The Washington Commanders (4-9) have gone through a lot this season, and while a lot of it has been bad or produced negative results, there's been at least one example of solid growth as running back Brian Robinson Jr. has become a player the team can game plan around on a weekly basis.
Commanders running backs coach Randy Jordan has had a front-row seat and hand in Robinson's development the last two years and is particularly impressed with how he's been able to break down the barriers of who everyone thought he'd be entering the league.
"The ability to catch the ball, the ability to run routes - one of the things I challenged him on was being a complete player (on) first, second, and third down," Jordan said. "Not only catching the ball (and) running the ball, but being able to protect. And he's really grown in that aspect. That was something you really didn't see a lot of when he was at Alabama."
While Robinson has grown into a three-down back with the ability to run, catch, and protect his quarterback, he's become a player the team can now rely on to help develop Sam Howell as well.
"This West Coast offense has always been running back friendly in terms of being able to get you targets and get you catches," Jordan said. "The biggest thing is knowing when to get out, being able to be a reliable outlet for the quarterback...just being where you need to be in the offense so a guy like Sam understands [that he has] his security blanket."
That security blanket ability can be a lifesaver for quarterbacks, especially young ones who are under duress as much as Howell has been this season.
As the year has progressed and Robinson has proven himself a reliable ball carrier and receiver, his ability to help give Howell that extra half-second or become an outlet receiver is something that doesn't always get recorded in the stat book but is invaluable to his, his quarterback's, and even his play-callers growth in teh season.
“I think it's impacted my growth process a lot," Bieniemy said of Robinson's evolution within the offense. "But also too, I think we've helped one another. People like to put people in certain categories, he's a running back, he just runs the ball now....(But) he's become a guy that Sam can count on. He's made tremendous plays, not only in the pass game as a receiver, he's made some huge plays in the run game, but also too, he's done a heck of a job of stepping up in the pocket and knocking the hell out of some blitzing backers. So, I love the growth that he has shown, but also too, he's helped me to grow because there's certain things that I know that I got to do a better job of highlighting of him and just showing his strengths more.”
Robinson's growth this season may have to wait another week unfortunately as he battles back from a hamstring injury that has cost him all or part of every practice this week.
Considered a power back with limited receiving ability coming out of Alabama, however, he's already done more than enough to prove he's more than advertised.
Together he and Howell, and perhaps his coaches, could be the next wave of talent Washington secures to create more winning football in the near future.
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