Tuesday Iowa-Michigan Reading Room: Denard Robinson needs to master the throwaway

If Denard Robinson learns to throw away the occasional pass, the Michigan quarterback will improve upon his so-so play against Michigan State last Saturday.

So suggests Detroit Free Press writer Mark Snyder in this column. An excerpt:

Coach Rich Rodriguez and quarterbacks coach Rod Smith gave Denard Robinson a postgame cushion, citing that there were bound to be slipups with a quarterback making his sixth career start.

But the point they didn't make forcefully enough: These were easily avoidable and correctable.

Rodriguez pointed out last week on his radio show that looming defenses were going to force the Wolverines into a feast-or-famine mode in the passing game.

But his idea of famine was a three-and-out, whereas Robinson took it an ugly step further, resulting in three interceptions.

The picks were poor decisions by Robinson. He tried to jam the ball into a tight space twice in the end zone, when Rodriguez said he needs to "live for another day" by throwing it away. The third interception was not much better, and he made another ill-advised throw.

It sort of takes one back in time to a lad named Ricky Stanzi, does it not?

This Free Press collection of Wolverines notes lists how Michigan ranks in this and that. Guess what? They're better offensively than defensively.

Despite the mediocre offensive performance, U-M is still high in the national offensive rankings: No. 3 in total offense, No. 6 in rushing, No. 8 in passing efficiency and No. 3 in sacks allowed. The defensive rankings: No. 119 in pass defense, No. 112 in total defense, No. 85 in sacks.

One of Michigan's top receivers broke a foot against Michigan State and won't play against Iowa Saturday, as this AnnArbor.com story details.

Martavious Odoms will miss an “extended” period of time with a broken foot.

The junior wide receiver caught a 49-yard bomb down the right sideline seconds before halftime, but didn't catch a pass in the second half of Saturday's 34-17 loss to Michigan State. ...

Odoms has 15 catches for 214 yards.

Here is an AnnArbor.com video from  Michigan's press conference on Monday:

Also from AnnArbor.com:

A story on Robinson's emotional postgame address to his team after the loss to MSU.