A’Shawn Robinson doesn’t need a lot of time to make his presence felt. He has the kind of stare that already looks like it’s in the middle of a fight, and on Sundays he tends to back it up. For the Buccaneers, that edge has become part of the identity of a defense trying to steady itself.
That’s exactly how co-defensive coordinator Larry Foote sees him.
“Well, he’s a beast,” Foote said. “I know it doesn’t get talked about enough, but those D-tackles are in there mixing it up.
I know a couple weeks ago we had a fourth-and-1 stop backed up. Just the leadership he’s bringing to this building, he’s an animal.
He’s mean.”
Robinson has fit right into a front that has helped Tampa Bay build the league’s No. 2-ranked run defense, working next to Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. Through three games, he has become one of the clearest reasons the Bucs still believe their defense can carry them out of a three-game losing streak, starting Sunday against the Packers.
In last Sunday’s 23-16 loss to the Vikings, Robinson nearly delivered the kind of swing play that can flip a game on its head. With Tampa Bay trailing 17-10 in the third quarter, a pass from Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray was deflected by Vea, bounced off Robinson’s helmet and landed in his hands for his second career interception.
“We had a game (stunt) called. I knew we needed to collapse the pocket,” Robinson said.
“Once we had collapsed the pocket, it hit me in the head and I’ve just got to find it. It popped up in front of me and I was like, I want it.
I need it. I love it.
You got to go get it. I know it’s going to go to the ground, because you got a big head.
I got to get it.”
Robinson sprinted toward the end zone for what looked like a touchdown, but he was ruled down by contact. Tampa Bay still took over at the Minnesota 22-yard line, yet the offense couldn’t turn the break into enough points. On third-and-7, Baker Mayfield was sacked for a 1-yard loss, and Chase McLaughlin ended up kicking a 38-yard field goal.
At 31, Robinson has the kind of résumé the Bucs wanted when they brought him in. He has played for the Lions, Rams, Giants and Panthers, and he won a Super Bowl with Los Angeles after the 2021 season. Carolina had decided to move on rather than pay his $8.5 million salary, and once he hit free agency, Tampa Bay bumped him up to $10 million on a one-year deal.
The payoff has shown up quickly. Robinson’s 13 tackles are tied for sixth on the team and more than double Vea’s total of six.
Pro Football Focus has him as the Bucs’ highest-rated defender, with an 85.5 overall grade and an 83.8 run-defense grade. Among defensive tackles, he ranks fourth in the league.
The numbers fit what Tampa Bay sees every day.
“We’ve got to put ourselves in the position to be good day in and day out,” Robinson said. “That’s really all it is. I don’t think we’re so far behind on defense, but we’ve got to be better.”
He’s also not interested in easing up on the standard, even with Green Bay next on the schedule. The Packers have had trouble running the ball, will be missing two starting offensive linemen and rank last in the NFL on third down at 28% conversions.
“That’s great, but we’ve got to do more,” Robinson said. “We’ve got to hold them to none. That’s the standard, that’s what we want.”
Robinson said the goal inside the building is bigger than one game.
“We’ve got room to grow,” he said. “We’re not the best all the way around in sacks and everything, but they’re going to come.
They’ll come. We’ve got to keep stacking days and keep getting better and keep holding each other accountable.”
Foote knows the look can fool people. Robinson, though, has the production to match the glare.
“Sometimes, scary-looking dudes, they’re not that tough,” Foote said. ”But he’s scary-looking, and he’s tough.
I’m glad we got him. Just the leadership that he brings to this building helps out, big-time.”
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