Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin, spoke to the media Tuesday for his regular weekly press conference. He addressed last Sunday's win over the Baltimore Ravens and the upcoming challenge of playing the Cleveland Browns. He was asked by reporters about rookie linebacker, Mark Robinson.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, Mark Robinson, poses for a photo following the NFL Draft, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Pittsburgh, PA.
Steelers' Tomlin on Robinson Stepping Up
Tomlin was asked what it is about Robinson that made him comfortable having him participate in such a significant way against the Ravens, especially during such a critical game. Tomlin chuckled and said:
“Who said I was comfortable?”
Robinson was drafted in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss. He did not have the normal college football experience that most pros do. He started out at a small school playing running back, transferred to Ole Miss, and the coaches saw something in him and moved him to linebacker.
During the preseason, fans saw a glimpse of what it was that Pittsburgh liked about him. Robinson has talent, but he also has the kind of internal drive and determination - a hunger that you just can’t teach.
Last week against the Ravens, Robinson started over Devin Bush. Bush has been struggling to perform consistently since being injured two years ago. Robinson had an overall excellent game. He had seven tackles, mostly assists, but he was wreaking havoc all over the field. At one point, early in the game, Robinson tackled J.K. Dobbins after a short gain. He made his presence known and for a position that has been riddled with inconsistency, he showed grit and tenacity.
It is no surprise that the press are wanting Tomlin to comment on the impact a young player like Robinson had. Pittsburgh is playing the Browns at home this weekend and must win, amongst other factors, to keep their playoff hopes alive. Tomlin hinted that he appreciates the physicality that Robinson brings to the game, but knows there is more work to be done:
“He’s a guy that likes physical confrontation. That’s the one component of his game that has never been in question, growth and development and all other areas due to youth and lack of experience is."
Tomlin said that this game was kind of the “right place, right time” to give Robinson a chance to display the improvements he has made this season:
“So he has grown over the course of the season. We’ve challenged him to get comfortable with professional football and not only professional football, but we’re talking about a guy who hadn’t played a lot of linebacker. [A] Guy who played running back in college, you guys know his story,” said Tomlin.“There is a lot of growth that needs to transpire there in terms of the nuances of the position and a lot of the things that come with the position. To be blunt, we were stepping into a game that was going to challenge him in a specific area and that specific area was in line with his skill set and so we let him play.”
Steelers linebacker, Mark Robinson lines up during warm-ups before the team takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2022 regular season at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation.com (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
After having a taste of how much Robinson can contribute when only participating in 50% of the defensive snaps, fans are hoping to see him even more against the Browns.
What did you think of Robinson’s performance on Sunday? Do you think he should start over Bush again this week? Click to comment below.
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