Use for Sheridan?
There is a very real possibility that Sheridan will get some playing time in the MSU game if Forcier is out, which got me thinking. What if RichRod picks out 2 or 3 games this season and has Sheridan preparing for just those games in case we actually do need him due to injury or freshman mental collapse? If we're just playing Delaware State I'll take my chances with DRob, but in a rivalry game I'd like to know we not only have Sheridan but an uber-prepared Sheridan.
This would have been one of those games. I'd assume that if he is coaching material, he would actually be satisfactory in a game with 2-4 weeks of preparation. In fact, he'd probably have the entire MSU playbook memorized by now.
Does anyone think this would help? I mean, he's not being used at all right now, so it's not like there a lost opportunity cost in doing this.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:57 AM ^
They need to move him to the slot.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:00 AM ^
They can throw a playbook and film at Sheridan, but any time the coaches spend with him is time they can't spend elsewhere.
I think he's as prepared as he's going to get. He's had a ton of time in the program and has started multiple games.
The coaches will do what they think is best for the team, but there is only so much time in the day, and I would rather they spend it elsewhere.
Also, we don't know enough about Tate to rule him out. What we have gathered points to him being able to play without furthering the injury if he can handle the pain.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:08 AM ^
That's exactly what I'm talking about. Just throw the film his way. I don't think RichRod is the one who prepares film, I'd assume it's some assistant who will be either compiling film now or the week of the game. Or, since Sheridan will be one of those assistants in a few years, get him to do it. Do NOT spend any more time with him than you already are, though.
If he's learned all he can about this offense, I would like to see him become an expert on a select few opposing defenses. That's just as important.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:03 AM ^
Sheridan will be the kicker
September 28th, 2009 at 11:07 AM ^
And I think Booboo should be the Quarterback. So what if he's tiny and a little banged up?
September 28th, 2009 at 11:08 AM ^
or DAH DAH DAH DAH WAWTER BOY!
September 28th, 2009 at 11:12 AM ^
We need that on t-shirt, preceded by "Sheridan = ".
September 28th, 2009 at 11:24 AM ^
While it's funny, it's pretty disrespectful and ironic given that he's a better QB than an overwhelming majority on this board will ever be, myself included.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:43 AM ^
I think Sheridan = clipboard is at least nicer than Sheridan = DEATH.
And yes, I think we are all aware that he is better than average on a global scale. That's not the point. If you couldn't criticize your betters, The Zoltan would be nigh uncoachable.
September 28th, 2009 at 1:04 PM ^
I agree it is funny but I wouldn't wear that as a t-shirt. I guess that was my point. And I suppose I don't see what there is to criticize? He's 3rd string as he should be (talent-wise.)
He's never done anything but work his butt off, and initially walk on to the football team. That's pretty awesome.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:28 PM ^
The whole notion of wearing a t-shirt to ridicule one of our own players is incredibly tacky.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:23 AM ^
I think Sheridan should get a fair amount of snaps if Tate is indeed out.
The game looks like it's moving WAY too fast for Denard. He's had trouble with several snaps, he's not making reads, and either the coaches don't trust him to run the read option or he runs it poorly. He should still get some snaps and perhaps even start, but Sheridan should come in to throw some bubble screens and run some plays out of the I-formation.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:39 AM ^
Do you play a freshman who is super fast and can't throw that great...
Or a walk on who isn't fast and can't throw...
This seems like a trick question... but I'll take the man without the laces.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:11 PM ^
read your posts first before I typed, "In_Rod_I_trust" and "bouje". I basically echoed what you guys said, so +1 to you both
September 28th, 2009 at 11:57 AM ^
How did that work out last year? Even if we end up losing this game starting DR, I would think it is a NET PLUS in terms of gettng him game time experience.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:05 PM ^
...game looked to fast for DRob, I don't know, the very first time he touched the ball this season.
If anything, I think that he need to get in a rythym. He hasn't had that chance because he comes in for like, a play or two on every other posession.
Oh and as for Sheridan coming in to "throw some bubble screens" - do you remember how that went last year? As for him coming in to "run some plays out of the I" - DRob can hand off to MINOR-RAGE just as well as a walk-on can.
Sheridan's a great kid, but I don't want him coming near the field in any capacity unless its going out during a timeout to re-velcro DRob's shoes.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:41 AM ^
Not even D-Rob will be able to run if MSU can put 8 or even 9 in the box every time, which is what they will do if there is no viable deep (or even medium) threat. (OK, maybe not 9). Sheridan might provide a better passing threat for the sake of keeping Lil' bro's D honest, if not for yards. Having him on the field at the same time as D-Rob makes it harder to keep track of Denard. I've got to believe that Sheridan will be on the field for more than he was during the Western game.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:59 AM ^
Sheridan can throw a better ball than DR, then you just haven't been paying attention.
DR needs to get game time experience and improve his reads, his throwing ability is better now than Sheridan's will ever be.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:03 PM ^
Does anyone not remember how awful Sheridan was last year? It's never been about his preparation or knowledge of the playbook, the guy simply does not have the athletic ability to play QB at the D-1 level. Let's not forget, he was a walk-on, and his old man was a former coach. I'm not certain if his old man was coaching at the time he walked on to the program, but I'm pretty certain that's the only reason he's even on the team.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:42 AM ^
He can carry the Paul Bunyan trophy back to Ann Arbor
September 28th, 2009 at 5:15 PM ^
He can carry that with the little brown jug.
I just want to point out that Nick is capable of playing a decent game as evident from the Minn game last year.
He's still a Wolverine and deserves respect for sticking it out through the rough times and doing a great job helping Tate and Denard prepare.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:50 AM ^
Maybe I am wrong here but should't he have been uber prepared for the Western game when he came in for 4 or 5 plays and threw a pick on the last of them. If the entire off season, and all of fall practice were not enough what do you think 2-4 weeks of film study is going to do for the guy. Don't get me wrong as a person he seems to be a great guy. His dedication to the team is absolutely unquestionable and he was thrown into a horrible situation last year and did everything he could to make it better. There is no doubt in my mind that he is a Michigan Man but he is not a Michigan quarterback. Try as he may he is just not talented enough to run this offense.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:59 AM ^
take my chances with a fast-as-hell QB who can maybe throw than a slow, walk-on QB that definitely can't throw.
It's called DEATH for a reason.
I don't understand the post. Are you arguing there needs to be some special preparation for him? More snaps in practice? Doesn't playing most of last year and having all of this season observing qualify him as "ready to play"?
For our blood pressure and heart rate's sake, I'll prefer him holding the clipboard than holding a football on Saturday, thank you very much.
Plus it seems like it would be harder for DRob to get in a rhthym passing if he's being yanked every other series (assuming Tate can't go)
September 28th, 2009 at 12:06 PM ^
I think Sheridan is more capable of running the entire offense than Robinson. I would trust Sheridan to stand back there and hand the ball off or throw some easy, short routes. The strength of this offense is the line and the backs.
Sheridan and Robinson are both going to throw picks - that's been proven. But Sheridan can at least run the read option and make the right read and he's never had the problems with snaps that Denard has had.
Is Sheridan as talented? Absolutely not. But if we want to run out of the I-formation or do that play-action waggle that Tate runs, I'd trust Sheridan more than I would Denard.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^
but first off, I don't think the problem with the snaps was DRob's fault as much as the lack of chemistry between Moosman and the QB. Tate struggled just as much with the snap as DRob.
Secondly, do you really trust Sheridan more when it comes to short passes. When Denard has time he can make those passes.
I see what you're saying in terms of Sheridan's experience but memories from last year make me think that Robinson's just as capable of doing everything Sheridan can do. If the two are just as prone to mistakes but factor in the big-play potential that Sheridan obviously doesn't have...I would argue Robinson goes all game if Tate's out.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:27 PM ^
to ignore the short throws that Denard was making vs IU. I have yet to see Sheridan complete passes accurately on the move.
You might counter by saying he just wont move then. Well, we don't have a choice about that, our O-line cant hold decent DE's back long enough for that, this is the reason we saw them roll the pocket so much. If you watch the plays where Tate struggles it is when he is asked to stand there and throw on slow developing plays.
What a lot of people aren't getting is that both our Freshmen have that uncanny ability to throw accurately on the move. That is priceless. I would NEVER swap that for a guy who has poor (at best) arm strength and marginally better ability to read defenses and no wheels whatsoever.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:32 PM ^
academic anyway since I expect Tate to start and play his usual share of snaps on Saturday anyway. That kid is a warrior, there is no way in hell you are keeping him away from a chance to humiliate Sparty.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:24 PM ^
...but Robinson is a better passer than Sheridan right now. Did anyone notice how little zip Sheridan's pick had against WMU? It was so slow that the defender had all day to get in front of the reciever. Robinson might not have seen the reciever, but if he had, that pass would have had a much better chance of being a TD.
Robinson's completion during his TD drive against IU was pivotal in his development. It immediately opened up the run because he suddenly became a threat to complete a vertical pass.
Robinson can't see everything yet, but he is still preferable to Sheridan. Sheridan can probably see everything, but can't run or throw fast enough to do anything about it. I'll take my chances with Robinson, thank you.
AFAIC, Robinson is like Michael Taylor with big enough hands to actually grip the football. For someone who hasn't even been on campus for three months, he is doing fine.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:26 PM ^
Tate did struggle with the snap from Moosman, but keep in mind that Denard's 43-yard TD run against WMU came when he dropped a snap, too. I know that ended well and everything, but he kind of got lucky on that play, too.
Denard doesn't take the time to make those short passes. Everything is hurried and 100 mph. He did make a nice throw to Koger against IU, but I think he has a limit of one good throw per game.
If Denard goes the whole game, then we're going to see a ton of incomplete passes, several interceptions, and 8 or 9 guys in the box every play. Denard can't run the whole playbook. Even last year, when Sheridan and Threet had both been in college already, those guys started learning Rodriguez's system in the spring. Denard has only been running this system since August. I don't think we've seen him take a single snap from under center (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), and the majority of his plays have been ISQDs.
Regardless of what I think, I will be very very very surprised if Denard plays an entire game with Tate out (if Tate is out, which I don't know). I just don't think it will happen. I would bet a fair amount of money that Sheridan will get some snaps in Tate's absence.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:36 PM ^
Robinson probably won't play the whole game if Tate's out.
But if you believe that we're gonna see "a ton of incomplete passes, several interceptions, and 8 or 9 guys in the box every play" if Robinson does play, I don't get how that is any different than any box score or chart from last year with ThreetSheriDEATH.
I think that Robinson's passing ability is at least on par, if not better than Sheridan's. You're free to disagree but I want someone fast and nimble out there.
Maybe you're seeing Robinson hurrying and at 100mph. I see that being fast and quick as hell which isn't a bad trait to have for a backup option if things collapse in the pocket, and trust me it will for EITHER QB.
+1 for intelligent discussion, however.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:56 PM ^
Call me crazy, but Rodriguez would call a different sort of game with Robinson at QB than he does with Tate, right? Like - more like the Pat White-era 70/30 run/pass split? Where teams lined up 8 men in the box? All the time? And still got shredded on the ground?
September 28th, 2009 at 12:34 PM ^
When Tate had to scramble for his life, I thought there were at least a couple times where he held onto the ball for too long. Even the best offensive lines (which we don't have, but still) can't hold back a pass rush.
Also, Denard completed one short throw on Saturday. I'm not sure that's indicative of efficiency in the short passing game. Altogether this year, he's 4/11 for 57 yards and 2 picks.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:48 PM ^
along with the quality of the throw odoms dropped should convince any impartial observer that his passing ability is well beyond Sheridan's.
The guy is a non-Tate (i.e. mortal) true freshman who has been brought in for 2-3 plays at a time very sporadically. You were expecting a 70-80% completion rate??
DR is flat out a better QB than Nick, and that is even without taking into account his ceiling and future implications for our program.
Let me draw a picture for you:
if QB ability were rate 0-100 then right now:
Brady/Peyton -100
Tate - 50
DR - 25
Sheridan -10 (I am being generous here)
Tate's ceiling is 80, DR's is 70 and Sheridan's is 11.
I have a suspicion RR sees it like this too. No way he starts Sheridan.
Now you see my point of view (you could of course argue with the numbers I have assigned, but that's just my epinion).
September 28th, 2009 at 12:57 PM ^
For someone who screamed "sample-size" when people were up in arms about Minor's fumbling last year, I find it odd that you're quoting Robinson's stats on a whopping 11 attempts.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:47 PM ^
and isn't anywhere near his ceiling. Someone posted a play with two QB's in the backfield; we could use Nick as the QB and have him hand off to Denard who then takes a step and then backs up to pass. Nick can act like a pass blocker at this point, he has a little size on himself.
As for this Saturday, if one of them had to start, I'd be fairly comfortable with Denard starting over Nick. I think he's going to surprise some folks with his passing some game THIS year.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:52 PM ^
is an excellent clip board holder and is pretty good at signaling plays.
He's an all-american there, leave him there.
September 28th, 2009 at 12:54 PM ^
I agree that Robinson is a better quarterback, but he can't run the entire offense.
Oh, and just to play devil's advocate...
Sheridan's career PER: 79.05
Robinson's career PER: 43.53
I'm just throwing it out there...
September 28th, 2009 at 12:59 PM ^
Magnus - do you have any idea what types of throws Robinson was asked to make, vs. Tate? Tim Couch completed over 70% of his passes in his senior year of college, and couldn't top 58% in the NFL. System matters. I'm not saying that Robinson is as accurate as Tate, but I don't think the difference is as huge as you make it out to be.
Also, you said "Robinson can't run the entire offense", but Rodriguez says "We don't have a specific package for Robinson". He runs the entire offense.
September 28th, 2009 at 1:02 PM ^
DR: 4 games - 3 TD's (4comp-11attempts-2Ints)
Sheridan: 4 games - 0 TD's (0comp-2attempts-1Ints)
I'm just throwing it out there...
RR has taken pains to emphasize that there is no "Denard package". He is is the real deal running the full offense.
September 28th, 2009 at 1:12 PM ^
Given the quality of Michigan's secondary, it would sure be nice if Sheridan had the capability of playing defensive back. ;>)
September 28th, 2009 at 1:23 PM ^
My computer is doing something funky where it freezes when I hit reply, which is why I'm not replying to each post, so I apologize:
You're right. I did scream sample size last year when Minor was either fumbling or scoring a TD every play. I'm a hypocrite.
If Robinson showed the ability to make the proper reads on the option play, I would agree that he'd probably do a 70/30 run/pass split. However, nothing I have seen has shown that the coaches trust Robinson to run the option play. Like I said above, he and Forcier both suck at reading it.
Robinson might "run the entire package" in practice, but that doesn't mean he's good at it. There's a difference between knowing the alignments/steps and making them. For example, I know all the quarterback's steps and reads for my high school team. Does that mean I could go in and play quarterback (provided that I could convince the refs I'm 17)? No. Obviously, Robinson is a better athlete than me, but there's a difference between knowing and doing.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:40 PM ^
"If Robinson showed the ability to make the proper reads on the option play, I would agree that he'd probably do a 70/30 run/pass split. However, nothing I have seen has shown that the coaches trust Robinson to run the option play."
Except for where they let him run it against Indiana.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:45 PM ^
Like I said above, I don't think they're truly letting him run the option. I think they're giving the option look but the coaches are calling for him to handoff or keep it pre-snap.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:48 PM ^
I'd rather have them pick one out of an option look than have Sheridan make the decision. Not like the defense needs to worry about Sheridan breaking a big one. The DE could play both the QB (by being able to pursue back) and the RB.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:59 PM ^
nothing against Nick but I would rather see Jeremy Gallon playing QB