LA Rams fans find lots to love about free agents Floyd and Robinson

DL A’Shawn Robinson

The Rams lost an outstanding run defender when DL Michael Brockers signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Brockers is a 29-year-old 6-foot-5 305-pound defensive lineman who can hold his ground and defend the run very well.  In his place, the LA Rams signed former Detroit Lions defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson.  Robinson is a 25-year-old 6-foot-4 330-pound defensive lineman who can hold his ground and defend the run very well.

In short, the Rams got bigger, stronger, younger, and cheaper at the defensive line. Placing Robinson among the DL rotations with Donald, Sebastian Joseph-Day, and Greg Gaines, the Rams now have a younger defensive front.

The direct comparisons over Brockers’ last four years and Robinson’s first four years reveal some interesting facts: (all stats from Pro-Football-Reference.com)

Def Snaps
2016:  B – 419  R- 408
2017:  B – 728  R – 735
2018:  B – 680  R – 415
2019:  B – 766  R – 527
Tackles
2016:  B –  19   R-  30
2017:  B –  55  R –   53
2018:  B –   54  R –  49
2019:  B –   63  R –   40
TFL                                          Sacks                                      QB Hits
2016:  B –   1  R-  6            2016:  B –  0.0   R-  2.0       2016:  B –  5   R-  2
2017:  B –   8  R –  4           2017:  B –  4.5  R –  0.5       2017:  B –  8  R –   6
2018:  B –   4  R –  3           2018:  B –  1.0  R –  1.0       2018:  B –   4  R –  4
2019:  B –   3  R –  3           2019:  B –  3.0  R –  1.5       2019:  B –   9  R –   2

The initial comparison is to conclude that Brockers was more productive. But Brockers played 2,700 defensive snaps, to just 2,100 for Robinson.