Mississippi State football team has one-dimensional game plan - stop Michigan's Denard Robinson
Mississippi State defenders figure they'll need to gang up on Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, much like they did against Mississippi running back Brandon Bolden earlier this season.
Associated Press
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - When they gathered to watch film of their bowl opponent’s offense, one player jumped out to members of the Mississippi State defense.
No surprise, it was Denard Robinson.
What might be surprising is that the Bulldogs cannot recall much about the other 10 Wolverines who start on the offensive side of the football, the guys they’ll face Saturday in the Gator Bowl (1:30 p.m., ESPN2).
Asked who else he noticed on the offensive side while watching film, Mississippi State’s K.J. Wright said, “I can’t say anyone. We’ve got to stop him. If we stop him, I believe we’ll be real successful.”
Asked how Robinson’s speed compares to others in the SEC the Bulldogs have faced this season, Mississippi State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz doesn’t trot out the usual comparison to Auburn quarterback Cam Newton.
He thinks Robinson’s speed is more like Kentucky receiver Randall Cobb, who caught 12 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown against the Bulldogs in October.
“He’s more like Cobb, but even a faster Randall Cobb, which is a terrible nightmare,” Diaz said.
For Mississippi State, this is the crux of Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. matchup at EverBank Stadium: Stop Denard Robinson or bust.
“He’s electric,” cornerback Corey Broomfield said. “There’s nobody like him in college football. I heard the All-America team had to make a position for him, so that speaks for itself.”
Perhaps even more daunting for the Bulldogs is the fact that Robinson, who made the Football Writer Association’s All-America team as a “back,” is that Robinson is healthy for the first time in a while.
Robinson wouldn’t divulge how limited he was by an assortment of leg, shoulder and head injuries, but on Tuesday, he declared that he was finally “100 percent.”
Healthy or not, Robinson gained 1,553 rushing yards during the regular season, the third-highest total in the country.
Starting for the first time, Robinson, a true sophomore, became the first quarterback in NCAA history to both run and pass for at least 1,500 yards in the same season.
It wasn’t lost on the Bulldogs (8-4) that under Robinson’s care, Michigan’s spread offense looks an awful lot like a high-flying SEC team.
Nor that Mississippi State resembles an old-school Big Ten team, plodding for steady, smaller chunks of yardage. “They’re a high-powered, explosive, spread-the-field offense and we kind of like to grind it out up front, so maybe that’s just a sign of the times,” Missisippi State coach Dan Mullen said.
“It makes it a different matchup than what everyone is used to.”
But for the Bulldogs, the focus is firmly on Robinson. Mississippi State’s defense did not allow an opponent to score 30 point or more the entire season until it happened twice in their final three games.
Not coincidentally, the Bulldogs lost both those games - to No. 11 Alabama and No. 13 Arkansas - before rallying to beat Mississippi in their regular-season finale.
They may have given up more big plays in those two losses than they have in the rest of their games this season combines.
“It’s one of the pillars of our belief on defense,” Diaz said. “We gave up big plays. … If we don’t give up big plays, we’re hard to score points on. The number one challenge this game is their ability to create big plays versus our ability to prevent them.”
For Michigan, the big plays start with Robinson.
“He’s capable of making a bunch of them, not just one,” linebacker Chris White said. “If he gets out in the open and makes one person miss, it’s a touchdown. It’s just amazing how small he is and hwo hard he runs.”
Pete Bigelow covers the Michigan football team for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2551, via e-mail at petebigelow@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
Comments
D21
Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 3:36 p.m.
Here is a pix of a very young Jim Harbaugh having his first ever taste of head coaching at UM and guess who he is coaching at a game back in 1977: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JrB9fpNy-yE/RrFUhHqnAyI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/pJIk9kE7Zq4/s320/77Northwestern.jpg Bet that AD Brandon is gonna casually toss that pix across the table onto Harbaugh's hands and then hand Jim the pen and contract next. Fellas, you saw that evidence in here first :) GO BLUE!
D21
Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 3:09 p.m.
missioninbrazil, N-yuk n-yuk;) This classical pose by the Three Stooges is to be sculpted into a NCAA The Three Stooges Trophy for special teamers that will dwarf the overrated Heisman Trophy. COME ON PEOPLE, LET'S SHOUT OUT, "GO BLUE" AND "GO BRANDON".
missionbrazil
Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 1:42 p.m.
D21, I thought your pic was a tribute to our great special teams under RR's leadership.
D21
Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 11:10 a.m.
umgoblue47, LOL, my icon denotes the truth: Larry (pointing in the wrong direction): RR Curley (pointing in the right direction): Harbaugh or any next UM head coach. Moe: the entire UM team. GO BLUE AND HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
tulsatom
Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 9:51 a.m.
Miss State is going to go all out to stop Denard's running so Denard's accuracy and ability to throw downfield will determine how successful U-M's offense will be. It is also crucial that he receive good protection from the offensive line and doesn't get hurt. U-M's defense, on the other hand, will have a healthy Mike Martin for the first time in several games. This should help, but unless a few others have career days it unfortunately won't be enough as Miss State plans to pound the ball down U-M's throat all day like Wisconsin, Ohio State, Iowa and Mich State did and they have the line and backs to do it.
missionbrazil
Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 9:10 a.m.
If MSU looks at the game films from the MSU game or the Wiscy game or the OSU game and follows their game plans we could have a tough day. Here is a great example of a very good & balanced football TEAM (JH's Stanford team): # 8 offense in the nation (40.3 ppg), # 11 defense (17.8 ppg), with solid special teams.
Insightman
Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 8:56 a.m.
Think about this: Would Harbaugh want to come to a school that gives its head football coach only 3 years to succeed? And suppose he DID come to Michigan and succeed--would he stay long as offers from the NFL came pouring in?
Sean T.
Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 7:01 a.m.
3 and out, That guy would look great in a UofM cap. Do you think he knows a little about winning in the Big House? How about integrity? Is there a possibility that he may know about defense and special teams? All hell, could he bring a balanced offense that does not need a special player to succeed? It's funny, he looks a lot like a Michigan Man!
3 And Out
Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 12:53 a.m.
Michman... the bulk of Michigan's (current) offense is thanks to Denard Robinson. That is not balanced...but is typical of a RR spread. That is why the dropoff once the QB inevitably gets dinged up, is so huge. Hey check out this guy.... cant wait to possibly see him in an M cap in the Big House: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j90s9r02qZM&feature=player_embedded#!
lawrencelaundry
Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 12:28 a.m.
Hope Harbaugh does not go to 49ers. We need him to restore order in AA.
michman54
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 11:53 p.m.
Offense not balanced? 3013 rushing yards, 2998 passing yards! How much more balanced than that can you get?
umgoblue47
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 11:19 p.m.
d21... are you the kicker, the kickee or th holder? if you are the kicker you definitely have balance... if your the kickee your definitely not balanced... if you are the holder, well get your head up more and smile, photo ops are so important.. GO BLUE...
D21
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 10:46 p.m.
Our anti-RR stance is definitely balanced. GO BLUE!
D21
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 10:44 p.m.
Our fanbase is definitely not balanced.
D21
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 10:43 p.m.
Our coaching is definitely not balanced.
D21
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 10:43 p.m.
Our special teams is definitely not balanced.
D21
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 10:42 p.m.
Our defense is definitely not balanced.
hoodlum
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 10:14 p.m.
michigan can win this game as they could have others this year.Throw the ball.Our backs are good,but when they stack the line to stop denard,they cant do a thing.Throw the ball and pass more on the roll out.Denard wont run as often,but when he does,they will be the long ones.Go blue.
3 And Out
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 9:49 p.m.
our offense is definitely not balanced...
heartbreakM
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 9:22 p.m.
WEll, I think they are talking about the perfect gameplan. It's similar to the Eagles of the NFL: If you stop Vick, you generally beat them (witness the Vikings on last night's weird Tuesday night game). Generally, no other running back has shown an ability this year to take over the game from DR. Roundtree had a good game or 2, but had the dropsies the last few games. Hemingway has been injured. If they show up and DR has time, the offense should do just fine, but if MSU gets DR out of rhythm the way MSU and Iowa did, it will be a long day.
midwest
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 8:36 p.m.
MSU is just focused on Denard running the ball Hopefully he tears them up in the pass game by throwing to Roundtree and Hemmingway go blue.
PopEye
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 8:14 p.m.
I only pray that our young Mr. Robinson doesn't get hurt. Go Blue.......EAT SPINACH....go green
RobbiesBoyfriend
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 8:09 p.m.
Forever27 This is an SEC football program, do you really think its going to be that simple? do you think the whole team is going to be 100% focus on Denard? Come on man. Mississippi state lost to Auburn and Arkansas by a combined 10 points, do you really think we beat them with a high school offense? well be lucky to keep it within 40 points.
KeepingItReal
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 7:27 p.m.
I hope other members of Ms team read these comments by MSU coaches and players. This should be enough motivation to show that this is a team sport. Otherwise, I hope DR runs wild and throw that ball like crazy.
maizenbluedoc
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 7:23 p.m.
For Michigan's sake, I hope the whole team concentrates on Robinson.
Forever27
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 7:15 p.m.
With as much as the MSU (not that MSU) defense will be keying in on Denard, the run-action post route will be wide open. If they sleep on Roundtree, he'll have another huge day.
sportyridr
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 6:39 p.m.
Looks like Miss SU is being awfully kind in the press towards Blue. Praying for a good day for Blue, one can only hope right...