Denard Robinson going to senior bowl
Michigan's Denard Robinson has committed to the Senior Bowl. He was invited as a receiver. Should play RB, too.
January 9th, 2013 at 3:26 PM ^
when is the sr bowl?
January 9th, 2013 at 3:28 PM ^
According to http://www.seniorbowl.com/:
Jan. 26th 3:00PM CST on NFl Network.
January 9th, 2013 at 3:45 PM ^
January 9th, 2013 at 6:00 PM ^
No, but this source confirms that Roy Roundtree will be playing in the Raycom College Football All-Star Classic
January 10th, 2013 at 9:37 AM ^
WHERE ARE YOU GETTING ALL THIS INFO
I WISH I HAD YOUR RESOURCES
January 9th, 2013 at 3:27 PM ^
I'm pretty excited to watch him in everything he does from here on out. Whichever team drafts him will be my 2nd favorite NFL team (unless it's Green Bay or Chicago).
January 9th, 2013 at 4:25 PM ^
So if your current favorite NFL team drafts him, they drop to #2?
January 9th, 2013 at 4:37 PM ^
Stupid question. The Lions are obviously not going to draft him. He doesn't do drugs or get arrested near enough to make that roster.
January 9th, 2013 at 5:18 PM ^
But, they might draft him as a receiver with the 5th overall pick.
January 9th, 2013 at 4:28 PM ^
What if your favorite team (Lions?) drafts him?
January 9th, 2013 at 4:38 PM ^
Stupid question. The Lions are obviously not going to draft him. He doesn't do drugs or get arrested near enough to make that roster.
January 9th, 2013 at 9:07 PM ^
January 9th, 2013 at 3:29 PM ^
I can safely say this will be the first and last time I'll be watching a senior bowl.
January 9th, 2013 at 3:31 PM ^
What if other Michigan players play in it next year?
January 9th, 2013 at 3:43 PM ^
I can safely say this is the first time I've watched a senior bowl and likely the last, unless the hypothetical UM player(s)-to-be are as likely to see action as DR.
January 9th, 2013 at 3:34 PM ^
I'm starting to wonder if he actually has a lingering injury in his throwing arm. I know he's not playing QB in the NFL, but it's not like his throws are so bad that he can't complete a pass.
January 9th, 2013 at 3:38 PM ^
I respectfully disagree. We all saw his attempt to throw the ball during the Outback Bowl. Remember that nice duck that went halfway to the reciever?
January 9th, 2013 at 3:40 PM ^
I think he means that Denard can complete passes when he's healthy.
January 9th, 2013 at 3:42 PM ^
He can, but there is more to it than just completing passes for NFL QBs. If that were the case then Mark Sanchez would be a good QB.
January 9th, 2013 at 4:03 PM ^
completing passas to players that are on your team
January 9th, 2013 at 3:43 PM ^
This
January 9th, 2013 at 3:49 PM ^
Gotcha...not trying to get on ya. I guess that we agree then that given his inability to throw a week ago coupled with his lack of improvement over 2 months since the injury makes me believe that this injury is still very much lingering.
I do agree that (when healthy) he can throw the ball and would make quite a good Wildcat QB if there is any NFL team/OC who is willing to dust off that idea. Seems to me that we have option QBs (RG3, Kaepernick, sort-of Wilson), but the change-of-pace/Wildcat QB has fallen out of favor recently.
January 9th, 2013 at 3:57 PM ^
There will be some teams adopting the read option as part of their base offense, but their QBs need to throw accurately. Denard does not. He is not a legit QB prospect, and the senior bowl is interested in the pro potential of players, so they will not work him at QB.
And it's better for him that they don't. He needs to get work at positions that NFL teams will use.
January 9th, 2013 at 5:56 PM ^
After playing QB at Indiana, Antwaan was drafted by the Steelers - he mostly was used as a receiver/special teams guy. He threw on plenty of trick plays during his career, and is the only receiver to throw a TD pass in a Super Bowl, and finished his NFL career with the highest passing rating of anyone who threw more than 20 passes. (Wikipedia, so it must be true).
January 9th, 2013 at 3:39 PM ^
Why not showcase his skills that will get him drafted? His throwing is not going to get him drafted as a QB.
January 9th, 2013 at 3:44 PM ^
But his capability of throwing makes him an even more versatile commodity for a team.
January 9th, 2013 at 4:41 PM ^
January 9th, 2013 at 3:46 PM ^
I agree with you, I was really talking about that he pretty much never threw a ball after the Nebraska game. That makes me think there is something wrong in his right arm.
January 9th, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^
Why didn't we know there was a problem with his right arm earlier?
/s (just in case anyone misses it)
January 9th, 2013 at 4:48 PM ^
Vincent Smith hasnt completed a pass since Nebraska either but his arms are both fine. NFL teams have years of footage on Denard throwing and since Aldavis is no longer living Denards not getting drafted as a QB. Hopefully he can answer questions about his hand/ route running because he showed he can play RB whenever he chooses
January 9th, 2013 at 3:36 PM ^
He needs the extra playing time since he missed some last season. This will also be his last chance to impress NFL scouts. I have to believe SOME team will take him simply for his speed alone. He obviously won't be a quarterback, but he showed some flash at running back. I feel he can definitely be a slot receiver and definitely a punt/kick returner.
January 9th, 2013 at 3:48 PM ^
January 9th, 2013 at 3:42 PM ^
Now that the season is over and we're in to this kind of Draft prep stuff my question is when would he consider surgery for his arm. Considering how long this has lingered it is quite possible he'd need ulnar nerve transposition. I would imagine he'd want to do that after the senior bowl before the draft. Or conversely does he try to minimize this until he is drafted and let the NFL team docs guide his decision. Thoughts?
January 9th, 2013 at 3:45 PM ^
Would you do that in his case? I think his ulnar nerve is bruised, not entrapped, so I'm not sure that there's a surgery to do...I'm not a doctor, but I have had to have my ulnar nerve un-pinched via surgery, and I also stayed at that hotel what makes your brain bigger.
January 9th, 2013 at 3:52 PM ^
Good question. Without an MRI I really can't tell you if it is bruised/irritated or entrapped. Nerves are netorious for slow healing, but it has been over 2 months without improvement (and it sounds like this was a re-aggrivation of previous problems). My best from-the-couch guess diagnosis would be entrappment, but who knows (that is rhetorical...obviously he and his docs do)
*please excuse terrible spelling...long day
January 9th, 2013 at 3:58 PM ^
if you were writing it out, as a doctor, we wouldn't be able to read it anyway.
I'm curious though, if it was that long without any improvement, why oh why would they have him attempt a pass during the Outback Bowl? Even though it was only one (that I can remember) and it was short, seems like a waste of a play if it was still giving him problems. But like you said, obviously he and his doctors are the only ones who know for sure.
January 9th, 2013 at 4:12 PM ^
Pure guess here: if he could have completed even that little pass it may have given the defense pause before stuffing 9 guys in the box to defend the run when Denard lined up at QB (like his freshman year).
January 9th, 2013 at 4:00 PM ^
January 9th, 2013 at 4:44 PM ^
I feel like these two coaching staffs are doing this game every year. Also, Denard to the Raiders: confirmed. SPEEEED
January 9th, 2013 at 4:17 PM ^
January 9th, 2013 at 4:59 PM ^
then yes.
January 9th, 2013 at 5:04 PM ^
It will be exciting to see how NFL coaches use him. He might be playing for the Lions staff, FWIW, since they are coaching one of the teams.
January 9th, 2013 at 5:45 PM ^
January 9th, 2013 at 5:29 PM ^
Kyle Meinke did a nice little write-up - (LINK)
It seems that Mel Kiper was talking about how Robinson needs to be something akin to Antwaan Randle-El in the Super Bowl and show that he can catch the ball, and according to Kiper, if he can do that, the theory would be that Robinson could go as high as the second round.
For reference, some of the other RBs that accepted invites were Montee Ball, Kenjon Barner and Jonathan Franklin. Other WRs that accepted include Chris Harper, Tavarres King and Ryan Swope (list of acceptances, current to 1/4)
Good luck to Denard in the Senior Bowl!
January 9th, 2013 at 11:39 PM ^
Denard is going in Round 1...mark it down. He is too explosive of an athlete...too versatile and too much of a star for some NFL teams to turn down.
January 10th, 2013 at 9:17 AM ^
I think they're very similar - I've always said that. Hopefully Denard can catch. Otherwise he'll find a role as a wildcat QB, KR/PR and occasional speed back.
I will say this, with NFL going more "college-like" I wouldn't be shocked to see Denard succeed in the league.
Guys like Pete Carroll, Jim Harbaugh, etc. can certain use his skills to the best of their ability.