Mark May: "Denard Robinson is the best football player in America right now"

Submitted by wolverine1987 on

The hype train is in full swing. On College Football Final Mark May made that statement, which was qualified by "with the ball in his hands..." Then the guys made the now standard references to how he's running too much and will have to reduce that in the B10 season, etc etc. That is already a tired critique, although IME there is truth to it. "Best football player in America?" While simply amazing after two games, I wouldn't yet make that statement myself, would you?

jg2112

September 12th, 2010 at 10:49 AM ^

I would.

Who else would you rather have as your QB in this offense?

Who has produced more in the first two weeks? Who else led a last-minute drive on the road in such a hostile environment? Who has obliterated the Big Ten record books, and made Terrelle Pryor's 346 all-purpose yards yesterday IRRELEVANT?

And the 87-yard TD run - dear God. The blocking is out of this world, and that play, THAT PLAY, is why Denard has relegated Tate to the bench.

Denard is the best. Absolutely No SUGAR COAT. He is the Heisman front-runner, right now, and is the most exciting player Michigan has had in eons.

coldnjl

September 12th, 2010 at 12:15 PM ^

Braylon was exciting...He won a game by himself at a non-primary position. And if you don't think was Jake Long did was exciting, then I pitty you. To watch that man beast destroy the left side of the line play after play  was a thing to behold. Not a glory position, but tied for the most talented player ever to play here (harmon and CW of course).

speakeasy

September 12th, 2010 at 10:50 AM ^

He's shattering school and conference records left and right, and to date has ramrocked defenses in two nationally televised games that Michigan was popularly picked to lose. Judging strictly on last week and this week, yea, he's the best. Nobody else has anything close to the stats to match it.

LB

September 12th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^

we have had some really good ones. None of them have anything on Denard for sheer excitement. I went back and listened to Brandstatter's call on the long TD. Two things stood out. Brandstatter was excited about two steps into the second level, and he knew Denard was gone 30 or 40 yards before the NBC announcers realized they were seeing.

BlockM

September 12th, 2010 at 10:52 AM ^

I would make that statement if we're going by resume thus far, absolutely. Do I think he will continue to be the best in America for the rest of the season? Not sure yet, but if he keeps this up I'd have to say yes.

EGD

September 12th, 2010 at 11:52 AM ^

I think this is the correct approach to discussions like this.  Denard has been the best player  through two games, and he deserves credit for that.  Might he stumble?  Certainly.  But I do not like it when people detract from his accomplishments by assuming Denard's performance will decline. 

CarlisleWolverine

September 12th, 2010 at 11:01 AM ^

 We'll see a healthy dose of  "pocket passer" Denard Robinson.  Should be an opportunity to work on reciever skills, etc. (ref: Koger drop).  Then we might here, "He can do it all, even when not running for 6.2 million yards", from the talking heads

Hello Heisman

September 12th, 2010 at 11:10 AM ^

With the ball in his hands he is the most exciting player right now in college football, not the best but he has the potential to be the person who brought back Michigan football from all the factions and infighting.  Just look at all the texts from former players and all the news coverage of his games.  Its all positive and it gets the people who are waiting on the fence about RR to have a reason to come on over to RR's program.   D Rob is pulling all the people who want to hate RR a little closer each time flys down the field with that winged helmet.  I think we all agree Mark May is an idiot 95% of the time but at least its fun to be receiving positive news from all different media outlets. 

 He just had a once in a lifetime game in his second start on the road at ND.  What impresses me most is his ability to take hits like a runningback would and still be able to run the no huddle with little rest in between each play.  He runs, gets tackled (sometimes), gets up, goes back to the line and gets another snap.  Then the decisions on whether to run or throw are all his again.  There is no break at all.  Even runningbacks who take 25+ carries a game get plays where they rest some.

I hope D Rob only plays till halftime this week and hands off to Shaw and Smith most every time.  The Heisman is something that won't be won or lost in September.  At Michigan its simple - if D Rob is similiar all year with huge stat games and Mich roles into Columbus with 1 or maybe 2 losses (probably not likely but with a special talent like D Rob no game scares me anymore).  Then D Rob goes off on the Buckeyes and Mich wins the game he has a shot at the Heisman.  Nobody is going to look back and say he only had 75 yards rushing against UMass.  So lets get the man some rest and work on some downfield passing which we will need at some point this year.

markh100

September 12th, 2010 at 11:37 AM ^

Total Offense:

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2010&rpt=IA_playertotoff&site=org&div=IA&dest=O

Rushing Yards:

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2010&rpt=IA_playerrush&site=org&div=IA&dest=O

To answer your question, only Denard Robinson, at 885 yards of total offense has over 800 yards.  G.J. Kinne, at Tulsa, has 791, primarily due to 755 passing yards, with 399 coming in a 51-49 loss against East Carolina and another 356 yards passing against Bowling Green.

Sommy

September 12th, 2010 at 11:13 AM ^

Best player in America?  Possibly, but I don't know if I would go that far yet.

Most valuable player in America?  Most definitely.

A2MIKE

September 12th, 2010 at 11:34 AM ^

Its funny now that Mark May is in love with Michigan after all those years of hating us.  Second, how stupid does TP feel choosing osu over Michigan.  I bet he watches those highlights with envy, I mean the guy paved the way for Lebron's "the decision" by holding an hour long press conference to pick up a hat and say where he is going to school.

Grobdelnick

September 12th, 2010 at 11:52 AM ^

Huh? You mean, like he might have thought Michigan wasn't exactly a freight train of fright under Carr? You mean he might have thought Michigan's last two years were really bad?

You guys and your "Media is out to get us" complex. Geebus, pathetic paranoia in Michigan fans will never die.

EGD

September 12th, 2010 at 11:58 AM ^

I'd rather have Denard running our offense.  Denard is faster, is more accurate and puts more zip on his passes, has cool dreads, and always gives credit to his teammates.

 Perhaps most importantly, you will never hear Denard say anything to the effect of "Everybody murders, kills people, steals from me, steals from you, whatever." 

maracle

September 12th, 2010 at 12:19 PM ^

I know we're all excited here, but I really don't think TP is feeling too stupid about being the starting quarterback for the #2 team in the country with a strong chance of winnng a national championship and the heisman.  Probably he's cool with that.

OHbornUMfan

September 12th, 2010 at 12:00 PM ^

And he held up the winged helmet during the sign-off from CFB Final, with raised eyebrows for emphasis.

Welcome to the bandwagon, Mr. May.  We who've had hope and faith all winter, spring and summer are happy to make room for all those who take a little longer to realize.  Mr. Holtz, there may not be room for you by the time you finally come around.

Tater

September 12th, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^

...but so has everyone else.  Two games may be a "small sample," but it is the same sample we have if we truly judge every player on his contributions this year.  The best player so far, this year, is Denard.  I am very happy that one of ESPN's top three football mouths is flapping Denard's praises.  The Heisman is a popularity contest, and it's great to see tWWL helping to increase Denard's popularity.

If Denard continues to put up good numbers, and Michigan wins convincingly against MSU and then gets past Iowa to reach 7-0, the award will then be pretty much in Denard's hands to win or lose.  If they do turn out to be that good, then it will mean they are very likely to beat PSU, and could be 10-0 when Wiscy visits the Big House.

I know those are some pretty big "ifs," but the last few years have conditioned most of us to only consider the "realistic" possibility that Michigan will struggle to reach a bowl, but Denard's performance has changed that.  I'm not saying Michigan will win their first ten, or even ten all year, but it certainly looks a lot more possible than it did on September 3.

There are a lot of pessimistic scenarios that we could imagine in the name of "realism;" we have been doing it for a long time.  I could name them, but what's the point?  It seems that the last few years have given most of us a Masters in PTSD and Regression Fallacy.  I prefer to seek a PhD in Optimism.  Class started on the fourth, and yesterday was the end of drop/add period.  I'm sticking around for this semester.

shavo2k2

September 12th, 2010 at 12:29 PM ^

It's a good thing that he isn't playing CB/WR as he was recruited by other schools to play. 

I would say 25%+ of us (including me) wanted Denard on the field and Tate continue to play QB. However, Rod's usage of Denard last year was extremely sparse, predictable, and frustrating. 

 

lhglrkwg

September 12th, 2010 at 1:33 PM ^

Denard has been KILLING IT against 2 BCS teams, and 2 good BCS teams at that and he STILL is getting player of the week recognition while terrelle pryor pads his stats against marshall.

its ridiculous (-ly awesome)

TheOracle6

September 12th, 2010 at 5:38 PM ^

His stats agree with that statement.  Almost 900 total yards in two games against two solid BCS programs that will both make bowl games this year is unheard of.  The scary thing is that Denard is only going to get better, and once he perfecs the deep ball teams will have to play their safeties at normal depth which will allow for huge yardage at a very consistent pace.

oldcityblue

September 12th, 2010 at 9:23 PM ^

even blathering idiots can point out the obvious.

Watching him and his confused uncle Lou felt like nails on a chalk board with a dash of throw-up - topped off with a strong general annoyance. I am all for the positive press, but I don't plan on enduring them anymore.