With Denard Robinson and Tate Forcier, Rich Rodriguez delivers a fast, new look at Michigan
When Rich Rodriguez took the head coaching job at Michigan, he promised to improve the team’s overall speed.
Denard Robinson’s presence in the huddle fulfills that promise.
When Rodriguez took the job, he promised to bring a spread offense that would refurbish the school’s plow-ahead image. Tate Forcier and Robinson are delivering that now. Just three games into their freshmen seasons, the rookie quarterbacks are the most exciting offensive players Michigan has seen since Mike Hart. With all due respect to Hart, he simply didn’t have the kind of speed Robinson displayed Saturday. Robinson turned on the burners for two touchdowns in a 45-17 victory over Eastern Michigan. With the win, Michigan matched last season’s win total - three - before the calendar even turns past September. A big part of the reason for their perfect start has been the play of Michigan’s freshmen quarterbacks. Last week, Forcier completed 23 of 33 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which came with 11 seconds remaining and provided a seminal 38-34 victory over Notre Dame. On Saturday, Robinson took his turn in the quarterback spotlight. Three carries. Two touchdowns. The first came on a third-and-two play with 3:06 left in the third quarter. With the Eagles defense looking for the run, it still couldn’t stop him from jetting through the middle of the line for a 13-yard score. That touchdown essentially iced the game for Michigan, allowing the crowd to finally breathe easy at 38-17. A few minutes later, Robinson was at it again. Two plays after an Eastern turnover, Robinson accelerated through the line again. Again, no one could keep up. He scored on a 36-yard run early in the fourth quarter. He’s flat-out the fastest guy on the field every week, a threat to score every time he touches the ball. You may remember he scored on his first college carry, a 43-yard blur against Western Michigan. His speed can give defenses fits. As it turns out, it can present some problems for his teammates too. “As much as you’re told to stay in your tracks and stay on your man, most of the time that doesn’t matter when Denard is back there,” tackle Mark Ortmann said, chuckling. “You look around, and he’s behind you when he’s not supposed to be.” It’s all an incredible contrast to the 2008 season, when Michigan could only hope and pray its quarterbacks would play well enough not to lose games against MAC opponents. In the span of three games, Forcier and Robinson have reversed that mindset. Both have a lot to learn. Forcier played a pretty up-and-down game against the Eagles, and Robinson still must show much more as a passer. But three games into the season, both have shown that they’re game-changers. Both have shown that they’re really fun to watch. And with the echoes of the 2008 season not too far away in the rear-view mirror, they’ve shown that the Wolverines have two options at quarterback everyone can feel good about.
Pete Bigelow is the sports producer for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petebigelow@annarbor.com or 734-623-2556.
Comments
kahnawa
Mon, Sep 21, 2009 : 1:35 p.m.
There is no question that speed abounds on the M team but so does youth and inexperience. Nice to see my team back but when they leave the warm surroundings of the big house, will they maintain the unexpected composure? That may be the true test regarding how far we can take this thing
1bit
Sun, Sep 20, 2009 : 9:58 p.m.
@Txmaizenblue: Although I agree with you to a certain extent, "loading the box" is a very risky proposition against the RR spread and particularly against an athlete like Robinson. Basically, it's a feast or famine proposition from a defensive perspective in that you'll either stuff the play if you sniff it out or you'll be watching someone running past you for a TD. Yes, we don't want someone one-dimensional and normally your comment would be right on target but Robinson is just so fast and has such great vision that the normal rules don't apply.
SHub'68
Sun, Sep 20, 2009 : 8:54 p.m.
@tru2blu76: "One aspect of this game: I was wondering if it would be a statement by Ron English - and now I think it was." I was also watching this; and I noticed it, too. On EMU's defense. When Brown ripped the 90 run, I was reminded of Beanie Wells and several others who, once they got throught he first layer of Michigan's D, took it to the house. Happened A LOT and used to drive me absolutely insane.
Txmaizenblue
Sun, Sep 20, 2009 : 7:02 p.m.
I agree with Tater. And would add that those big runs Robinson had will be much more sparse against Big Ten teams - especially if he continues to show that he cannot throw the ball. The Big Ten teams will simply load the box and say beat us with your arm, because we are shutting down your legs. I, for one, do not feel good about Robinson as a second alternative if Tate gets hurt. He's great as a supplement to Tate, but not as a full-time option. The sad reality is once you reach this level and demonstrate you cannot not throw accurately time tends not to add an favors for your game. You either have it or you don't. I don't see that Robinson will ever have that "it" when it comes to ball delivery that Tate has definitely shown flashes of this season.
azwolverine
Sun, Sep 20, 2009 : 12:51 p.m.
trashel, You're being sarcastic, I hope. The schedule is a slouch? 10-2 at WORST? All four of our road games are tough (MSU, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin) as well as PSU and OSU at home. And we saw with the first half of the Eastern game, if Michigan is flat, they could have trouble with anyone, especially from the Big Ten. Could they go 10-2? Sure. Is it guaranteed because they have a schedule full of "slouches?" Hardly.
jimtrashel
Sun, Sep 20, 2009 : 10:56 a.m.
We are going to go 10-2 at the worst and 12-0 (more likely) at the best. The only two potential stumbling blocks I see are Penn St. and Illinois. (And Illinois would be a guaranteed W if it were in the Big House). Other than those two teams, I look at the schedule and I see SLOUCH.
Mazenbluehome
Sun, Sep 20, 2009 : 9:32 a.m.
Insidethehall wrote, "Michigan football history did not start in 2000. It have been around for over a century. Some of us remember FAST players specifically Steve Smith @ QB. Running backs Tyrone Wheatley, Harlan Huckleby, Butch Woolfolk just to name a few. Speed may not be new in your "modern" era but a more depth analysis would yield that Michigan was based on speed prior to the pass happy "modern" era." The speed from the previous eras was not a team speed like it is now. Offensive and defensive lineman were big and slow. Not anymore. Simply put, we have speed everywhere!
InsideTheHall
Sun, Sep 20, 2009 : 8:09 a.m.
Dear Pete Michigan football history did not start in 2000. It have been around for over a century. Some of us remember FAST players specifically Steve Smith @ QB. Running backs Tyrone Wheatley, Harlan Huckleby, Butch Woolfolk just to name a few. Speed may not be new in your "modern" era but a more depth analysis would yield that Michigan was based on speed prior to the pass happy "modern" era.
3lazygreys
Sat, Sep 19, 2009 : 10:14 p.m.
good victory for BIG BLUE, sure is weird being here than MLIVE, but at least there's fewer trolls so far. it will be fun to see tate and denard run silly through that flimsy paper thin msu d in a few weeks.
1bit
Sat, Sep 19, 2009 : 10:12 p.m.
Although promising, both are still freshmen. Robinson has a great arm, but he threw two beautiful spirals into double-coverage that resulted in interceptions. In time, he'll make better reads but it's still a problem now. The defense in 2nd half was much better, but the depth is slim and the tackling wasn't as crisp today. Things are definitely better but it is still going to take another year or two for all the pieces of the puzzle to be in place. And we'll need a stable of quarterbacks because all these hits will take a toll (well, if anyone can ever touch Robinson it may take a toll...)
Goblue
Sat, Sep 19, 2009 : 10:06 p.m.
Hills: Maybe as well as Stanton? Roger's? Smoker? The rest of the former Spartans? Aside from the greats of course! You do realize all anyone has to do is click on your name and it brings up all of your lame posts? Uh from reading your posts..probably not.
jeremy
Sat, Sep 19, 2009 : 9:18 p.m.
so maybe now im on a post where michigan fans can answer the question.....how many are regretting their concerns over tate now? I listen to wtka in the mornings and when beaver and newsome both decommited last year people were calling in worried about tate's size and the fact that neither of his brothers did anything in their college careers? just wondering.... To the guy mentioning mike hart.....the guy was cut....he may be on the practice squad in indy but thats as far as he will go....hes like troy smith...great college football player but no pro....
pithesis95
Sat, Sep 19, 2009 : 8:07 p.m.
Good call on pryor tater. He might make a decent reciever one day. Team leader he is not. And everything i've seen about Hart's progress is that the Colts are very impressed with his work habits and his game. Last year he was hurt for quite a while so he didnt see much time. Might wanna check what your talking about before ya speak hills. If it doesnt work out he's always got one of the most sought after degrees in the world. I think he'll be just fine either way.
tater
Sat, Sep 19, 2009 : 7:17 p.m.
As for Robinson being an option at QB that I can, "feel good about," I will be a lot more comfortable when he demonstrates that he can drive the team down the field and throw well enough to keep defenses honest. As much as I, the eternal Wolverine optimist, hate to say it, those big runs that work against the MAC usually aren't as easy to come by against elite teams. I hope Forcier stays healthy for the entire season, allowing Robinson the time to evolve naturally.
tater
Sat, Sep 19, 2009 : 7:12 p.m.
HIlls wrote: "I wonder if Forcier and Robinson will have the same type NFL career Hart has had." One of the great things I am seeing on the team is that they don't show selfish, "me first," "I'm only here to practice for the NFL" mentality shown by players like, for example, Terelle Pryor. Instead, they are all in for Michigan. In other words, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THEY DO IN THE NFL!!!!! What matters is what they do at UM, and they are doing great so far.
michfan222
Sat, Sep 19, 2009 : 7:02 p.m.
I bet they have better nfl careers than charles rogers!!!
azwolverine
Sat, Sep 19, 2009 : 6:48 p.m.
You've gotta love Greg Robinson's halftime adjustments for the defense the last two weeks, too. Last year we made no adjustments and got crushed in the second half of games. This year, we've done better in the second half, especially on defense, the last two weeks. Robinson has been an outstanding addition to our staff and our team.
azwolverine
Sat, Sep 19, 2009 : 6:36 p.m.
And feel good about them I do! Robinson does need to improve his passing game, which should come with time, but these guys are both weapons in their own ways. Wow!
Hills
Sat, Sep 19, 2009 : 6:29 p.m.
I wonder if Forcier and Robinson will have the same type NFL career Hart has had.