Question mark surrounds key man in Washington defense
Fred Jeter | 8/13/2014, 3:40 p.m.
If you were to create a football category called “unfulfilled promise,” Keenan Robinson might be at the top of the list.
While Robinson seems to possess all the physical credentials for NFL stardom, his play in 2012 was cut short and he hardly played in 2013 due to pectoral muscle tears both seasons that required surgery.
Now one of the Washington NFL franchise’s most brittle players, Robinson, is being asked to replace the most unbreakable component, inside linebacker/captain London Fletcher, now retired after 15 smash-mouth seasons.
Fletcher, Washington’s defensive play caller from the 2007 season to the 2013 season, stepped down after 2,046 tackles, 39 sacks and 23 interceptions.
Fletcher likely for Hall of Fame
The indestructible London Fletcher figures to become the fourth Washington linebacker to be enshrined in NFL Hall of Fame — though his selection must wait until he’s been retired at least five years.
If he gets a bust in the hall in Canton, Ohio, as many expect, he would join Chris Hanburger, Dave Robinson and Sam Huff.
Only Hanburger played his entire career in D.C. Robinson played his final two years with Washington after playing 10 seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Huff played his final five seasons in Washington after playing eight seasons for the New York Giants.
During his career, he also set NFL linebacker records for most games played in a row — 256 — and most consecutive starts — 215.
This brings us to Robinson, a sculpted 6-foot-3, 238-pound, fourth-round draft pick out of the University of Texas. Robinson was sidelined for muscle tears in game 12 of his NFL rookie season and after injury in the 2013 training camp in Richmond.
For 2014, it’s so far, so good for No. 52 of the burgundy and gold as training camp wraps up and preseason games begin to loom.
“Keenan is one of the guys who really stands out,” coach Jay Gruden told the Free Press.. “The big thing is keeping him healthy.”
The former Texas Longhorn wowed scouts at the NFL combine in 2012 when he ran the 40 meters in 4.79 seconds, did 27 bench press repetitions at 225 points and vertically leaped 35.5 inches.
“They (coaches) know I can run; they know I can cover,” said Robinson, who was born in Nebraska, but grew up in the Dallas suburb of Plano. “The question is — can I tackle, fight off blocks, after the injuries? I feel great, ready to go. I’ve changed my workouts, concentrating more on flexibility.”
Robinson is being asked to take on the job that Fletcher had.
Fletcher played the “mike” position beside Perry Riley Jr., the other inside backer. The “mike” position is responsible for calling formation and coverage responsibilities while the opposing quarterback is barking signals across the line.
Robinson looks to be the team’s next “mike.” It helps that he took lessons from the master.
“I watched how London approached every practice, every day of work, how to be a professional,” said Robinson. “Learning from him is making a smooth transition for me.”
If all goes as planned, Robinson and Riley will line up inside in defensive coordinator Jim Haslett’s 3-4 scheme.
The team’s outside linebackers are former first-round draftees — Brian Orakpo, who was taken No. 13 in 2009, and Ryan Kerrigan, who was taken No. 16 in 2011.
