Quarterback Denard Robinson’s blazing speed has already been well-documented and highly publicized. But after having almost four fewer months than fellow freshman quarterback Tate Forcier to learn the offensive playbook, Robinson’s passing game hasn't been in the spotlight.

“Denard always wants to prove he can throw the ball,” Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said after Saturday’s 45-17 win over Eastern Michigan. “He made a couple decisions today that maybe weren't the best, but he can make all the throws. As coaches, we have to remember he's only three games into his career.”

Robinson disagreed with Rodriguez’s assessment.

“I'm not trying to prove nothing,” Robinson said. “I'm not trying to prove to nobody, just myself.”

When Robinson tried to throw in this week’s game, the results weren’t pretty. He finished 0-for-4 with two interceptions Saturday, though his best pass was one that was negated. He currently has a -6.10 passer rating through three games.

The freshman came in at quarterback with Michigan up 24-10 late in the first half and lofted a beautiful 24-yard pass to wide receiver Martavious Odoms, who caught the ball before running out of bounds. But when the play was reviewed, Odoms was found to not have full possession of the ball and the catch was overturned.

Robinson tried again, this time throwing a pass about 35 yards down the field for Odoms. But Eastern Michigan defensive back Chris May leaped in front of Odoms for the interception, and the Eagles scored on the ensuing drive to bring the game within seven by halftime. His other interception came again at the hands of May with about four minutes left in the game.

“One of them was a misread, and one of them wasn’t,” quarterbacks coach Rod Smith said of the interceptions. “But like I said, that’s how you cut your teeth. He’s going to be fine, and we’ll keep working him and getting him ready.”

Robinson came to Michigan partially because it was one of the only schools that recruited him as a quarterback and planned to use him for more than just his speed. Following Forcier’s big game against Notre Dame last week, Rodriguez insisted that Robinson would continue to take snaps at quarterback and that the team has no plans to make him a slot receiver.

“Oh, yeah, yes. I'm a quarterback, I'm not just a running back,” said Robinson after Saturday’s game, when asked if he was prepared to throw 15 to 20 passes in a future game. “That's the only position I play.”

But Robinson looked like he could easily play the part of a star running back Saturday, with 60 yards and two touchdowns on just three carries. The scores came when the game was already out of reach, but Robinson ran the ball in the end zone both times in impressive fashion.

On a third-and-two on the Eastern Michigan 13-yard line, Robinson came into the game, kept the ball off the snap and shook off four separate Eastern Michigan tackle attempts en route to the goal line. His second touchdown was a display of pure speed as he zig-zagged through the Eagles defense for a 36-yard score.

Through three games, Robinson is the team leader in rushing touchdowns and second in rushing yards.

Leach surprises: Another week, another walk-on standout.

Last week, it was open tryouts walk-on Jordan Kovacs, who came in during the second half of the tight game against Notre Dame after safety Mike Williams was injured. This Saturday, walk-on linebacker Kevin Leach started for the Wolverines after linebacker Jonas Mouton was suspended for one game.

Mouton appeared to punch Notre Dame center Eric Olsen in the face during last Saturday's game. The act was a point of contention all week, with Rodriguez denying he had seen any wrongdoing during Wednesday’s press conference. Michigan linebackers coach Jay Hopson said during Thursday night’s radio show that the referee was right in front of the play and would have called it if there was an issue, but Big Ten officials announced Friday that the league was punishing Mouton for one game.

Leach said the Michigan coaching staff told him Thursday afternoon that he would get the start.

“I call him the second Kovacs because he came in and he didn’t lose a step just like (Kovacs) last week,” junior strong safety Troy Woolfolk said. “Actually, Kovacs came in again and did his thing.