LA Rams A’Shawn Robinson played hard in the NFC Championship Game

When the LA Rams pregame analyses start to appear, there are often multiple conversations about the LA Rams pass rush and the team’s robustly talented defensive front. But one name that seldom is mentioned is veteran defensive lineman, A’Shawn Robinson. Well, before we start planning roster saving for the 2022 season, let’s make one thing perfectly clear. Robinson is playing lights out in the playoffs.

It’s almost as though this 6-foot-4, 330-pound behemoth has another gear reserved for postseason play. In the 2021 regular season, Pro Football Focus graded him a solid 72.5.  But in the 2021 postseason? He has jumped to an even more respectable 78.2. In 36 defensive snaps in last year’s playoffs, he racked up six tackles, accounting for 16.7 percent of the defensive plays made on defense when he was on the football field.

Robinson rotational gold

In 75 defensive snaps so far this year, he’s racked up 16 tackles. That comes out to 21.3 percent of the defensive plays made on defense when he is on the football field. These are not scrimmage games or preseason games. These are the NFL Playoffs, and Robinson is a rotational player on that defensive line of scrimmage.

Here is the post-game PFF grades from Rams reporter, J.B. Long. Check out the performance of A’Shawn Robinson in this list.

While he hasn’t been chasing quarterbacks from sideline to sideline, A’Shawn Robinson is incredibly stout against the run. When he gets his vice-grips on the ball carrier, they are going down. So far, that is exactly what he has been doing against any team the Rams have faced so far.

Robinson is a valuable contributor to this defense

Robinson can sometimes disappear in regular season games. But my oh my, does he ever stand out in the playoffs. Last year in the Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers, Robinson appeared to have the best success against that Packers offensive line. He’s done just as much damage at the line of scrimmage this year. He is a significant reason why NFL teams simply have not rushed the football well on the Rams in post-season.

A’Shawn Robinson was a former player for the Detroit Lions. His time there was not exactly filled with warmth and mutual respect. When he arrived to the LA Rams team, he suffered a medical setback which all but shelved his first season for the team. This year, he is healthy, and his role grew organically with the loss of NT Sebastian Joseph Day.

Fans love the gazelles who can chase down quarterbacks for the sack. But it’s just as vital to have someone on the defensive line who can split a double team, grab the running back, and toss him to the ground for no gain. Robinson is that guy. And if you rewatch the game footage of those tackles, you’ll see that he is one scary dude when he is in the zone.