Mailbag question: Three questions

Three questions for you guys:

1. Why does Michigan ‘s defense have such a hard time containing scrambling quarterbacks when they practice against the likes of Forcier and Robinson?

2. When they put in Robinson, why don’t they try to run him more to the outside where his speed and elusiveness is more of an asset? They seem to run him straight into traffic, right into the big, slow guys who should be forced to try and chase him down: doesn’t it seem like he would be more effective in sweeps, options, or plays where he fakes to the running back who then becomes his lead blocker towards the outside?

3. I see no point in putting Robinson in for one or two plays at a time. What can that possibly accomplish? Shouldn’t they give him at least a whole series, if not a quarter, to try and get some sort of rhythm going? In the State game, the offense was terrible most of the game. Why not keep Robinson in for a while and give him a chance to prove himself, even if it’s only running? The running game couldn’t have been any worse if he had stayed in – or the passing game, for most of the game, for that matter.

Thanks,

Ron

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Thanks for the question.

1) One factor is lack of overall athletic ability.

A — Michigan just does not have the explosive type athletes to close on quarterbacks that vacate the pocket. This is one thing we have been trying to say for a while as well and tried to point out the lack of quality talent on the defensive side of the ball along with the lackluster defensive recruiting.

A second factor is scheme.
B — Michigan rushes three men too often, which leaves too many gaps and running lanes for quarterbacks. This is what Coach Robinson feels he must do, or at least we believe he feels that he must do to try and tie wire, duct tape, bubble gum, to shoe string this defense together to try and win games. It is the old rob Peter to pay Paul dilemma.

It seems that when Michigan sends more than three or four guys it burns the defense as well since the team cannot bring enough pressure or get to the quarterback in time. Coach Robinson is in a tough situation right now trying to stop offenses with walk-ons and players that do not fit his system, along with insufficient depth and an offense that provided little help in the Michigan State game.

2) Denard Robinson is running a zone option that allows him to pick which hole or gap to run through.
The biggest problem is that teams realize he is a scary running threat and adjust to stopping the run and keep contain. Until he/Michigan does something to make them back off, Denard Robinson will have problems running the ball against top level competition.

Teams will continue to stuff the line of scrimmage and force Denard/Michigan to beat them with his arm. Right now teams are not worried about his arm, but are worried about his legs. In the telecast against Michigan State the announcers threw out a stat of 82 or 85% of the time when Denard is in the game they run the ball and mostly he runs the ball.

The question in point two keeps getting asked to Coach Rod at press conferences and he continues to say that Denard is not “just a running quarterback”, but until you show it in the games most fans, and most opponents will not just go off of what is said in a press conference.

3) This is just a guess, but the limited downs are probably because the staff does not have confidence in Denard Robinson’s ability to throw on third and long situations, especially when defenses are expecting Michigan to throw the ball in those situations.

We agree and would like to see Denard Robinson be given a shot at more playing time and getting into a rhythm. It would also help with question two and let Denard start to back up the safeties.

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Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine

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