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Redshirt OL gets rave reviews from Auburn teammates
By: David Morrison | Dothan Eagle
Published: December 20, 2011 Updated: December 20, 2011 - 11:50 PM
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AUBURN – Auburn’s best offensive lineman could very well be one that hasn’t played a snap yet.
He’s the imposing 6-foot-5, 315-pound figure you see on the sidelines wearing Lee Ziemba’s old No. 73, the one who was rated in the top 10 nationally at both guard and tackle coming out off Thibodaux (La.) High and the one Auburn plucked from the heart of LSU country to hopefully become the cornerstone of its line for years to come.
He’s Greg Robinson. And, to hear his teammates talk about him, he can be scary good.
“That kid is going to be great. He’s still young, but Greg is going to be an awesome player here,” senior tackle A.J. Greene said. “If he just continues to work like he has been, the sky’s the limit for him.”
Robinson’s got the body to play now. He’s got the athletic ability to play now.
The only thing the freshman is lacking is game experience.
But once he gets that…
“The athletic ability he’s capable of, it’s ridiculous,” Greene said. “He’s going to be a great player, and I’m really excited to be able to come back and watch him play.”
Offensive line coach Jeff Grimes made the decision early in the season to send Robinson and Christian Westerman – the Tigers’ other highly touted lineman in the Class of 2011 – down the redshirt track.
Grimes said both young linemen had two ways to take that news: They could pout or they could prosper.
Robinson and Westerman chose the latter.
“Both those guys, having the opportunity to stick with us and kind of learn the routine and be around the guys that are playing, that’ll benefit them a lot,” Grimes said.
The learning curve was especially steep for Robinson starting at about the midway point of the season.
“I think he settled into his role, recognized he wasn’t going to play this year and really started trying to get better,” Grimes said. “I think for a while they go through learning the system, trying to figure out what expectations are, let Coach yell at you and not get your feelings hurt.
“He wants to do well, wants to do right and I think he’s recognized whatever work he does now is setting him for next year.”
It’s already starting to show in bowl practice.
Robinson – playing at left tackle – and Westerman – playing mostly left guard, but also shifting to the right – are combining to make a fairly formidable side of the line for the Tigers.
If you’re a defender and you’ve got Robinson and Westerman – who runs about 6-3, 290 – coming at you, it’s not easy to get out of the way.
“He moves like a tight end and he’s, what, 315?” Westerman said of Robinson. “It’s been fun next to Greg. Pairing on those double teams, it reminds me of high school and driving the kid down the field. Off the field.”
Both seem shoo-ins for the Tigers’ rotation next year.
Both Greene – Auburn’s starting left tackle – and Brandon Mosley – who holds down the right – are graduating, meaning Robinson can slip into Greene’s spot and redshirt freshman Chad Slade can move from right guard to right tackle, where he started the opener against Utah State this year.
That leaves Westerman, junior John Sullen and redshirt freshman Eric Mack as options at the two guard spots.
The Tigers’ line this year took the good – 174.8 rush yards a game – with the bad – 31 sacks allowed on only about 300 dropbacks.
“I think that we have certainly deserved some criticism, yes,” Grimes said. “Honestly, I try to get them to the point where the only criticism they hear is from me, because that’s really all that matters. But they don’t need to be focused on it, and I certainly don’t.”
Westerman and Robinson both feel they’re ready to help remedy that next year.
“Sitting out this year, just learning, each and every day, we’re going out there to practice, we’re hitting, we’re learning, we’re getting better,” Westerman said. “(To start next year is) definitely my mindset and that’s my ultimate goal. I’m going to put everything I have toward it.”
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