Let Rob throw one

I love a good trick play. We've seen Sidney Rice and Golden Tate complete passes out of the backfield this year. That's great, but I wonder why we don't also give Michael Robinson a chance to throw the ball now and then.

Our Pro Bowl fullback played quarterback for Penn State. As a senior in 2005, Rob threw for 2,350 yards, ran for 806 more, and finished fifth in Heisman voting.

San Francisco converted Robinson to tailback and then fullback, but failed to capitalize upon his potential as a passer.

Rob has only attempted one pass as a Seahawk. In 2010, he threw to Leon Washington for a 28-yard gain against the Rams in a loss to St. Louis.

We should give Rob a chance to lob a pass every few games. Anytime a running back or a wide receiver attempts a pass, the element of surprise creates big play potential. Normally, there is also a great risk, because most backs and receivers are undiscerning passers who may throw into coverage and get intercepted. However, Robinson's experience under center reduces that risk considerably.

Moreover, if we establish that Rob is a threat to throw the ball, it gives opposing defenses one more thing to worry about, on top of Beast Mode, a battering ram fullback, the quick feet and strong arm of Russell Wilson, and an increasingly capable corps of receivers.

Robinson also has the hands and ball skills to execute a flea flicker with Wilson.

Even when he doesn't throw the ball, Rob's versatility gives Seattle a strategic advantage every game. Rob is the reason Seattle carries just two quarterbacks on its active roster. If Russell Wilson and backup Matt Flynn were both knocked out of the game, then the fullback would step up under center as our emergency quarterback. Fortunately, Seattle has never needed to resort to its emergency quarterback, but Robinson's ability to function in that role frees up a roster spot for additional depth where it is needed, as it is at present in the defensive backfield.

Meanwhile, as a runner, Rob decimates the depth of opposing defensive backfields. Last week, in overtime against Chicago, Robinson ran over Bears cornerback Tim Jennings, knocking him out of the game. (Jennings is no chump; he was September's NFC Defensive Player of the Week.) Instead of celebrating the hit in the narcissistic style of Golden Tate, Robinson modeled superior sportsmanship by doubling back immediately after the play to the prone form of his opponent to see if he was OK. (Jennings was not OK. He may not play today, either. Defensive backs need to exercise caution when attempting to tackle Robinson. In college, a clean collision with Robinson ended the career of a Minnesota DB. Better still, opposing corners could exercise a Deion Sanders-style "business decision" and opt not to try to stop Rob at all.)

It was nice to see Matt Flynn make his first on-the-field contribution of the season in overtime last week. As team captain, he nailed that coin toss. "Tails." That strategic coup was worth $10 million of guaranteed cash.
I just wish Flynn had said, "We want the ball and he's gonna score!"