JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — University of Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson entered the Progressive Gator Bowl as Dan Mullen”s admitted single-most challenging matchup this season.
Mullen called Robinson, whom he recruited and received a verbal commitment from while running the University of Florida”s offense two years ago, the most dynamic player he has seen.
Mullen talked about the Michigan sophomore”s 4.3 speed in the 40-yard dash. He talked about his winning attitude and his playmaking ability.
After the first quarter Saturday, Robinson looked like any other quarterback chasing a lead and being forced to play one-dimensionally.
MSU rebounded from conceding a pair of touchdown passes to Robinson in the first quarter and his blazing 9-for-9 start to the game and held the Wolverines scoreless through the final three quarters.
The secret?
“We just played our basic stuff, our basic coverage that we always play,” MSU senior linebacker K.J. Wright said, “and we just did a good job of playing it.”
Robinson had a season-low 59 yards, with 46 coming on a pair of runs in the first quarter.
Robinson was forced into a season-high 41 passing attempts and completed a season-high 27. MSU stuffed Michigan”s running game for just 88 yards on 25 carries.
The lack of success on the ground, combined with MSU”s offense reeling off 21 points in the second quarter, made defending Robinson easier, Wright said.
“When (the MSU offense) scored it gave us a little more confidence and a little more breathing room to play how we know how to play,” Wright said.
MSU forced Michigan”s offense into three false start penalties, the last of which came on fourth-and-goal from the MSU 7 at the end of the third quarter. Robinson threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-goal from the 12. The Bulldogs responded with a two-play, 88-yard scoring drive to take a 45-14 lead.
Diaz confused Robinson and the Michigan offensive line by bringing multiple players to the line and creating movement before the snap.
Outside of third down, Diaz said the rest of the game plan was straight-forward.
“There was a couple of times we got him on third down when we were going back and fourth playing a little bit of a chess match,” Diaz said. “On first and 10, we weren”t trying to confuse them. We were just trying to play Rock and Sock ”Em Boppers on normal downs. Third down is recess.”
Diaz said Robinson outplayed his defense on the perimeter in the first quarter, and he credited his players with forcing the action to the inside of the field.
“Even on the first drive, we knew where we wanted to be,” Diaz said.
Much like they did against University of Mississippi quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, the Bulldogs controlled gaps and were disciplined with their pass rushes. Despite not recording a sack, Robinson never broke free for long runs after the first quarter.
“We did a great job of keeping him in the pocket,” Diaz said. “We tried to dictate where we wanted the game to be played. We won that battle.”
Late in the game, Robinson was visibly frustrated with the offense”s inability to move the ball and to finish drives. When he made checks, middle linebacker Chris White immediately countered.
“I knew, watching film, they were real predictable with what they were doing,” Wright said. “I just looked at the formation, and before the ball”s snapped me and Chris knew what they were gonna do. Coach Diaz put together a great game plan.”
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