Freshman to Watch: Offense

Denard Robinson
QB Michigan

Freshman
6'0" 174 lbs.

Week 1 vs. Western Michigan
2-4 18 yards, 11 rushes 74 yards TD

Denard Robinson was a highly touted freshman coming to play for Rich Rodriguez at Michigan and after watching him play on Saturday vs. a pretty solid Bronco team, Denard Robinson could easily be the next great Rodriguez QB following in the shoes of Pat White... only "Shoelaces" as Denard is known might be more explosive when running and might have a stronger, albeit less consistent arm.

During a broken play in the 2nd quarter on a botched QB read/run play, Robinson dropped the snap and when things broke down, he turned it up by taking the ball 43 yards while evading tackles, stopping and juking on a dime and then taking it through a safety and cornerback by accelerating through their angles.

He is definitely the future and could see himself moving into a solid role in the future, however, starting QB Tate Forcier won't give up the job willingly as he burned the WMU defense to the tune of 13-20 for 179 yards and 3 TDs.

White Works Out At WR

It's finally happened, Pat White has officially worked out as a wide receiver for the Patriots and Broncos, what a momentous and glorious occasion made possible only after Pat White left the confines of West Virginia!

Pat White is a talented player who could see himself drafted at a number of different positions. He could see himself as back up quarterback, he could see himself as a wildcat quarterback or he could even be drafted as a wide receiver/kick returner. Regardless, Pat White is a football player and his love for the game, passion and talent will find him a spot on someone's roster.

-Matty

West Virginia Pro Day

Per NFL Prospect analyst Gil Brandt:

Ten former Mountaineers, including QB Pat White, worked out for 25 NFL representatives indoors on FieldTurf at the West Virginia Pro Day on March 12.

NFL.com’s Steve Wyche reported that the versatile White said he would run passing routes if any scouts were interested, but there were no takers.

White, who led the Mountaineers to a 9-4 record and a 31-30 win over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in 2008, measured in at 6-0 1/4 and 202 pounds. He participated in position drills but otherwise stood on his numbers from the NFL combine in Indianapolis, which included position-best times of 4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash and A 35-inch vertical leap.

Among the other notables:

OLB Mortty Ivy (6-1 5/8 and 239 pounds) put up 40 times of 4.84 and 4.78. He had a 28 1/2-inch vertical and a 9-foot, 2-inch broad jump with times of 4.44 in the short shuttle and 7.15 in the three-cone drill. He put up 17 reps on the bench press at 225 pounds.

G Greg Isdaner (6-3 5/8 and 324 pounds) had 40 times of 5.29 and 5.28 seconds. He had a 25 1/2-inch vertical leap and an 8-foot, 6-inch broad jump, with times of 4.75 in the short shuttle and 7.73 in the three-cone drill. He didn’t participate in the bench press at the pro day.

OL Ryan Stanchek (6-3 3/8 and 298 pounds) turned in times of 5.32 and 5.31 in the 40. He had a 27 1/2-inch vertical and an 8-foot, 7-inch broad jump with a 4.74 short shuttle and a 7.65 three-cone drill. He put up 29 reps on the bench press.

Some people say that Pat White has hurt his stock by not running as a wide receiver and staying as a QB, for instance Mike Mayock has him graded as a 2nd rounded as WR/KR but 6th as a QB. How can he be ranked lower a position he excelled at compared to one he has never done? Makes no sense to me, I think he is a 4th round guy regardless. As for the remaining WVU guys, Stanchek and Isdaner could both see themselves on the ticker on Sunday as potential mid-late picks but I haven't seen enough from Ivy to warrant a selection.

-Matty

Prospect Update: Pat White pt. 2

Per NFL.com writer Steve Wyche:

"West Virginia’s Pro Day has drawn representatives from 25 NFL teams, most to get a deeper evaluation of multi-faceted quarterback Pat White.

White did not participate in any of the strength or running drills, choosing to stand on his draft combine performances in those realms.

Several teams came here today planning on watching White throw and partake in receiver drills, since he could have to transition to wideout in the NFL. White told me before the field drills started what he has been saying all along — that he planned only to throw, but that he would run routes upon request. Well, after he finished throwing, it turned out that’s all he did. In fact, the majority of the people who were there to watch White left after he threw and weren’t waiting to see him do anything but throw."

My opinion on this matter is it looks as though teams are going to be keeping Pat White at QB if they couldn't care less about his drills at WR, some teams might use him as a Wildcat QB and others may use him like Antwan Randle El as a wide receiver with the ability to throw bombs. But his versatility should raise his draft stock and put him in early 2nd day contention.

-Matty

Prospect Update: Pat White

Per NFL.com:

Former West Virginia quarterback Pat White was in-house Tuesday at the NFL Network and NFL.com, taping segments to go on the Network and chatting live with fans online.

Talking with White in the “Green Room” before, after and during our chat brought out a few interesting points. One, he said that he wants to remain at quarterback and during his interviews with teams, he estimates that only two of the 32 NFL teams are giving him serious consideration at the position. Two, if there’s one team White is hoping will take him, that’s the Pittsburgh Steelers (White comes from a Steelers family — in Alabama). Three, he will work some at receiver during his pro day workouts.

White is training at Velocity Sports Performance in Irvine, Calif., with around 20 other NFL hopefuls, including USC’s Mark Sanchez, Purdue’s Curtis Painter, Fresno State’s Tom Brandstater and Nate Brown of Central Arkansas. He’s in a two month program there leading up to his pro day on March 12.