Dominique Robinson shouldn’t be this way. Fifth round picks contributing right away isn’t unusual in the NFL, but it should be for him. Remember, the young defensive end wasn’t a defensive end in 2019. He was a wide receiver. Yes, really. Towards the end of that season at Miami of Ohio, he realized he would never reach the NFL playing that position. So he took the unusual route of asking coaches if he could switch positions going into his junior year.
Robinson wanted to give defense a try. This is where the story gets somewhat outlandish as if you’re reading the classic tales of John Henry or Pecos Bill. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, his coaches felt the defensive end was an excellent spot to start, given his size, length, and athleticism. There was zero familiarity, but Robinson was willing to go all in. It didn’t take long for people to realize that this guy was a different breed.
“First snap, he beat the tackle and I was like, ‘Wow! That was pretty good,’ ” Martin said. “Just natural, stacked him, put his hands on him. We knew that first day.”
“Any time you move an offensive guy, especially a skill guy to defense, the No. 1 thing is their willingness to hit people, be physical,” said defensive line coach E.J. Whitlow, who moved to Air Force this season. “Especially when you are talking wide receiver to D-line. When Dom got out there, the speed and bend, turn the corner and cause a problem, that was natural for him. But his willingness to put his face in there in the run game and be physical on contact, it was like, ‘Hey, we might have something.’ ”
The legend of Dominique Robinson is already growing.
That became true after the opener against San Francisco, where he collected 1.5 sacks. He did so by beating both Mike McGlinchey (a former 1st round pick) and Trent Williams (an All-Pro). Again, he didn’t start playing defense until two years ago. Going from that to beating proven NFL veterans in such a short time is unheard of. It makes one ask the obvious question. How much better could he become with more experience and refined technique?
Bears coaches are dying to find out. He already surpassed Trevis Gipson for more snaps in a game. Gipson had seven sacks last year. That is how confident the staff is in this rookie. Dominique Robinson is only scratching the surface of what he can do. Chicago does have a legacy of unearthing great pass rushers from unexpected places. Richard Dent was famously an 8th round pick in 1983. Robinson has a long way to go before he enters that conversation, but there is no doubt inside Halas Hall about his potential.
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For what it’s worth, Dent himself has commented that he DIDN’T have anywhere near the tools Robinson has when he entered the NFL.
Dent is watching the kid just like EVERY other fan — with a little more insight for playing the position, of course.
Having watched literally every down Dent played as a Bear, I can say — So far, anyway — that Dent had NOWHERE near the expressiveness we see in Robinson, and was known to take plays off.
Robinson, as we’ve seen, is 110% EVERY Play! BIG Difference!
Multiple edge rushers have said Trent Williams is the best tackle they’ve gone up against