“‘It Feels Amazing’: Rookie Edge Rusher Chop Robinson Heating Up at the Perfect Time”

Chop Robinson didn’t necessarily have the best start to his rookie year. While the quarterback pressures were certainly there, Robinson recorded zero sacks through the Dolphins’ first seven games. The success of other rookie edge rushers like Jared Verse and Laiatu Latu only made matters worse. Something, however, recently clicked and after arguably the best game of his young career against the New England Patriots, it’s safe to say Robinson is on fire. “It feels amazing,” Robinson said Sunday after finishing with one-and-a-half sacks, four combined tackles and two pass deflections in the Dolphins’ 34-15 victory over the Patriots. He also had an eye-popping 10 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. “Just taking everything from the film room to practice, from practice to on the field. It’s showing now. It’s showing me learning from [Bradley] Chubb, [Jaelan Phillips], me doing extra work with my coach and everything and just taking from the guys who know the game so much and just executing it.” Over the last three weeks, Robinson has looked like one of the best edge rushers in the league. That’s because he has been, according to PFF, which ranked him first in pass-rush grade, total pressures and win percentage during that three week span. His recent hot streak has produced 22 pressures and 3.5 sacks as well as upped his pass rush grade to 79.7. Not only does that grade rank 16th among all edge rushers, it’s ahead of Pro Bowlers like Za’Darius Smith, Maxx Crosby and Joey Bosa. Miami Dolphins linebacker Chop Robinson (44) reacts after a play in the first half of their NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday, November 24, 2024. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ [email protected] “I think he has really taken his place and proven his name in the league,” defensive tackle Zach Sieler said Sunday. “He’s one of the best I’ve seen at listening to guys – [Emmanuel] Ogbah, Calais [Campbell], me, whoever it is – and just taking all the information and putting it to work. To see that come together today was just really cool.” As both Robinson and Sieler alluded to, mentorship has been instrumental in the rookie’s development. While Chubb and Phillips have been in Robinson’s ear since day one, other players on both sides of the ball have begun to help. On Thursdays, he works with Pro Bowl right tackle Terron Armstead who provides insight to how offensive linemen will try to limit him. “You do this and I’m doing that,” Armstead said in early November. “It could help a little, it could help a lot, maybe not at all. But it doesn’t hurt.” Then there’s his work with Calais Campbell. With 109.5 career sacks, Campbell knows a little something about how to pressure quarterbacks. Keep in mind: the 17-year veteran played most of his career on the edge before he transitioned to defensive tackle. “He’s just been getting better and better and I feel like the last couple weeks, you’ve seen the dam open and he’s been making play after play after play,” Campbell said Sunday. Campbell’s instruction included more than just pass rushing moves; he also provided wisdom that Robinson has clearly internalized considering he didn’t record his first sack until Week 9. Added Campbell: “I tell him all the time, ‘Just beat your guy. If the quarterback got ball, cool but if he don’t, he don’t. You still beat your guy. The quarterback will decide whether you get the sack or not. Don’t chase sacks. Just win.’ He’s been doing that and now the sacks are starting to come.” Even Sieler has chipped in. “Ask him where he got it from,” Sieler quipped, referring to the Robinson’s pass break up. “I got it from Zach, the PBU, I got it from Zach,” Robinson said with a smirk. “He always puts his hands up. Him and Calais are just always getting pass breakups somehow. I just turned around, put my hand up and somehow the ball hit me in my hand.” As the Dolphins prepare to face the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, Robinson will once again be asked to produce. Packers quarterback Jordan Love can kill defenses not just with his arm but his legs as well. And while the Dolphins defense has struggled against mobile quarterbacks, Robinson’s ascension couldn’t have come at a better time. “It’s been very timely, I’ll tell you that,” coach Mike McDaniel said of Robinson’s growth, later adding that “the NFL season is brutal for rookies. So to see him come on and continue to have a bigger effect on NFL games, during the period of time where every other football season he’s ever played in his life is ending, it speaks to who he is.”