Misconceptions about RR's Offense and Denard
Like all of you, I stayed up late and relentlessly made the rounds of the various college football recap shows and CF blogs as I soaked in the victory. Some observations:
- Kelly and Holtz and most of the talking heads mis-characterize the concern with Denard's long-term vulnerability. Running 25 or 30 times is not the issue. Would Kelly or others worry about Ingram's carries? Michigan faithful were pining (some of us) for a primary Mike Hart or Chris Perry type of back to emerge who'd carry the ball that much. Robinson, like Barry Sanders, actually takes less damage (although the risk of a crushing hit is always there) because of his elusiveness; players are growing increasingly concerned with "corralling" DRob rather than obliterating him because he's too scary.
- The issue is the total exposures, which yesterday was 68. He is combining the exposures of the RB and the QB, so the combined threat to both Crist, for example (that mattered), and Mike Hart (over a normal game). That is the danger. However, because of RR's quick-developing play tactics, DRob rarely is exposed to the in-the-pocket Dexter Manley type of hit.
- All in all, I think DRob's actual punishment is on par with a feature RB when you combine the two threats.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:39 AM ^
I agree. Good observation on the speed of the reads and play development.
You will see the ball get spread out more as defenses start doing more overloading like Notre Dame did at times yesterday. Michigan State for instance will think they can shut the offense down with 8 men hugging the line and bump and run. We'll simply beat their junk secondary up top for awhile.
If the Defense is going to set up allowing obvious yards to Robinson running and our line is that dominant, take the yards. There isn't an intelligent coach in the country that would stop going to it.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:01 AM ^
...type of hit." Do you mean something like the time Dexter made Danny White cry?
Double Hate Week for me: Notre Dame week. Dallas week. Emperor Palpatine is doing his worst and it's working.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:04 AM ^
to become more three-dimensional. Getting through yesterday was very, very important. If Michigan has to rely on him like that against Iowa and Wisconsin, let alone OSU, we don't win. RichRod knows it.
September 12th, 2010 at 5:41 PM ^
You should be ecstatic. Either Denard only knows 8 plays, or Michigan just made it through Game Two without having to show its hand to the Big 10. Compare that to the number of plays called against Notre Dame, EMU and Indiana in the first 4 games last year.
Notre Dame knew the plays we would call first, Rodriguez threw down the gauntlet by staying basic and calling them over and over again, Notre Dame failed to meet the challenge, and now we will be able to enter into "the meat" of Big 10 play with our 3rd dimension hidden. (Assuming that the next 3 teams can't stop the 8 plays that UConn and ND failed to stop.)
My prediction for the remaining season: 1) we make it through the next three games without having to call any new plays; 2) Denard's expanded play-book carries us through MSU and Iowa; 3) when Penn State's always excellent D cooks up a stop for Denard, we laugh in their face and bring out Tate for the 3rd quarter to unleash the other half of our playbook (PSU will have spent exactly zero minutes preparing for Tate's tendencies;) 3) Illinois and Purdue trip over themselves trying to prepare for the nearly-entirely installed Rodriguez play-book spread over two very different QB's; 4) U of M scrapes by Wisconsin on sheer determination to make it into Columbus undefeated; and 5) for the biggest game of the new decade, Rodriguez finally opens up his new play-book entitled: "2-Back Sets," for which Shoelace and Gardner take to the backfield side by side.
September 12th, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^
Denard's risk of injury during passing situations is less than in pro style offenses. He's not in a pocket for an extended period where he can be blindsided or otherwise buried by the rush.
September 12th, 2010 at 2:10 PM ^
I hope Denard stays healthy; I am knocking on wood just now.
We have this new concept here in AA: experienced depth at QB...amazing!
September 12th, 2010 at 6:52 PM ^
While we do need an elite RB to accompany Denard in the backfield I am not worried about him carrying the load when he has to. He is so fast that it is nearly impossible to get a good angle on him. As the season goes on he'll have his games where he runs it 10-15 times and then he'll definitely have some more big work load games. This offense is about getting your athletes in space. Fitz and Mike Cox are both solid athletes that haven't seen the field yet, I'm excited to see what they can bring to the table