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| Jerald Robinson |
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 206 lbs.
High school: Canton (OH) South
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #83
Last year: I ranked Robinson #40 and said he would have 8 catches for 110 yards as a backup wide receiver. He played in eleven games, mostly on special teams, and didn't record any statistics.
Last year one of the themes of my Robinson preview was in reference to Robinson's work ethic and off-the-field habits. Robinson hasn't rid himself of those struggles. He might have played more last season, but he still missed out on an opportunity to play a bigger role. He has had some minor legal troubles, which this coaching staff (and many others) strongly dislike. In the spring, Robinson appeared to be the #2 flanker behind Roy Roundtree.
If Roundtree plays as much as departed flanker Junior Hemingway, Robinson might find himself languishing on the bench a little more than he would like. With talented freshman receivers Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh arriving on campus, Robinson needs to stake his claim for playing time in the near future. Otherwise, he might find himself getting passed. He lacks great speed and isn't really known for running after the catch, whereas one of Hemingway's strengths was YAC. Robinson is and probably always will be a step below Hemingway, so his ceiling is pretty low, but he should be a decent possession receiver until the younger guys can develop.
Prediction: Backup wide receiver; 15 receptions, 190 yards, 2 touchdowns
I think he's incredibly similar to JH. Hemingway didn't make an impact early on in his Michigan career but a lot of that was injuries. Both weren't burners but both can get up and pull down some big catches. Well.. If we are taking into account the past two spring games for JR.
ReplyDeleteI thought Jerald Robinson was considered very fast. Wasn't he a track star out of high school? I also read that last year's departing seniors tabbed him as a potential break out performer this year. I don't understand the lukewarm appraisal. Has something changed in the Spring?
ReplyDeleteNo, he's not very fast. Last year's seniors (some of them) did tab him as a potential breakout player, but I still haven't seen it. He's not a bad player, but I don't see him being a star.
DeleteYou might have Robinson mixed up with DJ Williamson. I did the same thing.
DeleteOdd to read him being described as a possession receiver. Seems like Dileo and Jackson have that area covered, and that's mostly how I think of Roundtree as well - a reliable target but not dynamic play-maker or deep threat. If Robinsons doesn't bring that element to the table, I don't know why he would pass over those two classmates, given that they've already beaten him out the last two years. (Though it probably goes back to the debate about positions.) My understanding had been that Robinson was the hope to emerge as an outside deep threat. If he doesn't have the speed to do it, I'd expect the freshman to pass him by quickly.
ReplyDeleteI don't get comparisons to Hemingway at all. To me, they're kind of like the frequent Mike Hart comparisons that happened a few years back. Sometimes, you get player with a real unique skill set and there's really no reason to compare people to him just because they play the same position. I've never seen anyone quite like Hemingway and don't expect to for a long time - strong, stocky, not elite speed but deceptively fast for his size, with an uncanny knack for big plays and grabbing jump balls.
I'm not too optimistic about Robinson. Clearly he has some ability based on the talk from other players, but he wasn't highly regarded coming out of high school and has been beaten out by the lowly regarded (thus far) Dileo and Jackson. He sounds like a guy who emerges as a useful backup as an upperclassmen, but I think he's still going to be behind Roundtree and others this year. He'll get a chance though, given how underwhelming Roundtree looked last year.
It probably does go back to the debate about positions. I really doubt Hoke is going to run out a couple tiny guys (such as Gallon and Dileo) with a scrawny guy (Roundtree) very often. That's a group of receivers that's liable to get pushed around. At the very least, I'm hoping Robinson can be an effective blocker and a decent red zone/possession threat.
DeleteThose poor recruits that got passed by the less talented and lowly ranked 3 star Braylon Edwards.
DeleteIt seems like some of our smallest guys are also our best blockers in years past - Odoms and Smith - or maybe it just looks that way on tape (like Mugsey Bouges dunking).
DeleteIn terms of getting pushed around, I'm not sure that is going to happen, but if you mean getting jammed off routes or on jump balls- perhaps. I've said it before, but I think the jump ball thing isn't going to be a big issue. Without Hemingway around they'll throw them less often, I'd guess. When they do, Roundtree and Gallon will still makes some plays.
FWIW, I do agree that we might not see too many Gallon-Dileo-Roundtree 3-wide sets. I'm just not sure if Robinson is going to be the guy that forces his way onto the field when they feel the need for more size. More likely, one of the above will be replaced by Jackson in the slot or one of the freshman outside.
Also wouldn't surprise me if Roundtree bulks up a bit. He knows he had a down year...
I hate Lankownia and all their comments. Now onto Receivers. A lot of positions we have this year are either not very talented, or not very deep. Receiver is both. Roundtree isn't a very good receiver. He doesn't have elite size, speed, and his hands aren't as soft as they should be. Dude drops a lot of balls. Who are the other receivers after that? Gallon and Dileo are short, Jackson is slow, Ricardo Miller is a converted TE to WR, when he was converted from WR to TE in the first place because he wasn't good enough at WR, and then freshmen or Devin Gardner whom have yet to see the field as receivers.
ReplyDeletexoxo
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