Michigan - Denard Robinson

[cloverleaf]

I am wondering how QB Denard Robinson will perform this season after a record breaking year during 2010. Robinson said yesterday that it would be all right with him if coaches called fewer plays for him to run. Last year, Robinson rushed for over 1,700 yards to go along with his 2,570 passing yards. He became the first player in NCAA history to throw and run for 1,500 yards in a season. Robinson averaged nearly 20 rushing attempts each game, and new coach Brady Hoke plans to perhaps cut that number in half.

The guy can run it for sure and I'm wondering if throttling him back will have an effect on his overall game? Michigan was only 3-10 against the spread last year and with nine starters returning on offense and seven on defense.....I would think this team will show great improvement.

 

[CrapGame]

Hoke is a really good coach. What I saw him do at Ball St. was awesome. He took a MAC team and go them ranked nationaly. He also was extremley strong ATS.

Mich QB will prosper under Hoke. I only watched a few games last year with Mich. Teams were unprepared for his running or they felt he cold not win the game himself.
This year will be different. WR's will get open.

I am looking forward to betting on Mich. this year as i think they could be a real money maker ATS.

 

[GoSooners]

Robinson isn't made to take as much punishment as he took last year. That's why he got hurt..Look for him to run less this season. Probably around 10-15 carries a game at most. The bigger load will be on their featured RB. Which is the way it should be when you play in a major BCS conference.

 

[cloverleaf]

If Robinson's carries are reduced...who do they have to carry the load? I believe Michael Shaw (414 yards) was a senior and Vincent Smith (612 yards) I'm not sure if he is still around.

Does Michigan have a hotshot freshman they might be depending on to help the rushing game?

 

[BigdaddyQH]

Michigan really does not have a star RB. One will have to develop, or Robinson is going to have to throw more. With the loss of WR Stonum, and Robinson's questionable accuracy, tht could be a problem.

I am also not sold on Hoke. His record for 8 years is 47-50. He has never coached a BCS quality team. He had one winning season at San Diego State. He had two winning seasons at Ball State. He went 12-2 in 2008, in the MAC, and got destroyed in his bowl game by Tulsa (13-45). It takes him a long time to develop decent teams. I would not go overboard on Michigan this season. The Notre Dame game at home in week 2 should tell us a lot about this team. They also play 4 away games, at Northwestern, at Michigan State (back to back), and after a home game against Purdue, games at Iowa, and Illinois (back to back). Then they finish at home against Nebraska and Ohio State. I can see a record of anywheres between 8-4, and 5-7 for this team. I will take a "wait and see" approach.

 

[RunLeeRun]

I wonder how the runningback situation is going. I wasn't particularly impressed from what I saw of their backs last year. They have a group of decent backs, but I thought none of them were eye-catching. Of course, every year there are young players that step into the mix, which is what I think Michigan will need. Their returning leading runner, Smith, is pretty small at 5'6 180 lbs but quick and elusive. The number 2 runner is tall with an upright running style that doesn't break many tackles, imo, and is really just serviceable against the good defenses. Toussaint is slow but I think has good vision. They have two bigger backs Cox (210's) and Hopkins (230ish) whom I think are going to have to step up and be bigger presences on this team. Hoke is a good coach, so I'm sure he'll get the cream to rise.

 

[RunLeeRun]

Michigan really does not have a star RB. One will have to develop, or Robinson is going to have to throw more. With the loss of WR Stonum, and Robinson's questionable accuracy, tht could be a problem.

Lol, we had the same thoughts on the running back situation.

 

[GoSooners]

I think the runningback situation will hold Michigan back this year. That's why I'm not quite as high on them as some of the prognosticators who think they win 9 games. I don't see it. Not with a defense that ranked last among Big 10 teams in almost every defensive category in 2010. Though injuries did play a part in it. I do disagree about Hoke. I think he is a terrific hire. And a great defensive coach, which is what Michigan needs. Partically this season. Just remember that he raised SDST to a level that they haven't seen in many years. And his overall record is deceiving because he took over a Ball St. program that was a bottom of the barrel MAC team for years. And then took them to an undefeated season. Improving two teams to that degree is NO fluke. Michigan will have some struggles adjusting to Hoke's system this season. Robinson will have to get used to taking more snaps under center. But next year I expect this team to take off.

 

[cloverleaf]

I should know this but I don't. What kind of offense did Hoke run at San Diego State? I would assume he will run something similar at Michigan.

I'm thinking he ran a pro-style offense at SDS but not sure.

 

[BigdaddyQH]

Hoke runs a pro style offense. He will out a few new wrinkes in it for Robinson.

 

[russ1945]

I don't think Michigan will miss a beat on offense, it is the defense that must make immediate improvement after finishing #108 in scoring offense in 2010. Hoke is a defensive minded HC and when he took over SD ST he inherited a team that had finished #113 in scoring defense in 2008. In 2009 they improved slightly to #98 (but oppenents scored 6.67 ppg less than in 2008) and then in 2010 they finished #36 allowing only 22.08 ppg. That is why he brought in Greg Mattison from the Baltimore of the NFL. He wants immediate results and should have the athletes on hand to do that if properly motivated.

 

[SoonerBS]

Robinson isn't made to take as much punishment as he took last year. That's why he got hurt..Look for him to run less this season. Probably around 10-15 carries a game at most. The bigger load will be on their featured RB. Which is the way it should be when you play in a major BCS conference.

I think Hoke and his assistants will have a much more controlled offense than Rich Rod had. They know what Robinson is capable of doing, but they also know they have to protect him. I think Michigan could be very improved this season with a better coach.

 

[SoonerBS]

I don't think Michigan will miss a beat on offense, it is the defense that must make immediate improvement after finishing #108 in scoring offense in 2010. Hoke is a defensive minded HC and when he took over SD ST he inherited a team that had finished #113 in scoring defense in 2008. In 2009 they improved slightly to #98 (but oppenents scored 6.67 ppg less than in 2008) and then in 2010 they finished #36 allowing only 22.08 ppg. That is why he brought in Greg Mattison from the Baltimore of the NFL. He wants immediate results and should have the athletes on hand to do that if properly motivated.

This is correct. Hoke has better athletes on defense here at Michigan than what he had at San Diego State, so I look for the improvement to come quicker with this program. You are right, defense has to improve.

 

[GoSooners]

I think Hoke and his assistants will have a much more controlled offense than Rich Rod had. They know what Robinson is capable of doing, but they also know they have to protect him. I think Michigan could be very improved this season with a better coach.

If they're going to use the pro set, Robinson will still need a RB to keep the defenses honest. And more importantly, one that can pass block. If they can do that, they'll be good on offense. More than anything else, I like what DC Mattison is doing on defense. He said their number one goal is to stop the demoralizing big plays that killed Michigan last year. So these oppoosing teams offenses will have to earn their points more this season. The true tests for this team will come in the last month of the season where they get at Iowa, at Illinois, Nebraska and Ohio St. all in a row.