Search
Alexander the Great
Coaches think Robinson could be special
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-08-12
Iowa State football coach Paul Rhoads raised the bar for Alexander Robinson before the season started.
At ISU’s media day, Rhoads said his junior running back could be special since his skill set is made for the no-huddle offense.
“He catches the ball well, has great vision, has great toughness, can make people miss and can run away from people,” Rhoads said. “We give him space, and he is going to be dangerous.”
The lofty expectations are fine with Robinson, since he’s thinking the same thing himself.
“That is what you want,” Robinson said. “That’s what you want to do as a player, work to get to that point.”
Last year, Robinson didn’t get there.
Sure, he led the team in rushing for the second straight season, amassing 703 yards. He also scored six touchdowns. But Robinson thought he could do more, especially after grabbing a firm hold on the starting spot at the end of 2007.
“I just didn’t feel like I lived up to the potential I had from my redshirt freshman year,” Robinson said. “I expected more out of myself game to game. I don’t feel like I did that.”
To live up to his own expectations, as well as Rhoads’, Robinson is improving his vision in camp. He believes he can grind out additional yards, and possibly spring loose for a few more touchdowns, if he reads his cuts better and has a better idea of what the line is doing.
Rhoads would like to see Robinson work for an extra yard or two on each carry.
“The ball carriers are going down a little bit too easy,” Rhoads said. “I would like to see A-Rob, as well as the other ball carriers run a little bit more physical.”
The coaching staff also wants him to have the football a little bit more.
Robinson has lined up at receiver during practice with the hope that whether he’s in the slot or out wide he’ll be able to impact the game in another way.
“We are going to move our backs around to give us the best advantage,” running backs coach Kenith Pope said. “He is the type of guy, when he has his hands on the ball, he can make really good things happen for this football team.”
Robinson is still adjusting to receiver, but likes having a chance to make plays in space.
“You are away from some of the bigger guys inside and have more space to operate outside one-on-one,” Robinson said. “It allows me to utilize my speed and quickness a little bit more.”
To utilize his star potential, Rhoads said Robinson, who has missed time due to injury in the past, must be durable and a three-down back. He added that great backs play nearly every snap, and while that’s not required in the no-huddle offense, the more Robinson is on the field, the more productive Rhoads hopes he can become.
And when it comes to injury prevention, the biggest thing Robinson can do is maintain his strength, work with the training staff and follow strength coach Yancy McKnight’s year-round training program.
“Maintenance is what’s needed during the season,” Rhoads said.
Robinson can’t pinpoint how many snaps he wants to play or how many yards he wants to gain. For him, there is more to production than numbers.
It’s something he just knows, kind of like how Rhoads knows Robinson could be in store for a special year.
“You can feel it,” Robinson said. “I’m always my hardest critic, so when I feel like I’m doing things right, it’s a good feeling and I know I’m doing what I should.”
Army game set for 6 p.m.
The ISU-Army football game has been set for 7 p.m. on Sept. 26 at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones will open their season hosting North Dakota State at 6 p.m. on Sept. 3.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
Coaches think Robinson could be special
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-08-12
Iowa State running back Alexander Robinson has led the Cyclones in rushing the last two years. Head coach Paul Rhoads believes Robinson could be special in the no-huddle offense.
Tribune file photo
Tribune file photo
Iowa State football coach Paul Rhoads raised the bar for Alexander Robinson before the season started.
At ISU’s media day, Rhoads said his junior running back could be special since his skill set is made for the no-huddle offense.
“He catches the ball well, has great vision, has great toughness, can make people miss and can run away from people,” Rhoads said. “We give him space, and he is going to be dangerous.”
The lofty expectations are fine with Robinson, since he’s thinking the same thing himself.
“That is what you want,” Robinson said. “That’s what you want to do as a player, work to get to that point.”
Last year, Robinson didn’t get there.
Sure, he led the team in rushing for the second straight season, amassing 703 yards. He also scored six touchdowns. But Robinson thought he could do more, especially after grabbing a firm hold on the starting spot at the end of 2007.
“I just didn’t feel like I lived up to the potential I had from my redshirt freshman year,” Robinson said. “I expected more out of myself game to game. I don’t feel like I did that.”
To live up to his own expectations, as well as Rhoads’, Robinson is improving his vision in camp. He believes he can grind out additional yards, and possibly spring loose for a few more touchdowns, if he reads his cuts better and has a better idea of what the line is doing.
Rhoads would like to see Robinson work for an extra yard or two on each carry.
“The ball carriers are going down a little bit too easy,” Rhoads said. “I would like to see A-Rob, as well as the other ball carriers run a little bit more physical.”
The coaching staff also wants him to have the football a little bit more.
Robinson has lined up at receiver during practice with the hope that whether he’s in the slot or out wide he’ll be able to impact the game in another way.
“We are going to move our backs around to give us the best advantage,” running backs coach Kenith Pope said. “He is the type of guy, when he has his hands on the ball, he can make really good things happen for this football team.”
Robinson is still adjusting to receiver, but likes having a chance to make plays in space.
“You are away from some of the bigger guys inside and have more space to operate outside one-on-one,” Robinson said. “It allows me to utilize my speed and quickness a little bit more.”
To utilize his star potential, Rhoads said Robinson, who has missed time due to injury in the past, must be durable and a three-down back. He added that great backs play nearly every snap, and while that’s not required in the no-huddle offense, the more Robinson is on the field, the more productive Rhoads hopes he can become.
And when it comes to injury prevention, the biggest thing Robinson can do is maintain his strength, work with the training staff and follow strength coach Yancy McKnight’s year-round training program.
“Maintenance is what’s needed during the season,” Rhoads said.
Robinson can’t pinpoint how many snaps he wants to play or how many yards he wants to gain. For him, there is more to production than numbers.
It’s something he just knows, kind of like how Rhoads knows Robinson could be in store for a special year.
“You can feel it,” Robinson said. “I’m always my hardest critic, so when I feel like I’m doing things right, it’s a good feeling and I know I’m doing what I should.”
Army game set for 6 p.m.
The ISU-Army football game has been set for 7 p.m. on Sept. 26 at Jack Trice Stadium. The Cyclones will open their season hosting North Dakota State at 6 p.m. on Sept. 3.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
| Comments |
|
We welcome comments on all sides of all issues. We want our comment forums to be a respectful, comfortable place for people of all opinions to discuss topics of interest. Toward that end, we will not approve comments that contain profanity, obscenity, libel, name-calling, or personal attack. We reserve the right to disapprove any comment for any reason.
|