Scrimmage Open Thread

Submitted by MaiZedOuT on

I'm wondering if anyone is at the scrimmage and if there will be any updates here today?

 

GO BLUE!

Don

August 21st, 2010 at 4:32 PM ^

Don't worry—if we have a good season, Stone will break both legs, an arm, and his scrawny little sportswriter neck jumping on the bandwagon.

PeterKlima

August 21st, 2010 at 4:45 PM ^

By denard was a legit running TD. Looks like the main CBs have been 12, 18, 14, 24 and 23. Denard just had a nice 20 yard completition.

MGoRob

August 21st, 2010 at 4:53 PM ^

edit: too quick, so I'll change what I had to say...

Teric Jones and Floyd Simmons are both listed as safeties, FWIW.  Possible conversion sans Woolfolk

M-Wolverine

August 22nd, 2010 at 12:16 AM ^

I'm sure Rich is smart enough to treat it like a spring game, not really showing anything (which is why he's probably pissed wasting a practice doing this). And play by play isn't that bad.

But in theory, analysis like "Denard looked so much better than Tate, he got all the reps, he's obviously the starter" kind of removes the image of what Rich is trying to do...make it look like it's wide open. While Lloyd used to wait all the time to announce to keep the first team guessing, really, all his players played the same way, so it didn't matter that much.  There's a real tactical distinction in preparing for Denard or Tate, because they run the same system, but their abilities are very different.  So, making U-Conn prepare for both IS a tactical advantage which wastes their time.

But do I think it's going to have a big effect? No.

mejunglechop

August 22nd, 2010 at 1:54 AM ^

An opposing coach could just get the same info by having an intern join one of the pay sites. If you don't know Denard's probably going to start you haven't been paying attention.

Mr_South_Beach

August 21st, 2010 at 4:56 PM ^

denard is too special not to be the starter. when u have a guy who can scored a td from anywhere on the field, running or passing, u got a difference maker, I can't say the same about tate

mgoSk

August 21st, 2010 at 5:10 PM ^

You may be right, and I agree with that conjecture, but we still need to wait to get into the season a bit to say X is too good not be the starter. The coaches will play the guys that will make Michigan win.

Ziff72

August 21st, 2010 at 5:36 PM ^

This is typical fan talk.  You need a qb who can execute the offense, read defenses, take care of the ball, pass accurately, improvise when the play breaks down.  Denard may be that but if he underthrows the bubble screen on 1st down and gets 2 yds instead of 8 then misreads the defense on 2nd down and leaves us 3rd and 9 the d will spy him and he'll get nothing when he bails and runs and all the electricity will result in a punt.

mgoSk

August 21st, 2010 at 6:02 PM ^

teams keyed on Denard's running ability all of last year, yet he still averaged 5 yards a carry, I wouldn't worry about him picking up first downs, whether it be from the pocket or on the run, like some say, if he's just an "adequate passer" his running threat moves up exponentially. It's been cited that RR's offense at WVU worked best when it was two parts run and one part pass, and with a skilled runner like DR, I doubt you're throwing a bubble screen on first down. Try read option 5+ yards, quick slant to Roundtree, first down, then it's Denard to the house...or something along those lines.

jmblue

August 21st, 2010 at 11:46 PM ^

I'm bullish on Denard, but I'm not sure if his stats from last season really tell us much.  Yes, he averaged 5.1 yards per carry on the season, but over half his yards came against the three worst teams on our schedule (WMU, EMU and Del St.).  In those three games he rushed 20 times for 188 yards (9.4 ypc).  Against the other nine opponents he rushed 49 times for 163 yards (3.3 ypc).  What this tells me is that even a crazy-fast guy like him needs to be able to pass to keep defenses honest.

B10 or Bust

August 21st, 2010 at 5:19 PM ^

I can't wait to see Denard play.  I just hope that he wins the job from Day 1.  I think he'll be the starter by the end of the season anyway, so I'd rather have him get as many snaps as possible against the scrub OOC games.  Hopefully Tate is OK with that, his family history doesn't bode well for him accepting the backup role though.

Pea-Tear Gryphon

August 21st, 2010 at 10:01 PM ^

You saw Freaky Friday?

My initial response may have been on the douchie side, and for that I'm sorry. I blame the 5 Oberons. From everything I've read, witnessed and dreamed, DR seems to have greatly improved his passing (at least enough to keep D's honest). I think this fact, when factored in with his dynamic running ability, make him a great weapon to use in RR's spread as a QB. To just "go with the guy who's the better passer" without taking into account what DR brings to the table I thought was wrong.

It doesn't really matter though. I'm not Rich Rodriguez and it's not my decision. I'm just happy we're picking nits about which QB is better as opposed to which QB has fewer problems.

PIJER

August 21st, 2010 at 10:13 PM ^

His point was that Tate is incompetent, but merely that Denard is probably better suited for this style of offense because of all of his assets. I personally think that we can win with either of the two. However if DR's passing is as most have advertised, his running ability makes him the most dangerous of the two.