Denard Robinson knew that if he was going to make it in the NFL, a change in position was probably his best option. The former Michigan quarterback switched positions to a hybrid wide receiver and found himself getting drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now, with his first minicamp under his belt, Robinson is impressing Jaguars coaches who have big plans for him.
General manager David Caldwell and coach Gus Bradley had the goal of making speed a priority for the team. They wanted fast athletes, so they drafted Robinson, Ace Sanders from South Carolina and Tobias Palmer out of North Carolina State. They all have the chance to play a hybrid of positions from kick returner to running back to receiver.
Robinson was a real wild card when the Jaguars drafted him. He does not have much game-time experience as a wide receiver, but showed enough potential during the combine and his Pro Day to convince Jacksonville he was worth the gamble. After rookie camp and a few days of OTA, the coaches are happy they took the risk.
"It's only the second day, but you see some of the explosiveness. You see great speed. He caught the ball well. We're getting a better feel for what he does best," offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said.
Caldwell is expecting Robinson to add another level to the team's offense. His initial plan if to give the athlete 10 to 15 touches per game, calling him a multi-tool player. He was originally drafted as a running back but worked out as a wide receiver during camp.
Jacksonville needs Robinson to shine. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew is coming off of a knee injury. Justin Blackmon will be gone for the first four games due to suspension. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert may or may not pan out as a starting quarterback. This will give Robinson a chance to be explosive. He could be the go-to guy when Gabbert needs crucial yards after being seen dodging multiple tackles during practices early in the week.
The coaches are not the only ones impressed with Robinson. Fellow rookie Luke Joeckel raved about Robinson and his sense of leadership with the team.
"He's a natural quarterback type. He's about the team, he's a good leader, and he treats the offensive linemen with respect. He's friends with everyone," Joeckel said after rooming with Robinson during camp.
As long as Robinson continues to adjust to a new position and new offensive scheme, he should have no problem making a career out of the NFL. The one concern will be how he handles being tackled and if he can remain injury-free.