Tate-Denard Formations?
It's a classic coaching adage that one of your primary goals is to find a way to get your best players onto the field. Clearly Denard is a stud. I'm wondering if there is a way to create a formation or two where Tate can also get on the field. Lets be honest, Tate is NOT a bad runner. He definitely has skills. I feel like we could use his pass/run skills during these games which would 1) give denard a breather with his running game (or at least not bang him up) and 2) make teams at least spend time gameplanning for this formation.
I have to think that there is some way to have a shotgun formation where both are back there. Too gimmicky? I just hate to waste a talent on our bench, especially when our TBs are not getting the job done in helping Shoelace.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:13 PM ^
I hope this happens eventually, let Denard streak out. With 3-4 seconds of blocking I think that Denard could get complete seperation, barring a prevent formation. If it does happen it will be later in the season, I cant see RR doing this unless he has to and its against a rival.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:27 PM ^
3-4 seconds of blocking on a go-route probably translates to about a 65 yard throw once you factor in hang time. Forcier doesn't have that arm. Of course, Denard could keep throwing to his receivers...that's worked ok. Maybe the number 2 QB could play.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^
Mr. Forcier is that you?
Or is it the mysterious QBForce coming up with these threads?
September 12th, 2010 at 8:14 PM ^
j/k.....I am sure its a possiblity
September 12th, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^
The fact that Tate is actually 3rd freaking string still.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:18 PM ^
Take the ball out of your best player's hands and into your third string QB's so you can...hand off to the first string QB or plug a hole in perhaps the deepest position on the team (receiver)? Let's put a moratorium on these threads.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:20 PM ^
How about Tate, Denard and Devin all out there together. Now that would screw with defenses.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:23 PM ^
Whoever considers Tate to be just another 3rd string QB is ignorant. Is Devin's redshirt option done now?
September 12th, 2010 at 8:24 PM ^
Devin's played, his redshirt is burned. The staff is playing Devin because he's better. Sorry.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:59 PM ^
Devin can still get "injured" and get a medical redshirt. His redshirt isn't burned quite yet.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^
Somebody get Tubes a beer
September 12th, 2010 at 9:02 PM ^
September 12th, 2010 at 9:09 PM ^
I might have agreed with you last week, but you don't make a point in a dog fight against Notre Dame when your starting QB goes down--even for a play or two. Occam's Razor says the staff thinks Devin is better, and I tend to agree with it.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:28 PM ^
maybe they just didn't want to put tate in if they knew it was just for one snap. Perhaps they thought there was a teachable moment for devin to experience some away pressure if only for one snap.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:38 PM ^
Possibly, but I think when your starting QB runs to the sideline, you never plan for it being for just one snap, you just hope.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:31 PM ^
i thought this was about the time when denard was on one knee near the sideline and they had time to figure out it was just a hit to the head and not something that would keep him out longer. i guess my point only makes sense if they knew that but from the announcers i thought that was the situation.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:37 PM ^
Good coaches have no problem making a teachable moment even in critical situations. Tate should have known RR was serious as hell about "the best player will play" when Denard got the final drive at Iowa after scoring a TD and Tate unable to make anything happen. Beilein had no problem benching Manny in critical B10 games due to "not being on the same page" issues.
Your players won't take you seriously unless you are willing to bench star players when necessary, even if it will cost them a crucial game.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:24 PM ^
Or we could go with the formation that's working this year which is having DRob on the field without gimmicky 2-QB formations that havent been proven to work.
I mean seriously, our QB hangs 502 yards on ND and you're posting a thread about getting our 3rd stringer on the field.
September 12th, 2010 at 8:32 PM ^
If anything Denard and Devin. Stop this crap. Devin Gardner is your stating quarterback if Denard runs too fast and goes back in time
September 12th, 2010 at 8:49 PM ^
Yes, then bring in Campbell on the one yard line...
September 12th, 2010 at 8:56 PM ^
LET'S HAVE A FORMATION WITH 0 QBs WHICH WOULD 1) give denard a breather with his running game (or at least not bang him up) and 2) make teams at least spend time gameplanning for this formation.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:04 PM ^
Devin is more suitable for this offense and I would rather see him on the field and get him the valuable experience he's going to need rather then giving it to Tate who is 3rd string for a reason. The coaches know more then we do and I'm going to stick with the decisions they make.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:22 PM ^
I think that Tate should be the first choice but not Devin.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:17 PM ^
I think the coaches have made it clear that Devin is the #2 and that Tate will only see playing time in the event of an emergency, though I wouldn't be surprised if the coaches pulled out a Devin-Denard package in the right situation.
Personally, I think a Denard-Tate combination at times could provide some unique wrinkles, but that is just not going to happen. And for the record, and neg me if you want, I think that sticking Devin in as #2 is a bad idea. He's just not ready, and against some of the better defenses this team will see in the coming weeks, Denard is not going to create 500 yards of offense; he might be lucky to generate half of that. And it just takes one awkward fall or unseen LB to result in a season-ending/altering injury.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^
just as what Griese was mainly used in 1996-1997 season. Tate can certainly punt and one of our field goal holder is injured. A few trick plays in the 4th down situation are helpful given that our kicker sucks.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:45 PM ^
I think that might improve our chances on FGs.
And mebbe we should just go with the Tate "pooch" punt on all punting situations. Hangerup played like Sidershank yesterday.
.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:08 PM ^
Tate isn't going to play unless Denard is injured, and even in that case the coaches will probably put Devin Gardener in. As they have done twice now.
I emphatically question the wisdom of putting a true freshman in before a sophomore who has a full year of playing experience, but it is what it is. Tate is #3.
Either Gardener is just that more athletic than Tate or Tate is deep in the coach's doghouse, maybe both.
[edit: I'm a fan of Tate and hope he stays, but I wonder if he's going to see the field at all this year ]
September 12th, 2010 at 10:55 PM ^
I wouldn't go as far as to say that Tate will never see the field this year. Barring the unthinkable, I believe he will see the field at some point this year but likely after Denard and Devin have played. And it likely wont be meaningful minutes but in mop up duty.
This coaching staff is serious about discipline and work ethic. RR is a very strict man in many ways. Cut class get in the dog house. Cut class too much, get the boot. This same philosophy applies to everything else with respect to the program RR runs. Do it the right way or suffer the consequences.
Moreover, there is a reason Devin was widely regarded as the best QB in the nation last year - he is good. In the eyes of the coaches he has likely outperformed Tate and has deservedly secured the #2 spot with his play.
Lastly, we have a record breaking quarterback currently at the helm who is taking the college football world by storm. A player that can be the pied piper for the program by bringing much needed positive exposure and elite level recruits into the fold. All talk of playing Denard anywhere but quarterback is ludicrous imo.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:18 PM ^
I remember not too long ago when the thread topic was "How do we put Denard in when Tate is on the field" For those that doubted Mr. Robinson, we told you so.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:56 PM ^
it would be called the "Tate-lace" formation
September 12th, 2010 at 11:36 PM ^
My favorite one so far is where Tate aligns himself on the sidelines, then Denard runs 87 yards for the longest run in the history of Notre Dame stadium and when Denard goes to the sidelines Tate is there to congratulate him.