Denard Robinson, Mike Martin earn spots on preseason 'watch lists' for Maxwell, Bednarik awards
Michigan junior quarterback Denard Robinson and senior defensive tackle Mike Martin both have spots on early preseason "watch lists" released Tuesday.
No surprise: Michigan junior quarterback Denard Robinson is an early candidate for the Maxwell Award, which honors the top college football player.
Robinson is coming off a record-setting sophomore season in which he rushed for 1,605 yards and 14 touchdowns and was named the Big Ten Conference's Offensive Player of the Year.
Robinson is one of 10 Big Ten players on the Maxwell list. Wisconsin has three Maxwell candidates in junior running back Montee Ball, sophomore running back James White and senior quarterback Russell Wilson. Michigan State has two players: junior running back Edwin Baker and senior quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Also on the list from the Big Ten: Iowa sophomore running back Marcus Coker, Nebraska sophomore quarterback Taylor Martinez, Northwestern senior quarterback Dan Persa and Illinois sophomore quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase.
Martin is on the 65-member watch list for the Bednarik Award, which honors the top defensive player in college football. The Bednarik Award has the same timetable as the Maxwell Award.
Martin, a second-team all-Big Ten defensive player last season, is expected to play a varied role on Michigan's defense this year under new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, lining up in different spots as the Wolverines switch to a 4-3 defense.
Martin is one of seven Big Ten players on the Bednarik list. Three seniors from Nebraska --- defensive tackle Jared Crick, linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard -- are in the running. Iowa senior cornerback Shaun Prater, Northwestern senior defensive end Vince Browne and Michigan State junior defensive tackle Jerel Worthy also are on the list.
Comments
tater
Wed, Jul 6, 2011 : 6:22 a.m.
There's no way Denard wins it unless Borges unleashes a hybrid attack with a lot of gun and spread formations within the WCO paradigm. It would look a lot like Steve Young and LaVell Edwards, but with a few more designed running plays for Denard. A few trick plays in there would really help, too. As for Martin, he can be a beast, but the unit isn't going to be good enough to get him serious consideration.
David Vande Bunte
Wed, Jul 6, 2011 : 1:24 p.m.
Borges has already strongly hinted that Denard will still spend plenty of time in the gun.
David Vande Bunte
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 6:41 p.m.
You know what really should scare opposing teams? Not only does the pro-set give him actual blockers for his scrambles, but by having a fullback or half back in the backfield along with him, it opens up the possibility that Michigan could throw in some genuine option plays as well. Old school Nebraska style. The key is that second legit rushing threat. We know Denard can bust a 60 yard TD run, but if we can make the opposing teams have to worry about Smith, Shaw or Toussaint as well as Robinson on the same play from scrimmage, that would just be icing on the cake. How much fun would that be to watch? When you have two (or more, depending on formation) legit running threats on the field at the same time, you have to account for them. That means keeping linebackers closer the line of scrimmage instead of helping out the secondary in coverage, and that means the WRs will have more opportunity to get wide open for big plays.
Dude
Thu, Jul 7, 2011 : 1:26 p.m.
I've been reading the content on this website for quite a while now, and I just have to say something. I'm simply amazed at how little the people who comment on this site know about football, considering how vocal they are about it. First off, the "pro-set" is a formation, not an offense. And how exactly were there not "actual blockers" for Denard last year? You do know the offensive line is going to be made up of the same players that it would have been made up of if we still used the spread, right? Do you really think drive blocking is going to be more effective than zone blocking given Denard's running style? Why do you think Lloyd Carr switched to zone blocking in 2005? What exactly is a "genuine option play" as opposed to, say, the read option or veer? Maybe you weren't paying attention for the last 3 years, but that offense is called the "spread-option". Almost every play in the playbook is an option play. Opposing teams aren't going to "worry" about Vincent Smith and the rest of the backs any more than they did last year, because it wasn't the scheme holding them back last year. It was their mediocre skillsets. Maybe Rawls or Hayes will be the threat we're looking for (or maybe Toussaint or Hopkins can stay healthy for a full season and break out). And opposing teams kept linebackers in plenty last year because of Denard. We didn't lose games last year because linebackers were clogging passing lanes. In fact, I'd defy you to find a single drive last season that was halted because of a linebacker defending a pass. I hope I didn't offend you, but I won't cry if I did. And I promise you... PROMISE you... the receivers will never be more "wide open for big plays" than they were last year. Actually catching the ball when it hits them in the hands is the only thing that will make that corps better than last year.
bigblue
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 6:12 p.m.
I have a feeling Denard is going to shine in the new offense. I wouldn't put too much stock into a spring game. Borges knows he's not gonna turn Denard into Tom Brady. The coaches want to win as bad as anybody. They know if they limit Denard, they limit their chances to win. They just don't want Denard to take as many running back type hits.
Terry Star21
Tue, Jul 5, 2011 : 4:10 p.m.
I'm not sure DRob's numbers will be nearly the same in individual stats this year because of his new adapted role. However, the bottom line is Michigan Football will be much improved this year because of DRob's new role, and everyone including DRob will tell you that is all that counts - Tradition, Michigan Football Tradition ! MgoBlueForTiM !