Wall Street Journal: "That's Right, He's a Quarterback"
The article has a fabulous photo of DR in "the Heisman pose" against ND.
Denard Robinson — who, we remind you, is a quarterback — leads the nation in rushing. By 41 yards. He also has thrown 62 times without an interception. Against real competition.
The numbers aren't merely good for the Michigan quarterback. They're too good. And so there's a natural feeling of skepticism about whether the sophomore speedster can possibly keep this up, especially the absurd rushing totals.
"He's a tough kid," Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said Saturday after Mr. Robinson ran 28 times for 258 yards in Michigan's 28-24 victory over the Fighting Irish. "When you run a quarterback 25 times, you've got to have toughness. I'll let Coach figure out whether that's the case for 10 games."
Translation: I'll let Rich Rodriguez figure out if he wants his quarterback in one piece after 10 more games.
.........more..................
September 12th, 2010 at 5:48 PM ^
This coming from a guy who played a quarterback who appeared to have a concussion of some sorts after taking a shot to his shiny gold dome. He is more jealous that his quarterback could not play 12 games this season without rushing for 258 yards total. Finally, another coach on a big stage who isn't having instant success. It really does take time, even at ND where coaches are Heaven Sent.
September 12th, 2010 at 6:41 PM ^
It's like Kelly is implying that Rod is compromising DR future to win against ND, when in fact it was he who put back his only competent qb in the game with a conussion.
I dislike Kelly already.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:11 PM ^
How much crap would Rodriguez catch from the MSM (especially in Detroit) if he sent a player back on the field with concussion symptoms?
September 12th, 2010 at 9:21 PM ^
September 12th, 2010 at 11:36 PM ^
Kelly covered his ass by saying it was an eye injury
Are you saying that your optometrist doesn't use smelling salts?
September 12th, 2010 at 5:49 PM ^
Denard is in great shape and he really doesn't take a lot of big shots because he's so quick that it's almost impossible to get an angle on him. I worry a little bit about his touches, but as soon as the running backs step it up we should see those numbers drop a little bit. He's such a joy to watch and an even better person off the field that RR and company will find ways to get others in the offense involved to give him some rest. Denard will definitely get some good rest against UMass and maybe a little against Bowling Green as well. Very excited going foward, It's amazing to be a Michigan Wolverine.
September 12th, 2010 at 6:04 PM ^
him down.
But, in the course of near-30 carries, there are going to be some situations where DRob tries to split a seam that no one else could even get to to get the first down. It is in these few situations each game where he is most likely to get hurt (like the hammering hit he took while picking up the first down versus UConn.)
But, but, we've passed the two tough OOC games and should be able to avoid the need to take those kinds of risks in the next two. If DRob can get to the B10 season healthy, you've got to just ride him over eight games in hopes of a huge year. Of course, it is important for a RB to step forward with production, so that the opposition is faced with a "triple option threat", not a double option threat with a change-up that goes for no more than a couple of yards most of the time.
September 12th, 2010 at 5:49 PM ^
I just watched "The Graduate" for the first time last night.
Seeing the WSJ refer to him as "Mr. Robinson" is leading to some REALLY weird correlations in my mind.
September 12th, 2010 at 5:53 PM ^
The word is a bit overused. But it's a spot-on descriptor in this case.
September 12th, 2010 at 5:55 PM ^
that we tend to assume that what has gone before is what's ahead. Already next week this o will look quite different, and if we enter the B10 season with him running 28 times, I doubt we win too many games. (Twenty, no problem :)
September 12th, 2010 at 6:01 PM ^
i interpret that as a dick thing for Kelly to say
September 12th, 2010 at 6:05 PM ^
a hell of a football coach, but is generally a dick.
September 13th, 2010 at 8:08 AM ^
In the modern era of CFB, there seems to be a pretty high correlation between DQ (Dick Quotient) and coaching success.
Let's review, shall we:
Pete Carroll -- Huge Dick...very successful CFB coach
Urban Meyer -- Huge Dick...very successful CFB coach
Nick Saban -- Huge Dick...very successful CFB coach
Brian Kelly -- Huge Dick...very successful CFB coach (at least at lower levels of competition...jury still out at BCS level)
Of course, being a Huge Dick doesn't guaranteee success (see: Weis, Charles and Dantonio, Mark), but it usually seems to be a pretty strong indicator.
September 12th, 2010 at 6:15 PM ^
It's the fervent belief on the part of the ND defenders that they're going to make the play on him. Yeah. Good luck with that.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:42 PM ^
If I remember correctly, he unfortunately lost a couple of yards on that play
September 12th, 2010 at 6:25 PM ^
It's the true Heisman pose but in real game action, instead of staged like Desmond's.
September 12th, 2010 at 6:51 PM ^
thats a wicked picture
September 12th, 2010 at 7:06 PM ^
Funny thing is that Mante made one heck of a tackle on that play.
September 13th, 2010 at 6:48 AM ^
I think we need another "strike a pose" shirt in the mgostore with this pic!
September 12th, 2010 at 6:33 PM ^
I just don't understand how his running isn't opening things up more for our RBs. I mean, every time he runs bad things happen for the other team. They should be trying to make him hand it off rather than pull it and run.
I know a lot of his runs especially yesterday were QB draws and obviously that's different (it's gotta be scary for an opposing DC when you can't stop the QB draw when you know it's coming). Still it seems like he pulled the ball a fair amount yesterday.
I'd really like to see him down to ~20 carries a game for health reasons.
By the way, BK should really talk about running a QB when he got his QB nearly killed (and should have been knocked out for the game) by running a kid who stands up straight like that as much as he did. Then sending him back in after he had gained his facuties back (don't worry guys it's not a concussion).
September 12th, 2010 at 6:44 PM ^
i am more interested on how once they decided to not sell out and take that option pass away, how they were still able to stop the non DR running game.
September 13th, 2010 at 1:16 AM ^
I rewatched that play a few times, and if Denard put a little more zip on that pass and lead Odoms - instead of him having to slow up and do a full 360 to catch the ball.....
But at least Hopkins got in the game and got his first Michigan TD on his first play. Looking for good things from that kid in the next few years for sure.
September 12th, 2010 at 11:13 PM ^
and I watched for it. You saw it at work on a few seam passes. Robinson' s best play fake is a step towards the line. Most of the ND defenders bit on the run and the receiver springs wide open. It's my new favorite play.