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Casual QB Conversation
Let’s be honest here – MGoFootball is no MGoBlog – but I will not discredit myself as a Michigan fan and a knowledgeable one at that. On that note, I’ve been involved in some discussions lately about who is going to start at QB this season. The casual UM fan or the jabbing Ohio State fan will bring it up and want to know what’s going on and “are they really going to start dude that had all the fumbles and interceptions last year?” If you go back and watch select games from last year – you’d have to believe Denard Robinson improved two-fold to even be in consideration for the starting spot over Tate.
Know this: the guy who gets the start on September 4th means as much as that flapjack I didn’t eat last weekend. This is how it’s going to be – regardless of who takes the first snap against UCONN – both are going to see significant playing time and the more successful QB will be called out on to the field more often than not.
tate forcier
Assumptions on Tate
Tate finished last season, aside from a nasty spell of turnovers against OSU, on a fairly strong note and played very well closing out the last few games. I believe what I see – and based on what I witnessed last season – Tate will give this team more opportunities to win ball games from start to finish than Denard. However, and more to come on Denard later, there is no doubt that Tate cannot get by this season if he hasn’t improved significantly from the end of last season.
Assumptions on Denard
Denard proved himself as an athlete last year. It’s hard to stomach him sitting on the sideline and not in the game. So it’s fair to assume that he is going to be used more this season as both a QB and as an athlete with the intent of getting in open space with the ball. Denard didn’t get much of a shot last year as a passer, but he didn’t give the coaches much of a reason to believe he deserved more than what he got. That being said, you cannot dismiss how Denard performed in both Spring practice and the Spring Game. Denard is going to get his shot this season to be the guy – we’ll see how he handles it. The key to Denard’s success is holding on the ball and making the right reads. He does those two things – his athleticism and speed will take care of the rest.
denard robinson
Let’s just hope…
Both guys can stay healthy during fall practice and throughout the season. Tate’s level of bangedupness was well documented last year and apparently affected his play to a certain degree. Should both guys make it through the entire season unscathed, this gives Michigan an opportunity to leverage their collective skills against different types of defenses. I’d say, in all likelihood, at some point one of those guys is going to get banged up to the point where they can’t go one or more weeks.
Yes…optimism…
Tate and Denard stay healthy and play well enough to create a positive QB controversy in between all the conversation about a team rising from the depths of a two-year funk. You do realize that once Michigan emerges from the past two years – it will most definitely be a distant memory – one that will be referred to a minute ‘funk’ that a great program once endured.
EDIT: Ran into this video last night and figured I’d share. Denard executing against Iowa in the close lost in last year’s night cap in Iowa City.
Denard is going to get the nod against UCONN because he's improved more than tate has over the off season and in the spring. RR knows he can't disappoint this season and he has to win the uconn game or else he is in real trouble. Here's to both of them playing like you said and both being good out there!!! go blue
Liked this vid alot, thought i would share
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzmQl5fFU1o
Yea dude that's a sweet video – gets me jacked up for the season fa sho! Glad you shared..