Denard Robinson speaks to Detroit News about playing receiver
Actually better than even the average Angelique article, because they gave her some space and let her print a lot of quotes from Denard-
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130118/SPORTS0201/301180358/1131/s…
Talks about some interesting things with a "mystery trainer" and more joy in taking what comes at him. Enough to add to the Denard love pantheon.
January 18th, 2013 at 9:27 AM ^
until the day I croak. Let's see if we have any Desmond sighting around the U.
January 18th, 2013 at 9:28 AM ^
I still see him as a RB. He could do monster damage on a team like the Patriots or the Redskins
January 18th, 2013 at 9:58 AM ^
No disrespect to, say, Danny Woodhead, but just think what Denard could to if he was in that position.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:07 AM ^
you took the words out of my mouth....those are the 2 teams I hope he gets a shot with...As a Redskins fan I feel that between Denard, Morris, RGIII, and Shanahan's fantastic blocking schemes, they could be deadly...he could be a Percy Harvin type RB and Receiver hybrid. And Denard going to the Patriots is obvious, Tom Brady and Belicheck's genious could make him a very solid player. Broncos, Colts, or Texans I also think would be good fits. Anywhere where Denard can get in a little space.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:13 AM ^
I would be extremely excited to see Denard play for the Skins. The love affair would intensify even more!
January 18th, 2013 at 10:48 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 10:10 AM ^
I think he could be great in the Packers offense too. They have already transitioned Randall Cobb from college QB to an effective NFL receiver/utility player.
January 18th, 2013 at 9:28 AM ^
Desmond maybe?
January 18th, 2013 at 9:36 AM ^
Not sure why that would have to be a secret though. But Denard could just be playing.
I was kinda hoping it might be Soup Campbell, but that's probably a stretch.
January 18th, 2013 at 9:45 AM ^
If the person was helping him out before the bowl game, then that could mean an extra coach.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:38 AM ^
So it seems to indicate he's been practicing now. I mean, why would he be practicing receiver before the bowl game when he played tailback in it?
Though he does seem to say receivers coach. But how loose the term coach is, I don't know. If it was Desmond he's not a coach, but could be "coaching" for certain.
He's diligently practicing at receiver, which is the position he will play in the Senior Bowl, training with Michigan strength coach Aaron Wellman and a receivers coach. But Robinson won't reveal who that is. "Can't tell you that," Robinson told The News on Thursday, while laughing heartily. "I've got to keep it under wraps. He's a secret weapon."
January 19th, 2013 at 9:12 AM ^
The next paragraph:
"He said he will reveal that secret after the Senior Bowl, but until then, the always ebullient Robinson will continue to work on his catching and route running. He began practicing at the position before Michigan's Outback Bowl appearance."
January 18th, 2013 at 10:09 AM ^
I think it's Soup. He was on Moeller's staff with Hoke and I'd bet Brady trusts him.
January 18th, 2013 at 9:42 AM ^
That was my guess. I mean, assuming it's a great Michigan WR, there are really only 2 other options, right?
AC - I don't really know much about him (aside from his M legacy), so I don't know likely that would be.
Braylon - I think his ego is too big to do something like this.
Even though Michigan has had some great receivers, I feel like those 3 are the only ones who are high-profile enough that Denard would keep a secret.
January 18th, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^
Maybe David Terrell? He's been out of the league awhile but was a stud here.
January 18th, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^
Yeah, he came to mind, but I feel like he's one of those great receivers in Michigan history who isn't very high profile now. So if it is him, why keep it a secret?
January 18th, 2013 at 1:40 PM ^
which would be Antwaan Randel-El who is out of football now and available. Not a bad role model. He had a good career returning punts and catching passes.
January 18th, 2013 at 9:48 AM ^
It's Ronald Bellomy
January 18th, 2013 at 1:43 PM ^
My money is on Doug Dutch. One of these days, all of those "tremendous springs" will be unleashed. It's all part of Lloyd's master plan.
January 18th, 2013 at 9:40 AM ^
I don't get it. He is a ball carrier if I've ever seen one. Maybe not a feature back but definitely someone who can give you 8-12 quality carries a game. He never really caught passes or ran routes in his college career except for some short passes out of the backfield. His best skill is running between tackles and blockers. It seems glaringly obvious that in the backfield (and perhaps occasional return man) is where he would be most effective.
January 18th, 2013 at 9:47 AM ^
I think people are still holding strong onto their pipedream that Denard could be used as a "Percy Harvin Type" player. You here NFL scouts gush about that all the time.
January 18th, 2013 at 9:53 AM ^
No one knows what he can do at any of these positions because they've never seen him play there. The scouts got to see him at tailback for 3 games. Now, they'll get to see him at WR for part of this game and the combines. The more potential that you can give the guy, the better his draft stock will be. If he shows potential at WR along with RB, then he is way more valuable than a guy who only has potential at RB and has never blocked or played receiver out of the backfield.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:09 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 10:20 AM ^
I disagree with this bit:
His best skill is running between tackles and blockers.
He's very effective at running between the tackles because of his shiftiness, but I think he's best when he's in space (regardless of inside/outside). He's best when he can get to the second and third levels of the defense where he may only have one player to beat. He's a home run threat in space, so I think using him as a running back/slot receiver is the right call. I think it'll be difficult for Denard to get the same YPC running in between the tackles in the NFL.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:36 AM ^
I'll revise and say his "most valuable" skill. You don't get many chances to run in open space in the NFL unless you're returning kicks. On offense, you need to be able to follow blockers and elude defenders. That's where I think he'll make his bread and butter.
January 18th, 2013 at 11:36 AM ^
Do you think part of that view point is seeing him always have the ball in his hands? One of my greatest complaints when we were in the two QB set was that we didn't use Denard as a decoy. He could still be the type of player that you want the ball in his hands whenever possible, but you still want to make the offfense efficient and effective. I think he can be a great decoy and stretch the field both vertically and horizontally with his speed. Furthermore, we haven't seen a lot of what he can do outside of the running back/running QB role. I'd like to see him getting screens on the outside. I'd like to see how he runs routes.
Part of it is that we like what we know, and you don't know what we haven't seen. I think what we haven't seen out of Denard can be really really awesome.
January 18th, 2013 at 9:40 AM ^
Once he gets into training camp and they get to see what he is capable of doing, he'll be used all over the place.
January 18th, 2013 at 9:41 AM ^
Denard is awsome. Great attitude. I hope he has great success in the NFL. I also hope he goes to a team that is competent enought to find a position to utilize him (Patriots).
Please not the Jets, Please not the Jets, Please not the Jets..............
January 18th, 2013 at 9:51 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
If he goes to the Jets, I'll be able to see him. I suspect the preseason seats will be going for a song on Ebay.
January 18th, 2013 at 9:45 AM ^
"I get an opportunity to still play football and still do something I had a dream that I never thought in a million years that I'd accomplish it. But I've got a chance to do it. It's right there within arm's reach. I can actually grab it." - Deanrd, on not being projected as QB in the NFL
One of the things that I think has made Denard Robinson a great team leader is just this - he simply wants to contribute in any capacity in which he is able. Whether it is at quarterback, at tailback, as a mentor on the sideline, or in this case at wide receiver potentially, he just wants to play. It seems like, even now after all he accomplished at Michigan, he still thinks of himself as a kid from Deerfield Beach simply excited to be fulfilling a dream, and that's one of the many reasons why I think many of will be watching as many of his appearances in the pros as we can. It's difficult to top his outlook and attitude about this.
This was a great article, and thanks for sharing it!
January 18th, 2013 at 11:35 AM ^
Thanks for the lead-in. I can never resist an opportunity to post this picture.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:02 AM ^
If he's still available, he seems like the kind of player Chip Kelly would love to have, and I'm not talking about at QB.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:04 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 10:11 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 10:15 AM ^
WANT SO HARD.
January 18th, 2013 at 10:13 AM ^
Now that Kelly has taken the eagles job. Is there a future for him in a system like that? Could he even play QB for Kelly?
January 18th, 2013 at 10:27 AM ^
January 18th, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^
Wherever Denard goes, I will adopt that team as my second team. I just hope, if it isn't the Redskins, it isn't another NFC East team. I have liked a lot of players over the years, but I have never wanted anyone to achieve success more than Denard. When his NFL days are over, I'd love for him to get a position with Michigan, just to be able to see that smile on the sidelines.
January 18th, 2013 at 11:58 AM ^
I'm torn between thinking he'd look great as a replacement for Titus Young, and not wanting to wish that on a great kid like Denard in a million years. Just don't go to Green Bay.
January 18th, 2013 at 12:34 PM ^
Chip Kelly + Dilithium = MAGIC!
January 18th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
He's gonna go to the combine and run a 4.2-ish forty, and the Raiders will draft him in the first round.
January 18th, 2013 at 3:11 PM ^
January 19th, 2013 at 9:34 AM ^
It will be interesting to see what his 40 time is in the combine and what round he gets taken.