ExtremeRavens Posted Thursday at 11:00 AM Posted Thursday at 11:00 AM There is a firm belief within the Ravens’ pass rush room that Tavius Robinson is tracking toward a breakout year. He sits in the front row of every meeting room. He’s never missed a practice or a lifting session. And he’s never missed a meal, John Harbaugh said, only half-jokingly. Even team owner Steve Bisciotti made a comment to the Ravens coach about No. 95 during Wednesday’s voluntary practice at organized team activities. When Robinson’s out there, Harbaugh said, “he plays full throttle.” He passed the baton to his pass rush coach, Chuck Smith, who heaped even more praise on the burly outside linebacker entering his third season in Baltimore. “Listen,” Smith said, as if he wanted to be sure anyone within earshot caught his next words. “Tavius Robinson doesn’t get enough credit because Tavius Robinson is one of our centerpieces.” Robinson was drafted 124th overall in 2023 out of Mississippi by way of Ontario, Canada. The 26-year-old hasn’t missed a practice in his career. “I’d be dead wrong to miss out on something,” he said, flashing the smile that never seems to leave his face. It’s been a year-over-year climb. As a rookie, Robinson played 29% of the team’s defensive snaps, buried down the depth chart, siloed from the core pass rush group that led the NFL in sacks with 60: Kyle Van Noy, Jadeveon Clowney and Odafe Oweh. Smith called Robinson a “glass eater” during training camp last summer, implying that he’d be ready for a step forward. “Everybody here will see that,” he said. That manifested into Robinson playing 43% of the defensive snaps, logging 3 1/2 sacks and 12 quarterback hits (fourth most on the team), a leap forward from his one sack and one quarterback hit as a rookie. Smith’s “glass eater” comments were met by some skepticism at the time. But Robinson showed tangible improvement in 2024, even if this past season’s group was paced by a pair of double-digit sackers in Van Noy and Oweh, both of whom are returning. To some extent, Smith thinks it’s merely a matter of reps. If Robinson took 250 pass rush reps per year, he might start flirting with a double-digit sack season himself. Harbaugh said in December that he viewed Robinson as a newly established three-down player. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr felt as if he noticed Robinson playing faster and more aggressively. There were signs that he could lean fully into playing as a pass rusher. “Tavius Robinson, now,” Smith said, “is going to be, I believe, a bona fide pass rusher.” Ravens outside linebacker Tavius Robinson works out at Wednesday's practice. Pass rush coach Chuck Smith said the third-year player "doesn't get enough credit." (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) When it comes to breakout years, Robinson doesn’t have to look far for guidance. Oweh is coming off his own in Year 4. The 2021 first-round pick notched five sacks in two of his first three seasons. He returned stronger and with cleaner technique. That, coupled with an uptick in reps, earned Oweh his first double-digit sack hoodie, a coveted reward from Smith. That’s a lofty mark to predict for Robinson. But it’s reasonable to envision, as Smith is adamantly predicting, more forward progress. “Going into my third year, things are coming smoother,” Robinson said of why this could be his breakout season. “The way I see plays. As the years have gone on, it’s gotten easier. I can see plays better. It’s kind of like taking it to the next level every year. I think this year is gonna be great for sure.” Everyone in the pass rush room has a unique trait or a signature style, Smith said. Robinson’s is his power. His bread and butter is his bull rush move. He’s never had any problems putting hands on people, but one focal point for him last summer was to improve his pull-through technique. He spent this offseason adding rush moves to his repertoire. Robinson wants to explode off the line, try to knock an offensive lineman off balance to disrupt the pocket. His improvements have been rooted in his ability to play off that initial strike. Some of what he’ll be able to contribute is tough to gauge during OTAs. Players don’t wear pads, meaning in scrimmage situations that pass rushers aren’t firing off the line like they normally would. Individual drills can provide a glimpse. Training camp will offer a better analysis of what Robinson’s third season might entail. Still, there’s a clear consensus from those in meeting rooms with Robinson and who see his reps up close that this is the year he might break out. “Make no bones about it,” Smith said, “Tavius Robinson is a centerpiece on our defensive front.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.