The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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tober, and Michigan's first eight games, with a 54.8 percent completion rate, 11 interceptions and 11 touch- downs. Perhaps most con- cerning, though, was that in four games in October, he averaged only 68.3 yards rushing per contest. It didn't get much bet- ter for Robinson in early November — he rushed for only 85 yards (albeit two scores) against Iowa and Illinois, completing 48.9 percent of his 47 attempts for 182.0 yards per game, with two touchdowns and two picks. Even though the Maize more than most quarter- backs I've coached. He's featured as a runner in the offense and will continue to be featured as a runner in our offense, plus we're asking him to learn what in essence is a pro-style of- fense. That doesn't come overnight when you've never done it before." Robinson took tremen- dous steps forward in late November, providing hope he's turned the corner. "From the beginning, Junior quarterback Denard Robinson had perhaps the best two-game stretch of his career — throwing five touchdowns and only one intercep- tion while also rushing for 253 yards and four scores — in victories over the Cornhuskers and Buckeyes. and Blue had bested Illi- nois, Robinson had not yet silenced his critics. That day has arrived, though, if only temporarily until the bowl game, after the junior put together, perhaps, the best two-game stretch of his career, completing 25 of 35 passes (71.4 percent) for an average of 173.5 yards per game, with five touchdowns and only one intercep- tion, while also rushing for 253 yards and four scores, in victories over the Cornhuskers and Buckeyes. "He's grown and matured as a Michigan quarterback throughout the course of the year," Hoke said. "The decisiveness that he has run the football with has really been good the last couple of weeks. That's helped his confidence. "I thought he ran extremely hard with the ball against Ohio State. He made very good throws again, and he was 14 of 17, so his accuracy and Big Plays Per Game Opponent W. Michigan Notre Dame E. Michigan San Diego State Minnesota Northwestern Michigan State Purdue Iowa Illinois Nebraska Ohio State Total 2010* * 13 games 12 5 6 7 8 4 10 3 9 7 10 64 65 1 1 4 4 4 2 1 3 1 4 1 4 1 6 1 1 2 5 3 4 0 3 4 4 PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN the completion rate was pretty dog- gone good. "He just keeps growing." Borges has often drawn a compari- son to former UCLA Bruins quarter- back Cade McNown, who ranked last in the Pac-10 in pass efficiency in his first year in Borges' offense and led the nation in year two. Borges has seen similarities from the beginning of the season, and it's only now that everybody else is playing catch up. "Certain phases of his game have improved drastically, particularly some of his footwork issues," Borges said. "His completion percentage is getting better and better as he under- stands what we're doing with our passing game. "It's just learning the overall con- cept of every little bit and piece that goes into the position. This is a complicated position, particularly with him because we ask him to do Total Rush Pass 6 Michigan State (No. 3) Illinois (No. 8) Ohio State (No. 23) Notre Dame (No. 33) Eastern Michigan (No. 35) Nebraska (No. 36) San Diego State (No. 57) Iowa (No. 67) Purdue (No. 68) 30 24 34 41 Minnesota (No. 77) Northwestern (No. 80) Western Michigan* (No. 99) people needed to under- stand that Denard is a freshman in that offense," said former U-M tailback Mike Hart, now a coach at Eastern Michigan. "His experience helps, but in a new offense, it takes time. He's never been in a pro-style. Never been asked to drop back, to read a defense and make his own decisions with where to go with the football. "I think we saw incredible matura- tion from him, and I think what we'll see next year is the game slowing down for him. He'll have a chance to have a great year. "He was inconsistent this season, had a lot of ups and downs, but he'll have a chance to do something truly special next season." Hart's opinion could be the mantra for the entire offense in 2012. There were growing pains along the way in 2011, and moments of frustration for both the coaches, players and the fans, but the offense reached its pin- nacle the final two weeks, and the best is likely still to come. ❏ Michigan's Offense Vs. Opponents (By National Defensive Rank) Opponent Points Total Yards Rush 14 31 40 35 31 45 28 16 36 58 42 34 250 362 444 452 471 418 413 323 535 580 541 288 * Game was suspended in the third quarter due to lightning DECEMBER 2011 THE WOLVERINE 35 82 223 277 114 376 238 320 127 339 363 179 190 Pass 168 139 167 338 95 180 93 196 196 217 362 98