October 28th, 2012 at 11:51 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 12:56 PM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 5:25 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 2:40 PM ^
Opinions are just as subject to moderation as anything else.
October 28th, 2012 at 8:20 PM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 2:12 PM ^
Blue, I get what you're going at -- Denard is obviously a smart kid. Every time I've heard him speak he seems to have a wonderful head on his shoulders, and let's be honest: stupid kids don't get degrees at UM. I absolutely love cheering for the kid, and I couldn't be happier that he's on our side.
That said, Denard's football IQ is honestly not very good. He seems to struggle mightily to read defenses prior to the snap, he has struggled with his reads on the zone read option his entire career (either that or he's consistently being coached to hold on to the option a second and a half longer than pretty much every QB I've ever seen). He's also been inconsistent on his passing reads (reference: Aaaaaarrrrrggggh Denard throws).
Denard is an incredible talent and a phenomenal gamer. He plays incredibly hard. But he seems to have struggled to find consistent coaching throughout his career, especially the last two. With Denard at the helm, this is the kind of team that should be up-tempo and letting the coaching staff call audibles on the sideline (I'm in favor of the coaching staff calling audibles for just about anyone not named Luck or Manning, that's not a dig on Denard). Instead our offense seems unable to adapt to what they're seeing. That's obviously not all Denard (I would argue at least half of it is coaching).
Without Denard, this team is probably 7-5 at best. He's such an incredible, dynamic player who changes the tenor of the play on the field simply by being out there. But it's important to remember that he's not perfect, and I really think that criticizing his football IQ is a legitimate point to bring up.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:38 PM ^
"Football IQ" is fair game. I'd question your premise (the lack of audibles, etc. seems to be Borges' thing rather than Denard's), but it's fair game.
"Intelligence" is not fair game, and is invariably flamebait.
October 28th, 2012 at 3:18 PM ^
Yes, sorry. I wouldn't say that Denard isn't a smart kid (obviously...if he wasn't, he'd be going to MSU ;)), and considering the other posts in this thread it's obvious that was a troll. I just did feel like he could have made a legitimate point if it were better worded.
The Audibles thing, you're right, is an iffy point of argument. I do feel like Denard's incredibly slow zone reads are helping to contribute to the lack of production out of Fitz this season. At this point, he is what he is, though. The good and bad are just a part of why we love him.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:07 AM ^
Aside from the generally offensive nature of your post, allow me to observe what I remind myself whenever Denard makes a mistake.
This game can be Moneyballed into simple math. You need to get yards to get TDs, you need TDs to win. Denard has been shattering Michigan and national records. That doesn't just happen.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:20 AM ^
I don't even want to think about next year without Denard. I hope he gets well soon -- our chances to watch him play football in a Michigan uniform are dwindling, and I'll take as many chances as I can get.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:25 AM ^
who thinks Denard with NO arms would be better than Bellomy?
October 28th, 2012 at 1:56 AM ^
He is young and before tonight has not had any meaningful playing time.
October 28th, 2012 at 2:16 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 5:17 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 1:36 AM ^
MODZZZZZZZZZ!
I think we have another RDT thing going on in the Michigan-Neb Remaining schedules thread...
October 28th, 2012 at 2:11 AM ^
Haha, I think we've all known for sometime that this Husker person is just a troll looking for accolades. Most of the other fans who create posts to compare upcoming games are bullshit too.
October 28th, 2012 at 5:59 AM ^
Haha nice!
October 28th, 2012 at 2:16 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 2:45 AM ^
I realize I'm going to get negged to hell, but this thread is ridiculous. Without Denard (and Richrod) we would've recruited a QB who had some semblance of an arm, with a downfield threat. The reason our offense can't function without Denard is because we have no downfield threat whatsoever. Whoever we play can simply stack the box and stop our offense with ease.
Once we have a seasoned Shane Morris with a reasonable back-up, we'll laugh on these days.
GO BLUE
October 28th, 2012 at 2:53 AM ^
indeed
October 28th, 2012 at 3:03 AM ^
As promising as Hoke looks at re-installing stability, it is still puzzling that our whole season revolves around one guy or one position, staying healthy. Why not have gardner take reps in practice at QB too so it's not total feast or famine? If Denard is somehow, for some reason not able to return this year, it would not be totally insane to predict an 0-4 finish with Bellomy starting and playing every game.
How is that? How does this staff justify revolving ALL of our offensive potency around a RUNNING quarterback and NOT have a legitimate back up plan, and remain in stable cardiac condition everytime Denard tucks it and runs? I understand it is the reminants of rich rod's philosophy to have whole team's success revolve around one position, but is it above your pay grade to at least have a Steven Threet caliber back up plan????? Ughhhh.
October 28th, 2012 at 10:35 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 8:44 AM ^
the fellows who are supposed to catch the ball. If they fail to catch as many as they did tonight, those tears won't be from laughter.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:41 AM ^
When will things STOP being Rich Rod's fault?
Hoke and co. failed to take a QB in the 2012 class despite M taking one every year for the past 16 or so. They also took Russell Bellomy instead of a more college-ready quarterback.
Now we see why this was a terrible idea.
October 28th, 2012 at 11:17 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 1:49 PM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 3:07 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 3:41 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 10:17 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 3:49 AM ^
I got blasted for saying "I'll take Shane" on a Bellomy appreciation thread. I'll still take Shane.
October 28th, 2012 at 4:08 AM ^
When was this?!?
October 28th, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 4:03 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 9:11 AM ^
I think we'll appreciate him most next year, when he's gone for good. The new starter (whether Shane or Bellomy) is bound to have significant growing pains next year. I was hoping that Devin would be the guy stepping in with some experience to run the offense while Morris developed as his backup, but that doesn't seem likely anymore.
Gardner was a 5-star coming in, and we were set up to have a much smoother transition than what we're likely to have now.
October 28th, 2012 at 9:41 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 10:03 AM ^
Denard has played two full games without a TD this year and half of one last night. I don't blame Denard for any of it. You have to look no further than Borges. He has the most exciting player in college football and he runs the most bland offensive scheme of anyone.
October 28th, 2012 at 10:27 AM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 10:59 AM ^
Seriously. Denard looked good. That 55 yard pass that Roundtree dropped was perfect.
I have no doubt we win that game going away if Denard stays in the game.
October 28th, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^
I think you mean "caught" and subsequently "robbed."
October 28th, 2012 at 11:29 AM ^
Good point.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 12:16 PM ^
and since this is a Denard appreciation thread, he has made a us a better offensive team always
October 28th, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^
Please get better soon Denard!
October 28th, 2012 at 11:40 AM ^
Denard has been our offense for a while now, which is why we are so hit or miss. If he gets off we put up big numbers. If he can't, we struggle mightily. And, if he's out, we flat out can't move the ball in a forward direction. This makes me very scared for next year. I hope Gardner comes out next week (assuming Denard is out) and puts that to rest with a good performance, but right now I'm worried about a lof of positions next year.
Offensive Line
LT - If Lewan goes will Magnuson be ready?
LG - Barnum graduates, will Burzynski or Kalis be ready? My guess is Kalis gets the nod
C - Mealer graduates, will Miller be ready?
RG - Omameh graduates, Who plays here Burzynski?
RT - Schofield back...not sure how I feel about that
So we go Magnuson, Kalis, Miller, Burzynski, and Schofield...yikes.
RB - Toussiant is back, but what has he done? Does Rawls or Hayes get a shot, Smith? Rawls seems powerful but not that fast, Hayes seems good, but small. Heck lets throw Thomas in there...he may be our best athlete and RB seems to be a position a freshman can come right in and play. Green we need you now.
QB - Well, that's the big question, Garder or Bellomy, or does Morris step right in? I don't want hate on Bellomy, he deserves credit for gettting thrown into a tough situation. With the tools around him (or lack thereof) and the many drops by the recievers and some bad breaks with the weird pop-up Smith interception etc. many things happened that could have had a better result without him doing anything different. BUT, from what I saw Bellomy doesn't have the tools to be a FBS starting QB, sorry.
WR - Gallon, Dileo, Jackson, Darboh, Chesson, Gardner...yikes again. No real proven player maker there. Maybe Darboh and Chesson come in and provide playmaking, maybe we get Treadwell, maybe Funchess becomes a viable every down pass catching threat at TE. And, Gallon & Dileo is and will continue to be a solid, reliable guys, but not #1 type recievers.
Defensively I don't have as many concerns despite losing some key guys I think our secondary and linebackers will be just fine and I am actually looking forward to seeing some guys get in there like Pipkins & Bolden/Ross. I wonder if Wilson will come or if Robinson will be our SS. Either way, not overly concerned about most of the defense. The one position I am worried about is DE. We have no pass rush.
DE - Roh graduates. Do we play Heitzman, does Clark/Beyer move over, can Taco Charleton step right in, can Wormley recover and be ready?
DE - We get back the Clark/Beyer/Ojemudia combo back but what have they done this year? Do we all of a sudden expect one of these guys to make a big jump? Ojemudia seems most likely, but can he put on enough weight to be effective?
So, ulimtately our O-line makes me go YIKES. Our QB makes me go YIKES (only reserving Gardner judgement until he plays longer). Our RB situation seems ho hum. Our WR situation seems ho hum. And, our DE situation seems ho hum. I see a frustrating year coming next season. We need our very talented young/incoming offensive lineman ASAP. We need playmakers at WR and RB fast (Green and Treadwell please). And, we need development of a pass rushing DE, like now.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:12 PM ^
...think about it when Denard is in, defenses don't pass rush, they contain -so the OLine looks -on paper-like they are not allowing sacks. When he is out they can't stop the rush and we already know they don't run block well. The OLine IS THE CONCERN right now. They aren't that good ---- I think Borges has been calling plays to cover up that deficiency too. He can only do so much and his gameplan utilizing Denard is actually pretty good given this year's line. He his really limited when Denard is not in. The only thing I don't understand is why Devin isn't in at QB - I am not as critical of Bellomy as others - he is in a tough spot. Devin's skill set is more akin to Denard's , adn I think right now he gives us a better chance.
After what I just wrote, this thought I have is still there. The coaches must know a little more than we do.
October 28th, 2012 at 12:02 PM ^
October 28th, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
Agree that if Denard goes out again Gardner should come it at QB, Bellomy looked nervous and unsure of himself last night and the WR's certainly weren't helping him any. Why they can't catch a ball that hits them in the hands is beyond me. I know Bellomy was charged with 3 INTs last night, but the one on the pass to Smith, was Smith's fault not Bellomy's. How a player can catapult a ball directly to a defender, after he hit's the ground is beyond me.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:28 PM ^
I love Denard as much as the next guy but we still only put up 6 points in a half against a bad defense. No bueno
October 28th, 2012 at 1:36 PM ^
At this point, I don't care if Denard can throw on 3rd and 10 or not. He stood by us when he could have left for an offense more suitable to his strengths (can you imagine him at AZ?).
So I'll stand by him, period.
October 28th, 2012 at 1:43 PM ^
I remember when everyone was complaining about Denard...Funny isnt it