Denard Robinson's Play in the Spring Game
This thread used to be the "go easy on Denard" post. I'm taking it over because some of the responses and discussions were on a level far above that of the argumentative original post that started with "Give me a break," ended with "get a grip" and in between had a laughable amount of spelling and grammatical errors. Please continue sharing your thoughts, remaining respectful to those who may disagree with you.
OP's main points enhanced and summarized thusly:
- Getting a hand on Denard counts as a tackle in the Spring Game, but Big Ten linebackers get no points for touching The Great Denard with one hand, except points for touching pure awesome amirite?
- The accuracy was off but other than the one interception his reads were good.
- Denard's rushing stats will come down when he's no longer the feature back, but that's a good thing so long as his legs and arm are opening up the running back running game.
- In the Spring Game, you're supposed to see the defense look better than the offense (Ed-M: why?)
Discuss...
April 17th, 2011 at 10:48 AM ^
As the poster stated, it's about fundamentals. Michigan has traditionally had solid teams with all the pieces in place. Maybe not the most gaudy or exceptional in some senses, but all-around solid. Michigan, traditionally, has not neglected important aspects of the game like defense and special teams to the point of utter hopelessness.
For the record, this thread is sad yet enlightening... A lot of people around here really don't have a clue, and/or need to get their hormones in check.
People use some made up concept, "REAL Michigan Football" to cover a broad range of things they don't really understand how to articulate. The bottom line is all about wins or losses. I've seen some Bo and Lloyd teams with some horrible tackling fundamentals for instance, but in the end they won a lot more than they lost and it made them great coaches.
You people are so swayed by foolish media nonsense and phrases like Michigan Man. Open your eyes please. I love Bo but he never won a national title. If real M football is living in mediocrity then shame on Dave Brandon, shame on arrogant alumni, and fans who talk like this...
Lock the thread, all that's left is a Hitler reference.
Of Michigan improving beyond Bo/Lloyd.
As if its wrong to want your team to win multiple national championships or have a winning bowl record.
Then again, you are the guy who excused the Appalachian State loss and said we lost to Oregon because we got our feelings hurt. So in reality I'm not surprised you'd be scared of taking chances.
It's okay. I'll call up coach Hoke and tell him to hang around that 8-4 mark so you don't have to deal with the fact that someone might improve Michigan football beyond Bo.
"Dude, are you being sarcastic?"
nice try. you veiled it with your hitler comment, but all your posts reveal the above to be your true thoughts on michigan football.
Cgoldblu, I think RR is a genius. I was making a joke. I also think the Michigan-only mentality will kill us, but not in this case because Hoke has assembiled some brilliant offensive/defensive minds to lead us to victory. I'm betting on Hoke right now, but I would have been right there with RR if he wasn't canned.
April 17th, 2011 at 11:17 PM ^
And realize everyone is trying to win multiple national championships, and it rarely happens. It's not as easy as you whining "but I WANT it", especially when you're not willing to cheat. You show me a dynasty, I'll show you a corrupt program. But keep setting up strawmen, since those are the only arguments you can seem to win. I know it's tough when you have no idea what Michigan football is about. And it won't change for your 5 years of fandom. Sorry, you lost.
April 18th, 2011 at 12:27 AM ^
You're right, talk is cheap. Saying you want to win NCs doesn't mean it's going to happen just like saying, like "we are going to be a tough, physical football team" doesn't mean the team is going to be tough.
"Is he going to take us back to the "glory" days of Lloyd Carr (1-6 vs. Ohio State in his final 7 years) and Braylon Edwards (1-3 vs. Ohio State)?"
Way to cherrypick the "worse" second half of Lloyd's career and not the very successful period that includes a NC and beating OSU regularly.
It was okay to hire Greg Robinson because he had a great first half of his career.
Except it is not really.
April 17th, 2011 at 10:19 PM ^
It is.
April 17th, 2011 at 11:17 AM ^
Hoke may be in over his head. That remains to be seen.
RR definitely was, though. Not only was his PR god-awful, but he couldn't hold the team together in tough situations, and put out a product on the field that was vastly outmatched against the relevant competition.
April 17th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
He has taken 2 bad/average teams and turned them into winners. I think he did both through recruiting better than anyone else.
"But he can only win in the Big East, not the Big Ten." I think people nagged on RR saying something similar to that. Looking at the CV's of the last two coaching hires, erasing the names, and tell me who you would of hired. I'm hoping Hoke will be a Mack Brown type of coach; more of an executive type and will surround himself with good coordinators.
I think he already has. Hoke seems to be an expert at recruiting.
just grant me Rich Rod's offense with Mattison's defense. I swear I won't ask for anything else.
April 17th, 2011 at 10:09 AM ^
You could make a donation of 4 million dollars to pay for both their salaries.
Grant me $4 million... I swear I won't ask for anything else.
That was exactly what i was thinking while at the game....if only we had 1/2 a D last year.
Offense looked rough and I"m worried we're not going to take advantage of this team's offensive skills. I'm really getting tired of downgrading my expectations..
just grant me Rich Rod's offense with Mattison's defense
I'd be down with this if it meant cutting down on Denard's carries. I don't want to see him finishing four games a year on the sidelines.
Down on bringing in Hoke/Borges to run this personnel.
April 17th, 2011 at 10:33 AM ^
No worries, fellas. DR's drives ended in two missed FG's, two punts, and a turnover on downs.
The offense hasn't changed, after all!
Dont Panic its not like we have 5 starters suspended for the first 5 games, and our head coach is found out by the whole world to be a lier, and were facing a NCAA scandle that could potenially not only change the face of the BIG TEN, but will be a landmark decision on how the NCAA deals with folk that cheat.......so all and all its a good spring for the Maize and Blue. The Def looked better now than they did in the Bowl game so they'll make tweaks and the OFF looked basic but potentially explosive, D. Rob still has to take his time and be patient, but hes still the most dangerous QB in the BTen.....READ D ROD!!!!! READ THE DEF
a level-headed post.
Denard will adapt just fine, and BTW he is still going to get significant yards on the ground.
we would have 3 games last year, max. boges will get it together before the fall, the man is a genious.
Not so much worried about Denard, the kid proved he can play last year. A little worried about offense in general, can't figure out if it was the oline or the improved defense. ( I know the oline didn't have all the starters) I not even worried about the defense it looks as though Mattison has them playing good football. I think the offense could sputter for a while this year, especially if they choose to line up in two tighend sets a lot. Hopefully Borges proves me wrong!
I look at it this way. It's only spring ball. Waaayyy too early in the coaching transition to start freaking out.
What the hell. Last year we had a defense that gave up 13,000 yards per game, a kicking game that couldn't... uh... kick, piss-poor special teams, no running backs that inspired ANY confidence. And after the spring game, people are worried about THIS GUY?
Jeebus.
Im gonna freek if the first play in the vid isnt in the playbook.
The QB Lead Oh Noes might be even more effective if operated out of a quasi-pro-style offense.
How many times was Denard in the open field last season and only a shoe string tackle away from six? Those 1702 rushing yards could've easily been much higher.
Absolutely my favorite Michigan offensive play of all time -- Denard's 86-yard bolt to pay dirt against ND.
Worried about what people like the 2008 head coach at St. Mary's High School (leading them to 5-5), who is on our staff, are going to do to this offense. People complained to high heaven about "cronyism" with Rich Rod's staff -- can anyone tell me that the resumes (i.e., past success) of our offensive staff gives them reassurance?
As a public evaluation method, the spring game doesn't offer much. I'm sure the coaches were looking for certain things, but for us...You just cannot learn much about a qb like Denard or the defense he is facing when the QB is not "live". Nor do I want to see Denard getting hit in April. Hell, I dont like seeing it in October.
I kindof thought the spring game was meant as kind of a treat for the fans, where you can bring your kids to the big house to see their heroes without having to sacrifice the mortgage payment. Somehow you guys find a way to ruin everything though. What could have happened for you all NOT to declare that the sky is falling?
You used the A-word. The randomly and ambiguously sensitive PC police will be after you in short order. Funny how they come out of the woodwork when someone suggests that someone other than Rodriguez their lord and savior might be able to put together a football team...
No one was really complaining about Denard, were they? But compared to a thread where the guy was predicting doom after a spring game and calling everyone cowards for not reacting the same way, I'm not sure one deserves editing more than the other for "content".
Edit: Guess it appears ok on the website.
Hey, I was doing this from an iPad during a wedding...gimme a break, eh? I didn't see the other thread. I saw this one and hijacked it rather than end the conversation.
And on the other thing...thanks.
April 17th, 2011 at 11:11 PM ^
For doing this at a wedding...or say STOP, run awayyyyyyyy!!!!!
they put me at the lesbians' table. I had an iPad and an internet connection, and very little to add to a conversation about Melissa Etheridge.
April 18th, 2011 at 12:36 AM ^
Excuses, excuses...
And the Winner, by Technical Knockout, and Still...
NBC sports quotes about Boise St. spring game:
"But actually watching the spring game itself turned out to be another story, as Boise’s defense ruled the 21-13 final. Quarterback and Heisman finalist Kellen Moore finished 5-of-14 for 50 yards in three series — almost statistically identical to Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson (who finished 5-0f-14 for 68 yards in Michigan’s scrimmage)."
Point is, the spring games across the country weren't beautiful, as they never are. The Defense will usually rule and QBs will struggle. Lets all just relax.
Has anyone argued yet that this is the Michigan defense vs. the Michigan offense? Of course the M defense should be better at stopping Denard -- they play him every practice.