Tag: ashawn robinson

A’Shawn Robinson saved his best for last, coming through for the Rams in Super Bowl LVI

A’Shawn Robinson’s performance in the Super Bowl was overshadowed by Aaron Donald but it shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Aaron Donald was utterly dominant in the second half of the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals, finishing with four tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks.  The All-Pro interior defender also made the game-winning play for the Los Angeles Rams on Cincinnati’s final drive, swinging Joe Burrow to the ground on fourth down to force an incomplete pass.

While Donald deserves all of the recognition he’s receiving for his performance in the Super Bowl, A’Shawn Robinson deserves some praise as well.

Robinson, who left the Detroit Lions to sign with the Rams two years ago, concluded Sunday night’s thrilling victory with six tackles (third-most on the team), one tackle for loss, a quarterback hit and one sack.

It was only his third sack and third tackle for a loss this season, but they couldn’t have come at a better time.

And there were plays that didn’t show up in the box score for Robinson as he was vital in Los Angeles’ ability to limit Cincinnati’s running game to 79 total rushing yards on 18 attempts.

During the Super Bowl, it became apparent that the Bengals began taking notice of when Robinson was in the game or on the sideline. When he was in the game, Cincinnati was unable to have much success on the ground.

But when he was taking a breather, the Bengals knew they could try to take advantage of the Rams’ run defense. In the end, it didn’t matter as Los Angeles was able to win its first Super Bowl since the 1999 season.

Throughout the postseason, the Rams were able to limit their opponents to a mere 3.3 yards per attempt, which was tied for the second-fewest among the playoff teams. A large reason (figuratively and literally) Los Angeles had success in containing the run was Robinson’s run-stuffing ability from the interior.

Amid all of the special performances we witnessed from Donald, Cooper Kupp, and Matthew Stafford, Robinson”s efforts in the biggest game of the year shouldn’t go unnoticed.

[listicle id=666108]

Watch: A’Shawn Robinson drenched Sean McVay with Gatorade bath after Super Bowl win

A’Shawn Robinson got Sean McVay good with the Gatorade bath, drenching the Rams coach after Super Bowl LVI

Sean McVay got the Rams to Super Bowl LIII three years ago, but he and his team were forced to watch the Patriots celebrate on the field in Atlanta after Los Angeles lost, 13-3.

The Rams avenged that loss by beating the Bengals on Sunday night in Super Bowl LVI, the franchise’s second Super Bowl title. Instead of sulking in defeat and wondering where things went wrong, the Rams were the ones celebrating – and on their home field, nonetheless.

After Matthew Stafford’s final kneel-down, A’Shawn Robinson hit Sean McVay with the Gatorade bath – which, for you bettors out there, was blue. Robinson didn’t miss his coach, either, absolutely drenching McVay.

Rams injury report: Greg Gaines, A’Shawn Robinson limited

The Rams didn’t practice Wednesday but Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson were estimated as limited participants.

The Rams had their Week 15 contest against the Seahawks delayed from Sunday to Tuesday due to COVID-19, which makes their upcoming game against the Vikings right around the corner.

As a result of the condensed schedule, the Rams didn’t practice on Wednesday like they normally would, but they still released an injury report with estimated participation for three players.

Greg Gaines, A’Shawn Robinson and Jamir Jones were all listed as limited participants to start the week. Gaines has an ankle injury, Robinson is nursing a bicep injury and Jones has an ankle issue.

Below is the full injury report, which includes the Vikings’ side. They also did not practice after playing on Monday night.

Greg Gaines’ emergence gives Rams options on defensive line in offseason

Greg Gaines’ emergence gives the Rams much-needed flexibility with Sebastian Joseph-Day and A’Shawn Robinson in the offseason.

After trading Michael Brockers to the Lions, the Rams turned to Sebastian Joseph-Day and A’Shawn Robinson as players who needed to step up on the defensive line next to Aaron Donald. Greg Gaines was always going to be part of the rotation up front, but he was seen as more of a backup than a key piece on defense.

In the first seven weeks of the season, he played more than 40% of the defensive snaps just once. But in the last five games, he’s emerged as one of the most important players on that side of the ball.

Since Joseph-Day went down with a pectoral injury, Gaines has recorded two sacks, five quarterback hits and 23 tackles. For a player who was seen as a two-down run stopper when the Rams drafted him in 2019, he’s completely disproved his pre-draft critics by becoming a great pass rusher.

According to Seth Walder of ESPN, Gaines ranks fifth in pass-rush win rate and fourth in run-stop win rate among all defensive tackles – and that includes 3-techniques like Donald, not just nose tackles.

Pro Football Focus has credited him with 27 total pressures on only 277 pass-rush opportunities, ranking 24th among all interior defenders in that category. He has a 70.5 pass-rush grade (35th among interior defenders), largely thanks to his 17 pressures since Week 8. Those 17 pressures are tied for 11th among interior defenders and his three sacks, per PFF’s measures, are tied for ninth since Week 8.

Heading into 2022, the Rams now know they have a proven starter at nose tackle to contribute alongside Donald. That gives them some much-needed financial flexibility on the defensive line in the offseason.

Sebastian Joseph-Day will be a free agent in March and given the way he’s played the last two years, he’s going to command a hefty contract. The Rams shouldn’t rule out re-signing him, but with only $2.5 million in projected cap space, they don’t have much money to spend.

And they still have several other important players set to hit free agency who warrant re-signing consideration: Von Miller, Darious Williams, Austin Corbett, Odell Beckham Jr., Brian Allen and Matt Gay.

Fortunately, Gaines is still under contract for one more year, so even if the Rams are unable to re-sign Joseph-Day due to his high asking price, they’ll have Gaines to remain a starter at nose tackle.

There’s also the possibility of cutting A’Shawn Robinson, who has been a disappointment since signing with the Rams in 2020. If they cut him after June 1, they’d save $7 million – or $5.5 million if he’s cut before June 1. That’s a significant savings for a player who hasn’t lived up to expectations.

It’s possible the Rams will cut Robinson and use that money to re-sign Joseph-Day, potentially moving him to defensive end with Gaines starting at nose tackle. That might not be their best option, but the important thing is that they have several possibilities now with Gaines stepping up.

He’s been a huge part of the Rams’ success stopping the run and rushing the passer this season, which is great to see after he was previously seen as a limited, two-down nose tackle.

[listicle id=659295]

Sean McVay pleased with how Rams defense has performed thus far

The Rams defense has delighted Sean McVay with how they have performed in the first seven weeks, despite some outside criticism.

The defense of the Los Angeles Rams was a primary focus during the offseason due to Raheem Morris replacing Brandon Staley as the defensive coordinator. Through the first seven weeks, it’s safe to say that Sean McVay is liking what he’s seeing from the defense thus far.

“Each game’s a little bit different narrative. I thought they did a good job yesterday. I thought there was a couple of loose yards that they got in the run game, but I do think you got to give credit to (D’Andre) Swift and (Jamaal) Williams are two really tough physical backs,” McVay said Monday. “I thought they leveled some runs off and they caught us in the one third down on a blitz. It’s an excellent call right there. That’s one of those deals where you say, ‘Hats off to them,’ on the first long touchdown. But I thought we made our plays when we had to and I think through seven games, I think they’re really opportunistic. I think we’ve got some special players that elevate everybody around them. When you talk about Aaron (Donald) and Jalen (Ramsey), I think Leonard Floyd’s played like that as well.”

It was a slow start for the Rams in Week 7 versus the Detroit Lions, falling to a 10-0 deficit in the first quarter. Following a 63-yard screen pass to D’Andre Swift that went for a touchdown on the first drive, Los Angeles held the Lions to four field goals for the rest of the contest.

McVay name-dropped Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey and Leonard Floyd as guys who are playing at elite levels right now. Along with those guys, McVay has been impressed with the growth of other players like Sebastian Joseph-Day, A’Shawn Robinson, and Terrell Lewis.

“I think you’re seeing guys really continue to get better. I think you look at Sebastian Joseph-Day taking steps in the right direction. I’ve been pleased with A’Shawn. It’s been good to see Terrell Lewis healthy. A lot of guys on the back end that are making big-time contributions, but I think they’ve done a really nice job. There’s always things that we can improve on, but overall I’m pleased with them,” McVay said.

You would think the Rams have one of the worst defensive units in the NFL if you were to check Twitter. But in the first seven weeks, Los Angeles boasts the No. 4 ranked defense in Football Outsiders’ DVOA. As the Rams prepare to go up against the Houston Texans in Week 8, McVay is happy to see where his defense is currently at.

Why has A’Shawn Robinson’s role been limited in recent weeks?

A’Shawn Robinson has played just 27 total snaps in the last two games, but why is his role being limited?

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqby8n025panb709 player_id=none image=https://theramswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

A’Shawn Robinson was one of the Rams’ most notable free-agent signings in 2020, alongside Leonard Floyd. The two were expected to take the defense to new heights, but only one of them has really made a significant impact in the last season and a half.

Robinson has had a relatively quiet tenure with the Rams, playing 14 games since the start of last season. He missed eight games in 2020 while on the non-football injury list and wasn’t a full-time player when he returned.

He hasn’t played most of the snaps this season, either, getting on the field for just 31% of the defensive snaps. His role has shrunk in the last two weeks, playing 13 snaps (20%) against the Seahawks and 14 snaps (19%) against the Giants.

Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris said he doesn’t pay attention to snap counts and attributes Robinson’s reduced role to the Rams’ defensive line rotation, which is dependent on run and pass situations.

“I wouldn’t even know about his snap count. We have roles in our defense. We have certain things that we do,” he said Thursday. “I think A’Shawn has been really been playing really good football for us. So, it wouldn’t be a result of a coach saying to get them less snaps. But if we’re in a pass rush situation, I’d probably want to see a little bit more (Michael) Hoecht than I want to see A’Shawn. We’re in a run situation, definitely want to see more A’Shawn and not to say that they can’t do both, but just how it probably works out. Didn’t really think about the snap count in that.”

Against the Giants, Michael Hoecht and Jonah Williams both played more snaps than Robinson, getting on the field for 27 and 26 snaps, respectively. The week prior, Hoecht played 16 snaps and Williams played six compared to Robinson’s 13.

It’s very clearly a rotation, and that’s something every team uses up front, but Robinson is playing far less than Michael Brockers did last season and was essentially seen as his replacement.

For a guy making $8.5 million per year, Robinson should be playing more than he has been. He just hasn’t been very impactful when he’s been on the field.

[listicle id=655030]

A’Shawn Robinson out a few weeks due to minor knee procedure

A’Shawn Robinson is undergoing a minor procedure on his knee and will miss the next few weeks.

The injury bug just keeps biting the Los Angeles Rams before Week 1 of the regular season. Sean McVay told reporters on Thursday that A’Shawn Robinson will miss the next few weeks after he undergoes a minor procedure on his knee.

With just over two weeks until the season opener against the Bears on Sept. 12, it’s unclear whether Robinson will be available for that game. He’s projected to be a starter along the defensive line, taking Michael Brockers’ spot at defensive end.

“A’Shawn, he’s going to have a little minor procedure on his knee so he’ll be out for the next few weeks,” McVay said.

Robinson was signed by the Rams last offseason but he only played eight games in his first year with Los Angeles. He didn’t have a sack and recorded only 12 tackles, hitting the quarterback once in 111 defensive snaps played.

His role will grow this year with Brockers gone, so hopefully he’s back sooner rather than later. Bobby Brown III and Earnest Brown IV would likely be the next men up, though Greg Gaines could also play nose tackle and push Sebastian Joseph-Day over to defensive end.

Aaron Donald seeing ‘really good things’ from A’Shawn Robinson

A’Shawn Robinson is an important player for the Rams, replacing Michael Brockers along the defensive line.

The Rams’ decision to trade Michael Brockers this offseason was rooted in clearing cap space. They saved more than $6 million in doing so, which is more important than the 2022 seventh-round pick they got in return from the Lions.

They also traded him knowing they had a viable replacement on the roster in A’Shawn Robinson, one of their big free-agent signings last year. Robinson, who slimmed down this offseason, is a perfect fit at 5-technique with the Rams, playing the same role Brockers did.

He’s become more explosive, mobile and agile with the weight he’s lost, something even Aaron Donald has noticed. Donald spoke about Robinson’s growth after practice Thursday, saying he had his best day of practice yet against the Raiders.

“A’Shawn had a good day,” Donald said. “I watched A’Shawn today, he looked strong, he looked explosive today. He was stout on his double teams. He had some good rushes today. That’s a guy that has been improving a lot in this camp and in my opinion, from what I’ve seen, this is probably one of his best days he put on film. He did some real good things. That’s what you want in camp, that’s what you expect from guys. We just got to keep working.”

Donald didn’t practice, so he was able to watch what went down on the field, specifically on defense. So for him to say Robinson stood out and did well against double teams is a good sign for the Rams as they approach the regular season.

We know Donald and Sebastian Joseph-Day are going to be key starters, but if Robinson can step up next to them, the defensive line could actually improve over last season.

[vertical-gallery id=651129]

A leaner, more explosive A’Shawn Robinson is exactly what the Rams need at DE

A’Shawn Robinson is down to 308 pounds, feeling faster and more explosive than ever before.

Michael Brockers was never much of a pass rusher. The Rams didn’t value him for that aspect of his game. Where he did excel was stopping the run, especially when the Rams switched to a 3-4 front and moved him to defensive end.

He was a valuable part of the defense, but Los Angeles clearly felt it had a better and younger option waiting in the wings with A’Shawn Robinson. Last year was almost a lost season for the former Lions defender, beginning the year on the non-football injury list and only playing 111 total snaps in the eight games that he did play.

He’s come back this year a completely different player, however. He’s slimmed down to 308 pounds after being listed at 330, feeling more agile, explosive and lighter. For the Rams, that’s exactly what they needed at defensive end – a more dynamic athlete capable of having a greater impact in the passing game.

Body-wise, me personally, I feel different. I feel light. I feel a little bit faster, feel a little bit more explosive, feel like I don’t have anything dragging or carrying me down. So it’s just like, everything look more fluent and not as choppy when you’re a little bit heavier.”

Robinson has never been a big sack guy in the NFL, recording just five in four and a half seasons. But he was primarily playing defensive tackle with the Lions in a 4-3 front and his main responsibility was stopping the run. As a 5-technique in the Rams’ scheme, Robinson will have more chances to rush the passer, and with his added explosiveness and speed, that should translate to an uptick in sacks.

If he’s able to play all three downs consistently, it’ll help the Rams tremendously because they no longer have Morgan Fox to come in on third down. So the better he can be from first to third, the better the Rams will be as a defense.

“Just doing everything I need to at a high rate,” he said of what he hopes to accomplish this season. “Just be as consistent as I can and for me, I know those guys will be consistent, so I’ve got to make sure I’m doing my job the best I can, being as consistent as possible and having nothing else to worry about. Just keep my eye on the prize and strive for greatness with those guys.”

Aaron Donald and Sebastian Joseph-Day should be their usual selves this season. If Robinson can take his game up a notch, this defensive line won’t miss a beat.

[listicle id=649791]

A’Shawn Robinson has blunt response to Matt Patricia’s firing

Robinson doesn’t seem sad to see Patricia let go in Detroit.

The Detroit Lions began cleaning house on Saturday, firing coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn. With the Lions struggling mightily under Patricia’s guidance, it was a move that many expected.

After learning of the news, Rams defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, who spent four years with the Lions, reacted to Patricia’s firing. And needless to say, he wasn’t sad to see Detroit move on from Patricia.

He sent two tweets, both of which were blunt and with a clear message. Here’s the first, which was in response to former Lions cornerback Darius Slay’s reaction to the news.

And here’s the second, indicating that Patricia said he’d take Robinson’s career away in Detroit.

Robinson wasn’t the only former Lions player to react this way, either. Ezekiel Ansah also shared this cryptic tweet after the news broke.

Robinson found a new home with the Rams as a free agent this year, and he seems happy to be in L.A. under the guidance of Sean McVay and Brandon Staley.