Indiana University Athletics
Mr. Robinson Would Like a Word with You
4/8/2018 3:53:00 PM | Football
By Andy Graham
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - After an Indiana football practice concluded last week, some extra-curricular conversation arose amongst the defensive linemen.
A little give and take. And a bit of to and fro. Then a few non-minced words.
Finally a frank exchange of views abetted by physical posturing.
Chief among the conversationalists was senior Jacob Robinson.
And if his message to a younger colleague was rather blunt, there was a positive purpose behind it.
Called leadership.
Even as the spring sessions commenced, IU head coach Tom Allen knew he could count on Robinson for that.
"I knew he would talk," Allen said. "He's earned the right, because of his performance. His work ethic has always been there, and when you start making more plays, guys listen better.
"He's a senior leader that we have to have. You look at our defense and it's, 'Young guy, young guy, young guy, young guy.' "
Young guys in occasional need of guidance, hence Robinson's post-practice verbal intervention last week.
"I think in today's day and age, leadership cannot always be by example," Mark Hagen, IU's defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator, said. "Sometimes you've got to open your mouth, even if that creates an uncomfortable situation.
"You've got to be vocal. It's not just, 'Hey, look at what I'm doing.' It's putting yourself in an uncomfortable position sometimes, outside your comfort zone. I think that was maybe the last step he's needed to take and Jacob is starting to do it."
Even if the message isn't always initially understood or well-received, it needs doing, especially within a defensive unit that must replace seven starters.
"As much as we've got a lot of guys who have been around the block and played a lot of football for us, we have a lot of young guys, too," Hagen said. "And their coach is going to be on them and they don't always handle that butt-chewing, so you need a guy like Jacob Robinson to let them know, 'Hey, it's not personal. Coach is just trying to keep you taking steps. And the things you were doing aren't acceptable. They don't meet our standard.'
"And you're not trying to be a jerk about it. But you can't let somebody's bad behavior – if they don't like what the coach is saying – you can't let that slide. Because it pulls the entire group down. So I'm happy to see that outspokenness out of Jacob."
It comes readily to Robinson, both in terms of inclination and intellect. He was twice captain of successful Westfield teams playing challenging Indianapolis metropolitan-area schedules, and has already twice earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
"I took pride in being a leader in high school," Robinson said. "I came in here wanting to be a leader for this program since the day I got here. It's been a process for me. I've had a lot of great leaders ahead of me that I got to learn from … I've taken bits and pieces from them and now it's my spot. I'm a senior. I take full responsibility.
"It's always kind of come naturally to me. I enjoy it. I like to learn from people and I think, you know, I don't have a problem stepping up and trying to be that guy others can lean on and to try to help other guys when they need it."
Hagen said Robinson is indeed the sort of player upon whom whole units, entire teams, can lean.
"Jacob's not going to take anything for granted," Hagen said. "He knows he's not the most talented guy out there, but his intangibles can set him apart. They really can. His work ethic. His drive. His intelligence. His leadership. His toughness. I'll take a guy like that, anytime."
Hagen took Robinson from outside, at defensive end, to inside as Robinson's 6-foot-4 frame showed it could comfortably accommodate its current 290 pounds.
"When you go from end and bump inside to tackle, a lot of people might think that's a pretty natural transition, but it's different," Hagen said. "There is a learning curve that goes with it.
"After about a third of the (2016) season, we kind of moved Patrick Dougherty outside and Jacob in and just sort of went with it. So it's been a learning process for him. I think he's gotten it over time. He's gotten more comfortable as to where his eyes have to be, and what we call 'attacking' your technique."
Toward the end of last season, Robinson was most definitely in attack mode.
Robinson posted a career-high seven tackles, a truckload for an interior defensive lineman, including 3.5 tackles-for-loss in the win at Illinois last Nov. 11 and played well again in the ensuing 41-0 whitewash of Rutgers.
"I think you saw his confidence grow," Hagen said of Robinson. "He really hadn't been a guy who'd made a lot of plays for us, just a play here or a play there, but playing solidly. Then, last year, it was a dramatic increase (in plays made). And if I'm in his shoes, now I want to take it another step.
"He's not going to get too high or get too low. You take the Illinois game last year. He had a big-time game for us. But that wasn't going to define him. He knew he had to come out and work just as hard the next week to try to replicate that performance."
Robinson's individual goals heading into his senior campaign include playing more "vertically," pushing the line of scrimmage back toward the offensive backfield. And, alongside fellow seniors Nile Sykes and Ja'merez
Bowen, leading a defensive front he feels can meet or even exceed standards.
Not that Robinson doesn't recognize the quality represented by the graduating defenders, seven of whom participated Tuesday's IU Pro Day.
But Robinson knows the Hoosier defense is also regaining key players lost to injury last fall – rush end Sykes, IU's returning sack leader from 2016, Husky back Marcelino Ball, cornerback A'Shon Riggins and others – who don't technically count as returning starters.
And Robinson feels IU will field an effective defense as long as Allen and his current staff are in Bloomington.
"I don't think it's a rebuilding year at all," Robinson said. "Losing as many guys as we did from last year just creates a sense of urgency. Coach Allen talks about it. The thing is that guys are champing at the bit to play.
They're ready to fill those shoes that need to be filled. They're ready to go out here and play as hard as they can and to be a great defense.
"We're not going backwards. And Coach Hagen says that all the time. That's something we're not going to do. We're going to keep moving forward … we set the standard the past two years … being an older guy, I've seen where we were before, and I've seen where we can get. And I think it's just the beginning. There are still things we can do even better than we've done in years past."
Such as finish games, making more key plays down the stretch, building more depth to keep fresher legs on the field.
"You can just look at it, statistically, where we can improve," Robinson said. "Last year, it would have been takeaways and finishing better at the end of games. That's our one word for this year: 'Finish.' We want to go out and win games and, defensively, be the reason why.
"First and foremost, it's mindset. When Coach Allen first got here, he told us what it would take to be a good defense, and it starts with mindset. You've got to bring energy that is just through the roof every single day.
And with defense, that's especially important, because all it really is is guys running around, flying around, being relentless. And once you have that mindset, you can dig deeper into the littler things."
And the bigger things.
Such as leadership.
"Jacob being limited this spring hurts in a lot of respects, but it gives younger guys an opportunity and puts him in a role to watch practice and be in that leadership role," Hagen said. "I can tell him to go get with a guy.
Or he's already seen it and is way ahead of me'
"He's awesome. You can't have enough guys like that. He's a throw-back. Guys who are just so entrenched and bought in to what you are doing. They never second guess you. They are all-in, 100 percent. It's important to them.
"It's not the most important thing in his life, but it's pretty important. It's pretty important. So the work ethic, the drive, is there. And you just want guys like that to bring as many other guys along as he can."
The former Westfield Shamrock is doing his best to bring along future Hoosiers. He's a walking, talking IU recruiting poster.
"I'm Indiana born and raised," Robinson said matter-of-factly. "So, for me, this is the school where you need to be going if you're an in-state guy. You should take pride in being a Hoosier.
"It's more about taking that sense of pride and turning it into something good on the field. I'm proud of being from Indiana, and I'd love for more guys from Indiana to come here."
Where they can benefit from a little instructional communication from men such as Robinson.
Who know how to play.
And how to lead.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - After an Indiana football practice concluded last week, some extra-curricular conversation arose amongst the defensive linemen.
A little give and take. And a bit of to and fro. Then a few non-minced words.
Finally a frank exchange of views abetted by physical posturing.
Chief among the conversationalists was senior Jacob Robinson.
And if his message to a younger colleague was rather blunt, there was a positive purpose behind it.
Called leadership.
Even as the spring sessions commenced, IU head coach Tom Allen knew he could count on Robinson for that.
"I knew he would talk," Allen said. "He's earned the right, because of his performance. His work ethic has always been there, and when you start making more plays, guys listen better.
"He's a senior leader that we have to have. You look at our defense and it's, 'Young guy, young guy, young guy, young guy.' "
Young guys in occasional need of guidance, hence Robinson's post-practice verbal intervention last week.
"I think in today's day and age, leadership cannot always be by example," Mark Hagen, IU's defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator, said. "Sometimes you've got to open your mouth, even if that creates an uncomfortable situation.
"You've got to be vocal. It's not just, 'Hey, look at what I'm doing.' It's putting yourself in an uncomfortable position sometimes, outside your comfort zone. I think that was maybe the last step he's needed to take and Jacob is starting to do it."
Even if the message isn't always initially understood or well-received, it needs doing, especially within a defensive unit that must replace seven starters.
"As much as we've got a lot of guys who have been around the block and played a lot of football for us, we have a lot of young guys, too," Hagen said. "And their coach is going to be on them and they don't always handle that butt-chewing, so you need a guy like Jacob Robinson to let them know, 'Hey, it's not personal. Coach is just trying to keep you taking steps. And the things you were doing aren't acceptable. They don't meet our standard.'
"And you're not trying to be a jerk about it. But you can't let somebody's bad behavior – if they don't like what the coach is saying – you can't let that slide. Because it pulls the entire group down. So I'm happy to see that outspokenness out of Jacob."
It comes readily to Robinson, both in terms of inclination and intellect. He was twice captain of successful Westfield teams playing challenging Indianapolis metropolitan-area schedules, and has already twice earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
"I took pride in being a leader in high school," Robinson said. "I came in here wanting to be a leader for this program since the day I got here. It's been a process for me. I've had a lot of great leaders ahead of me that I got to learn from … I've taken bits and pieces from them and now it's my spot. I'm a senior. I take full responsibility.
"It's always kind of come naturally to me. I enjoy it. I like to learn from people and I think, you know, I don't have a problem stepping up and trying to be that guy others can lean on and to try to help other guys when they need it."
Hagen said Robinson is indeed the sort of player upon whom whole units, entire teams, can lean.
"Jacob's not going to take anything for granted," Hagen said. "He knows he's not the most talented guy out there, but his intangibles can set him apart. They really can. His work ethic. His drive. His intelligence. His leadership. His toughness. I'll take a guy like that, anytime."
Hagen took Robinson from outside, at defensive end, to inside as Robinson's 6-foot-4 frame showed it could comfortably accommodate its current 290 pounds.
"When you go from end and bump inside to tackle, a lot of people might think that's a pretty natural transition, but it's different," Hagen said. "There is a learning curve that goes with it.
"After about a third of the (2016) season, we kind of moved Patrick Dougherty outside and Jacob in and just sort of went with it. So it's been a learning process for him. I think he's gotten it over time. He's gotten more comfortable as to where his eyes have to be, and what we call 'attacking' your technique."
Toward the end of last season, Robinson was most definitely in attack mode.
Robinson posted a career-high seven tackles, a truckload for an interior defensive lineman, including 3.5 tackles-for-loss in the win at Illinois last Nov. 11 and played well again in the ensuing 41-0 whitewash of Rutgers.
"I think you saw his confidence grow," Hagen said of Robinson. "He really hadn't been a guy who'd made a lot of plays for us, just a play here or a play there, but playing solidly. Then, last year, it was a dramatic increase (in plays made). And if I'm in his shoes, now I want to take it another step.
"He's not going to get too high or get too low. You take the Illinois game last year. He had a big-time game for us. But that wasn't going to define him. He knew he had to come out and work just as hard the next week to try to replicate that performance."
Robinson's individual goals heading into his senior campaign include playing more "vertically," pushing the line of scrimmage back toward the offensive backfield. And, alongside fellow seniors Nile Sykes and Ja'merez
Bowen, leading a defensive front he feels can meet or even exceed standards.
Not that Robinson doesn't recognize the quality represented by the graduating defenders, seven of whom participated Tuesday's IU Pro Day.
But Robinson knows the Hoosier defense is also regaining key players lost to injury last fall – rush end Sykes, IU's returning sack leader from 2016, Husky back Marcelino Ball, cornerback A'Shon Riggins and others – who don't technically count as returning starters.
And Robinson feels IU will field an effective defense as long as Allen and his current staff are in Bloomington.
"I don't think it's a rebuilding year at all," Robinson said. "Losing as many guys as we did from last year just creates a sense of urgency. Coach Allen talks about it. The thing is that guys are champing at the bit to play.
They're ready to fill those shoes that need to be filled. They're ready to go out here and play as hard as they can and to be a great defense.
"We're not going backwards. And Coach Hagen says that all the time. That's something we're not going to do. We're going to keep moving forward … we set the standard the past two years … being an older guy, I've seen where we were before, and I've seen where we can get. And I think it's just the beginning. There are still things we can do even better than we've done in years past."
Such as finish games, making more key plays down the stretch, building more depth to keep fresher legs on the field.
"You can just look at it, statistically, where we can improve," Robinson said. "Last year, it would have been takeaways and finishing better at the end of games. That's our one word for this year: 'Finish.' We want to go out and win games and, defensively, be the reason why.
"First and foremost, it's mindset. When Coach Allen first got here, he told us what it would take to be a good defense, and it starts with mindset. You've got to bring energy that is just through the roof every single day.
And with defense, that's especially important, because all it really is is guys running around, flying around, being relentless. And once you have that mindset, you can dig deeper into the littler things."
And the bigger things.
Such as leadership.
"Jacob being limited this spring hurts in a lot of respects, but it gives younger guys an opportunity and puts him in a role to watch practice and be in that leadership role," Hagen said. "I can tell him to go get with a guy.
Or he's already seen it and is way ahead of me'
"He's awesome. You can't have enough guys like that. He's a throw-back. Guys who are just so entrenched and bought in to what you are doing. They never second guess you. They are all-in, 100 percent. It's important to them.
"It's not the most important thing in his life, but it's pretty important. It's pretty important. So the work ethic, the drive, is there. And you just want guys like that to bring as many other guys along as he can."
The former Westfield Shamrock is doing his best to bring along future Hoosiers. He's a walking, talking IU recruiting poster.
"I'm Indiana born and raised," Robinson said matter-of-factly. "So, for me, this is the school where you need to be going if you're an in-state guy. You should take pride in being a Hoosier.
"It's more about taking that sense of pride and turning it into something good on the field. I'm proud of being from Indiana, and I'd love for more guys from Indiana to come here."
Where they can benefit from a little instructional communication from men such as Robinson.
Who know how to play.
And how to lead.
Players Mentioned
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