Denard Robinson is fast
I just thought I'd start a new topic on this, since the last Denard Robinson thread was so popular about where he will end up on this team. Either way, we need to get the ball in this kids hands.
From FHSAA
Deerfield sprinter has huge day
Step aside, Joseph Byrd. The new sprint king in the state is a Michigan football signee from Deerfield Beach who is only running track to stay in shape.
Deerfield Beach's Denard Robinson got the near-perfect start he needed, motored down the straightaway and won the 100 meters in a personal-best 10.44 seconds at the BCAA Track Championships at Coral Springs on Saturday.
Robinson's personal-best eclipsed the state standard for this year set by Byrd, a junior at Ida Baker, and it is the second-fastest high school time in the nation, according to Dyestat Elite 100 rankings.
'' I was kind of disappointed in myself to run a 10.44, but I will accept that,'' Robinson said. ``Running the No. 2 time in the nation is pretty good. I was trying to run a 10.3, but there was strong wind. I'm working harder on it and expect to hit a 10.3 by states.''
For more, visit the Miami Herald.
hes fast...but im curious to see how this translates on the football field.
I think this will translate to an ability to run fast on the football field.
You, sir, are making wild assumptions.
this new cutting edge concept of "football speed."
http://mgoblog.com/content/denard-robinson-1#comment-88125
That is the stuff of legends.
i did
March 30th, 2009 at 11:06 AM ^
Morgan Trent was fast too........
demon. But he needs to really work on his passing.
Wow that's nuts. Safe to say he's going to see the field in some way, shape, or form pretty early on.
That would translate to 3.82 40 yd dash. Obviously he must get faster after the 40 yd mark, meaning the longer he runs the faster he gets.
I'm really starting to at least entertain the idea that Robinson could very well start this fall over Forcier. The key to the offense is the spread option, which is not hard to read and react to. All of the offense (slot receivers, downfield receivers, over the middle receivers), flows out of the basic ability of the QB and RB to effectively run the spread option. Robinson is both fast and elusive while Forcier is more of a scrambler, which means far less in this offense. If Robinson is simply faster and apparently more elusive than Forcier, he's going to get the starting job no matter how much attention is initially paid to Forcier. That's actually not a bad idea. The spread option is just another unique way of running the ball. It may be completely different from the I-form, but the effect is the same. Control the game, open up the pass. Remember, Pat White couldn't throw a lick when he first started, but he turned out all right.
why people think he'll get the nod just because he's faster. if that's all it took to run the offense feagin would be the QB right now
March 29th, 2009 at 10:07 PM ^
This is currently boggling my mind as well.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:02 PM ^
It's mind bottling. You know, when your thoughts are all up in a bottle.
which is when someone has had their head up their ass for so long that they've become a shit-for-brains.
March 29th, 2009 at 11:10 PM ^
Honestly? Watch the spring game video on the main Michigan site, and tell me why it isn't important to scramble when you're throwing balls to Odoms, Stonum, Matthews, Hemingway, et al. The spread option doesn't mean 100% running, even though that would be good this year with Minor and Brown.
The scrimmage videos though make it more evident that Coach Rod's offense works pretty well when you have a QB that can run around with his head up and make throws into space that can be caught by the wideouts. I don't know why you'd want to give up the Forcier flexibility just because Denard is fast. Denard can be used as a mix-up to be brought in many times in a game (on decoy and as a runner, or occasional passer), but it does look that Tate has a decent combination of running (though limited right now) and passing acumen that he should start against the Broncos.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:34 AM ^
Feagin either lost a step because of injury or his forty time was really, really fake. I am hoping it was the former.
As for Robinson, he can throw the ball better than Feagin can, and I could see both Forcier and Robinson seeing the field in most games. I hope RR uses DR as a wildcat at first, and gradually lets him run more plays. I could see this working a lot like the Leak/Tebow combination with different particulars. Obviously, Robinson isn't built like a fullback the way Tebow is, and Forcier isn't a statue like Leak was.
I also think it would be entertaining to have what some are calling a "reverse wildcat" with Forcier, Robinson, and Feagin all in the backfield for a few plays.
At any rate, this is a lot more fun than agonizing over Threet and Sheridan.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:41 AM ^
this will be a lot like Leak/Tebow without a lot of particulars, like -
(1) a 6'5", 220 pound manchild as the backup QB, and
(2) a three-year starter at QB.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:45 AM ^
If Tim Tebow is 6'5", I'll eat my own pubes.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:58 AM ^
What amuses me, is that people freak out that Tate is 2" shorter than his Rivals thing says. Or that Feagin's 40 time is/was fake. Don't they realize that this applies to nearly all prospects on Rivals?
March 30th, 2009 at 11:01 AM ^
Nope. Rivals is the Gospel.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:04 AM ^
Makes sense given that both are overstated and only loosely based on facts.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:43 AM ^
Feagin clearly lost a step. If he was actually fast, that 34-yard run against Minnesota would have been a 300-yarder. Only slow people gain just 34 yards in major college football.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:10 AM ^
now if he's the 2nd fastest player in the nation what makes yall think he's not gonna start when he learns the entire playbook?
March 30th, 2009 at 11:19 AM ^
Good point. Speed is the only thing that matters when it comes to playing quarterback.
You're a genius. Anyone know if Ato Bolden has any eligibility left?
He ran the 2nd fast 100 m dash in the country, AND its early in the season. Not all football players run track, and track speed != football speed. He is still ridiculously fast, but there is more to football than running fast in a straight line.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:54 AM ^
speed matters but u act like denard can't pass a lick he is a way better passer then feagin and I wish yall stop making those comparisons
Funny. I wish you'd stop pretending that speed is the ultimate factor of who plays quarterback at the University of Michigan.
You know who was faster than Mike Hart? Pretty much every Michigan running back ever.
You know who I'd want over Chris Perry and Anthony Thomas (among others)? Mike Hart.
Mike Hart over Chris Perry? That might be pushing it. Are we talking junior/senior chris perry? All 4 years on balance? This is more than just one or the other.
If both wanted to commit right here and now but I only had one scholarship left, I'd take Hart over Perry.
I agree that it takes a lot more than speed to be a good QB in this system. Way more. That said, having the kind of speed to run a 10.44 100m, even if there wasn't any wind, is a pretty big deal. He will likely be the fastest kid on the field at all times. Not a bad weapon to have in your arsenal. I think it's safe to say that his 40 time was not fake.
So what excites me is that he is clearly a hard worker with very high standards for himself... he just got the second fastest time in the country and was slightly dissapointed. I'm going to make the assumption that he trained his ass off to become the runner he is.
That said, HE'S COMING TO MICHIGAN! His football tape is great, and M is going to offer him the training and facilities to become a much better player if he applies himself... which apparently he'll have no problem doing as I pointed out initially.
I don't know if he'll beat out Tate, I don't know if he'll play corner... but this kid has star potential to be sure. Potential.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:15 PM ^
I know! He could probably play any positon out there (except lineman) and star at it. I bet he wouldn't even do to bad if they even stuck him at RB. I know they won't and they don't need to, but with his speed, I'm sure he could do ok. I actually would like him to play DB, cuz he will be able to move so fast and intercept and knock away so many balls, that he could end up being a better corner than CHARLES WOODSON. Ya. I said it. But if he plays DB, I hope he would bulk up a little more first. He doesn't weigh very much. But this kind of speed doesn't come around very much, so they better take advantage of it...
March 30th, 2009 at 11:22 PM ^
You do realize that Charles Woodson was the only primarily defensive player in history to win the Heisman, right?
I think he's going to be a pretty good player, but I'm willing to bet you've never seen the kid play defense. Saying he could be better than Charles Woodson is nothing more than a wild-ass guess on your part.
Personally, I think Je'Ron Stokes is going to be a better tackle than Dan Dierdorf.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:25 PM ^
Dan Dierdorf is a broadcaster not a football player, dummy.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:30 PM ^
Shit.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:39 PM ^
Yes I have seen him play defense. He's a real playmaker. If he doesn't get a pick, he tries his best to break up the pass. And no that wasn't a wild ass guess. Will it be extremely hard to be better than Charles Woodson. Of course! But Woodson was only 6-1 and Robinson is 6-0 or 6-1, I can't remember. I think it could happen. Charles was 200 pounds, Denard is listed at 185. And yes, that could be wrong. And if he bulks up, I wonder if they could use Denard as a punt returner...Sounds like a Charles twin...
March 30th, 2009 at 11:41 PM ^
Nope.
"If he doesn't get the pick, he tries his best to break up the pass."
That's an impressive tactic. That type of mentality is impossible to teach.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:42 PM ^
Shut up Magnus D-Rob will clearly be just as good as the best player in Michigan history.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:44 PM ^
I'm sick of you successfully refuting my arguments.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:44 PM ^
...and most of the time does.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:46 PM ^
...by your flawless statistical analysis.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:50 PM ^
I'm looking for the best video right now...
March 30th, 2009 at 11:51 PM ^
I'm going to bed. Perhaps when I'm tripping on dream chemicals, I'll envision the same thing you have.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:32 PM ^
to play cornerback better than Charles Woodson did?
March 30th, 2009 at 11:41 PM ^
nearly impossible. But we have been blessed with one of the fastest high schoolers in the country...Possibly the fastest
March 30th, 2009 at 11:43 PM ^
speed = best cornerback ever
March 30th, 2009 at 11:46 PM ^
it applies to qb's too
March 30th, 2009 at 11:46 PM ^
Quarterback, too. Just ask desean20934209348029384029384234.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:47 PM ^
I'd rather not. His brother is spewing enough silliness.