Miami's Robinson now chasing quarterbacks
Dominique Robinson is looking forward to a full season at defensive end. (MVSmith/MRO) By MIKE SMITH
Once upon a time he was pursued. Now Dominique Robinson is the pursuer.
It’s been a long and sometimes winding road for the former Canton McKinley quarterback, who now lines up at defensive end for the Miami RedHawks. Robinson, however, is enjoying his latest role and appreciates a final run after MU was only able to play three games in 2020.
Though suiting up for just one-fourth of a normal season, the limited experience was particularly valuable to Robinson as he . . .
Once upon a time he was pursued. Now Dominique Robinson is the pursuer.
It’s been a long and sometimes winding road for the former Canton McKinley quarterback, who now lines up at defensive end for the Miami RedHawks. Robinson, however, is enjoying his latest role and appreciates a final run after MU was only able to play three games in 2020.
Though suiting up for just one-fourth of a normal season, the limited experience was particularly valuable to Robinson as he . . .
. . . saw his first game action at defensive end. In fact, he recorded two sacks in Miami’s opener - a 38-31 RedHawks victory over eventual MAC champ Ball State.
“It helped me a lot,” Robinson said of his 2020 action. “Practice helps, too, but with that game experience, it’s a little different.”
Each contest can be its own lesson, and Miami’s game against Buffalo (a 42-10 UB win) the following week let Robinson know there was work to be done. “That’s when I learned I need to work for real,” he said.
Robinson has always been an outstanding athlete and moved from running back to QB when his high school needed a quarterback. When Miami offered a scholarship, he accepted, although Robinson figured it was probably as an athlete rather than as a pure quarterback.
And so the journey began. “I sat in (quarterback) meeting and stuff,” he said, noting he arrived early in spring. “Then they asked me to move over to wide receiver, and I took that as an opportunity.”
“It helped me a lot,” Robinson said of his 2020 action. “Practice helps, too, but with that game experience, it’s a little different.”
Each contest can be its own lesson, and Miami’s game against Buffalo (a 42-10 UB win) the following week let Robinson know there was work to be done. “That’s when I learned I need to work for real,” he said.
Robinson has always been an outstanding athlete and moved from running back to QB when his high school needed a quarterback. When Miami offered a scholarship, he accepted, although Robinson figured it was probably as an athlete rather than as a pure quarterback.
And so the journey began. “I sat in (quarterback) meeting and stuff,” he said, noting he arrived early in spring. “Then they asked me to move over to wide receiver, and I took that as an opportunity.”
Dominique Robinson spent a couple seasons catching passes for the RedHawks. (MVSmith/MRO) Robinson played in seven 2017 tilts and followed with 12 games and five starts the following year. He had 13 catches for 156 yards and four touchdowns in that campaign. He registered eight starts and 14 catches for 296 yards in Miami’s 2019 MAC Championship season.
Robinson explained changes in the offense and his limited action led him to approach the coaching staff about another position change for the following year. It was decided he might be a good fit at defensive end.
“All the guys were there to help me out,” said the senior of teammates who have helped him adjust at the various positions.
Robinson needed to make some physical changes for a defensive line spot. So after playing receiver at 235 pounds, he is now up to 252 pounds.
As for the learning curve, he pointed to three key areas - hips, hands and eyes. “It took me a while to get my eyes and hands together, but I put in the work to be able to do it.”
Robinson explained changes in the offense and his limited action led him to approach the coaching staff about another position change for the following year. It was decided he might be a good fit at defensive end.
“All the guys were there to help me out,” said the senior of teammates who have helped him adjust at the various positions.
Robinson needed to make some physical changes for a defensive line spot. So after playing receiver at 235 pounds, he is now up to 252 pounds.
As for the learning curve, he pointed to three key areas - hips, hands and eyes. “It took me a while to get my eyes and hands together, but I put in the work to be able to do it.”
“He has the ability to understand and be aware. ... His intelligence is amazing,” observed Miami head coach Chuck Martin.
“To have somebody with the physical gifts that Dom Robinson has is very rare. Then you couple them with his mental capacity, and you couple it with the character,” Martin continued. “The total package (is that) he is as good a human being as you’ll ever be around.”
Robinson remembers the joy of scoring touchdowns, but he has also found a new thrill in tackles for loss and sacks. “It feels great - especially on a third down.”
“He’s kind of found a home at D-End and really flourished in a short window last year,” Martin said. ”He is going to have a chance to do fantastic things for us this year.”
Robinson was once the pursued. This season is his chance to shine as the pursuer.
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