Of the many things that Rich Rodiguez has given to the University of Michigan football program, not many of those things have been good. We all remember those generous gifts Greg Robinson and Tate Forcier, however one thing that Rodriguez did deliver to Michigan that was very much welcomed is the recruitment of Denard Robinson.
Robinson is in some ways though was a surprise. I don’t think many expected to get what they go from Denard Robinson considering this was supposed to be Tate Forcier’s team. It was Robinson though that came in, worked hard and took Forcier’s job.
The former U-M coach made an appearance on Tim Brando’s radio show where he mentioned that he wasn’t surprised that Robinson was working out of the shotgun against Western in the season opener.
Brando also asked Rodriguez if Robinson working out of the shotgun will be needed for Michigan to have success against Notre Dame this Saturday…
“No question,” Rodriguez said. “Everybody asks me the question, ‘What do you do to stop Denard?’ I think you put him under center, have him turn his back to the defense. When he’s in the shotgun, he can survey the field whether he’s running or throwing it. I mean, he’s one of the best weapons in college football.
“What I saw of that game (against Western Michigan) — they’re still doing a lot of (shotgun) because that’s what he does well. Sure, you worried about getting (him) hurt a little bit. But I think you also get hurt when you have your back to the defense and you’re standing in the pocket trying to find somebody open. I think if he’s in the shotgun and he’s doing some of that zone read, quarterback run and throwing it around a little bit, that’s his home.”
Rodriguez added: “That’s the kind of system he thrives in. Not that he couldn’t thrive in a different kind, because he can. He can throw, he’s just a great athlete
I don’t mind Denard running the shot-gun against teams like Western Michigan and any other cupcake team they play this season. Whether or not it works against Notre Dame is still yet to be seen considering Notre Dame is still kind of a mystery as to what type team they will be this season. What I do know is the offense ran last season with Denard in the shot-gun didn’t work out so well against the rest of the Big Ten.
So when that Big Ten schedule rolls around, it may be time to switch things up.
Source: Detroit News