Robinson understands the single-wing

SANTA CLARA — Michael Robinson was almost offended when asked if he has studied the Miami Dolphins’ version of the “Wildcat” formation.

“I did it for real in college,” Robinson said this week, “I did it for real.”

Before he was a backup running back for the 49ers, Robinson was a quarterback at Penn State, where he was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year as a senior.

“I know what it feels like to read a defense,” Robinson said. “I know what it feels like when you don’t know whether to give it to the guy or keep it. Obviously, it was in college, but you still have to know how to make your reads.”

The Dolphins introduced — or re-introduced — a version of the dormant single-wing formation this season with grand success in an early-season game against the New England Patriots. Since that time, the Dolphins’ offense has risen from 26th in the league to No. 10.

Miami has used its “Wildcat” package with running back Ronnie Brown taking direct snaps on 76 plays this season. The Dolphins have averaged 5.9 yards with eight touchdowns, including two passing scores.

Meanwhile, 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz has tinkered with the formation this season with Robinson taking snaps out of the shotgun formation from center Eric Heitmann.

However, the 49ers’ version is more kitty cat than wildcat. Understandably, Martz did not want to divulge exactly how many times the 49ers have used the package — or the results the 49ers have reaped — from the formation this season.

The 49ers have used the offensive formation about a dozen times this season and have yet to produce anything resembling a big play.

On Oct. 26 against Seattle, running back Frank Gore took a handoff from Robinson and gained 9 yards.

On Oct. 5 against New England, Gore took a direct snap and picked up 7 yards and a first down.

On Nov. 10 against Arizona, Robinson kept the ball and gained 5 yards and a first down.

The 49ers have not used the formation since Gore gained 3 yards on a handoff from Robinson against the Dallas Cowboys three weeks ago.

Why hasn’t the 49ers’ offense featured their derivative of the single-wing?

“It’s one of those things where, maybe, when you have the tools that we have, you have receivers that we have, and the tight end, you want to throw,” 49ers coach Mike Singletary said. “You want to be able to throw a little bit more out of it. It’s been something we’ve done, but it’s not a signature thing that we really want to go forward with.”

Martz explained the dilemma for a defense when asked about the “Wildcat” formation last month.

“It’s a little technical to some extent ... when you put a quarterback out there (wideout), you’ve still got to cover him like a receiver, right?” Martz said. “By number count, all of a sudden he is also a ball carrier. So they take potentially one more guy out of the box, right? And yet, now you still have that ball carrier back there in that tailback (position). So it really by structure forces defenses to adjust a little bit differently.

“And if a guy’s good enough at what he does, there’s a certain amount of multiplicity involved there that can really — if you just do one or two things there it’s not a big deal — but if you’ve got a guy who can do a number of things, then it really can get kind of exciting.”

The 49ers have not attempted a pass out of the formation this season. As a quarterback in college, Robinson completed 49 percent of his passes for 3,531 yards with 23 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.

Robinson did enough running in college out of the spread formation that he knows exactly what Brown is doing when he must decide whether to hand the ball to fellow running back Ricky Williams or keep it himself.

“My eyes are fixed on that defensive end because he’s my key,” Robinson said. “They’re doing the same thing. They’re reading the defensive end, too. It’s nothing new. You try to stay with him as long as possible. If the defensive end crashes, you keep it. If he stays out, you hand it off.”

INJURY REPORT

Receiver Arnaz Battle was ruled out of Sunday’s game with an aggravation of a mid-foot sprain that sidelined him four games. Second-year player Jason Hill will remain in the role of the 49ers’ No. 3 receiver.

Running back Frank Gore (ankle) will be a game-time decision, Singletary said. Gore has not practiced all week. It appears as if he will not be available. Veteran DeShaun Foster is likely to start. The club might promote Thomas Clayton from the practice squad to fill a roster spot on Saturday.

Return specialist Allen Rossum is expected back after missing two games with an ankle sprain. Cornerback Nate Clements will be back as a starter after missing one game due to a broken thumb.

For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@press

democrat.com.