Michigan football coach Brady Hoke: Quarterbacks are picking up the offense
Michigan quarterbacks Devin Gardner and Denard Robinson celebrate last season. Both are doing well as they learn a new offense, Michigan football coach Brady Hoke said.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
For the second consecutive off-season, Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson is studying for a new role.
Last year, he made strides from being essentially a run-only quarterback in Rich Rodriguez’ read-option offense to a dual-threat Heisman Trophy candidate. This year, with Rodriguez gone, Robinson must learn to become a drop-back passer for the first time in college.
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke said, for the most part, Robinson's transition is going well.
“Both of them have done a good job,” Hoke said, referring to Robinson and sophomore Devin Gardner. “You look at the different things, a little bit more under center, obviously, and the ball mechanics and footwork.”
Besides Robinson’s actual positioning at the start of plays, the biggest difference for him might be the footwork. In his old offense, Robinson would often have to take one or two steps before either handing the ball to a running back or making a decision in Rodriguez’ offense.
Now, he has to deal with five-step drops, seven-step drops and intricate play-action schemes.
All of this for a player who completed 182 of 291 passes last year for 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while also running for 1,702 yards and 14 touchdowns. But Hoke seemed pleased with his quarterback’s transition.
“There’s an issue with the footwork at times,” Hoke said. “You go into drop-off, play-action, something like that. But both of those guys have handled it really well.”
And occasionally, Robinson has shown the burst and explosiveness he did last season when he became the all-time single-season rusher for a quarterback and one of the country’s most exciting players.
“Once in a while,” Hoke said. “It’s no fun being a defensive lineman rushing a drop-back passer and you leave a little crease in there and he can go get it.”
Robinson’s advancement also coincides with how much of the offense coordinator Al Borges can install.
Hoke estimated Wednesday his staff will put in between 50 to 60 percent of Borges’ offensive plan by the end of spring practice on April 16 with the spring game that won’t really be an actual game.
From there, Michigan will have the preseason to catch up with the rest.
“I think Al would be happy getting 60, maybe 65 percent of it in,” Hoke said. “And the guys have done a good job.”
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by email at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein
Comments
RWBill
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 4:07 p.m.
Did he really say that Denard was essentially a "run only quarterback"? That has to be one of the biggest misstatements I've ever read! Roth babe, did you actually watch any Michigan football last year? I must be misinterpreting that somehow!
Pablo
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 2:40 p.m.
This belongs in the Sports Section.
Blu n Tpa
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 12:44 p.m.
DRob will NOT be the problem if this offense is slow out of the blocks. I think, based on his senior year in high school and his passing numbers last year, he will transition into a solid QB in this scheme. He will be as good as the running game is and how well his recievers learn their routes and assignments. The offensive load will be spread out to more players and that will make DRob a more complete QB. His number one strength isn't his feet, it's his heart. He's the straw that stirs the drink. TiM Go Blue
PortageLkBlu
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 9 p.m.
Oh I like the analogy, make mine scotch.
RayA2
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 2:47 a.m.
Denard is a great athlete with a great attitude but he needs to accelerate his read of defensive backs vs routes. I think so far he is mediocre in that regard. He threw some great passes but he also threw more than his share of dumb passes and interceptions. When Tom Brady shared playing time at Michigan with Drew Henson, it was more than obvious that athleticism did not make the better quarterback, at least in in Loyd Carr's offense. This year will be a severe test of the new QB coach's abiilty to develop players.
RayA2
Fri, Mar 25, 2011 : 2:31 a.m.
Dusty, you're right and good point, Denard's athleticism is not comparable. Drew had an arm however that could thread a needle and knock over the barn wall 60 yards away. I would agree however that Drew had no where near Denard's speed. But then, who does?
XTR
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 8:38 a.m.
A small QB will have a harder time under center than a tall QB, harder to PASS also over the big and tall OL's if the QB is small. DR is more adapted to the shotgun formation as a RUNNING QB.
Dusty
Thu, Mar 24, 2011 : 3:45 a.m.
Ok, you didn't just compare Drew Henson's athleticism with Denard's.
Dusty
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 9:18 p.m.
With something like the second most returning starters in the FBS including a Heisman candidate at QB, an offensive line boasting 2 potential all-americans, and literally too many WR's and RB's with talent and game experience, if this team doesn't outproduce last year's offense despite the scheme change, somebody needs to investigate them for point-shaving. And the defense, with almost everyone returning and a proven (very, very proven) DC coming in, along with the shift back to a more vanilla (read: easy to learn) scheme, can't possibly be anything but better.
Terry Star21
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 8:40 p.m.
Agree with PortageLkBlu...with our improved offense, the transition for DRob from 2 steps to 5 or 7 won't be a big deal - heck he might even be able to have a 'spot of tea' before making a decision. Mostly, the Defense will make a difference this year, giving O more time, more plays, more TD's and - MORE WINS ! By the way, am I the only one to notice the vast improvement Gardner has made since last year !!!!! ............Great freaking time to be a Michigan Football Faithful.........
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Mar 23, 2011 : 7:55 p.m.
Denard can do this. The kid is an athlete both physically and mentally. I know his mind thinks speed and he'll just have to adjust to 5 and 7 step drops before the finale decision. He may instinctively think run but instinct can be changed with habit which the spring and preseason should be able to adjust on Denard. I think this team has more talent than people can comprehend given the last 3 years. People want to think that because of the win loss record the last 3 years that Brady won't have the talent to have a good season, not true. This team both defensively and offensively in my opinion is going to surprise a lot of folks with a great turn around if for two reasons. We have a solid defensive coordinator and these youngsters are finally of age to compete. There is just an unbelievable huge difference between playing freshman and sophmore players than sophmore and junior players. I look for 8 wins, with lots of luck 9 wins.