NFL Draft 2013: Jaguars Interested in Denard Robinson?
By Luke Sims
Feb 24, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Denard Robinson makes a catch during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Remember Matt Jones, the quarterback the Jags drafted to play wider receiver? He is the perfect example of how difficult it is for an athletic player to make a shift from the position they played in college to a specific position with very specific skill sets. Denard Robinson of Michigan is drawing a lot of attention for his athleticism, and rightly so. Can he make the transition to wide receiver or even running back in the NFL? The semi-quarterback is a potential mid-round pick, but where do you put him?
Make no mistake, Robinson is not a Tim Tebow type. Robinson is not going to insist that he play quarterback in the NFL. He is an extremely athletic player who is just looking for a chance in the NFL. He has schooled high school and college players because he more on top of his game than those around him, but in the highly specialized NFL he will have to learn how to play one position very well or not be able to find a role that allows him to play for long. He is projected as either a running back or wide receiver by most people.
The Jacksonville Jaguars just sent running backs coach Terry Richardson to the University of Michigan Pro Day to check Robinson out. The kind of versatile threat that Robinson is could be a fun toy for the Jaguars offense. While there are many holes on the Jags’ roster that don’t leave much time for gimmicky players, if Robinson can show that he is more than just a good athlete but is a good player with many positions, then he could be a good candidate for the draft.
Someone will give Robinson a chance, as he deserves, and while the Jaguars didn’t send a massive contingent to Michigan like they did to West Virginia, keep an eye out to see if anything else about Robinson starts to pop up around Jacksonville. I like Robinson and would be pleased if the Jaguars drafted him, if only to see what he can do when the ball is in his hands. He’s a great talent.
– Luke N. Sims
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