D-Rob, Only QB?

Submitted by TwoFitty on

It seems that most people would agree, myself included, that Denard will play QB and only QB this year. Well let's assume Tate starts, as most believe he will. Does D-Rob venture into other areas, such as sp. teams, maybe even some slot. I know it sounds crazy, but remember RR threw Feagin in on kickoff last year when our QB options were Threet n' out and DEATH. This year RR seems pretty high on Sheridans improvement and Forcier is God to many Michigan fans, with JForce in the mix, albeit deeply buried, and well, not even cleared yet. Do we see RR doing something similar with D-Rob? I would like to see it but who knows. It seems irrational, and the thought didn't even cross my mind until I thought of Feagin last year. So it's possible. This year will be fun no matter what.

BlockM

August 12th, 2009 at 11:40 PM ^

Yeah, if Tate and Sheridan both get hurt we've still got Cone and Kennedy behind them, so let's throw Denard in at the slot and see what happens!

Magnus

August 12th, 2009 at 11:48 PM ^

I won't be surprised at all to see Denard playing in the slot or occasionally in the backfield as a RB.

However, I seriously doubt he will play any special teams.

Robinson isn't in the same situation as Feagin. Feagin struggled at QB from the beginning and seemed destined for slot as soon as he got on campus. Robinson has already received more praise at QB than Feagin did in his entire Michigan "career."

nella

August 13th, 2009 at 9:19 AM ^

...and I agree with him 100%. Denard will stick to QB, regardless of who wins the starting job. Denard will see the field this year. At the very least, expect a Justin Feagin role, but with more snaps (and better execution). I think the best we can hope for is a Tim Tebow like freshman campaign. In the long run, he has the potential to be another Pat White. There is no way they take away from his development at QB.

Magnus

August 13th, 2009 at 9:52 AM ^

Obes does know his shit. I'm not disagreeing with that. I'm just saying he thought I said that I want to see Denard playing other positions when all I really said was that I wouldn't be surprised if Denard played other positions.

MGoObes

August 12th, 2009 at 11:52 PM ^

people, this isn't HS. you can't just throw your backup QBs into other positions, especially when they're true freshmen and don't know the offense fully.

Koyote

August 13th, 2009 at 12:09 AM ^

A few years down the line, I can see Robinson potentially moving to CB or WR - saying Tate/Gardner pan out to what we expected. But this year, he is likely going to be all QB with maybe some trick plays here and there. He has speed so I am sure the coaches will find a way to utilize him.

Stephen Y

August 13th, 2009 at 12:09 AM ^

If Feagin, as raw as he was, played QB last year, then mark my word, we will see Denard Robinson behind center. That being said, D-Rob is a much more accomplished runner, and is a competent passer. Why people believe he won't play QB this year or why he will switch positions is behind me. Think about it this way....

Would you rather see a white, not quite athletic, redshirt junior QB (who can barely hit the broad side of the barn) on the field or...
Freshman QB with dreads who might be one of the fastest people in the COUNTRY (who can also barely hit the broad side of the barn).

The black quarterback has been burning Michigan for years... now its time for some payback!

(This post has been written by a white guy)

msoccer10

August 13th, 2009 at 9:20 AM ^

will be the starter if his injury isn't serious and he was a big time recruit and isn't a freshman. Matt Barkley was maybe the best player in the country last year. Also, Mitch Mustain was a five star recruit, has been in the USC system for a year and has a year of college qb experience.

I don't think you can say that its the same situation. Also, their defense and offense at all their other positions are deeper and better than ours, except at maybe weak side defensive end.

Muttley

August 13th, 2009 at 12:21 AM ^

certainly in week 1 of camp and we'll be awfully thin if it doesn't stay that way.

When asked last year if Feagin was ready for serious consideration for quality time, RR chuckled and without hesitation said "No!"

And while Feagin ran a few plays, he did not attempt a pass. Once Threet was hurt, we could use Feagin as an alternative to Cone, and once we burned his RS, then playing a Cone-comparable wasn't exactly a huge risk. (In fact, if it came to it, we might have been better off w/ Carlos Brown under center.)

If D-Rob is #2, then he's one Forcier injury from stepping into the most important role on the team. The value of the QB backup far outweighs the value of a few special teams plays. (See Slappy.)

estarr01

August 13th, 2009 at 12:24 AM ^

I don't think D-Rob can do either. Our depth at QB will not allow it. As we saw last year and will learn, if you a have a running QB the chances for injuries increase, therefore you need more than 2 competent QB's to ensure a good season. If Forcier goes down we have D-Rob. We all know what Sheridan is, do any michigan fans feel this guy can get us to a bowl game?

So my point is, I can't see D-Rob redshirting or switching positions until Gardner and Jones come in and that is at the earliest. The only way he switches is assuming he just doesn't fit the mold of a RR QB, which I don't think can be said at this point.

Regardless I look forward to some solid QB competition in the future!!!!

jg2112

August 13th, 2009 at 7:58 AM ^

....not only for the excellent research and analysis done on this site which proves you wrong, but for the simple fact that last year proved only that a 6'6" lanky and slow QB will likely get injured if he can't avoid tackles.

A QB who runs a 4.6 40 and is used to avoiding tackles while running around probably has a better chance to avoid said injuries.

Bottom line here: D-Rob will take 5-8 snaps a game, probably at QB. Maybe a trick play or two. I think there are enough talented slot / wrs / rbs on the roster that we can have Denard focus mostly upon being a QB.

Tater

August 13th, 2009 at 12:45 AM ^

I think DRob will surprise a few people this year. If Forcier stays healthy, RR can play DR 5-10 plays a game and avoid putting him in any situations that expose his weaknesses. I can see DR staying at QB for a couple of years. If it doesn't work out, I can see him playing slot or WR the last two years to get PT and a chance at the NFL, ala Anquain Boldin at FSU.

Goblue89

August 13th, 2009 at 2:07 AM ^

Is it just me or does DR look really short? Like 5'10" short. There is no way he is 6 feet. Anyways, I cannot remember the last time I watched a Michigan game where a Wolverine player broke a long run. If DR does nothing other than break a 70 yard run I will be happy. I wake up in the middle of the night with Beanie Wells nightmares.

RayIsaac91

August 13th, 2009 at 6:26 AM ^

On one of the rare occasions that he wasn't injured, C Brown broke one against the Gophers for 85 yards. I think it was 2007. You may not remember because it was relatively meaningless TD in a 34-10 route.

I miss meaningless TDs in routes...

Blue in Yarmouth

August 13th, 2009 at 8:51 AM ^

you can see a difference of 2 inches in a video? You realize 5'10" is only 2" shy of 6'. You must have some amazing abilities to see that in a video. I'm not saying he is or isn't 6' tall, I'm just saying it is hard to judge from a video. Maybe you have seen him in real life though, in which case....sorry for questioning your height measuring skills....

foreverbluemaize

August 13th, 2009 at 9:24 AM ^

Just off the top of my head a few plays come to mind. Minor in the tO$U had a 55 or so yard run, in the UMINN game Shaw (IIRC) had a 60 yard run. Mcguffie had about a 35 yard run against ND but I don't know if you would consider that a long run. In 07 you had Hart run a 60 yarder against App State, and then later in that year Manningham had a 93 yard touchdown run against Wiscy.

Magnus

August 13th, 2009 at 9:49 AM ^

What do you mean by "long run"? Minor had a 42-yard TD against Purdue, Shaw had a 47-yarder against Minnesota last year. If you're thinking of almost-field-length runs, both Minor and Brown had 80+ yard TDs against Minnesota in 2007.

jmblue

August 13th, 2009 at 4:49 PM ^

If you're thinking of almost-field-length runs, both Minor and Brown had 80+ yard TDs against Minnesota in 2007.

Brown indeed had an 85-yard TD in that game, but Minor had no carry longer than 46 yards (and that play was not a TD).

http://www.mgoblue.com/football/article.aspx?id=97788

That 46-yarder is the longest run of Minor's career. The above poster isn't totally off-base in thinking that we haven't had that many really long runs in recent years. Hart didn't have great breakaway speed and neither does Minor.

Magnus

August 13th, 2009 at 8:32 PM ^

"Hart didn't have great breakaway speed and neither does Minor."

You're right on Hart. Minor, not so much. Just because he hasn't had a bunch of 70 yard runs doesn't mean he lacks breakaway speed. We're talking about a guy who's only started four games in his career.

He had a 21 yard TD run against Utah, a 15 yard TD run against Miami, a 9 yard run against ND, a 34 yard TD against Wisconsin, a 6 yard run against Illinois, a 36 yarder vs. PSU, 20 yarder vs. MSU, a 45 yarder vs. Purdue, a 40 yarder against Minnesota, and a 32-yarder against OSU.

Minor's average long run: 23.5 yards (quick mental math).

And even though I included the games against Illinois and ND, he only had 3 carries in each of those games, meaning he didn't have much of a chance to break a long one.

Anyway, you're completely wrong about Minor. He has plenty of breakaway speed.

(Thanks for the correction on the 2007 Minnesota game, though.)

Blue in Yarmouth

August 13th, 2009 at 8:53 AM ^

I really have no idea myself and don't necessarily think it would be the greatest move in UM history, but does anyone see him moving to DB this year with the potential lack of depth (if Witty doesn't qualify)?

STAUDACHERBLUE

August 13th, 2009 at 9:20 AM ^

He is plain and simple a QB. I love michigan more that anything but if he wanted to be Percy Harvin he would of taken that offer to be Harvin at FLORDIA. I believe that Gardner will RS and you will see D. Rob take some types of snaps for the next 4 Years. I believe that he is fast and athletic enough to play DB, RB, or Slot for any team in the country but here at Michigan he is just a lightning in a bottle QB. Think of D. Rob under center with C. Brown and Minor in the Backfield. D has to play its gaps and if the read is correct there is no stopping it! Forcier will be the starter but D. Rob is going to give opposing D's migrains.