I am generally skeptical of quarterbacks switching to a different position in the pros unless the new position is wide receiver or defensive back. My reasoning is simple -- just about every other position involves a lot of hitting and quarterbacks just haven’t had to deal with that for most of their careers.
Change is good for Denard Robinson
A college quarterback transitioning to another position is rarely successful in the NFL, especially a switch to full-time running back and the accompanying beating at that position. But Denard Robinson may be an exception in Jacksonville.
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Whether it’s a guy switching to tight end and suddenly having to try to block 285 pound defensive ends or it’s a guy trying to switch to safety and now having to take on fullbacks on lead plays, the physicality of most positions on a football field takes a lot of getting used to and requires adjustment. To be clear, I think most quarterbacks are just too soft to make those kinds of transitions.
Corners and receivers aren’t trying to touch anybody on the field most plays anyway so those positions would seem to be the better fits, in my opinion. There are exceptions to the rule, of course, but that’s why they’re called exceptions.
When I heard the Jaguars were moving former college quarterback Denard Robinson to running back full time I was both skeptical and a little bit sad for him. I didn't think running back, with all the pounding they take and the blocking they have to do picking up blitzes, was going to be a good fit. I also felt like it was very unfortunate that a kid who had been so electrifying in college might end up not having a position he could excel at in the NFL.
After the way he balled on Sunday I have to admit I was all wrong about the situation. Hey, players mess up too, sometimes.
With the Toby Gerhart signing starting to look like the mistake some of us predicted it was, the Jags were evidently desperate to get their running game going this week and I guess they figured they might as well give Robinson a chance since they had already tried damn near everything else. And man, did Robinson make the most of his opportunity.
Robinson's 127 yards against the Browns were four more than Gerhart has gained in this entire season. These weren't all finesse type runs either. Robinson demonstrated a willingness to hit the open hole hard whether it showed inside or outside. I came away very impressed with how far he has come in such a relatively short amount of time. Now the questions going forward are can he continue to perform at or near the same level and can he stay healthy while doing so?
If the answers to both of those questions are yes, then the Jaguars may have finally found more than a short-term fix for their running game woes. It’s all up to Robinson to keep making the most of the opportunity.
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