Michigan Football: The Wolverines Can't Live and Die by Denard Robinson

Maybe it was coaching, maybe it was the offense underachieving, but nonetheless, the more Michigan continues to solely rely on QB Denard Robinson, the more defenses have figured out the Wolverines offensive recipe.

On Saturday in a Big Ten Legends Division road game against the Iowa Hawkeyes, Michigan only compiled 323 total yards of offense and although 249 of that came from Denard Robinson, the Wolverines only managed 16 points.

It was only the second time all season where Michigan was held to under 20 points (the other being Michigan State), and it's no surprise the Wolverines came out on the losing end.

When Michigan played Michigan State back on October 15, the Spartans held coach Brady Hoke's offense to just 250 total yards, 165 accounted for by Robinson. So although Denard will still get his numbers and be the Wolverines most productive player, it's obvious that isolating him is the answer.

This game was also an interesting and telling exposure of the 2011 Michigan Wolverines. Denard went 17-of-37 passing which are the most completions and attempts he's had all season. As for rushing, he carried the ball just 12 times for 55 yards.

Excluding the Minnesota game (because it's Minnesota), those 12 rushing attempts are the least number for Robinson this season, which is uncanny because why not let him use his legs and versatility to exploit any defense's weakness?

Denard had a completion percentage under 50 percent, threw more attempts than he has all season (most prior was 26 against Northwestern), and had a pick in his fourth straight game (12 on the year).

Each time Robinson had more than 20 carries and less than 20 passing attempts (with the exception of the Notre Dame game), Michigan won.

The Wolverines need to get back to allowing Denard to make plays on the ground, establish a ground game with their other RBs, and then setup the play-action pass. There's no reason why Robinson should be throwing the ball over 20 times per game and carrying it less than 15.

Once he utilizes his strengths to grab the defense's attention, that's when you use the other offensive weapons that he makes better, by putting them in favorable situations. But right now it's a "live by the sword, die by the sword" cliche in Michigan.

And unless that changes to help the benefit of the team, the Wolverines aren't going to beat any ranked teams or contend for a Big Ten title.

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

You can follow him on Twitter @ Sportswriter27.