Here’s what Rich Rodriguez needs to succeed at Michigan: a freak athlete at quarterback. Not a mobile quarterback. Not a dual-threat. A freak. At West Virginia, Rodriguez had one in Pat White.
It may be only two games into 2010, but it looks like Denard Robinson might be that freak for Michigan. The sophomore accounted for 502 yards against Notre Dame in the Wolverines’ last second 28-24 victory.
The comparisons between White and Robinson aren’t difficult to make. They’re not your prototypical quarterback, but in Rodriguez’s system, they can be lethal with great speed and ankle-breaking jukes.
They can make the best of defenses look downright stupid.
Rodriguez had success at West Virginia, but here’s what a lot of people forget. Before 2005, when White took over, the Mountaineers went 3-8, 9-4, 8-5, and 8-4. Certainly not bad, but compare that to three consecutive 11-win seasons with White calling the shots and there’s no comparison.
In his first two season at Michigan, Rodriguez went 3-9 and 5-7. In 2008, his first year, he didn’t have a team that fit his system period, let alone a quarterback. In 2009, he had Tate Forcier. Sure, Forcier is accurate and has decent speed, but he’s small and incapable of taking direct hits. To be a successful quarterback in Rodriguez’s system, you need to be able to avoid tough collisions.
You also can’t be soft -- see Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Exhibit C.
The season is young and Robinson has so much more to prove, but there is no denying that he’s invaluable to Rodriguez’s offense. That’s something he’s already proved.