“He’s made some mistakes,” coach Jonathan Gannon said, “but he’s not struggling with the playbook.”
Robinson may be a first-round pick, but the Cardinals have upgraded all around him to lessen the pressure he may feel in his first season. Jones and Bilal Nichols were added as free agents, Roy Lopez is in his first full season with the Cardinals, Dante Stills flashed as a rookie and the Cards have other vets in a much-improved room.
The rotation defensive coordinator Nick Rallis employs also means Robinson needs to contribute, not necessarily star – at least not yet.
“Him being so explosive and knowing so much about the game, he’s going to be a problem for a lot of teams,” Jones said.
Robinson is so deep into his prep phase that with five weeks off looming after next week’s mandatory minicamp – basically the first extended time off Robinson or any of the rookies have had since training camp started for their final college season – he’s planning on going right back to Missouri.
There he’ll probably continue to work out at his former school. His biggest fear now, he said, was coming back to training camp not in shape or prepared to play.
Not that Robinson’s spot is in question. Stille, himself battling for a roster spot, certainly understands that when he reaches out to help.
“It’s part of being a good teammate,” Stille said. “Darius specifically, there’s no secret that he’s made the team. From that aspect, it’s not a thing with him.”
So Stille will make his calls. And Robinson will be there to answer. It’s how he’ll become the player he wants to be.
“My favorite quote is, ‘How do you get wisdom when you talk and never listen,'” Robinson said. “That’s what I am doing right now is just listening.”
