What would Denard look like under Harbaugh?
Watching how creatively Jabrill Peppers (and hell, even Morris) has been utilized, I can't help but wonder what Harbaugh would have done with Denard.
Would Robinson have been a full-time qb? Would he have been a WR used in wildcat packages and end arounds? Would he have returned kicks?
October 31st, 2016 at 1:53 PM ^
He be a great rb/slot under Harbaugh.
October 31st, 2016 at 1:59 PM ^
I'm sure Harbaugh would have recruited him as a rb/slot but what if he came in when Hoke did and Denard was coming off that record setting sophmore season at QB? That's the more interesting question to me. I think he would have kept him at QB and I think we would have gotten something that resembles Michigan's 2010 offense with the 2011 defense.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:47 PM ^
I think we would also see Gardner packages and reps at QB.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
Coming off that sophmore year I think Denard is a fulltime running back. Devin and him would have run the same offense that the 49ers used with Kap on their way to the super bowl.
The actual question I have is would Devin Funchess, who couldn't block, have seen the field at all.
October 31st, 2016 at 4:02 PM ^
I think Harbaugh would have sat him down and explained to him why he was never going to be an NFL QB. Then he would have told him that it was time for him to get serious about preparing for a career in the NFL as a RB/SR and that there was no better place for him to be to do that.
2011 may very well have turned out even better.
October 31st, 2016 at 3:08 PM ^
I disagree. He'd have gotten a shot at QB but ultimately I don't see him ever being a Harbaugh QB. For all the good that Denard did, even in 2010, he was not a very good passing QB plain and simple. In RR's read/option offense, yes but in a Harbaugh offense, I just don't see it.
Devin Gardner would be my pick for QB had Harbaugh come in in 2011 instead of Hoke, and that could have been an amazing 4-year run.
October 31st, 2016 at 1:53 PM ^
Denard Robinson and Jabrill Peppers in the same backfield? Sign me up
October 31st, 2016 at 1:54 PM ^
A-11 offense would have been deployed.
/s
October 31st, 2016 at 1:54 PM ^
Denard did pretty good here btw.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:26 PM ^
I know right? The most electric player in college his time here, just not an accurate passer. Unfortunately that's important in a QB
October 31st, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^
Denard completed 62.5% of his passes as a true sophomore. Speight is hitting 62.8% this year, and is averaging about half a yard less per attempt. AND Denard rushed for 1,700 yards. He would have been incredible at QB with any competent OC, and probably wins the Heisman in 2011 with Harbaugh/Drevno/Fisch.
October 31st, 2016 at 3:46 PM ^
Oh please. He had 18 TDs and 11 interceptions that year and, as a senior had 9 and 9. I'm not even getting into his fumbles here.
He is/was an incredibly talented and great guy, but if he wanted to play QB under Jim, he'd have to prove he could protect the football. Jim plays team football and while Denard is a team player, the offense created to highlight Denard is kinda the opposite of "team".
October 31st, 2016 at 3:58 PM ^
Including rushing Tds he had 32 TDs and 11 INTs. Wouldn't be fair to exclude so many huge plays.
October 31st, 2016 at 4:07 PM ^
Rudock threw 20 TD and 9 INT last year. Not much different than Denard, and that is with loads of starting experience. Gardner, who I see people raving about, threw 10 TD and 15 INT as a senior.
Turns out Hoke/Borges are shitty coaches who made QBs worse. In a coherent system with quality coaching Denard gets better as a passer as he gains experience and can run less when Fitz came back healthy in 2011. Offensive line play would almost certainly have been better with Harbaugh as well.
The idea that an offense was created to highlight Denard at the expense of the team (because accounting for 91 career TD hurts somehow) is so fucking dumb it is hard to respond to.
October 31st, 2016 at 4:03 PM ^
in the country quarterbacks the Michigan football team, and he's a poor thrower, but on the run, he is a dangerous man, he's one of the great runners in college football.
October 31st, 2016 at 1:56 PM ^
Would be SOOOOOOOOO much fun.
October 31st, 2016 at 1:58 PM ^
and woody glasses.
October 31st, 2016 at 1:59 PM ^
A Running Back.
October 31st, 2016 at 1:59 PM ^
Probably like a 5'11" African American gentleman with dreadlocks, holding up a middle-aged man in khakis and cleats.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
...and SMILING. Always smiling.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:20 PM ^
That outfit is so 2015. Fuck Adidas. Although, it makes sense in this case since Denard had the unfortunate duty of donning Adidas garbage.
October 31st, 2016 at 3:01 PM ^
Outfit ?
October 31st, 2016 at 3:12 PM ^
Um....yeah. What Jim is wearing. You're wearing an outfit today unless you are, at the time reading this, having sex, in the shower, or just don't like wearing clothes.
October 31st, 2016 at 9:15 PM ^
I just don't worry about other guys outfits to offten.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:01 PM ^
Devin Gardner would have flourished and would have won the QB competition, therefore better preparing Denard to be an NFL RB.
October 31st, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^
#1 dual threat in the nation coming out of high school, ugh, he would have been amazing.
Remember Terelle Pryor, he would have been our Pryor, hybrid pro-style/dual-threat, thousands of yards running and passing...
Love DG and how he represented UM while he was here!
October 31st, 2016 at 4:16 PM ^
Such a shame for Gardner.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:03 PM ^
He would have been an alright RB and a great returner.
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October 31st, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^
You can be a great college running back without being great in the NFL. I think Denard showed against OsU he could have been a very good running back in college
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October 31st, 2016 at 2:06 PM ^
This is a guy who has stuck around the the NFL as a running back after never having played the position in college. I think he would have been a pretty damn good college rb had that been the route that was chosen.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:27 PM ^
Originally read this as an "alt-right RB". Is it November 9th yet?
October 31st, 2016 at 2:43 PM ^
Best I could find was an alt-right defensive end.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:55 PM ^
Could someone conjur up a sad pepe Dantonio?
October 31st, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^
...and 12 other positions.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:05 PM ^
Will Harbaugh ever recruit a QB with Denard-like skill set? Or is he pretty set on the 6'4" drop back passer with a cannon arm and questionable running skills?
October 31st, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^
had good running skills.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:24 PM ^
Yeah, but Dilithium... he probably would never have came here, would been a DB or scatback like Fishbulb said like Florida 'cruited him to be but he wanted to be a QB
October 31st, 2016 at 2:18 PM ^
Harbaugh will probably never recruit a QB with Denard-like skill set. Why - I don't think Denard is/was a good enough passer to play QB in Harbaugh's offense.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:27 PM ^
Huh? Harbaugh opted to go for Colin Kaepernick over Alex Smith.
I don't think Harbaugh cares which kinds of QBs play for him.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^
I'm pretty sure UM's main QB under Harbaugh isn't going to be someone who is not very good in the passing game. You do realize Kaepernick threw for over 10,000 yds in college?
October 31st, 2016 at 6:37 PM ^
with good accuracy. Denard doesn't have the arm talent Kaep have at QB.
Alex Smith is a meh QB who is deep ball adverse to the detriment to the offense that KC should've been so much better than their record.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:30 PM ^
Our current #1 QB target for 2018 is Dorian Thompson-Robinson who is a good runner. He currently starts at WR for Bishop Gorman because the senior QB starter is OSU commit Tate Martel. He is as athletic, if not even more so, than Devin Gardner. He is a good passer too. He would allow the offense to expand by that much more.
October 31st, 2016 at 3:23 PM ^
Damn that kid is a beast. Would love to see some early Harbaugh 49ers style play from Michigan with Thompson-Robinson.
247 has him pegged to UCLA, but something tells me that's going to change soon.
October 31st, 2016 at 5:37 PM ^
His top two are definitely UCLA and Us and I think his recruitment has been swinging towards us. His mom is a Michigan grad and Harbaugh gives him a better chance at the NFL. UCLA has the weather he's used to. Fight!
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October 31st, 2016 at 4:50 PM ^
Just looked up his highlights and holy shit that kid can sling it. Good runner too obviously. I'm assuming Nevada's HS competition isn't fantastic but still, I want.
October 31st, 2016 at 5:38 PM ^
I'd love to see him grow under Harbaugh. Bishop Gorman is one of the best programs in the country, Nevada football might not be elite but they go out and play big time schools from other states too.
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October 31st, 2016 at 3:14 PM ^
A straight running QB? No. A mobile QB and possibly one who could add RPO plays to this offense? Absolutely. Harbaugh has had mobile QB's before, Luck and Kaepernick, and he plays to the talents of his players. Their top 2018 QB target, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, is a guy who would give them Kaepernick-like options for the offense.
But at the end of the day I think we're not gonna see a QB who cannot pass the ball VERY well in this offense, regardless of how great they can run. Mobility is just a bonus for Harbaugh.
October 31st, 2016 at 2:06 PM ^
Scatback and/or corner. I don't think Denard has the hands for WR.
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