Chop Robinson – April 25, 2024
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Thursday, April 25, 2024
LB Chop Robinson
(I was curious, what was that conversation like? What was that phone call like with General Manager Chris Grier when he told you that you were going to be the No. 21 pick tonight?) – “It was just a quick call about ball, choosing me. He was talking about the defense I’ll be put in and everything like that, and how he was getting to know me more as a person and everything and how he had a really good feel for me. So I’m honestly just blessed and happy to be a Dolphin.”
(How much contact did you have with the Dolphins throughout the pre-draft process?) – “I had a lot of contact. I talked to them at the Combine. I talked with them the day before Pro Day, so we were honestly keeping in touch from the Combine to the Pro Day.”
(There are no questions whatsoever about your athletic ability which you showed off at the Combine, but the sack numbers maybe did not reflect that while you were at Penn State. How would you address that situation and what’s your confidence level that this kind of clicks sooner rather than later?) – “For me, it was just being inconsistent with my hands. I know I had the speed and the bend, but sometimes I forget to use my hands. But that’s something I’ve been working on this whole offseason, and I feel very confident because I’ve been working on this so much repeatedly and I know it’s going to be natural when it comes time to put my hands to use.”
(What do you think about going into a situation where you’re working in with LB Jaelan Phillips and LB Bradley Chubb on the edge and LB Shaq Barrett as well?) – “I feel like that’s going to be a great situation for me – come in there, learn from those guys, compete every day, being able to take things from them and take it to my game and vice versa. So I think it’ll be a great thing for me.”
(What all do you know about the city of Miami, about the Dolphins organization, about the fans and just how excited are you to come to Miami?) – “I know a lot of guys on the team in Miami – of course everybody wants to win, everybody is chasing greatness and that’s what I want to chase, so I feel like it’s a great fit for me. I know it’s beautiful weather in Miami. I don’t know much about the city because I’ve never been that way, but I know I’ll have a great time there just enjoying with my teammates and being part of the team.”
(To what extent do you think your game and your athleticism is comparable to LB Micah Parsons?) – “I would say just the speed and the bend that we both have. Micah (Parsons) has the speed. He ran a fast 40 (-yard dash). He plays like it. I have the speed. Micah also has a great bend. He’s able to bend around a big offensive lineman and turn tight corners, and I feel like that’s a part of my game that we both have.”
(Can you take us through this process? Obviously, this is the culmination of a long, hard journey for you of work – you’re finally an NFL player. Can you take us through what this means and maybe the most important things you went throughout this process?) – “Honestly, it means everything. I’ve been playing football since I was five years old … (inaudible) So sacrificing everything, not partying and just being who I am, working out every day, just being consistent with my (inaudible) and staying focused. I made a lot of sacrifices, being away from my family. Also losing my older brother and older sister has been my motivation to stay focused and just keep grinding, so I never stop. I’m proud to be where I wanted to be, but the work doesn’t stop.”
(Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver is somebody who has a lot of packages. He’s a creative defensive coordinator. How can you be used? Can you be used inside, outside? What ways can you be used and how much have you talked to Anthony Weaver about being used in different ways?) – “We haven’t talked much about it, but I know the defense he uses is the same thing we used at Penn State with putting me at nose tackle, on the edge. So I feel like that’s a good thing for me because I’m kind of familiar with already doing that, so it’ll be second nature when I’m able to go out there and do it.”
(How much do you know about the city of Miami? Have you ever been here? And what do you think about coming here as your first pro destination?) – “I think it’s going to be great. Not too far from home, but far from home far enough. Enjoy the warm weather, and just get to work and work every day. The work doesn’t change, so I’ll be able to stay true to who I am.”
(Question of the day first is what’s the first chop that you’re going to have as a celebration, a lamb chop or a pork chop?) – “(laughter) I would say the pork chop. That’s the original name, so I’ll say a pork chop.”
(How excited is your family to come to South Florida to watch you play some games?) – “They are very excited. They know they don’t have to be in the cold to come watch me, especially when I was at Penn State. So now they can come and enjoy some beautiful weather and also enjoy watching me play.”
(You’ve played up against a lot of great offensive linemen, a lot of great quarterbacks in college as well, QB C.J. Stroud is now in the NFL. Who’s one player that you would like to face up against and ultimately beat one on one?) – “Honestly, everybody who comes across me. Whoever lines up in front of me, that’s the guy I feel like that’s the guys who’s trying to take food off my plate, so whoever lines up in front of me, I’m trying to beat.”
