Return of the Wolverines led by Denard Robinson 2.0July 24, 2012
by: CJ Oates
Michigan may have one of the toughest schedules in college football. They are opening up with Alabama and closing with Ohio State, but somehow they are still favored to win the Big Ten. Wait, are we referring to the same Michigan team that was ranked eighth in the Big Ten last season averaging just 182 passing yards a game? Is this the same Michigan team that has question marks on the defensive line? Yes, but none of that matters because Denard Robinson is leading the maize and blue to a Big Ten Championship this season.
Don’t get me wrong, Denard Robinson will have a good season and have plenty of ESPN highlights. I know he can run up to 22mph and he can cut better than most running backs. I’ve already heard the comparison to some guy named Michael Vick due to their body frame. I’ve also heard how he is “faster” than Michael Vick. I think that is cool and all but it does not equal up to the fact Denard has already thrown 30 interceptions in his career. Many people who will argue for Denard would say, Robinson has accounted for 8,160 yards and 75 total touchdowns in 38 games at Michigan. In comparison to Vick’s career totals at Virginia Tech which stand at 4,501 yards and 37 touchdowns in 22 career games.
I get those stats, but those same people are those who brush off the fact that Vick’s arm strength was off the charts. Does Denard have those stats if you take away his mobile ability? I am not sure right now. On top of that, his play last season was too inconsistent. One week he would complete 65%, the next it would drop down to 37%, then back up to 64%, and back down to 45%. Many of Denard’s ill-advised passes that weren’t intercepted were caught by receivers making jump ball catches. If Denard tries that this year with his new receivers, the interceptions will be in the 20s. Getting back to the facts, the year Vick was drafted, he posted a 172 QB rating with a 2.6 TD to INT ratio. Robinson’s numbers last year were a 139.7 rating with a 1.3 TD to INT ratio. Denard just happens to be be a great athlete playing the quarterback position for Michigan.
If they somehow pull off a 10 win regular-season games like last year, I’d be pretty surprised. I see no more than nine wins, with likely losses vs. the Crimson Tide, Cornhuskers and either the Spartans or the Buckeyes. I even give Notre Dame an outside chance of beating their rival. As far as Denard Robinson 2.0 is considered, unless he’s way more accurate than a season ago, Robinson will still be the same. He will be electric in the running game and mental mistake waiting to happen in the passing game. Those mental mistakes will cost him a chance at a conference championship and Heisman.
