wednesday afternoon shortly after Hoke met with the team and media. "I've told him what a great education he'll get if he stays at Michigan, but if they want to turn him into a drop-back quarterback and waste his 4.3 speed (in the 40-yard dash) that might not be the best place for him."
What I got from this article is that Denard loves Michigan and Hoke seems committed to keeping him.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:01 PM ^
Did NBC sports really think that sports fans reading about Denard wouldn't know what "4.3 speed" meant?