Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson has a fan in former Wolverines QB Brian Griese

By Pete Bigelow AnnArbor.com

Posted on Tue, Sep 28, 2010 : 3:57 p.m.

The thing that impresses Brian Griese about Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson isn’t his dazzling speed, big-play ability or the fact he’s the nation’s leading rusher.

It’s Robinson’s accuracy throwing the football.

Through four games this season, Robinson has completed 71.2 percent of his passes.

“That’s nuts,” said Griese, a former Michigan quarterback himself who broadcast last Saturday’s Michigan game against Bowling Green for ESPN2. “Think about that. That’s Drew Brees.”

Denard Robinson warms up before Saturday's game against Bowling Green.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

By comparison, Brees led the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl championship last year by completing 70.6 percent of his passes.

Griese said it’s not only Robinson’s improved mechanics from last season that are giving opponents fits. It’s his ability to sell play-action passes that’s creating opportunities.

“The ability to approach the line of scrimmage with the threat of running and (him) being able to throw those balls off-balance, that’s so hard on a defense,” Griese said. “Guys are wide open because of him.”

It’s been a dramatic turnaround from 2009, when Robinson completed 45 percent of his passes, going 14 of 31 with four interceptions. This year, he’s completed 57 of 80 attempts for 731 yards and four touchdowns passes.

Griese spent some time in the week leading into Bowling Green with Robinson on Michigan’s campus. As much as he’s impressed by Robinson on the field, Griese is equally impressed by the sophomore off it.

“Everybody sees what he’s done on the field, the electricity he’s brought to college football this first month of this season,” Griese said. “He’s not satisfied by any stretch.

“He said to me, ‘I don’t care about the stats or the publicity.' In fact, he hates the media attention, which to me, you know he’s the perfect package. He’s an unbelievable kid and a great representative of the university.”