Draft Profiles: Day 2 Defensive End Prospects
Taking a look at a few DE prospects that could be on the board for the Commanders in the second round.
While the Washington Commanders made a strong effort in free agency to add some defensive ends, the position is definitely not one we should consider set in stone. Dorance Armstrong is a nice addition and fellow free agent signings Clelin Ferrell and Dante Fowler Jr. will certainly have important roles on this defense. But Dan Quinn likes a strong rotation of versatile edge rushers that he can rotate in and out or throw them all on the field in obvious passing situations to try and create the best matchups. With that in mind, it’s likely that the Commanders could be looking to draft a defensive end with one of its two second round picks. So who are some options that could interest them in that second round range? Let’s take a closer look.
Chop Robinson
Robinson is someone that could easily be drafted in the first round. He’s an athletic freak and pass rushers with his athletic ability aren’t easy to find, so he might not be around when the Commanders pick in the second round. However, Washington has reportedly had Robinson in for a top 30 visit, so they clearly believe he could be at least a somewhat realistic option for them.
When watching Robinson, you can’t help but see the explosiveness in his game. Robinson tested extremely well at the combine, measuring in at 6-foot-3, 254 pounds and ran a 4.48 40-yard dash. His 1.54 10-yard split shows just how quick he is off the line and that translates directly to the field.
Here are two examples of that burst off the snap from Robinson’s game against Michigan this season. The first play of the clip came on the second play of the game, with Robinson aligning wide outside the right tackle and getting a great jump off the snap. The right tackle attempts to use conventional technique to slide out and cut off Robinson, but he quickly has to abandon that technique to desperately try to catch up to him. Robinson bursts past him in a flash, using a quick side swipe with both hands to clear the hands of the tackle before turning the corner and closing quickly on the quarterback for a big hit. The second play of the clip is almost a perfect replay of the first, but from a slightly different angle. This time Robinson aligns a bit tighter to the right tackle, so has to burst more directly up the field. Despite that, he zips past the tackle and shows good bend and dip to turn the corner and close on the quarterback. Unfortunately he couldn’t quite close quickly enough on the quarterback to get the sack, but he did force him to hurry a throw that ends up incomplete.
That explosiveness is rare and incredibly valuable, which makes me think Robinson will probably be drafted in the first round. Naturally with that level of burst and explosiveness, that’s what Robinson’s game is based on. Penn State borrowed the Micah Parsons role from Dan Quinn’s Cowboys defense and moved Robinson around to create matchups, but wherever he lined up, he was explosive and a huge threat.
On this play we see Robinson lined up in the B gap between the left guard and left tackle, with two defenders outside of him. Those two defenders both bail out into coverage and Robinson has to loop to the edge as the contain man on that side of the field. Typically a defender looping to the edge would just look to get outside, play contain and not offer a great deal of pass rush here, as the left tackle has such a leverage advantage, but Robinson’s explosiveness makes that leverage advantage look like nothing. Robinson widens at the snap and uses a rip move to try and break through the block of the left tackle.
Robinson’s speed allows him to get to the edge and dip under the block of the left tackle. The left guard then slides across to try and help out his teammate, but Robinson is able to get low and dip under his block too. He doesn’t quite get to the quarterback, but his pressure is certainly felt as the quarterback hurries to get the ball out and misses his throw.
The quickness and ability to line up all over are the real key traits of Robinson’s game. He has been criticized for not having a lot of polish to his game and that has led to a lack of production for a man of his raw natural talent. He managed just 4 sacks and 12 tackles in his final season in college, which does raise some questions of if he’s all flash and no end product. But when you watch him, you’ll see that despite the lack of box score states, he’s hugely disruptive and his potential is sky high.
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