Thumbs up: Robinson rising
For Corey Robinson, the first Irish bye week actually did come at a good time.
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While that can be a clichéd take from most coaches, the sophomore receiver needed the bonus week to help finish healing his broken right thumb, suffered in the final week of the preseason. Robinson has played with a cast the past three games and didn't become a primary target until the Shamrock Series against Purdue.
"I think it helped," Robinson said. "But the way it feels, it's gonna feel regardless. I have to go play. It definitely helped though. My bones are healing up great. I got an x-ray (Tuesday) and it's looking really good. The bye week helped take some soreness off so I can go back out there and play a little bit."
Robinson is hopeful the cast will come off in the next two weeks.
Maybe then the sophomore from San Antonio will see an uptick in production. Robinson has just five catches for 99 yards and one touchdown through three games. That score came from 15 yards in the third quarter against Purdue.
He was targeted six times against the Boilermakers and finished with three catches for 52 yards and that score. Robinson was targeted just twice in games against Rice and Michigan.
"When I go out there I try to remember to just play," Robinson said. "Whatever happens happens. But the No. 1 important thing is catching the ball. It doesn't matter if my thumb's a little sore. No one cares. The most important thing for my teammates, if they need a third down conversion I've gotta catch the ball. It doesn't matter."
Robinson is approaching the injury as if it will bring on some soreness throughout the season, even when the injury completely heals.
Turns out he played through it initially without realizing he'd need surgery at all. Robinson doesn't remember the moment when the injury occurred or how it actually happened.
"I remember practicing during camp and then my thumb just started hurting," Robinson said. "I'm telling you, my memory's not the greatest. You'd think I'd remember something like that, right? I can't. It was just like a general pain and then just, 'Oh wait, it really hurts.' I have no idea when it happened."
Robinson came up big against Purdue, stretching the Notre Dame lead to double digits late in the third quarter with his first touchdown of the season. That was less a testament to overcoming his hand and more becoming comfortable with the offense.
He conferenced with head coach Brian Kelly on taking advantage of Purdue in that particular instance, something he wouldn't have done as a freshman.
"Before I was very apprehensive because I was still learning the game a lot," Robinson said. "I didn't want to tell a big shot quarterback or the head coach of a college football team, like a major college football team, 'Oh, I think you (overlooked) this.' Now I just feel more confident and comfortable in my ability as a player to perceive what the defense is doing. Since I'm out there playing the position I know how he's playing me."