People always think a signing happens in the NFL because a player is good. That’s all the reason they need, right? No. Football isn’t like that. It’s a game of systems and systems needs specifics types of pieces to run correctly. It’s no different for new head coach Matt Nagy. He has a particular system he wishes to employ with the Chicago Bears. He feels that Allen Robinson is the perfect guy to give him what he needs.
One of the biggest misconceptions about Robinson is that he’s like a classic big-bodied receiver. His game is built around his size, strength and winning those 50/50 situations like a Brandon Marshall or Alshon Jeffery. Nope. That’s not his game at all. Robinson showcased himself to be a proficient route runner in Jacksonville. One of the most underappreciated parts was his ability to strike for the deep play.
ESPN Fantasy uncovered a rather shocking stat in accordance with this.
53 days left.
Despite catching just one past last season, @AllenRobinson stills ranks 9th in the NFL with 53 deep receptions since 2015. #NFLCountdown pic.twitter.com/zAZzdTXVPw
— ESPN Fantasy Sports (@ESPNFantasy) July 15, 2018
Understand that the timeline covers three full seasons. That’s 48 total games. Robinson only played in 33 of them and still managed to place himself in the top 10 for most deep receptions. That’s insane and a perfect encapsulation of how good he can be. It also reflects how well he fits in the new offense.
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One thing that stood out with Nagy in Kansas City was he loved to strike for the big plays. In 2017, the Chiefs ranked second in the NFL with 39 big plays, or plays that went for 25 yards or more. Only the Patriots had more with 41. Alex Smith set a career high for passing yards and yards per game. He’d been known throughout his career as someone who couldn’t attack defenses over the top.
With help from Tyreek Hill and others, Nagy made it possible. Now with Robinson and Taylor Gabriel in tow, he could be ready to do the same for Mitch Trubisky.
