The Rest of College Football

[Jeff Buchanan]

....... it's just that many of the skills that the NFL looks for in its quarterbacks are essential on the college level as well (that's why I reached out to some NFL personnel as I put together this list). For quarterbacks like the Michigan Wolverines' Denard Robinson and Kansas State Wildcats' Collin Klein, a couple of notable "snubs" from this list, their lack of elite throwing ability limits their offenses, despite their dynamic running skills.

I don't disagree with Huard's take here but at the college level, there is a higher probability that you're going to get exploitable talent mismatches that favor the kind of offense that Borge's is running with Denard as QB.

So, I don't think Huard's list is very valuable at all when assessing the success of a team's QB in the college game.

I hope Denard tapes this list to the inside of his locker door, goes out and wins the Heisman and proceeds to poke the list in Huard's eye in NYC in December.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Hate to break it to you...but Denard ain't winning the Heisman...

[SeattleLionsFan]

What Denard's passing does to limit the offence, his running opens up additional complexities and opportunities...

[Optimus Prime]

At the London 2012 Games yesterday, 100m final Usain Bolt set a new Olympic record of 9.63 seconds.

Denard Robinson ran a 10:44 in the 100m as a 17-year old at the State Track Final in Florida. Now as a Senior, matured physically at 21 or 22 he is going to absolutely destroy most defenses he faces this fall (less Bama), provided he can stay reasonably healthy.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Hate to break it to you...but Denard ain't winning the Heisman...

Yes, that's probably correct. But if M goes undefeated or maybe only loses to Bamer, and he has several of those spectacular games he is capable of, he'll be in the mix and most likely at the top of it.

[THE_WIZARD_]

I got news for ya...Michigan ain't beating Bama...

[Tony G]

That's why they play the games....

[SeattleLionsFan]

I'd almost rather they forfeited to Alabama. Less chance of bad things happening.

And yes I hope someone is reposting this in a month to mock me mercilessly.

[iam416]

No one will. You're pretty much spot on.

[WM Wolverine]

Bama is beatable, I just don't think M is one of the teams capable of doing so...

[lineygoblue]

Anyone can be beaten on any given day.

Just not sure that the Bama game will be on that given day ...

... and I think we end up with the short end of the stick no matter what...

If we manage to win, we'll be ridiculously over-ranked. That motivates everyone on your schedule to prepare harder for you. As if we need that.

If we lose a close one, we'll probably get dropped into somewhere around 20-25. We're not that bad.

If we get blown out, .. we get the SEC mavens thumping their chests about "beating a Big Ten powerhouse" and pretty much awarding the NC to Bama right after the game.

SeattleLionsFan may not be too far off ...

[whodean]

I fear Bama will run successfully against our immature D line all day long.

[lineygoblue]

That's a real possibility, Whodean

[iam416]

Sweet mother of fanciful christ, Liney, there is no f'n down side to beating Alabama. Act your age.

However, it's also not a particularly realistic possibility. Alabama's offensive line is going to dominate the game. Alabama is young on defense, but it's talented and The Nick can coach defense.

I will be laying the points come game time.

[lineygoblue]

I agree that beating Alabama would be a huge plus in many ways, but go ahead and deny that we will be ridiculously over-ranked if we manage to win.

I'd be fine with a close loss, where we see a great effort out of the team, and no key injuries. I'd give up a loss to Alabama, if it meant that we could have a berth in the B1G Championship game and a shot at the Rose Bowl.

To reiterate, yes .. beating Bama would be huge. It may even help out with our '14 and beyond recruiting. But, I still think I'd rather see Michigan continue to rebuild quietly, and with as little hoopla as possible.