Denard Robison's Legacy: All-Time Great or Too Great a Departure?

After a record-setting breakout season in 2010, and a Sugar Bowl victory earlier this year, Michigan's quarterback enters his final season this fall. In a program with a rich history of great pocket passers, how will Denard Robinson be remembered?

Will he be remembered as a dangerous dual-threat quarterback who helped to revive the program, or will he be too closely associated with Rich Rodriguez's disastrous tenure in Ann Arbor?

Best Case:

Throughout the 2011 season (and particularly after the meeting with Notre Dame) Denard Robinson was often called the most explosive, most dangerous player in college football. This could well be the legacy he leaves behind him. He could go down in college football lore as a standout character of his time, and beloved by Michigan fans.

He always seems to garner Heisman interest, and the 2012 season will probably be much the same. If he keeps up his rushing effort and becomes a smarter passer over spring and summer practice, he could easily be a Heisman finalist in 2012. There is a lot to like about Denard Robinson.

He is clearly the most athletic player on Michigan’s roster. Some would suggest that his record for rushing yards in a season by a quarterback (1,702) in 2010 is enough to secure his legacy at Michigan. He could go down as one of the all-time greats in Ann Arbor.

Worst Case:

The worst case scenario is that Denard Robinson is identified too strongly with Rich Rodriguez's all or nothing years which were a huge departure from Michigan tradition. The Michigan keys to success have always been excellent pocket passers (i.e. Elvis Grbac and Brian Griese), and phenomenal defense.

The 2008-2010 seasons were the exact opposite. Michigan quarterbacks rarely passed from within the pocket, as the offense strongly favored a read option. The defense was atrocious as well. Many fans still have a bad taste in their mouths from that period of Michigan football.

Robinson is a product of the Rich-Rod days, and thus might be viewed in the same manner in the years to come. If viewed in that light, and with the addition of his high rate of interceptions, the picture of Denard Robinson is muddied a bit.

Final Summation:

In the end, it all depends on a person's point of view. Some will remember Denard Robinson as a fun, exciting football player who re-energized Michigan's football program. Others will remember him as the spawn of perhaps the most reviled figure in Michigan football, Rich Rodriguez.