October 28th, 2012 at 12:51 AM ^
1. Denard covers up allot of deficiencies on offense. Say what you will about his passing but the fact that the kid can break a long gain or even a 4 or 5 yard run on any given play - makes up for allot of other offensive personnel deficiencies. More on this below...
2. Toussaint has not been effective at all this year. He is not running North and South. Most will point at Fitz and say its his fault but I think we need to examine what's going on in the trenches. We may be having issues on the offensive line that are not being talked about. Are the holes there? Again Denard's dynamic running ability covers up for what may otherwise be average (or worse) offensive line play. I don't think it's fair to lay all of the blame on Fitz. And for those of you who think Thomas Rawls is the answer I would encourage you to evaluate our blocking up front.
3. I was at a bar watching the game and I could not hear what they were saying about Denard's injury. But I have to think it was killing him to be on the sidelines. The fact that he never went in leads me to think this may be a season ending injury. At the very least this is a recurring theme with him and so we have to be looking at other QB options to finish the year and beyond.
4. Bellomy isn't ready. I won't bash the kid but we all saw what happened out there tonight. It was Nick Sheridan-esque. Given that Gardner hasn't exactly been producing as a WR of late I wonder if we're better off sticking with Gardner as the #1 backup. At this point I do not think that Bellomy can beat any of the teams remaining on our schedule. I also think Gardner would gain valuable time which would prepare him to lead the team in 2013 (and 2014 if he gets his medical redshirt). Nobody can tell me that Bellomy is the better of the two QB's...
5. Lots of issues on offense. Susupect blocking. Lack of game breakers at RB and WR. No heir apparent on the roster as the starting QB. Suspect play calling.
6. Sadenned by Denard's injury. We had an excellent shot at winning this game...
October 28th, 2012 at 1:26 PM ^
We've gotten used to the luxury that 3rd and 5 does not have to be a passing down. That puts a lot of pressure on a defense, and that's all Denard's doing. We are going to miss that.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:53 AM ^
It's certainly going to be a transition to whoever follows Denard.
That said, before academics became a factor (they always do...) our friend Tate Forcier had a pretty good year as a Freshman. If study hall had mattered...
I'm looking at you Shane Morris.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:01 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 1:17 AM ^
Don't you know? Sugar Shane is gonna lead Michigan to 4 straight national championships during his time here. It has already been universally accepted by the rest of the college football world that this will happen.
/s
October 28th, 2012 at 1:16 PM ^
that was the worst-looking QB play I have ever seen, and I remember watching rick leach play. the stats bear that out. nick sheridan even looked better and he had zero experience.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:54 AM ^
Sometimes I wonder if Denard is a crutch for coaching staffs. Is it possible that having him has stunted the growth of the rest of our offense? Maybe I'm just numb and bitter and incredibly disapointed. Nope. No maybe about it.
I hope Denard gets better soon. We need him.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:55 AM ^
Denard is a great athelete and if we want to honor him - cause he won't play QB at NFL level - we should have made his gifts/capabilities more apparent by letting him show some reps at KR, WR,etc.
Also, just because his back-up was unprepared doesn't show how much better DR is or blessed we are to have him. His back-up was unprepared. period.
I would rather sing the praises of Woodson or Howard than Denard, a gifted athlete who was a turnover machine at times.
October 28th, 2012 at 3:41 AM ^
8 games into his red shirt freshman year I exspected a lot more out of Bellamy. I turned off the game late in the 3rd quarter after Bellamy went 1-9 with a pick and 2 sacks. At that point Gardner or even Kennedy should have been put in the Game.
I can't see any offensive player actually wanting to play for this coaching staff. The preseason hype of this team was a better team with more losses. The offense has taken a huge step back this year while losing 2 players neither of which is ripping up the NFL
October 28th, 2012 at 8:39 AM ^
Bellomy, on the other hand, probably didn't sleep well.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:01 PM ^
8 games into his red shirt freshman year I exspected a lot more out of Bellamy.You do realize that Bellomy didn't actually play much in the first seven games of the season, right? This was his first extended action of his career. If it had actually been his eighth game I think he'd have done a lot better.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:51 PM ^
He has played multiple series this season and most importantly has practiced all year as the number 2. The whole we have faith in Russel is coach speak for we have no other choice
October 28th, 2012 at 10:29 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 11:00 AM ^
In 2008, 2009, 2010 we were supposed to win 10 games with 1st year QBs. Because thats what Michigan does.
So I guess I'm supposed to be mad at our coaching staff in 2012 because they couldn't even win half a game with a 1st year QB.
The biggest problem with this game was Hoke/Borges' inability to realize that Bellomy clearly wasn't ready after his 4th or 5th drive and give Gardner a shot to run the offense. I'll never understand that level of stubborn.
October 28th, 2012 at 11:52 AM ^
Man, you need to let the Rodriguez stuff go. It seems like in every post you're fighting the last war.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:17 PM ^
Actually I'm just pointing out how unrealistic people were then and how unrealistic it was yesterday to expect Bellomy to perform at a high level and how its often the same people who were so critical then that are now so understanding.
But you wouldn't get that.
And if you were being realistic, you'd see that this is literally the only thread I've pointed this out in because it actually ties into what we saw yesterday.
You should probably get over the fact that Rodriguez coached here and is still relevant in discussion about the current team.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:49 PM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 1:23 PM ^
I don't think anyone would expect Bellomy to play at a "high level". We just didn't expect to see likely the worst game ever, especially after hearing the praises from coaches of his practice play.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:57 PM ^
He's a 3 star, RS freshman who was thrown into a road game against a very good opponent. His performance was completely understandable.
That's not on Borges or Hoke. What's on Borges and Hoke is the idiotic decision to play him to the end, instead of switching over to Gardner when it was clear he wasn't at all ready.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:56 AM ^
Denard will come back from his injury and finish off his career with a Rose Bowl MVP. Book it.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:13 AM ^
Boy do I hope you're right.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:58 AM ^
I'll miss Denard so much. We'll never see his like at Michigan again.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:04 AM ^
Nobody ever talks about the possibility that we have the worst group of wide receivers in FBS history. They cant block, they certainly can't catch unless the ball is buried into their stomachs, and Im sorry, but if you're 5'9" you should have flawless hands, and if you're 6'5" and there's a jump ball, you should not be getting outlept and picked off by a 6'1" corner.
So with this, I ask: What in the hell did we recruit between 2008 and 2010???? We know we didnt recruit either line, linebackers, secondary, but our RBs and WRs are abysmal as well. We literally have 2 good players on offense (Denard and Lewan), 3-4 good players on defense, and no sort of depth.
October 28th, 2012 at 4:37 AM ^
Even the upperclassmen seem to have regressed. Roy Roundtree has been terribly disappointing these past few years. Maybe pilfering players from Purdue isn't such a good strategy.
October 28th, 2012 at 4:21 PM ^
Roundtree disappointing?
I guess you didn't listen to last nights game, because apparently Roundtree is top 10 all-time at Michigan.
October 28th, 2012 at 5:56 AM ^
All of our WRs have the dropsies.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:41 AM ^
but I think denard's shitty passing has screwed up our wideouts. When I watched bellomy throw a good ball and hit the guys in the hands they looked surprised...
call it what you will but I think the whole offense is a house of cards and when that main piece is out the cards tumble down... and if the offense would have been built better around a real quarterback we would be less 'explosive' and more productive.
jdon
October 28th, 2012 at 10:22 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 11:02 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 1:08 AM ^
I've been arguing about this with my father every week since we turned around after ND. I asked him what he thinks our offense will be next year. He talks about the scheme, and I simply ask, no, where are the yards going to come from? He never has an answer for that.
Denard isn't perfect. In some ways, his flaws are as notable as his strengths. But he is a magnificent athlete, a special QB and we will miss him frightfully, especially next year. I don't care how many INTs he throw from now until his last day, I will never, never forget what he is done for this program. It would have been a dark few years without him.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:14 AM ^
I couldn't have said it better myself. As of right now, Denard IS the offense and there's obviously a huge drop off in production when he comes out the game.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:20 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 8:55 AM ^
"Where are the yards going to come from?"
This is an interesting question because it is an appropriate one to ask, If we look at the rushing game in particular, since the beginning of the 2010 season, Michigan has amassed 7,638 net yards of rushing, and Robinson is responsible for 3,824 of them, which is 50.1% of our net rushing in 2.67 seasons now. We've scored 82 rushing TDs, 36 of which were scored by Denard Robinson personally, which is good for 43.9% over that same stretch of 2.67 seasons.
It's been discussed in many threads here, but even though Denard Robinson is not the best quarterback in Michigan history on several important metrics, I don't think we've ever had an athlete like him and we may never see such an athlete again, at least not for a long time. Even last night, when the offense clearly isn't working on all cylinders, he is a factor when he is in there and he is a distraction to the opposing "D". It is rare to have a player that electrifying, or to opponents, that intimidating by virtue of sheer athleticism. His contributions should never be forgotten.
October 28th, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^
a dark few years
October 28th, 2012 at 1:08 AM ^
I'm gonna miss the hell out of Denard and we will never see anyone like him at Michigan again. There was a reason we were one of only two schools to offer him as a qb out of high school.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:19 AM ^
Shut up nucky.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:30 AM ^
Question a player's "intelligence" again. See what happens.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:00 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 2:04 AM ^
Send me a post card from Bolivia, buddy. At least its warm this time of year.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:16 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 2:08 AM ^
Please ban this annoying twat.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:17 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 2:25 AM ^
I was going to write about how you, of course, must be an experienced QB, fit to judge Denard based on your years of quality contribution to the sport. But then the joke just sort of faltered...
I guess probably because you're just a troll. Jusssst a troll.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:35 AM ^
Lmao
I've forgotten more about the game then most of you, save the excellent Brian and a few others like Magnus and such.
I get volatile when I post something about play calling or something and someone who knows nothing about the game tell me I'm wrong. Everyone has an opinion. I don't slam other people's opinions unless its painfully obvious that they're wrong. Like the Bellomy situation tonight. Kid was set up to fail by Borges wasn't all on him. However the mighty mgoers are all over the kid saying he's worse then Sheridan but I'm the troll.
It's fine cause at the end of the day I make a living coaching football and I'm not going to let a couch quarterback tell me when I'm wrong.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:54 AM ^
Denard might be a bad QB, but you are obviously the dumbest coach out there.
Thanks for your lengthy contribution on the board, which none of us really go through all the way. LMAO.
October 28th, 2012 at 3:26 AM ^
What happened against Lyndonville?
October 28th, 2012 at 11:23 AM ^
do you care to explain this comment:
If I were coach obrien I seriously would take a 15 yard penalty to spear Braxton miller while he's down. I hate them that much and am that classless that I would like nothing more then to see him concussed again
with a better explanation than this?:
I just hate miller and Meyer that much. I never want to see a kid hurt but I generally have that much hate for those two that I could care less if he were concussed again
Because honestly, I'm not seeing it. At all.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:00 PM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 1:08 PM ^
if anyone is interested, those comments can be found here:
http://mgoblog.com/comment/reply/73169/1768234
http://mgoblog.com/comment/reply/73169/1768298