Mark Robinson and the ILB Room

I liked the draft a lot, but people should probably temper expectations. A 3 down inside linebacker is still a huge need. It would have been nice if they could have drafted one, but that guy wasn’t in this draft. As for Robinson he played decently in one game with a very specific assignment. The next week he wasn’t anywhere near as effective. Will a second year jump turn him into the 3 down linebacker we need? Extremely unlikely

 

The jury is still out, but for those posting the team has doubts or has given up on him are just nuts. When they drafted him they knew he was a project, only one year in that position in college. I still expect mistakes, but it was evident is t his small window he has the ability to do the job..and possibly do it well.

 

They do differentiate the roles of the two inside linebackers. Robinson is more of a fit for the Buck role, the thumper who is more of a two-down guy. He is mostly there to stop the run. He will likely drop into a zone or rush the quarterback on passing downs. It is the role Vince Williams played for years. That is also where they will play Roberts.

The Mack is the more athletic linebacker, the one who is going to drop into coverage and stay on the field in passing situations. I don't think Robinson can be that guy. That will be Holcomb's job, though we might also see Muse there in obvious passing situations. They still need a long-term option at Mack, but Holcomb can at least be serviceable.

 

There is no doubt that its a big glaring weakness of the D is probably the ILB spot, but its been that way since Shazier went down and out and hasn't been any world beater there since.

I like Holcomb, but I see Holcomb as really being a little a slightly better Spillane, I don't think we got a Pro-Bowl level caliber ILB
Eladon Roberts seems like a coverage lability but might be ok in rotation and good in between tackles ILB at best

So a lot hinges at the Spot on Mr. Robinson.

But you never know one would hope that Robinson improves and its him and Holcomb in the middle.

But won't shock me that a 24 high draft pick is used on ILB

 

i think many are underestimating holcomb, if he is indeed back from the foot injury. crowder and muse as well. i see robinson, at least this year similar to roberts. in the same role. thumper/blitzer. passing downs if we can substitute, i could see neal and muse in that role. especially if they play a lot of that 3 safety look. neal has been used in that role the last few years and muse can also play that role. i believe muse can also do some blitzing. he did it pretty well in college and the steelers scouted him pretty heavy then. they know what he is capable of. again if healthy like holcomb. both had foot surgery. holcomb last year, muse the year before. i am looking for some changes also from our new coach. i hope we get away from the staleness of olsavsky.

 

I doubt Crowder even makes the team. I think the hope is that Holcomb can be an every-down linebacker. Maybe they could play some 4-2-5 on passing downs with Watt and Highsmith on the edge and Holcomb lining up with either Neal or Muse and Kazee back at safety with Fitzpatrick.

I agree that Roberts and Robinson will play a similar role, with Muse being the backup behind Holcomb.

 

we shall see. crowder has 37 starts in the league. not bad in pass defense either. depends how many they keep but that not a bad room full of players right now. i don't think it's as big of need as many do. muse definitely could become a chess piece. i think we will use him a lot more than the other teams that had him will.

 

I don't think they have any long-term answers there. They certainly don't have a Shazier or a Farrior. The group they have can be solid, which would certainly be a step up from the last few seasons. Crowder starting all those games just shows how bad the Giants' linebackers have been.

 

well any linebacker that can defend 6 passes, had 2 interceptions, a forced fumble and 130 tackles in one season is doing pretty good. i wouldn't say that is a bad season and better than many here that's for sure.

 

To me Mark Robinson will be about as useful as Vince Williams was in dropping back into Coverage.

I expect the Steelers to use a lot of Neal as an ILB/SS on Passing downs with Kazee and Minka playing Safety. (3 Safety Package)

 

The team that credited him with those tackles clearly disagrees, and they have been hurting at linebacker for years. He only became a starter in 2021 because Blake Martinez tore his ACL, but he missed tackles at a high rate. That eventually led to him losing playing time in 2022. He publicly complained about them reducing his playing time, so they cut him. Clearly, the Giants were not impressed, but hey, don't let me ruin your scrap pile crush for you.

 

I hope to see Robinson take a large step
Into his lb career. Hopefully he is smart enough
To be able to understand coverages and play instinctively.
He is not afraid too hit.

 

Sadly Troy... got some bad news for you.


As of current, only Jeremiah Trotter Jr. would be worthy of a 1st Round Selection... and for me, he is currently a Top 20 selection. Height be damned; he is the perfect Modern NFL Off Ball Linebacker. Size is his issue but everything else is there for him to work with. Too early to finalize a full scouting report for him but my comp thus far is RoQuan Smith when he came out of Georgia back in the 2018 NFL Draft.


Tommy Eichenberg though from Ohio State though is someone I am intrigued by heading into the 2023 NCAA FBS I Season though.

 

We need a Lawrence Timmons

 

Regarding the ILB as a whole currently, I share the opinion of @mac daddyo though a bit more cautiously optimistic. The foot injury is concerning but thankfully, it is not of the same caliber as a torn ACL. However, that is still something to monitor overall. Elandon Roberts is a bit of a wild card for me; covers well and can fill the hole but not truly special in any meaningful way. Tanner Muse is Special Teams for the time being but he can be more than that should either Roberts or Holcomb go down.


Still wouldn't mind adding a ILB via the waiver wire though it is to be determined who is available. Right now, we need EDGE, OT and Slot CB depth still; all in that order.

 

Mike Jones who played for the Raiders, Rams, and later Steelers was a college running back that converted to LB in the NFL. He made the game saving tackle for the Rams in Super Bowl 34. I am not saying Robinson will be Mike Jones, but give Robinson time to develop and let's see what happens.

 

as i said before a total coaching change went on. wink martindale came in as DC. crowder and roche had their playing time cut. he missed 8 tackles in 1,098 defensive snaps and another 59 special teams snaps. alabama, and the steelers must be crazy for even thinking about such a scrap heap type player. say what you want and attack me but that was a good season for any LB especially a second year player coming in as the last player picked in the draft. i think you are wrong about him only playing because martinez got hurt according to this.

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=451c...Glvbi1yZXZpZXctaW5zaWRlLWxpbmViYWNrZXJz&ntb=1

he's a good player to have as depth with starting experience. we haven't had a LB have 130 tackles and 6 passes defended and 2 interceptions in a long time.

 

I have no idea where you got that missed tackle statistic, but it is not what I read. The guy was among the league leaders in missed tackles. Also, counting missed tackles against snaps instead of tackles is misleading. I'm relaying what I've been told by Giants fans and what I read regarding his playing time in place of Martinez. Remember, I've been surrounded by Giants fans for years. The guy was available on the scrap heap for a reason.

 

in all 3 years combined with the Giants he missed 21 tackles out of 2239 snaps. sure it could be better but that isn't a crazy amount for that many snaps. i just think he will be good depth to have around. he's not a guy that's going to make rookie mistakes. i could see the steelers keep 5 inside guys and 5 outside guys. they kept ulysses grant and marcus allen around for several years with much less production than that. heck bush, jack or spillane never had that kind of production. this guy was a mr. irrelevant. turned out pretty good. you usually don't have a good career at alabama and are considered a scrap heap player. just sayin.

 

Lots of little improvements can add up to a lot of improvement

 

That statistic is not accurate, at least not compared to what I read. He was benched for poor play in his final season with the Giants.

You can dress it up all you like, that's exactly what he is -- a scrap heap player.

 

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=ac8c...jZS5jb20vcGxheWVycy9DL0Nyb3dUYTAwLmh0bQ&ntb=1