2012 Davey O'Brien Semifinalists announced...Denard on the list
The semifinalists for the best quarterback award were announced today, notables are: Landry Jones (Oklahoma), Matt Barkley (USC), Geno Smith (WVU), Collin Klein (KSU), EJ Manuel (FSU).
http://blog.daveyobrien.org/2012/10/22/2012-davey-obrien-semifinalists/
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:12 PM ^
I would say Denard is notable.
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:34 PM ^
Agreed, and we can all vote for him to make him more notable. It's a pretty quick process to register, currently Manziel is on top (although I doubt fan voting will play too much of a factor).
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:12 PM ^
This is going to make all the sparties head asplode.
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:24 PM ^
Sad that Denard is on this list yet McGloin is not. Denards played well in the last 3 games but his play in the first 4 should remove him from any post season rewards. This coming from a man who seriously thought Denard could and should have won multiple heismans. His career at Michigan compared to his potential as a football player has to be a disappointment. He hasn't shown much growth as a QB since his freshman to sophmore year.
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:35 PM ^
I'll try to put this simply so we can all avoid a flameout . . .
I have no idea what you are saying. If potentially (probably?) becoming the all-time leading rusher for a QB is not living up to potential then I'm not sure what to tell you.
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:43 PM ^
Yea thats cool he'll more than likely be the all time leading rusher at the QB position. He came in as a freshman able to run the ball. The QB position requires you to throw the ball as well and let's be honest he hasn't improved in that department since his sophmore year.
He has had the tools to be a great, well rounded QB not just a great running QB. If he played anywhere and I mean anywhere that lets the QB run on 30% of their offensive plays, Denard fast enough and shifty enough that he would have broken that record anywhere. If was playing with RR he would have broken it already. I'm talking about the other part of being a QB and consistantly throwing the ball downfield and not turning the ball over.
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:49 PM ^
It is too bad that he wasn't able to hit Dileo on that final drive to setup the game winning field goal.
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:02 PM ^
Oh please, I'm not even a part of this debate and this comment is complete BS. One throw doesn't make a good quarterback, just like his miss of Gallon in the endzone doesn't make him a terrible one.
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:22 PM ^
I'm sorry that you took my comment so seriously.
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:39 PM ^
the next time you post some tasty snot of this kind, okay? Yeesh.
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:53 PM ^
oh I'm sorry how many big ten and national championship games has Denard won at Michigan? How many top 25 teams has he beaten in his time here? Actually the highest ranked team Denard beat at the end of the season was VT last year who finished 17th in the country.
That has little to do with Just Denard i know but you're trying to be personal here
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:53 PM ^
sidering he's poised to break Pat White's record, considering the innumerable highlights, I just think that dissing the guy is weakest sauce. Sorry, you could spout nonsense about this for the rest of your days and not move me an inch on this. Why come on here to diss the guy? It's beyond my comprehension. The floor is yours. . .
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:46 PM ^
Not Dissing the guy at all just stating my opinion and facts. Denards a great guy, very likeable , great smile and has a bright future. He just hasn't developed into a great QB.
Being able to run for 1,000 yards on over 200+ carries makes you a great RB
Being able to stretch the field with your arm, Take care of the football, throwing the ball consistantly and being a leader on offense makes you a great QB. Being able to run for 1,000 yards is a nice extra but not required everything else i listed is and Denard is a leader but nothing else on the list.
it's cool tho we all love Denard , i just don't wear the homer glasses and not one thing that I have written here has not been said by the coaching Staff ( both coach hokes and RR's) and Denard himself
October 22nd, 2012 at 6:31 PM ^
October 22nd, 2012 at 6:58 PM ^
Yea I put Henne in the same boat as Denard. Henne from Freshman to senior showed little to no improvement. I know that opinion won't make me very popular here either lol but, that's my opinion and it always will.
Big players, make big plays in big games. I don't know maybe i'm too critical on Denard. When you look at his supporting cast most of his WR's and RB's would have been buried on any of michigans depth chart PreRR. It's tough to be hard on the kid because he is so likeable , probably the best personality of any football player I have ever seen
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:45 PM ^
Charlie is that you?
My brother keeps insisting that "Denard is not a QB.....he's a SLOT RECEIVER" and likes to yell that at me after every game no matter how good DR's stats are. Responding to him with facts is useless cause his mind is made up and no amount of data is going to convince him othewise.
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:04 PM ^
Denard has the potential to be a good QB. He has a strong arm, is one of the most mobile QB's ever and can be extremely accurate at times. He just is not consistant in his delivery , footwork and decision making. He doesn't do what you would want a mobile QB to do underpressure. He tends to make bad throws into tight coverage off his back foot or 4-5 other mechanical issues. The point of coaching a player and practicing is to have your body react in the way you want it too while under stress. He makes the same mistakes throwing the ball he did as a sophmore.
He'll more than likely be a WR in the NFL and if he gets picked higher than the 3rd round i'd be shocked. The only reason he'll go that low is because of the fact they have no idea what his hands and route running looks like.
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:06 PM ^
knowledge about. . . something related to football on a message board. Get real fergodsake!
EDIT: http://mgoblog.com/diaries/denard-robinson-record-watch-1022
October 22nd, 2012 at 7:34 PM ^
When I read that statement of yours, I thought "Who the hell is this dingleberry, and who does he remind me of?"
And then it hit me—you joined on October 11, 2012. You know what else is notable about that date? That's the day Beano Cook died. That's right, Mr "Ron Powlus Should Win Four Heismans" died on the same day you joined MGoBlog.
So you're Beano Cook's ghost, and you're haunting MGoBlog. Say hi to Bo for us, OK?
October 23rd, 2012 at 2:55 AM ^
The first 4-5 games of the 2010 and 2011 football seasons everyone had Denard either in the lead for heisman or in the top 2.
He just fell apart with turnovers later in the season. He was averaging 400 yards of total offense a game in the first 5 games of 2010 and thats with only playing a quarter of one of those games are you saying that nobody was thinking Denard had a legit shot at the 2010 heisman?
He has received massive heisman hype during the 2010 season , 2011 season and the 2012 preseason. He was the front runner for the heisman early in both 2010 and 2011. Yea I'm a dingleberry for thinking if he improved his overall game he could win a heisman or 2 with everyone else who ever saw Denard play.
They said Powlus could win multiple heismans in his very first game of his college career. The kid was a good college QB. They said Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning should have won multiple heismans too And i'll throw in Matt Barkley too. Hell even Tate Forcier was getting heisman talk as a freshman and look at him.
As for Denard not living up to my "Lofty Expectations". After 2010 who didn't think Denard would improve like he did from 09 to 2010. Didn't we all think he would improve on passing from 2010 to 2011 or even 2011 to 2012? He could always run crazy fast since we saw his first snap at QB in a michigan uniform. What he needed to work on was his passing ability which has continued to haunt him every year he has suited up.
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:41 PM ^
Give it to Klein. That kid is something else.
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:06 PM ^
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:31 PM ^
You're getting negged, but you're right. Denard is great, and he's been invaluable for our team, but his completion % and TD/INT ratio will prevent him from getting any awards like this.
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:49 PM ^
is different from whether he belongs in consideration, and different again from dissing a guy who is shortly going to break the all-time rushing yards record. Just purest fan stoopid to flap your lips about how the guy isn't up to your high standards under such circumstances, no? And I don't mean that YOU'RE an idiot but that some of the posts above are idiotic.
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:58 PM ^
You're right, they are completely different things. Unfortunately, whether or not he deserves the award is completely subjective, and usually these things go to people with flashier passing stats. I think Denard deserves a ton of credit for many of our wins over the past few years, but unfortunately people won't overlook his passing stats.
Then again, as someone pointed out below, Eric Crouch won the Heisman with a stat line that looks worse than Denard's 2010 season, but college football was different back then. And it helps that he was on a national championship team.
EDIT: And I slightly misread your comment, but yes, he deserves consideration. I read the guy above me's comment as 'Denard doesn't deserve the award,' which isn't technically what he said but it's something I agree with at this point in the season.
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:35 PM ^
So does this stat line deserve the Davey O'Brien award?
55.6% completion percentage, 1,510 yards, 7 TD, 10 INT and 1,115 rushing yards
Those are Eric Crouch's stats for the 2001 season...he also won the Heisman that year. So I don't have any problem with Denard being included in this list.
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:46 PM ^
catch
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:21 PM ^
There are always year that people win awards that any other year they wouldn't or years someone finishes 2nd and any other year they would have won.
Just for some perspective
Geno smith
| SEASON | CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
| 2012 | 216 | 291 | 2414 | 74.2 | 8.30 | 87 | 26 | 2 |
Collin Klein
| SEASON | CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
| 2012 | 98 | 139 | 1397 | 70.5 | 10.05 | 58 | 10 | 2 |
Landry jones
| SEASON | CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
| 2012 | 133 | 212 | 1644 | 62.7 | 7.76 | 73 | 12 | 3 |
Matt Barkley
| SEASON | CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
| 2012 | 140 | 213 | 1773 | 65.7 | 8.32 | 83 | 22 | 6 |
Denard Robinson
| SEASON | CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
| 2012 | 83 | 155 | 1264 | 53.5 | 8.16 | 71 | 9 | 9 |
AJ McCarron
| SEASON | CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
| 2012 | 106 | 154 | 1476 | 68.8 | 9.58 | 85 | 16 | 0 |
Matt McGloin
| SEASON | CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YPA | LNG | TD | INT | SACK | RAT |
| 2012 | 162 | 259 | 1788 | 62.5 | 6.90 | 45 | 14 | 2 |
| NAME | CMP | ATT | YDS | CMP% | YDS/A | TD | INT | RAT |
| Marcus Mariota | 123 | 180 | 1347 | 68.3 | 7.48 | 16 | 5 | 155.0 |
Marcus Mariota also has 356 yards on 53 carries with rushing TDs averaging 6.7 YPC
| RUSHING | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Robinson | 121 | 900 | 7.4 | 6 |
Kleins 100 Carries for 551 5.0 ypc and 14 rushing TDs
Denards the best running threat here but the QB has to do more than run. He has to stretch the field with his arm and take care of the football. I'm not saying Denard is terrible at all but when you look at his numbers Compared to other QB's this year in college football it's really no contest they are head and shoulders above him
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:54 PM ^
When I look at ALL his numbers like you should I see an incredible offensive season developing. Seems like something a quarterback should do to me. I'm not saying the guys you listed aren't having very good seasons (I'd LOVE to see McGloin on the schedule though) but that I have no problem with Denard being listed with them based on everything he's done on the field so far this year.
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:21 PM ^
Denard already has 900 yards rushing through 7 games this year. Only one BCS conference player is averaging more yards per game on the ground (UNC's running back).
You can make an argument he's been the best rusher at any position in the country this season, not just a good running QB. When 15-20 TD passes are basically just gravy on top of an already tremendous offensive output, the guys deserves a ton of consideration.
A 16-4 record as an upperclassman with a BCS bowl win on the resume isn't too shabby either.
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:59 PM ^
Braxton Miller has 959 rushing yards and 10 rushing TD's
Barner has about the same attempts as Denard this year 132 for 870 yards and 12 TD's
Because of Denard inability to throw the ball consistantly he has to run as much if not more than most teams Running back does. He's the best player on our offense and one of the most explosive players in the country with his feet but that does not make him one of the best QB's in the country
October 23rd, 2012 at 1:02 AM ^
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:56 AM ^
I don't have a problem with Denard being on the list, either, but I will say that the game has changed quite a bit since Crouch won it. A lot more is expected of quarterbacks these days, from running the team to throwing 30 touchdowns. I don't think Crouch would be getting the same hype these days with those kinds of numbers. He might be on the Dave O'Brien semifinalist list and everything, but I doubt that kind of season would win the Heisman.
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:45 PM ^
I think Geno Smith has been the best passer this season..but i love Denard
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:28 PM ^
He's thrown just 2 TDs and 2 picks recently as his team has gotten blown out each of the last two weeks (the offense only scored one TD against K-State).
His gaudy numbers early in the year came against the likes of James Madison, Marshall (Purdue and Rice both scored 51 against them, Tulsa scored 45), a Maryland team that lost to UConn and beat William & Mary by a single point, Baylor (haven't beaten a single BCS foe, gave up 42 to UL Monroe, 49 to TCU, and 56 to Texas), and UT (conceded 31, 36, 48, 63, and 50 in their last five games).
October 22nd, 2012 at 6:42 PM ^
And those are the only INTs hes thrown all year..he cant play defense..i dont care who you play if you go on a 24 TD to 0 INT run while throwing 50 passes a game then that is impressive and who has wow'd your sox off ? Klein is a great duel threat hence me saying best passer..plus its MY choice so go suck some balls..Im seriously not angry at you but go on a ball sucking spree.
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:04 PM ^
Why is Jake Ryan not on any post-season award watch lists? No Butkus or Lombardi love.
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:07 PM ^
Seens like you have to have some preseason hype coming in or make some flashy plays (scoring TDs on defense, lighting it up on offense) to make it. Jake Ryan has been a beast but they aren't the type of plays that gave Mathieu all the hype last year.
You can be sure he'll be getting that hype next season though.
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:52 AM ^
He has 36 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. Those are good numbers, but they're not great through half a season. I think he's very good and I like him a lot, but after the Rodriguez years, we have fairly low standards for any defender with a pulse.
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:06 PM ^
It would be great if Denard got the award but the passing aspect of his game is going to preclude him from getting any hardware, objectively speaking (taking my Michigan blinders off). No one, remotely intelligent, will argue that Denard is not a great football player but is he really a great QB, in the traditional sense? A lot of people are giving B1G_Fan shit but he is not off when he criticizes Denard's passing.....
2011 season: 55.0% completion percentage with 20TDs to 15 INTs
2012 season: 53.5 completion percentage with with 9TDs to 9 INTS.
That is not what I would call great passing. Not all is one Denard (our WR corps have not been stellar as of late and there are many dropped balls) but he does tend to try to force, more often than not, throws that he should just toss out of bounds (this years ND game was a perfect example of this). He does not always make good decisions and, athough he has a strong arm, his throwing skills still need work (he still does not set his feet right, tosses floaters up for grabs, etc.). He is not quite the Pat White, RGIII, Antwaan Randle El, etc. b
Don't get me wrong, I love watching Denard play (except when he chucks multiple INTs in a game) and will miss him when he is gone, and would love to see him get it an award for his stellar play, but I don't see him getting a QB one because of the deficiencies in his passing game.
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:10 PM ^
Why does the traditional sense have to be the one used here? I don't necessarily think Denard should be a frontrunner for the award at this point but he certainly should be on that list because of the stuff he does on the field. I already posted Eric Crouch's numbers so you don't have to go back very far to see that they don't always go by the traditional definition of a quarterback.
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:21 PM ^
although they do usually tend to go with a more traditional, pocket passer, type QB. When considering dual threat/running QBs, I imagine they still focus on the passing aspect of their game, which Denard does not excell in.
You are right about Crouch. How he got it is beyond me although in today's college football landscape (the land of the Cam Newtons, RGIIIs, Pat Whites, Genos, etc., guys who are both solids passers as well as runners), I don't think Crouch would stand a chance.
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:40 PM ^
I would agree that there are definitely more dual-threat QBs out there nowadays. But don't Geno Smith's performances the last two weeks warrant any concern on his campaign as much as the ND game was a big step back for Denard? They've been completely humbled the last two weeks.
I'd definitely say Klein is a great choice right now just based on how they've beaten some good teams but I think if Denard can keep his rushing going and maybe up it a bit on the passing end I think he definitely will get some consideration.
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:35 PM ^
Come on MGoCommunity, let's get Denard some votes!
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:41 AM ^
How do o.O?
October 22nd, 2012 at 6:12 PM ^
Denard has already faced the #1, 5, and 6 total defenses in the country in his first 7 games.
Most of the guys on this list were able to completely ease into the season. Other than Klein, no one has really impressed against a strong challenger. USC has played one team with a winning record (they lost and Barkley played horribly) and every team they play the rest of the way has one. Geno Smith has fallen apart the last two weeks as he's faced defenses with human beings in football helmets playing on the other side and he has a long season to go in conference play. Oregon still has to play Oregon State, USC and Stanford (the teams that make up the top half of the defensive stats leaderboard in their conference) and they didn't play a BCS opponent in non-conference play.
Going forward, Denard gets to play a Nebraska team that gave up 36 to UCLA, 27 to Wisconsin, 28 to Northwestern, and 63!!! to OSU. They get to play a bad Minnesota team that UNLV took to overtime and that hasn't won a conference game yet. They play a Northwestern team that gave up 41 points to Syracuse and 39 to Penn State. Then they get Iowa at home (32 to CMU, 38 against Penn State), and OSU (49 to Indiana, 38 to Nebraska, and 28 that should have been 41 against Cal).
With much easier sledding down the stretch and the drop in turnovers since ND (just the meaningless Hail Mary in three games) I could definitely see Denard end up with something like 20+ TD and 10 or 11 INT. Throw in a 1,500 yard season on the ground and a conference championship and there aren't many guys who will have a stronger resume.
October 22nd, 2012 at 6:33 PM ^
Your arguement makes the most sense out of any of the opinions which differ from mine in this thread.
Just saying tho you have to admit everytime Denard runs he has a chance to break a game changer and everytime he throws downfield you still hold your breath. He'll hold a lot of Michigan records when he graduates but I'd still take Grbac, Collins, Brady, Dreisbach, Greise, Taylor and Harbaugh over Denard at the QB position. None of these guys will ever rush for 1,000 yards in a season but none of them will turn the ball over 6 times in a game either
October 22nd, 2012 at 6:31 PM ^
Seems like every Big-12 QB is listed...I suppose it's easier to be a standout quarterback in a conference that doesn't field a defense. That said, Klein is insane.
October 22nd, 2012 at 6:50 PM ^
Braxton Miller being on that list is not notable?