Which Michigan QB from the past would be the best fit for our current offense?

Submitted by mGrowOld on
We can all see first-hand how amazing Denard is in running RRs offense but i wonder how some of the QBs from our past would've fared if they had a chance. I think we can rule out pretty much everone between Elvis and Chad but what about the others? How good would Michael Taylor look running these sets? How about Steve Smith? I could make a hell of a case for my own all-time favorite Wolverine Ricky Leach putting up some monster stats as the trigger man in a spread n shred system but that's not the guy i think would be dwarfing Denard's numbers if he was here now. My guy would be Dennis Franklin, he of the all time best winning record in Michigan football history as a starter at 30-2-1. Who would you want if you could take any Michigan QB to run RichRod's very potent offense?
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treetown

November 17th, 2010 at 10:03 PM ^

Thanks for the youtube highlights. I had forgotten that the double reverse and throw back were part of the old Bo-Mo-Carr playbook. I think the first time it was run at Michigan however was back when Florida State came up north and played Michigan here years ago. They ran the play against Michigan (QB -> WR (lateral) -> back to QB up field) and almost scored.

Having seen all of the QBs since Franklin play at the Big House, I'd have to give Dennis Franklin a slight edge over Steve Smith or Michael Taylor if they were to run the spread like the 2010 team. All three could throw on the run well but Franklin was a bit more accurate. Smith had the pure speed but Denard Robinson's acceleration and quick cuts are unmatched.

Pure NFL drop back QBs - for college years, Henne is also a slight edge better. WIth the aid of Captain Hindsight, Tom Brady clearly could play but at the time he wasn't quite yet THE Tom Brady. After watching the recent Pats Pittsburgh game his throws were amazing, and so much quicker than when he was at the UM.

Joined: 11/10/2010

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Bb011

November 17th, 2010 at 8:33 PM ^

Rick Leach and Steve Smith would both be good. 

 

WIth that said, i would have liked to see Antonio Baas in this offense as a qb. He probably would have been in 08 too if it wasn't for the injury....

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NateVolk

November 17th, 2010 at 9:24 PM ^

It was interesting, I heard Brandstatter on Huge back in September when Denard was just destroying defenses.  He said that Smith was the fastest straight line running quarterback he ever saw and Denard had the quickest acceleration to full speed from a cut or standing position.

I remember Smith, but didn't remember him being that fast.

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jhackney

November 17th, 2010 at 8:40 PM ^

Steve Breaston? Saw him play in the PA state championship as QB. I wonder with a little development inder RR if he would have been a Denard caliber QB in the Spread. He was slowed down a bit in the rain that night and he might have even fumbled once, so scratch that, he would have killed the team as QB.

 

Bonus: His high school team: Woodland Hills Wolverines. Black/Carolina blue

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JDNorway

November 18th, 2010 at 3:41 AM ^

Dude could move AND had a gun. Best slinger we've had imo, though Tate might rival him. Ofc Griese had that one play where he rolled out and chucked it to Riemersma in the flat, but Dreisbach was the master of the throw on the run. Mind you the 80s QBs (Leach, Smith) were before my time, so I'm basing this on Grbac-now.

It seems like a lot of people in this thread think that QBs in our offense only have to run the ball. Yes, I know Breaston, Bass etc played QB in HS, but Breaston made Roundtree look buff in comparison his first three seasons or so and Bass... Well, unfortunately we'll never know what he could've done, so it's all in our dreams :(

Henson could've been a decent fit, too, he could move. I would've loved to see what Coach Rod would've done with the offense with him at the reigns.

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TennBlue

November 17th, 2010 at 8:42 PM ^

Tailback/halfback in the Single Wing was equivalent to today's quarterback in the shotgun.  He would seriously rock in this offense.  It would also be very familiar to him. 

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Blue_Sox

November 17th, 2010 at 8:45 PM ^

Why the hell did he leave???

 

In all seriousness...I'd have to say Henson as well. But that's by default because I'm too young to remember anyone before Grbac. I think this post is a thinly veiled attempt to discover the MGoGeezers.

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