On the first day of the legal tampering period this year, the Los Angeles Rams appeared to lose starting defensive end Michael Brockers. He agreed to terms with the Baltimore Ravens relatively quickly, leading the Rams to find his replacement.
They thought they had when they picked up A’Shawn Robinson, but it turns out the 25-year-old former Lion won’t be replacing Brockers after all. Instead, he’ll be playing alongside him on the defensive line after Brockers’ contract with the Ravens fell through due to concerns over his injured ankle.
Now, the Rams will have to find a way to best utilize Robinson and Brockers, who are fairly similar players. For Robinson, he’ll play any position on the defensive line in order to help the team.
“I feel like me being able to play the run pretty good coming in, that’s good to help. I want to do as much as I can to help. I want to do everything I can to help us win. Anything they need me to play, I’m willing to play. So I don’t really worry about any of that.” Robinson said on a conference call Thursday. “I just want to win. I’ve been to the playoffs one time out of four years in the NFL, and I loved that experience. I want that experience back again, so whatever I need to do to get that, I’m willing to do that. It doesn’t matter. Any position. Nose tackle, it doesn’t matter.”
The Rams haven’t said where Robinson and Brockers will play, but it’s assumed that they’ll both play multiple positions. Robinson will probably begin at nose tackle in base sets with Brockers at defensive end and Aaron Donald at 3-technique.
Robinson mostly played defensive tackle with the Lions and was a stout run defender, but he’ll be utilized across the line next season. With him and Brockers playing alongside Donald, the Rams’ run defense should improve significantly.
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