Darboh looking good in practice

Submitted by MilkSteak on

AnnArbor.com reports Amara Darboh is looking good in his first few practices as a Wolverine.

Featuring quotes from Roy Roundtree such as:

 

"He's really fast and strong. Amara, he just showed out today. I feel like he's really being comfortable. I told him, 'It's football, man. It's just a faster pace.' And he did it."

And:

"I quizzed him last night to make sure he was on his Ps and Qs. He asks a lot of questions, but he did a great job.His head is spinnin', just like all the other freshman. Asking questions. But he's a great kid."

Swang on These

August 7th, 2012 at 1:53 PM ^

I think the point others were trying to make (partially a result of boring offseason is boring) is that looking good and standing out without pads on is better than not looking good and standing out without pads on. Does it mean he's destined for success this season? no. Does it mean he's moving in the right direction? sure.

WolvinLA2

August 7th, 2012 at 1:45 PM ^

But if there's one position where playing without pads is more telling than others, it might be WR.  If he can pick up the playbook, the playcalls, and run quick, crisp routes, that's a very good sign.  Outside of blocking, a WR doesn't use his pads much besides getting tackles. 

It's also a good sign when our heaviest WR is looking good without pads on. 

Salinger

August 7th, 2012 at 1:45 PM ^

Clearly you don't know anything. I mean, come on, we have the NFL Combine and those guys run around in their underwear for that thing. How a player performs at the combine is by far the single greatest indicator of how good said player will ultimately be. The same can be said helmets and shorts two-a-days.

/s

corundum

August 7th, 2012 at 1:48 PM ^

Even if everyone looks good without pads it is still possible to stand out above the rest. No one is claiming "ZOMG FRESHMAN ALL BIG TEN!!!" They are just noting that compared to others, Darboh had a nice day on the field. I'll take Denard and Roundtree as credible sources, and although this was the first day of fall practice, it doesn't mean they havn't thrown the football around before.

Sinsemillaplease

August 7th, 2012 at 3:58 PM ^

They're more relevant than dunk contests and home run derbies, for sure. They can make a world of difference for the relationship between QB and receiver, especially for receivers transitioning into new offenses. Receivers don't work on route timing with the threat of being hit until after they've mastered it in the summer. If you can't do it without pads, you can't do it at all.

Sten Carlson

August 7th, 2012 at 2:05 PM ^

I think you started the polarization of the commentary by saying that Tree's accolades of AD were irrelevant.  If you had made a comment that was a little less black-or-white, maybe others might not react in similar fashion.  Right now we're all looking for little tid bits to get excited about, and Tree's comments about AD are just that.

Magnus

August 7th, 2012 at 2:09 PM ^

They are somewhat irrelevant, because he was commenting about an activity that's somewhat irrelevant.

It's like someone complimenting Harold Miner's performance in the slam dunk competition.  It's great that Miner could dunk and everything, but how good was he at playing basketball?  Not very.

Again, that doesn't mean I expect Darboh to be a bust.  It's just that day one doesn't matter.  All they're doing on day one is working on learning the playbook, alignments, formations, working into shape, etc.

This is my last comment on the topic because that's pretty much all I have to say.  I'm already repeating myself, so it's not worth continuing.

maizenbluenc

August 7th, 2012 at 2:27 PM ^

about Pop Warner and Middle School football. The coaches make pre-conceived judgements during no-pad conditioning, and then the pads go on and they find out the guy who looked great in conditioning is afraid to hit, tackle, or get hit and tackled. But, since the guy looked so good without pads, they keep trying for half a season before they figure it out.

This is how the Kovacses of the world are missed until they get their one shining moment to show you what they have.

LSAClassOf2000

August 7th, 2012 at 1:47 PM ^

This is great news, of course, and I think it is easier to make an impact early at WR so long as he can learn the plays and block well enough. This is a position group with some questions going in but also with some capable hands as well, so if Darboh can provide a boost this season here and there, that definitely helps. I also think that it is great that he is asking questions of players like Roundtree - it would seem then that not only is he here, but he is motivated to learn and contribute.

O Fo Sho

August 7th, 2012 at 1:46 PM ^

needs him, Robinson or Gardner to step up as a big field deep threat.  However, this is after ONE practice, not a few.  Hopefully three weeks from now we are hearing the same great stuff for Darboh.  As it's been said it's a position of need and a position where a FR can have a great impact.

Sten Carlson

August 7th, 2012 at 2:28 PM ^

And some people *cough* you *cough* need to learn more about tact and being respectful of others.  As I said, we're all football starved, practice is starting, we're all wondering about the new players coming in, and we're excited by positive comments coming from veterans.

Way to take a big runny crap on our collective parade.  Why the fuck do you care if we get excited about Tree's positive comments?  Do it effect you in any way?  Have you, unbenounced to the rest of us, been appointed the Guardian of MGoBlog users excitement?

StephenRKass

August 7th, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^

I agree with Magnus. The data just isn't sufficient to know much about Darboh, at least yet.

However . . . 

Between Darboh, and Chesson, and QB/WR Gardner, I think we are going to be better off at receiver than many have anticipated. WR & RB are the two positions where you regularly see significant immediate freshmen impact. I also have wanted to see Gardner move to WR for some time. This is gambling, because of QB depth, but I'd rather have Hoke and Borges be aggressive rather than have Gardner languish on the bench. Furthermore, having Denard and Gardner on the field at the same time opens up trick play possibilities galore that will be difficult to defend. I am waiting for variations on flea flickers and backward passes, with Denard becoming a receiver, etc.

My concern this year is more for both the OL & DL. We are way too thin both lines, and I really think it will be at least 2013 and probably 2014 before there is sufficient depth. However, I also agree with another observation made by Magnus and others:  with the incoming OL classes, we are going to provide great QB protection and lanes for whoever is at running back.

Sideline

August 7th, 2012 at 2:16 PM ^

I'm really excited to see what/if Devin can provide some threat at WR... I remember when we were recruiting him, he went to camps and played both QB and WR, whether it was serious or not, I don't know, but I do remember videos surfacing about him being a FREAK athlete...

Hannibal.

August 7th, 2012 at 2:38 PM ^

Over the years, I have found a very useful guideline regarding rumors that you hear out of practice...

100% of what you hear that is bad is true

50% of what you hear that is good is true

So the good things about Darboh have about a 50% chance of being right.  On the other hand, if we heard that he came in with a big spare tire or wasn't as athletic as everyone was expecting, I would give that a 100% chance of being true.

jsa

August 7th, 2012 at 2:53 PM ^

Definitely a positive to hear good things about a good-sized freshman at a position of need.

I do agree that the WR paranoia is a little overblown. Really, we have several good options out there for Denard, and even if Gardner can make just enough catches/big plays to warrant an opponent freak out (particularly in the redzone), that will loosen things up for Roy, Jeremy and any other guys.

Seriously, imagine if Devin Gardner lines up at WR during that Iowa goaline stand... automatically, the Hawkeyes have to account for the quick fade (ala Pryor for OSU). That maybe gives the other guys a chance to make a play elsewhere.

I actually think we might throw more than we did a year ago, while still maintaining that run first offense.

If I had to guess (hope), here's how I predict some stats shake out...

Roy Roundtree 50-60 catches, 800+ yards, 8-10 TDs (solid bounce-back year, but not 2010 numbers)

Jeremy Gallon 40-50 catches, 600+ yards, 5 TDs

Dileo & Darboh: combined end up with 30-40 catches, 10-12 ypr, 3-5 TDs

Devin Gardner 15-20 catches, 300+ yards, 5 TDs 

====

Denard? passing-wise, I think he ends up looking a lot like his 2010 line. low-mid 60's completion pct, 2300-2500 yards, 22-25 TDs, 10 ints.