woodsonfromleaf97

September 16th, 2010 at 9:12 PM ^

I feel differently I think Devin and Denard are not the same type of player at all. Denard=Pat White on coke+super human abilities, both rely on speed, elusiveness and agility, Devin= VY3 or TP2 since all three of them glide but don't have the same type of runningback agility that Denard and Pat White possess

West Texas Blue

September 16th, 2010 at 10:52 AM ^

"He's a beast, that's all you can say," White said Wednesday in a teleconference announcing his shift from pro football to a baseball career with the Kansas City Royals. "He's just doing amazing things out there." 

I second that.

DenverRob

September 16th, 2010 at 10:55 AM ^

For those to lazy to read, he said some nice things about DROB. Said he was durable a hard runner and that its not all about DROB or Pat its about the other guys as well.

Pat is now in the KC Royals baseball organization and hasn't played since 2004. 

jmscher

September 16th, 2010 at 11:02 AM ^

Is anyone else surprised that with Wildcat formation very popular in the league now and former run first guys like dennis dixon getting run as number 2s that White wasn't able to find a spot on a roster somewhere as a backup/Wildcat guy?

Clarence Beeks

September 16th, 2010 at 11:12 AM ^

It's just my opinion (of course), but I think it's possible that the big hit that he took last year against Pittsburgh (i.e. the one that put him in the hospital) might have had some long lasting impact for him.  I'm not saying that he suffered long term physical damage from it, but that it might have showed him writing on the wall.  He was never going to be a starting quarterback in the NFL, he had already made a good amount of money in the NFL, and he still had the potential to be a successful baseball player (remember: he was drafted three times already, and the Angels offered him a decent contract before he even went to WVU).  I don't think the fact that he was "waived" by the Dolphins necessarily means that it was a decision only by the Dolphins.  There were reports out of the Dolphins camp that he was the most improved player on the team during the offseason.  That report does not happen only to have the player be cut.  I think it's very reasonable to conclude that Pat White decided to play baseball before he was cut by the Dolphins.

oriental andrew

September 16th, 2010 at 11:41 AM ^

I don't follow the 'phins so was unaware of the hit he had taken.  Were I in his position, I'd also weigh heavily the physical toll such hits can take on the body and (given all the recent news surrounding it) the brain.  Baseball is MUCH safer from this perspective.  If he can pull off the switch, more power to him.  

And as an aside, other NFL-MLB players I can think of:

  1. Bo Jackson (KC)
  2. Deion Sanders (ATL)
  3. Brian Jordan (ATL, STL)

South Bend Wolverine

September 16th, 2010 at 1:39 PM ^

The hit that White took against Pitt is arguably the #1 reason that RR is currently our coach.  Without that hit knocking him out of the game, WVU likely beats Pitt, wins the SEC title, and faces OSU in the National Title game in the place of LSU.

Once RR has us rolling full-steam ahead, in a weird, sad way, we may look back at that hit as a significant stroke of fortune for us, oddly enough.

Trebor

September 16th, 2010 at 11:22 AM ^

I'm not surprised because Pat White didn't have the same advantage in speed in the NFL that he had at WVU. He wasn't big enough, and it showed when he got pressed into action as a real QB against the Steelers last season and got his clock cleaned.

Pat White is only 6'0" and 190, and doesn't have the speed to excel at that size from the backfield. He should have moved to receiver and played a Antwaan Randle El role in that offense. Dennis Dixon, on the other hand, is 6'3" and 210, and throws a much better ball to boot.

Les Miles

September 16th, 2010 at 11:48 AM ^

you can't attribute an individual's failure of becoming a successful wildcat QB to the league's lack of demand for one. Also let it be known that Denard Robinson speed > Pat White speed. Having said that, Pat White is still a hell of an athlete and I wish him the best of luck with the Royals. God knows they could use an athlete or two. 

markusr2007

September 16th, 2010 at 11:59 AM ^

this season.   Robinson is on track to shatter some major records in a Woodrow Dantzler, Shaun King kind of way.

Still, to me it's kind of a shame that thus far Michigan hasn't really unveiled another back with Bugatti Veyron speed on the edge.  Shaw and Smith are quick, but they don't have an overdrive gear from what I've seen.  Cox and Toussaint are probably more bruisers. The last guy UM had that outran people - who wasn't perpetually on a hospital gurney - was probably Chris Perry and before that Tyrone Wheatley.

It's been too long.

Blue in Yarmouth

September 16th, 2010 at 12:48 PM ^

He may not have shown you thus far, but Shaw has excellent speed. He may have other problems for a RB but speed is not an issue for him. The RB position is more than just speed.

As for Toussaint, he has excellent speed as well. Both of these two are sprinters and have no problems with speed. Fitz can't seem to get healthy and Shaw sometimes like to dance more than hit a hole. He also USED to go down on first contact a lot (though he seems much better in that department now).

I guess what I am saying is that we have speed at the position, that isn't the issue with our RB's.

Tater

September 16th, 2010 at 1:30 PM ^

After White has trouble hitting the curve and figures out he can't play baseball either, I hope RR has a grad position waiting for him at Michigan.