Boudreau on Robinson

Rams left tackle Greg Robinson is still trying to figure it out

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/31912/rams-left-tackle-greg-robinson-is-still-trying-to-figure-it-out

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Greg Robinson can be so infuriating, mainly because of the times when he can be so good.

“There’s a course of every game where you can make a training film,” said Los Angeles Rams coach Paul Boudreau, who has spent his last 40-plus years coaching offensive linemen, in college, the NFL and even in Canada. “There are some sets when you’re like, ‘That’s how it’s done.’ If you went and spoke at a clinic, you’d say, ‘This is it.'”

But then there are times when the Rams can’t figure out what is going through his mind.

Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 draft, is in his third season of trying to figure it out as an NFL left tackle and is still having trouble. Over the past two seasons, his 28 total penalties are four more than anybody else in the NFL. He has allowed 21 quarterback hurries this season, already equaling his amount from all of last season, according to Pro Football Focus. And this season, that subscription-analytics service ranks him 75th among 80 tackles.

Robinson wowed teams with his power and ability coming out of Auburn, but he entered the NFL behind, because he didn’t play in a pro-style offense.

“So it’s been a learning curve for him from the beginning,” Boudreau said. “Recently, it’s just a matter of his technique. 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.”

Robinson is listed at 6-foot-5 and 332 pounds. He possesses the athleticism to throw a football beyond 50 yards from his knees and complete a back-flip, two unique skills that Rams coach Jeff Fisher pointed out when trying to illustrate just how physically talented Robinson is.

“He’s got the talent level to do it; it’s just we’ve had some miscues over the last four-to-six weeks with some mistakes and some penalties and things like that,” Fisher said. “He’s determined.”

“I’ve been working with him for a long time, and one thing I do know is he does take this seriously,” Rams guard Rodger Saffold added. “He works hard.”

But the Rams might have reached a breaking point with Robinson. Fisher hinted this week at potential changes on offense, particularly the offensive line, but has not specified what those changes might be. One of those could center on Robinson, who committed an inexplicable block-in-the-back penalty on a Jared Goff scramble on Sunday that might have been the final straw.

“He’s consistently inconsistent,” Boudreau said. “And there’s been games where he’s graded out well. He doesn’t have a bad game; he has bad plays in games. And it comes in inopportune times. And when you’re a left tackle, you’re exposed.”

Boudreau described Robinson as “down” in his present state. His confidence has a tendency to waver, and right now Robinson believes he is letting the team down; that he isn’t delivering on his promise in what was in many ways a make-or-break season.

“If he wasn’t down, then we’ve picked the wrong guy,” Boudreau said. “If it doesn’t bother him, then we got the wrong guy. I want it to be something that it’s important to him, and he wants to be the best. If he’s just coming here and collecting a paycheck, then we got the wrong guy. But he’s not that guy. I’ve had those guys. He’s not that guy. He’s a prideful kid, he wants to do well. We just have to turn the corner with him.”

Frustrations and inconsistencies aside, Robinson’s physical ability continues to allure others; makes them believe that it will only be a matter of time before it finally all clicks. Boudreau had Hall of Fame tackle Willie Roaf as a rookie with the Saints in 1993. He is the only man Boudreau can compare to Robinson in terms of raw, physical strength.

“I’m not giving up on the kid,” Boudreau said of Robinson. “He’s had some bad games, but I ain’t going to quit on that guy. If he was a dog, and he was a bad person, I’d be the first person to say, ‘Get him out of here.’ But he’s not. And this kid has ability better than most guys on our team.”