Denard Robinson is an athlete in the truest sense of the word. Robinson began the year as Michigan's starting quarterback, served as Michigan's running back at various points of the season, and is entering the 2013 NFL Draft as a wide receiver.
NFL Combine 2013: Denard Robinson needs to ‘catch everything’ at Combine
Michigan Wolverines quarterback-turned-wide-receiver Denard Robinson needs to show off his hands at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in order to improve his draft stock.
Jonathan Daniel
Though few can doubt Robinson’s sheer athleticism, questions linger about how well Robinson will transition to wide receiver -- and questions have surfaced on whether or not Robinson has the hands to be a wide receiver in the NFL.
NFL Draft guru Mike Mayock wants to see Robinson “catch everything” at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. According to the Detroit Free Press, Mayock believes Robinson needs to display good hands and good route-running in order to improve his draft stock.
“What I don’t know is how well he catches the football. What I’d like to see is him go into the combine and catch everything they throw in every drill. From the time he walks on the field, I want him to catch everything. From now through the draft, that’s what I want to see: run routes and catch everything.”
Robinson finished his four-year Michigan career with 6,250 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, along with 4,495 rushing yards and 42 rushing touchdowns.
Unfortunately for Robinson, those numbers are of no consequence to NFL teams watching him at the NFL Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis. Robinson needs to reinvent himself as a wide receiver, and to do so, he needs to display good hands and sharp route-running ability.
Late last week, ESPN’s Todd McShay said that Robinson is not a “natural pass catcher,” but that there is a place for him in the NFL. Per M Live, McShay talked about Robinson and what makes him unique -- and what he needs to do between now and the NFL Draft in April.
“If I’m him, I’m out catching punts and passes from anyone who will throw to me, and Jugs machine, etc. Every single day between now and the draft, just trying to improve my hands,” McShay said. “Because if he can improve in that area, and look better when teams work him out individually in April, I think that will go a long way toward helping his cause.
“There’s a place in the NFL for Denard Robinson. He’s just too good of an athlete, and has made too many big plays and created too many yards, when you study his tape, for him not to be in the NFL.”
Robinson will attempt to take the first step to convincing NFL teams that he’s a legitimate wide receiver this week, at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
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