Mark Robinson is on the entrance of the road for inside linebacker reps after the season-ending accidents to each Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander in back-to-back weeks. This season, and earlier than the room was overhauled by GM Omar Kahn, it appeared Robinson had a shot at incomes the beginning position. He entered week ten with simply 4 defensive snaps, however ultimately performed full-time alongside Elandon Roberts after Alexander’s harm. He logged 41 defensive snaps and made three tackles. He’ll be taking part in much more this season, so it is time to see how he did in week ten.
THE FILM
On first playback of this clip, there are some good ones and a few dangerous ones. His taking part in power is clearly evident from the truth that he was in a position to blow again the pulling sort out. That is a 305-pound offensive lineman and he not solely held his personal, however generated some momentum of his personal. The draw back is that he ran straight into the block as an alternative of tackling the ball service. Patrick Peterson adopted the receiver in movement, leaving Robinson because the final line of protection on the edge. This 40-yard rush from AJ Dillon was one of many Packers largest rushes of the day and will have been stopped on the line. Robinson sought contact and that may be a very good factor, however he have to be disciplined to keep watch over the ball service.
On the second play of the clip, looking for contact labored in his favor as he was in a position to get the tight find yourself and block him and throw his physique onto the pile to mix for a sort out.
Robinson is listed at 235 kilos, however his closing pace stood out on a number of performs. This play was an outdoor toss the place he beat RB Aaron Jones to the rim for a minimal acquire. He took a decisive angle and dived to safe the sort out. He does not have sideline-to-sideline pace, however strikes fairly effectively for his measurement and completed effectively on this recreation.
This play appeared like a linebacker drill in observe. He stored his eyes on the backfield and stayed in section with the working again so he may keep in place on a cutback. As soon as the working again was outdoors, Robinson closed up and wrapped to make the sort out for a brief acquire.
One of many huge issues the Steelers misplaced with Alexander and Holcomb was their protection choices. They have been each true linebackers and will keep on the sphere in any scenario. Whereas protection is not Robinson’s calling card, he confirmed the flexibility to remain in section with a working again’s route on this play. RB Emanuel Wilson ran a wheel route into the tip zone and Robinson stayed proper on his hip till the tip of the play.
One factor I assumed he may do higher within the passing recreation was serving to lead receivers off the road. On each performs, he was in place to dam receivers inside the authorized restrict of 5 yards, however didn’t make any contact. He had his personal man project in each circumstances, however had a little bit of tunnel imaginative and prescient for his man. On the primary play, Jayden Reed ran proper previous him and Robinson actively prevented contact. Reed then grabbed the landing ultimately zone, blowing proper previous Keanu Neal and Levi Wallace. A diversion may have disrupted the timing.
On the second play, he bought between Damontae Kazee and the receiver he was attempting to cowl, Romeo Doubs. He successfully rerouted the route, however nearly made a decide to interrupt Doubs vast open. The middle of the sphere was utterly abandoned and if Doubs had flattened his route as an alternative of driving additional into the sphere, he may have gained fairly a ways from Kazee.
CONCLUSION
Mark Robinson performed 60% of the Steelers’ defensive snaps on Sunday and had a strong efficiency total. He hit his landmarks in protection and confirmed shocking closing pace for a linebacker his measurement. His physicality was evident whereas working, however he would generally search contact and get blocked. The remainder of this season will reveal quite a bit about his future with the workforce and the way forward for the within linebacker room in Pittsburgh.
