The new Los Angeles Rams coaching staff is showing prudence in its willingness to wipe the slate clean with left tackle Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
If only Robinson would reciprocate.
The three-year lineman out of Auburn may have illustrated part of the Rams’ problems under former coach Jeff Fisher with his comments in a recent article with ESPN.
Reporter Alden Gonzalez talked about Robinson’s plight as Los Angeles’ “featured” offensive lineman and mentioned the possibility of the Rams moving the talented but so far underwhelming player to guard.
Robinson’s response wasn’t exactly exemplary of a team-comes-first attitude.
“It’s not really something that I’m just going to accept, because I’m so used to playing tackle,” Robinson said. “It would be hard to adjust. But if I have to adjust, that will be something that I will do.”
Gee, thanks for the consideration, Robbie. This from a man who has a league-leading 31 penalties over the past two seasons, according to Gonzalez. Pro Football Focus graded him 71st among 78 tackles in 2016. Los Angeles benched him twice last season as it tried to fix a porous offensive line that couldn’t protect rookie quarterback Jared Goff or second-year running back Todd Gurley.
During the 2016 season, then-Rams offensive line coach Paul Boudreau said of Robinson to ESPN, “”He’s all over the place with his feet, he’s all over the place with his hands. And when he gets in trouble, when he stops his feet, he grabs, and he gets those holding penalties that you really don’t need. So, he’s got to concentrate on focusing on the little things.”
First-year head coach Sean McVay said what incoming coaches are supposed to say—that his athleticism is evident, that he is excited to get a chance to look at Robinson and that he remains a “big part (ESPN’s words) of the Rams offense.
Incoming offensive line coach Aaron Kromer added that he can’t really evaluate Robinson because he doesn’t know what Robinson was told to do last season or what his mindset was when he was told to do something.
But if Robinson’s lukewarm response to a possible position move is any indication, both he and the Rams have a lot of work to do.
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