Projecting Denard
It's been an interesting topic before the season began, and even after the win. Here's how I saw things in the first game:
1. Denard is fast
2. Denard has some nice cuts
3. Denard's arm, while strong, looked like that of a HS QB that completed 45% of his passes
4. It didn't take long for the WMU defense to figure out how to stack the line against him to mitigate 1 and 2.
First game excitement certainly played a part in his hard, erratic passes and some of the more tentative decisions. Overall, he played well, and the broken play was explosive. But, the playbook was maybe 15% of what seemed opened up with Tate. The result: one play versus a couple dozen. I really think that the game made the QB situation much clearer than "1a, 1b and 2". There is a clear 1, 2 and 3, as I saw the game unfold.
I'm not dissecting the game, but trying to think more towards the future. This might be controversial, but I don't see DRob being the starting QB without some kind of (please, no) injury. But, he does need to be on the field more than a few snaps. At QB, this will be even less likely when one Devin G. arrives next year. Make no mistake, DG is the future, and he and Tate will push each other hard.
My point: I think that Denard's QB time should come to an end as this season winds down. We need him as a capable backup for this season, but he also needs to learn a position that can get him on the field as a playmaker on every down. I saw several people suggest RB, but he doesn't have the frame for that (blocking? trucking?), but I think he seems better suited for the slot or out wide. He can make corners have nightmares, and heaven help any linebacker that ends up with his assignment. I could see him very much in a Percy Harvin-ish scheme.
September 7th, 2009 at 10:28 AM ^
I still believe you need Thee Quarterback who will play most of the time. That man is Tate. If teams don't have to respect the pass, you're fucked. And if Tate can run it just good enough, then he's got to be in there for the good of the team THIS SEASON. And you find other ways to get Denard in there. And yes, give him snaps to give Tate a breather. Tate is a feshman himself: he'll hit The Wall during this season as he adjusts.
You give Denard the year to develop--and as the OP SAID--barring injury he should have that year--and then it gets really interesting.
But my opinion is now and will always be (for this season)--it is up to the coaching staff to get all the players on the same page. And for THIS year, that page is how best to get to 8-4 and make a bowl game, how to beat 2 of the Big Four on the schedule, and how to put the best product on the field week in and week out. The offense appears to run best with Tate in there and I see no need to fool around with it.
September 7th, 2009 at 10:41 AM ^
Saying Denard is fast is a disservice to the kid. Denard is a phenomenal football player and is capable of doing things others can only dream about.
All RR could do was smile after Denard, fumbled the snap, ran the wrong way, looked to be hemmed in, and came a blazing into the end zone.
In Tate and Denard we have a QB combination for the ages. A new era in Michigan football has commenced. Don't get caught up in counting QB snaps and 2nd guessing RR every time Denard is under center, geez enjoy the moment.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:03 PM ^
ask yourself - if Tate had to start a game on January 29th in front of 110k, just 3-4 weeks after arriving on campus, would he have looked as good as he did this past Saturday? That's the comparison we should be thinking about. I mean - does anyone think even the smartest/most football-savvy among us could pick up RR's playbook and have an understanding of his 2d, 3d options on each play in this short of a period?
So what does this mean? Obviously, Tate is the top option at this time and must be used. However, DR has huge upside and it is not out of the question that he catches up to and passes Tate in the future. Let him learn the playbook and get some time under center.
BTW, this is a great problem to have.
September 7th, 2009 at 4:55 PM ^
I don't think this is just a function of Tate being in the system longer. Watch their HS highlights. Tate's just a better passer. That's unlikely to change. Denard will get better but Tate is already at a really high level. Throwing accurately on the move is one of the hardest things for a QB to get down and he's already there. Denard's a fantastic athlete and clearly needs to be on the field on a regular basis, but it's not clear if he can make the throws (or the decisions) needed to really make this offense work. It didn't take long for WMU to figure out that when he was in the game, we were very likely to run the ball. And with Tate currently ahead of him, it will be all the harder for him to catch up given that he's not going to get as many snaps in practice or in games.
September 7th, 2009 at 5:12 PM ^
My guess is that DR was only at practice long enough to pick up on where his first reads were on a limited number of plays. Example - the incompletion where he and the receiver were on 2 different pages. These things are likely to change unless he doesn't have the mental capacity to pick up the playbook, which there is no evidence of. When these first reads weren't there, he did the right thing and ran rather than taking a sack/trying to force things/throw a pick/shake uncontrollably.
Let's let him get a handle on the playbook and more comfortable with the team (a la Tate) before we declare him unfit at the QB position. Also, sample size and all that. Let's let them both get some more snaps before we jump to any conclusions.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:34 PM ^
Someone on this thread is negative-pointing anyone who defends Denard as a QB, and it is really fucking stupid. Denard has only been here 3-4 weeks, and is progressing well at the position. If you think we should move him to SR or RB, you are an idiot.
First of all, with more experience, Denard could develop into an outstanding QB. Second of all, if Tate goes down - then what? Also, having two viable QBs for next year would enable DG to redshirt.
September 7th, 2009 at 3:57 PM ^
if denard is a qb, period, its strange his first play was at *gasp* not qb.
denard might rapidly learn the playbook, and if he does he may pass tate as our #1. until he does, though, tate should be getting almost all the snaps. why not find ways to use denard other than to steward our offense for 3 series a game? its not like he would need to know every play at slot, or running back... the kid has talent, might as well take advantage of it any way you can. you could even use him as a decoy.
i think in an ideal world, gardner redshirts next year, and in two years from now denard primarily switches to another position. that or he wins the starting job outright.
its nice to see denard and tate be so supportive of each other. hope that lasts.