Steelers may have already solved one of their hardest puzzles
Despite what many believe to be an upgrade at the inside linebacker position with the recent additions of Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts, questions remain. The main one is; Will the group be able to hold up against modern passing offenses? What if I told you that answer has been on the roster all along? […]
Despite what many believe to be an upgrade at the inside linebacker position with the recent additions of Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts, questions remain.
The main one is; Will the group be able to hold up against modern passing offenses?
What if I told you that answer has been on the roster all along?
The Steelers selected Mark Robinson in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. And while the rookie didn't do much during his regular season campaign as a rookie, he was the talk of the town in last year's preseason:
Now fully integrated in year two, Robinson is ready to take on a bigger role, providing energy and intensity as a spark plug in the heart of the defense. The former Ole Miss Rebel ran in the 4.6's in his pre-draft process, showing that while his coverage technique needed development, the skillset is all there.
What's also all there is Robinson's mindset. The former day-three pick knows he has to battle for every rep and show he can in fact be the answer to the coverage questions plaguing the linebacking corps:
"Whatever play we get, whatever rep we get, whenever we are in there, we are all in there. That is the mindset," Robinson told reporters at OTA's this week. “This is a dream worth living,” Robinson said. “Everything you imagine, everything you dream, it’s there. It’s exactly how I thought it was going to be and more. It’s there.”
Robinson isn't taking the opportunity for granted. But as we know, actions speak louder than words and Robinsons' frenetic pace and demeanor have been jumping off the screen at OTA's:
“Any time we get a chance individually, everyone that comes in this locker room knows any time you get a rep on that grass, it’s all gold. I treat it as such, and I plan on continuing to do so,” Robinson said.
The way the roster shakes out is still up in the air, and with the addition of Keanu Neal in free agency, both the Steelers and Neal may feel comfortable using the hybrid defender as their primary coverage backer.
But the departure of Terrell Edmunds created a void at the strong safety position, the one that Neal is best equipped for. And despite some recent visits, the Steelers have yet to sign another inside linebacker. So things are looking up for Robinson and maybe the Steelers have realized the solution to their problem has been there this whole time.
Featured image via: © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
