Gil Brandt says he’d draft Denard Robinson to be a cornerback
Some project Robinson as a receiver in the pros.
NFL draft consultant and former Dallas Cowboys general manager Gil Brandt has another idea.
“I’d draft him to be a cornerback,” Brandt said. “A quarterback never wants to be told he’s going to have to play another position, but I don’t think he can play quarterback in the NFL. I do know teams are always looking for cornerbacks, and I think Robinson could do it because of his quickness and speed.
“But he’d have to want to do it to make it work.”
Robinson has declined to say much about what position he wants to attempt to play at the next level, saying he just wants to enjoy his senior season.
December 25th, 2012 at 10:32 AM ^
December 24th, 2012 at 5:07 PM ^
These types of articles really annoy because it shows what a diservice we've shown Denard by having Al as OC.
A heisman likely canadate with elite speed is now a probable third round selection because we didn't coach his talent correctly. In most years, Ok, a spread QB wont make it in the NFL but with RGIII and Wilson's success Denard had a real shot at something special and Michigan botched it.
I feel bad for Denard being a team player. He deserves better than we gave him. I like Dave and Brady, but this will always be a thorn in my claw with the two. With all the talk about U-M football being a business, we just royally screwed a good human being out of future money.
December 24th, 2012 at 5:30 PM ^
December 24th, 2012 at 7:03 PM ^
December 24th, 2012 at 7:38 PM ^
December 24th, 2012 at 9:02 PM ^
I hear you but I would argue Denard would have been much better served in a system more like the one he started in, which would translate into a higher draft spot and more Benjamins.
Who knows if he'd win a Heisman or get drafted as a QB if he left, all I'm saying is staying at Michigan and being coached by someone who's vision/talents didn't match his skillsets hurt Denard badly enough that now someone says he should be a CB at the next level.
As an adult, looking at a kid who was sold he should stay because we'll best use his skillsets & get him ready for the next level -- and in return shouldering unfair blame for losses and a drop in value upsets me deeply.
Though it pains me to say it, he should have transferred. Staying at Michigan after Rich Rod left did nothing for Denard's stock.
The University has made millions off of his 16 jersey and though he wont get a penny of it, it's OK, he'll make some money in the future. It balances itself all out, right?
/ End emotional rant
December 25th, 2012 at 1:23 AM ^
After Pat White flamed out, and with Tebow in the process of doing the same, there is no way Denard would have gone higher than the 6th round
December 25th, 2012 at 1:34 AM ^
Happy X-Mas!
December 25th, 2012 at 10:21 AM ^
This has been my view as well, very early in season, wanted DR out as QB due to turnover issues, and put in DG or the second string guy. Obvs second string was not a great idea, but DG earlier in the year may have saved Nebraska and the Div title. C'est la vie.
Yes, on the offense side Al Borges is not up to acceptable levels as OC but talented players such as DG and DR who can make something out of nothing keep the impact of his hideous play calls and schemes relatively minimized until we see what we see in the second half of Ohio.
December 26th, 2012 at 1:28 PM ^
wait, did you just compare Denard to RG3 and Russell Wilson, 2 of the most accurate passers in college football last year?
RG3 is one of the most deadly accurate throwers I've ever watched. That is why the Redskins are building a franchise around him. The fact that he can run and is a pure athlete is simply icing on the cake.
Russell Wilson clearly could throw, and his baseball skills certainly don't hurt with the accuracy. That's why he got a shot as an undersized QB.
Denard has always been an athlete that can throw JUST ENOUGH to take some heat off the run game and allow him to run wild. No offensive coordinator was going to miraculously turn him into an NFL QB. Sure, he could have been managed more effectively in a spread tailored to his talents, but that only really affects michigan over the last 2 years, not Denard in the NFL. He'll have just as good a chance to get paid in the NFL as any first rounder. It won't be as a QB, though. He'll make it elsewhere.
December 24th, 2012 at 5:48 PM ^
I think the first team to draft denard isn't going to pigeonhole him into a position. He will be drafted for his athleticism, positive character attributes and coachability. Where he goes from there is really going to be a mystery. I think he ultimately will end up doing a lot of things, from situational wildcat stuff, to slot receiver, RB, KO&PR. I could see him playing some D as well.
Think Josh Cribbs.
No (sane) team will draft him as a QB first. See: Miami Dolphins-Pat White. Also very true that Denard's passing wouldn't be at Chip Kelly's desired level, so unless he fell to the 5th or later round, don't see that match happening.
December 24th, 2012 at 7:49 PM ^
December 24th, 2012 at 8:03 PM ^
December 25th, 2012 at 9:21 AM ^
Ha, I see what you did there. Very creative. Completely ignore the myriad of players in college and pros who struggled with throwing mechanics, blocking, or catching, or whatever who learned and improved as they matured.
I get the trolling because it's the internet so you can feel smart and snarky without any reasonable thought or repercussions, but maybe try to put some more thought in it next time.
December 24th, 2012 at 5:57 PM ^
December 24th, 2012 at 7:07 PM ^
December 24th, 2012 at 7:45 PM ^
December 24th, 2012 at 8:32 PM ^
It's possible Gil Brandt mentioned Robinson as CB just to throw something different into the conversation ... to mix things up and get a little press. Robinson as CB is plausible, but unlikely.
December 24th, 2012 at 9:02 PM ^
December 24th, 2012 at 9:47 PM ^
Yes, he probably would be decent at CB. He has more than enough agility for that. However, the dude is an offensive dynamo. To put him on the other side of the ball is just wasting all that.
December 24th, 2012 at 10:57 PM ^
Whatever the position, I just know that I'm building my team around him in Madden next year!
December 24th, 2012 at 11:45 PM ^
December 25th, 2012 at 10:09 AM ^
December 25th, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
More like the Danny Woodhead of the NFL. That'll be his roll.
December 25th, 2012 at 9:16 AM ^
Robinson wouldn't be a full-time QB in the NFL unless it was with a specific system, but he can be a decent offensive player. People keep saying he's only good because the B1G is slow, so his speed advantage is amplified, but I don't buy that as an argument. He won't be the fastest guy in the NFL like he is now, but that speed is still extremely dangerous and could be put to good use on returns, sweeps, and in the slot.
December 25th, 2012 at 10:17 AM ^
In the last 7 years, only 15 people have run 40 times faster than Denard in the combine. I think only about 10 of those guys are still in the league. So yes he won't be the fastest on the field, but he's certainly up there with the fastest of them. He really does have legitimate elite speed, so it's not like he's middle of the pack.
December 25th, 2012 at 9:48 AM ^
I'd think he'd be a ridiculously rich motherfucker's Stefon Logan. RB/Slot/KR/WR. (Kidding on the Logan thing). He could have a brilliant career like Desmond Howard in that role.
December 25th, 2012 at 10:11 AM ^
Yeah I see him as a Logan type...and that's not so bad. He can make a pretty good living returning kicks. And he certainly would be an upgrade over Logan.
December 25th, 2012 at 5:38 PM ^
December 25th, 2012 at 10:23 PM ^
December 26th, 2012 at 12:10 AM ^
I'm OK with Brandt's assessment, but I would draft him to be "slash."
December 26th, 2012 at 12:26 AM ^
D. Rob = Percy Harvin....??
Slot ninja, wildcat formation stuff, kick returns.