A new 'motivation' for Illini QB Matt Robinson

Illinois freshman QB Matt Robinson enters practice with a new identity and confidence heading into Michigan week.

Champaign, Ill. -- For all intents and purposes, everyone in the Illinois coaching offices expects a different Matt Robinson from now on.

The normally quiet, reserved redshirt freshman who has been patiently waiting his turn as a backup quarterback with the Illini isn’t gone but admittedly a far cry from the guy now taking reps with the first-team offense. In preparations for the Illini’s matchup with No. 16 Michigan Saturday (11 a.m., ABC), Robinson acknowledged the nearly three quarters he experienced at Minnesota last weekend gave him a new outlook mentally and physically for practice in the future.

“Obviously playing on Saturday gives me a different feel coming back to practice,” Robinson said Tuesday. “I actually had that thought earlier (about the experience). When you haven’t played, you don’t know what to expect but once you get in there and know how it is supposed to feel, the next game should be even better.”

The reviews of Robinson’s performance in the Illini’s 40-17 loss at Minnesota were mixed and graded on a curve by the coaching staff as the former three-star prospect from San Juan Capistrano, Calif., was quickly thrusted into action with limited practice reps after the injury to starter Brandon Peters.

“I think he did OK for a backup quarterback coming into a game in a tough situation," Illinois head coach Lovie Smith said.

Robinson finished 15 of 29 for 125 yards and was sacked three times. The only points Robinson’s offense acquired was a 46-yard field goal by James McCourt near the end of the first half.

"I would say, yes, it’s a little bit of a different approach that Matt (Robinson) is thinking about right now." - Illinois head coach Lovie Smith

“He battled. He didn’t play clean,” Illinois offensive coordinator Rod Smith said Monday. “For his first true time, in terms of importance, I thought he went in and gave us a little bit of a spark. We moved the ball. We got some points before half. We should have gotten more, but I thought he did some good things. I was excited for Matt and hopefully, it’s something we can keep building on."

Robinson said Tuesday he got some motivation and critiques from a familiar face around Illini circles: former Illinois head coach Ron Turner. Turner and Robinson’s dad, Jeof, were roommates and teammates on the football team at the University of Pacific in 1974-75. Robinson said Turner called him after seeing him on television get significant action at Minnesota.

Lovie Smith, the current Illini fourth-year coach, said Monday he was disappointed in the other 10 offensive players not essentially stepping up their performances to essentially help prop up the inexperienced signal caller early on. With Peters’ status (undisclosed injury) to play against his former school in doubt this week Smith said he anticipated Robinson to bring a different mentality to the practice field and start acting like a player who is expected to be a starter.

“Until we tell him otherwise, last time we played Matt was behind center," Lovie Smith said. "Does that give you more motivation? Each week we tell our backups to expect (to ask themselves) if the guy above me goes down first snap ‘am I ready to go?’ You have to prepare yourself that way. I would say, yes, it’s a little bit of a different approach that Matt is thinking about right now."

Following Tuesday morning’s practice session, Robinson said he obviously hopes to get an opportunity to play against a nationally-ranked defense such as No. 16 Michigan (4-1, 1-1 in Big Ten). If Robinson does get that chance, Illinois offensive coordinator Rod Smith said Monday his game plan is likely to use more big personnel and designed runs with the quarterback to utilize the athletic ability of the 6-foot-1, 190-pound signal-caller. Illinois (2-3, 0-2 in Big Ten) is desperate to find a running attack against a Michigan defense that is one of the best in the nation at stopping the pass (No. 7 among 130 Football Bowl Subdivision schools).

“You wouldn’t know it by looking at him but Matt is sneaky quick and fast for a quarterback,” Illinois tailback Reggie Corbin said. “I think he does give us that (added running element at quarterback).”

However, with no media availability for the rest of this week, Lovie Smith said the decision on playing Peters vs. Michigan wouldn’t be announced until kickoff Saturday morning (11 a.m., ABC). Smith said his decision wouldn’t depend on the amount of practice time this week for Peters but more of an NFL-like mentality of if the perceived starter is ready to go, he’ll start.

“We still have plenty of time with it being just Tuesday,” Lovie Smith said. “He was (attending) practice. You don't normally go full (contact). Quarterback doesn't get touched anyway."