Heisman or Healthy - The choice with Denard Robinson
So Denard Robinson is in the driver's seat for the Heisman, nearly 900 yards of offense in two weeks on national TV will do that for you. Strangely enough though, he may have a harder time putting up such numbers in the next two weeks though, because we probably don't need him to win.
I am torn on this issue. I am really excited about what kind of numbers he could have through four games if he played every drive, but we could be looking at a great season if he can be 100% healthy heading into B10 play. I would guess from his attitude that Denard Robinson doesn't care and would just want what is best for the team.
I guess I would ultimately like to see him played as little as possible, especially against UMass, to keep him fresh for the long haul. It pains me though; he could have 500 yard games for the next two weeks in his sleep I think.
What do you all think? Get him his stats or avoid the risk of injury?
September 11th, 2010 at 9:34 PM ^
Keep him healthy. A trophy is not worth his health. Especially because said trophy wouldn't be denied him for taking it easy on obvious cupcakes.
September 11th, 2010 at 9:36 PM ^
I think he'll play first half of each game before resting. It's critical that we get 7-8 wins this year, so I'd rather have a healthier Drob over course of season instead of going big to get him the Heisman. Next year once we have a top flight RB (cough cough, Dee, cough) to shoulder alot of the carries, then we can ride him out to get a Heisman. Wins and health over Heisman IMO.
September 11th, 2010 at 9:36 PM ^
As awesome as that would be....this isn't PS3. It's all about the team and winning. The O-Line is looking good and will get even better!
Go Blue!
September 11th, 2010 at 9:37 PM ^
I think he'll play first half of each game before resting. It's critical that we get 7-8 wins this year, so I'd rather have a healthier Drob over course of season instead of going big to get him the Heisman. Next year once we have a top flight RB (cough cough, Dee, cough) to shoulder alot of the carries, then we can ride him out to get a Heisman. Wins and health over Heisman IMO.
September 11th, 2010 at 9:38 PM ^
Really? Seriously?
September 11th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^
Get a comfortable lead and get the #2s & 3s in there for some experience. Trophys that are voted on aren't worth much, IMO.
Before the season, I stated here that if Denard stayed healthy that he would be in the conversation for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. I may have underestimated him.
September 11th, 2010 at 9:42 PM ^
it's a solid half and then cheering DG/Tate for the next month or so.
he's a sophomore. plenty of time for heismans. (plural, obv)
September 11th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^
hes going to play, although i cant see him getting anywhere near 28 carries. you really cant pass on an opportunity to get a 2-game starter some additional experience. at the very least, he will get half of the snaps. but i would expect the majority of his snaps to be passes, as to avoid injury.
and i wouldnt worry too much about the heisman. no matter what his numbers are, if we finish the season 6 and 6, he aint winning. lets see how he, and the team, performs in Big10 play before we start talking heisman.
September 11th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^
Third option: ALL OF THE ABOVE
September 11th, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
The Team The Team The Team.
Play him only as much as needed the next two weeks.
Which I think will be very little.
I'm soooooooooo pumped!!!!!!
Go Blue! Live it up!
September 11th, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
I think he'll hopefully take it easy the next two games and work on his passing game.
Quit discussing the heisman, it's the last thing the team needs.
September 11th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^
I say play him one or two drives in each of the next two games and then rest him.
September 11th, 2010 at 9:50 PM ^
This is a a no brainer. Stay healthy and keep winning baby.
September 11th, 2010 at 9:53 PM ^
The Team the Team the Team!
September 11th, 2010 at 9:55 PM ^
What happened when the Pats went for 16-0? No rings.
Stat/record chasing won't get you anywhere.
September 11th, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
As learmanj says, Both. Considering the competition we face the next couple of weeks, he should be able to put up some serious numbers in one half. I think he still could be considered even with a couple of breaks.He has to be getting banged up. He took some big hits today. We should get our other QB's some playing time. We need him at 100% coming into the B10 season.
September 11th, 2010 at 10:10 PM ^
Denard will not win the Heisman. This is not a 9 or 10 win team. He will not be putting up over 500 yards of offense every week, especially against, you know, real defenses-like OSU, Wisconsin, Iowa, etc.
September 11th, 2010 at 10:17 PM ^
I'd like to bring up Denard's TD drive against Iowa last year. And that was when his understanding of the offense was weak and they were stacking the box to dare him to pass because they knew he couldn't make the reads quickly. I'm not saying he is going to win the Heisman, but I think he is capable of putting up realistic (e.g. 150/150) yards against any team. We just need our backs to shoulder the load a little so he can keep that energy all game long.
September 11th, 2010 at 10:13 PM ^
I know that a couple of sophomores have won the Heisman recently, but Denard is coming into the conversation as an outsider, and even though he is putting up CRAZY numbers, if he has just one mediocre game against a decent opponent and/or we lose our first game, that hype train will slow down.
I say go for a healthy Denard, and wait for the Heisman talk to hit Ann Arbor big time come 2011 and 2012.
On a related note, I am day-to-day with a slightly sprained ankle and chest pains after that game. In need of some R&R.
September 11th, 2010 at 10:33 PM ^
because by unspoken default fully half of the players on the field are not given any consideration. The only truly worthy winner of the award since players stopped playing both ways is Woodson. For that reason, it would be nuts to jeopardize DR's health against teams that don't pose serious danger to us.
One series each against UMass and BG for Denard, then play TF and DG the rest of the way in both games. Aside from keeping DR healthy, we also need to find out if our RBs can shoulder the load if necessary. There is a significant dropoff in our YPC when Denard isn't carrying the ball.
September 11th, 2010 at 10:34 PM ^
so he'll be in at QB. But we need to get EVERYONE ELSE involved in the darned offense, and maybe check out a few of the other backs. There's plenty of work to do on offense and his stats will be down. I don't think that necessarily removes him from the Heisman hunt, though. The committee aren't complete idiots.
September 11th, 2010 at 10:37 PM ^
Denard is going to need to stay healthy to win the Heisman, and unlike Tebow he is not built like a tank. I care more about this team winning 8-9 games this year, and if that means resting Denard at times, then so be it. People don't usually remember who won the Heisman 5-10 years later, but the guy who hoists the crystal football will be immortalized forever.
September 11th, 2010 at 10:38 PM ^
Way to go...let us overlook and take lightly the next two games so leave open the possibility of The Horror 2 and 3.
Denard should play UNTIL and ONLY UNTIL our lead in the game is uncatchable.
September 11th, 2010 at 10:41 PM ^
Eh, Heisman hype. Fine, whatever, but anymore that award just seems like a giant popularity contest. Denard doesn't seem like the type to really care in the sense that for him it's all about the team, the team, the team.
September 11th, 2010 at 10:41 PM ^
Eh, Heisman hype. Fine, whatever, but anymore that award just seems like a giant popularity contest. Denard doesn't seem like the type to really care in the sense that for him it's all about the team, the team, the team.
September 11th, 2010 at 10:42 PM ^
Why not? A sophomore RB got it last year. If Denard rushes for over 1000 yards, keeps passing the ball well, leads the team to nine victories, and continues to insist that he doesn't pay attention to his stats because he is a team player, he is going to be in the mix. Also, he has a lot of charisma and a 1,000-watt smile. And the dreads don't hurt, either. Nor does the most unique/cute nickname in sports.
I would go so far as to say that there are at least ten players a year who put up stats that would give them a serious argument for the Heisman, but many would be laughed at because they don't get the publicity. At this point, Denard will have serious numbers at the end of the year if he simply stays in the lineup. And I think those numbers will probably be among the ten or so worthy of winning.
The determining factor is how the press percieves the player. When push comes to shove, the Heisman is a glorified beauty pageant. I can easily see a very large amount of voters being in his corner by the end of the season. With a few more great performances in key games, Denard may be the second soph in a row to win the award.
Whether or not anyone here thinks he "deserves it."
September 11th, 2010 at 10:45 PM ^
I'll take a healthy Denard. He could care less about the Heisman he's all about the sears trophy.
September 11th, 2010 at 11:17 PM ^
Healthy. Any other answer is just plain silly. The Heisman Trophy does no good to anyone involved if Denard's ribcage gets shoved into his throat on a QB draw in a 38-3 game against BG in the 3rd quarter.
September 12th, 2010 at 12:06 AM ^
Denard has to stay healthy. While we can probably win with Tate, lets face it Tate is not going to break many 80+ yard runs. Maybe Gardener can, but he's a freshman and I really don't want to see him thrust into a starting role; only because he's a freshman and Tate has a full year of experience running the offense.