Hokeforprez

February 24th, 2013 at 5:16 PM ^

I had some of the same thoughts. (just can't put into words as well) His combine numbers don"t pop out at you; like I thought thay would. But, it got me thinking.  There is something, way diffrent about Shoelace that sets him apart. He looks much faster than anyone on the field.  It must be something with his ability to see the field and follow blockers. I think he will be something good in the NFL.

Joined: 02/28/2012

MGoPoints: 134

Keeeeurt

February 24th, 2013 at 5:21 PM ^

The more I think about it, the more I would like the Lions to draft Denard in the fifth or sixth round, where CBS Sports has him going.  They need someone to replace Best's role on the team, and Denard measured in exactly the same as Best (5'10'' and 199 lbs) and practicly the same 40 time, 4.34 for Denard and 4.35 for Best.  Additionally, I think Denard is better suited for a RB spot rather than WR in the first place.

Joined: 09/04/2009

MGoPoints: 3647

Keeeeurt

February 24th, 2013 at 5:41 PM ^

I'm not talking about an every-down back by any means, I'm thinking of LaMichael James towards the end of the year for the 49ers.  He wouldn't need to run it as much as Best did because the Lions have a workhorse back in LeShoure or at least they think they do and they didn't have that guy when Best was around.

Joined: 09/04/2009

MGoPoints: 3647

LB

February 24th, 2013 at 5:45 PM ^

during a football game. Denard has made me laugh more than any Michigan player I have watched. You see him cut, see the hole, and just know that he is going to break one - all that in the first 5 yards. There is nothing left to do but laugh with knowing glee.

There is a place out there for Denard. I don't care if he doesn't have a contract worth more than the output of a small nation, but I would dearly love to see him have a career that will get his adult life off to a good start. I have no doubt that he will take care of the rest. There is a mailbox in Florida that needs replacing.

*Excluding the NFL - I reserve the right to laugh at damned near anything they do.

Edit - props to Thorin for the MGoVideo link in the article!

Joined: 09/26/2009

MGoPoints: 25494

yoyo

February 24th, 2013 at 5:48 PM ^

I love Denard so much that I hope the Lions don't draft him.  We do a great job of ruining the careers of talented players with a few exceptions of course. 

Joined: 02/11/2011

MGoPoints: 8199

sdogg1m

February 24th, 2013 at 6:08 PM ^

This article is garbage! I love Denard but...

"Put together a bunch of athletes, take advantage of the relaxed rules that prevent defenses from breathing heavy on offensive players, put those athletes in space, and say, "Hut, hut."

The San Francisco 49ers are great at this. So is Seattle. So is New England. The Steelers. The successful, forward-thinking franchises all do this. The losers don't."

And who is the first person quoted? A member of one of the losers: Martin Mayhew

I pray to God that Denard doesn't end up in Detroit. He has a good chance of having a productive nfl career but it won't be with the Lions.

Joined: 09/13/2008

MGoPoints: 5790

Michigasling

February 24th, 2013 at 8:20 PM ^

Mayhew says:

"He can do so many things, and he's very good at a lot of things. You have to have a creative offensive mind, creative coaching staff, to figure out the best way to use him."

So I guess he's saying the Lions aren't going to take him.

Joined: 11/21/2009

MGoPoints: 7751

Perkis-Size Me

February 24th, 2013 at 10:13 PM ^

I think Belichek would love to have him. Not sure if he'd be any higher than a 4th or 5th round pick in that scenario given that they already have so much offensive firepower, but I'd bet Belichek would love to draft Denard as a project in the later rounds. Maybe an eventual replacement for Welker or just to give the offense another x-factor.

I think he'd work well in Philly with what Chip Kelly wants to do, but where I think it'd be most interesting to see him go is DC. The thought of RGIII, Alfred Morris, and Denard in the same backfield would give defensive coordinators unending nightmares.

Just for the love of God don't send him to the Lions.

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 105367

WolverineFanatic6

February 25th, 2013 at 2:59 AM ^

Still error prone as the initial takeoff is clocked by human hand. After watching the skill guys all day I'd say that his official time is not off by much. One thing that 40 yard dash doesn't measure is Denard's incredible lateral movement and his epic ability to start and stop very quickly with great burst. Aside from his 40 time where he was 7th best I thought his performance in the drills certainly show his room for improvement. In the gauntlet he routinely illustrated improper catching techniques. He needs to keep his hands tighter and closer together. He needs to attack the football and not let it into his body. I think he will definitely improve once his nerve injury is completely healed. One thing he obviously has is great toughness, leadership, and the fact that he's willing to do anything for any team that gives him a shot leads me to believe his overall performance at the combine was a success. I believe Denard's will get drafted somewhere in the latter rounds, probably 4th-6th range but it would not surprise me one bit for a team to take a shot earlier bc of his elite athleticism.

Joined: 10/29/2012

MGoPoints: 857

chatster

February 25th, 2013 at 9:26 AM ^

He’s been practicing regularly as a wide receiver for less than two full months of his football-playing life. How much practice do you think he’s had running with his shoelaces tied for the first time since he first played football? Would anyone familiar with his career at Michigan seriously doubt that he’s working harder at this "position/career change" than most people his age would be?

He’s such an incredible young man. Maybe he didn’t measure up to the Heisman Trophy Winner that was expected of him after his record-setting season of 2010; and maybe he would’ve been better suited to playing a position other than quarterback in college. But is there any Michigan fan who doesn’t appreciate what Denard Robinson has done for the University? Remember the student whom the President of the United States singled out when he spoke at the University of Michigan in January 2012? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Py7DCUv8DE

Time will tell whether Denard will have a future in professional football, but I’ll join the ranks of those rooting for him to succeed. And if most of the NFL cognoscenti question the wisdom of risking a draft pick on Denard, and the draft is winding through its final round without his name having been called*, then I suspect that there will be a group of people in Newport Beach, California rooting for him to become 2013's Mr. Irrelevant, so that the crowds for Mr. Irrelevant Week will set records and paint the town Maize and Blue. 

* I think teams would be crazy to pass up on Denard.

Joined: 09/14/2010

MGoPoints: 26926