‘What I like.’ Why Dolphins’ new scheme could bring best out of Chop Robinson
It’s a big season for Chop Robinson.
Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley knows it. General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan knows it. And the 23-year-old himself certainly knows it.
Luckily, Robinson believes Hafley’s scheme lends itself to his ability.
“It’s different compared to last year because I’m not dropping into coverage and stuff like that,” Robinson said Wednesday afternoon. “Now, it’s just kind of set the edge and get the quarterback so that’s kind of what I like. It’s not a lot of thinking so you just go out there and play.”
After a middling first two seasons in the NFL, Robinson enters a pivotal point in his career. The former Penn State standout has accumulated just 10 sacks in his brief NFL career, a number that hopefully the presence of edge rushers such as Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips has significantly impacted.
Now, with no one standing in his way as well as the affirmation of a new regime, Robinson believes his time has come. And with the Dolphins’ lack of established edge rushers, it will be up to him to set the tone.
“He can benefit a lot” from the scheme, defensive coordinator Sean Duggan said of Robinson. “I think from your stance to where your eyes are to your hand placement, just a lot goes into that. Whether it’s setting the edge on early downs, having a great get-off on third down; it starts with a stance, and then you build it from there with eyes and hand placement, where do my feet need to go?”
Added Sullivan: “Chop is in a great position because he’s going to be the elder statesmen and in a position of leadership. My expectations for him are to work his ass off, continue to improve and be a leader in that locker room.”
Robinson arrived in Miami a first-round in the 2024 NFL Draft. With Chubb and Phillips still on the mend from gruesome injuries the year prior, the then-rookie was thought to be the heir apparent.
Unfortunately that didn’t immediately happen. While Robinson showed promise, particularly in the last seven games of the season when he racked up five of his six total sacks, it didn’t necessarily come together in year two.
Not only did Robinson register less sacks in his second season (four) than in his first, his percentage of defensive snaps decreased from 53.1% to 44.2%. There does, however, remain one positive: in the final six games of the season, Robinson snagged three sacks.
“Chop has had some success,” Hafley said. “If you build a pass rush tape of Chop, he does things that you’re like, ‘I can’t wait to get my hands on this guy.’
“He certainly has that,” Sullivan said. “His first few steps, his get-off, he can roll. Now it’s our job to coach him up and develop him and help him get better.”
Robinson, however, isn’t focused on what he was able to do in years past. In fact, Hafley already told him to throw his first couple of seasons out the window.
“Put everything that happened before, behind us, and just focus on now, and just one step forward, one foot behind the other,” Robinson said of his early conversations with Hafley.
While questions about his ability to set the edge still remain, there’s hope that his change in position coach to Austin Clark, who is often credited with the development of Zach Sieler, could help.
“You guys know I feel about Clark from Day 1,” Sieler said. “I attest a lot of my success and all that to him and what he’s done. I think to see him work with these edge guys, Chop Robinson in particular because he’s got a little more time with him this year and last year had that rapport with him, to see them grow and us play as one unit… is exciting.”
