Alabama DT A’Shawn Robinson drafted by Lions in 2016 NFL Draft

Robinson, at 6’4 and 307 pounds, is one of the most physically gifted players in this year’s draft and he put it to good use in three years at Alabama. There are plenty of jokes about Robinson looking well beyond his years, but the 21-year-old has an entire promising NFL career ahead of him with only a few caveats potentially impeding his success.

A two-year starter with the Crimson Tide, Robinson played in just 57 percent of his team’s snaps over the last two seasons. He’s survived a lot on raw athleticism, doing things a man his size probably shouldn’t be able to.

There are questions about what kind of player he should actually be going forward given his lack of specialty in college. Robinson isn’t quite a pass rusher, with some suggesting he doesn’t have much ability on that front. Some think he’s a two-down run stuffer, while others think he can be both a nose tackle and a three-tech defensive lineman. But optimists will say that just means there is a lot to work with, and that Robinson is waiting to be molded into an elite player at the next level.

What Robinson is great at doing is controlling where his man is going. If he’s not rushing the quarterback, then Robinson is causing havoc or making room for someone else. And he’s very, very good at that. There were times at Alabama when Robinson looked like a parent scolding a child, picking him up and moving him from one place to another.

Whether he uses his skill at displacing fellow human beings as a run stuffer, pass rusher or general havoc-causer, Robinson has all the tools to succeed. His combination of size and speed is unreal, and as Stephen White noted in his pre-draft writeup, Robinson is one of those players who is “actually bigger than he looks.”

Oh, and he’s also good at blocking kicks while the entire offensive line is unaware he got behind them.

Robinson finished his Alabama career with 51 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He made headlines all while primarily being designated as the guy who put in the work to make his teammates look better. He was brought on the field to take the heat away from other players, but he still picked up a reputation along the way.

The Lions will now have the option of making him a space-eating defensive tackle who makes his ends and linebackers excel, or they can try and turn him into a productive pass rusher who splits the interior of the line with regularity. Time will tell which of these routes they will take, and if they will be successful.

Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley are no longer tearing up opposing offensive linemen in the middle of the Detroit defense, so if Robinson can find success in either regard, it would be a welcomed addition for the Lions.