Robinson, WR corps improve
He had a few drops as UL started 0-2 this season, and had only a few catches as well in losses at Arkansas and Kansas State.
But after making a career-high eight grabs for 124 yards and two touchdowns in the Ragin’ Cajuns’ 35-30 win at Akron last Saturday night, it sure seems as if highly hyped junior wideout Jamal Robinson and the rest of the UL hands corps – including seniors Darryl Surgent and Devin Figaro – have fewer reasons to be on the receiving end of much flak nowadays.
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He had a few drops as UL started 0-2 this season, and had only a few catches as well in losses at Arkansas and Kansas State.
But after making a career-high eight grabs for 124 yards and two touchdowns in the Ragin’ Cajuns’ 35-30 win at Akron last Saturday night, it sure seems as if highly hyped junior wideout Jamal Robinson and the rest of the UL hands corps – including seniors Darryl Surgent and Devin Figaro – have fewer reasons to be on the receiving end of much flak nowadays.
“He (Robinson) played big,” Cajun quarterback Terrance Broadway said.
“I’m gonna tell you what: Everybody’s sort of been down on Jamal the first couple games,” added UL coach Mark Hudspeth, whose 2-2 club is off until playing host to Texas State on Oct. 5. “But, let me tell you: Holy mackerel. What plays he made (Saturday) night. Two show-stopper plays, I felt like. … The guy’s a big-time player.”
Robinson’s eight catches were part of a night in which Broadway completed 25-of-37 for a season-high 305 yards and three touchdowns.
Surgent caught seven of those throws for 83 yards, including a key 16-yarder on a third-down situation midway through the fourth quarter and – two plays later – a 14-yard TD that helped extend UL’s lead to 35-24 with six minutes and 19 seconds remaining.
With his 83-yard effort, the Alexandria Senior High product moved from 16th place to 13th on UL’s career receiving yards list with 1,380.
“It’s real big, because Darryl hadn’t touched the ball too much this season,” Broadway said of Surgent, who had eight catches for 55 yards in the Cajuns’ first three games. “Our goal was to get him the ball a lot (Saturday), and that’s what we did.”
Figaro, meanwhile, had four catches for 53 yards, including an important 11-yarder on a fourth-quarter scoring drive that ended with Broadway running in from 13 yards out to help UL take the lead for good at 28-24.
That’s double the number of receptions that the Lafayette High product had in UL’s first three games of 2013 combined.
It’s also one more than he had all of last season, his first with the Cajuns after transferring from Tulane.
“I’m just happy for Figaro, because … (of) our connection,” Broadway said.
Figaro, who played two years at Tulane, including a 2010 season with 19 catches for 259 yards and one touchdown, and Broadway, who came to UL from the University of Houston, both spent all of 2011 working together on the Cajun scout team while sitting out the season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules.
“I’m real happy for him,” Broadway said. “He pushed through it, and when he got his opportunity he made plays.”
So did Robinson, who now has 19 catches for 265 yards – an average of 13.9 yards per reception – and four touchdowns this season.
After a 2012 season featuring a pair of two-touchdown games, the product of Slidell’s Salmen High now has three TD catches in his last two games, including a 25-yarder in UL’s 70-7 win over Nicholls State back on Sept. 14.
His two scoring catches Saturday were both highlight-reel worthy, especially one in which he went high to pull in a loft from Broadway and held on in-bounds despite juggling the ball while landing on his back.
The play withstood video review.
But Robinson – who last season had a 116-yard game against Arkansas State, a 153-yard game against UL Monroe and a 116-yard game in UL’s New Orleans Bowl win over East Carolina – never doubted that the catch was good.
“I was sure,” he said.
And Broadway was certain that his top target would need only a few more balls thrown his way before having his first huge game of 2013.
That’s why he heeded the advice of Hudspeth, UL offensive coordinator Jay Johnson and receivers coach Jorge Munoz to keep seeking out No. 15.
“I gave him a chance to make a play,” Broadway said, “which Coach Hud and Coach Johnson and Coach Munoz will always tell me to do.”
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Re: Robinson, WR corps improve
If he wants to declare for the draft early, he needs to do this every single game. The crazy fact is, he absolutely can.
Re: Robinson, WR corps improve
JMO- Fig and Butler need more balls thrown at them.
Re: Robinson, WR corps improve
We have a lot of receivers that deserve more touches. It's just tough with the depth we have. Ricky Johnson, Jared Johnson, Figaro, Butler, even Surgent before last week didnt have too many targets. Then you have a kid like Devin Scott who showed his jets when he did touch it.
Re: Robinson, WR corps improve
I think Johnson needs more targets...especially in the redzone
Re: Robinson, WR corps improve
Need to go deep to Surgent more. Dude has always been good on the deep routes
Re: Robinson, WR corps improve
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NewsCopy
He had a few drops as UL started 0-2 this season, and had only a few catches as well in losses at Arkansas and Kansas State.
But after making a career-high eight grabs for 124 yards and two touchdowns in the Ragin' Cajuns' 35-30 win at Akron last Saturday night, it sure seems as if highly hyped junior wideout Jamal Robinson and the rest of the UL hands corps – including seniors Darryl Surgent and Devin Figaro – have fewer reasons to be on the receiving end of much flak nowadays.
Anyone know why Ricky Johnson hasn't touched the ball like he should? I do believe he may be among the fastest players on the entire team...
Re: Robinson, WR corps improve
Quote:
Originally Posted by
spearchucker
Anyone know why Ricky Johnson hasn't touched the ball like he should? I do believe he may be among the fastest players on the entire team...
After Surgent, Scott and McGuire he could be.
Re: Robinson, WR corps improve
Figaro has been a consistent bright spot in the steady hands department.
What seems obvious to me is the pressure placed on Broadway to force feed Robinson so he would relax through repetition.
The irony (and this is only from a fans perception) is Robinson has been catching much better since they started giving Figaro a few balls.
Pressure off.
jmo
Re: Robinson, WR corps improve
Quote:
Originally Posted by
spearchucker
Anyone know why Ricky Johnson hasn't touched the ball like he should? I do believe he may be among the fastest players on the entire team...
I watched enough of Ricky this fall to tell you he is not one of the fastest players on the team at 205 pounds. He has played in all 4 games, but hasn't had the ball thrown his way much.
Re: Robinson, WR corps improve
Made a damn good play at Kansas State!!!
Re: Robinson, WR corps improve
Quote:
Originally Posted by
VObserver
After Surgent, Scott and McGuire he could be.
So If you add Carter to that could we beat our present 400 meter relay team??? just wondering!!!
