OSU defensive tackle Dexter Larimore said Robinson is a much bigger passing threat than a year ago.
In their 2009 win, Ohio State controlled Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson.The game is 10 weeks away, but the hope provided by Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson at least raises the possibility of a more competitive Ohio State-Michigan game than we saw in the first two years of the Rich Rodriguez era. The Buckeyes won in 2008 and 2009 by a combined score of 63-17.
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said he voted for Michigan both weeks this season as part of his coaches ballot.
"They've been impressive," Tressel said. "In September, we root for everyone in the Big Ten. Then when it gets to the Big Ten games, obviously, we're only rooting for ourselves. But I think it's important in September and that December-January timeframe for all of us to do the best we can. Michigan has certainly done that these first two weekends. It's been fun to see."
During interviews Tuesday I asked two Buckeyes about Robinson in particular. One was Michigan transfer Justin Boren, who, not surprisingly, wasn't expansive in his answer.
"Yeah, that's pretty crazy. I read in the paper he had a lot of yards," Boren said. "I haven't really watched any of their games, but from the stuff I've heard, he's playing really well."
OSU senior defensive tackle Dexter Larimore will be at the point of attack against Robinson on Nov. 27 and, like most others, he sees Robinson as the man the Wolverines have been waiting for.
"Obviously we don't look ahead much, but he's doing an unbelievable job," Larimore said. "That's kind of the offense that Rich Rodriguez has probably been looking for, so it's going to be fun to try to stop him because he's doing phenomenal right now."
Last season as a freshman Robinson played some against Ohio State, completing 2 of 4 passes for 3 yards and running 10 times for 31 yards, including a 17-yard gain. But a year ago, Larimore said Robinson was basically a running quarterback in to only execute a Wildcat type package, with no real threat of burning a defense with his arm.
"He was going to run it, and that's why last year we were able to stop it, because we knew it was probably going to be a run," Larimore said. "So we lined up in run formation and got a blitz going or something and stopped the run. This year, he's been doing very well in the passing game and getting balls out there, and that's what's probably critical to their offense, posing that threat of they can still throw it. So then all of a sudden you can't have eight or nine guys in the box."