Yes, our profiles at Stampede Blue are dubbed, "Who the hell will they draft?" Yet, the ongoing theme for the 2012 Colts will simply be, "How in the hell will they fill all of these holes?" One of the larger concerns in Indianapolis is an extremely thin secondary. After suffering through a miserable 2011 effort, I think we've all had enough. This needs to get taken care of. Like now.
In the draft or through free agency, the Colts need to find at least a number two to compliment Jerraud Powers. If the Colts have to rely on the same CB core in '12, as they did in '11, Chuck Pagano will have to be more than a miracle worker.
Enter University of Central Florida cornerback, Josh Robinson.
Robinson (5'10", 199lbs) is a three-year starter (no known injuries), who is leaving school early to seek out a job in the NFL. After turning in a solid freshman effort, in which Robinson swiped six interceptions---good enough for Second Team All Conference USA honors---he followed it up with arguably a better sophomore and junior effort (First Team honors both years). Robinson sits at an average height, but makes up for it with his consistency, ball skills, and jumping ability.
Robinson notably excels in zone coverage and will serve best in this area. He can be effective in man and is a burner (4.33 40). I've seen some of Robinson, albeit limited, and I've found that he sometimes doubts his initial judgement when in coverage. If he hesitates and gets lost, he will try to compensate with his speed and is susceptible to possibly jumping the route altogether. That said, Robinson's will need more experience with man-press.
When it comes to digesting routes, Robinson has a knack for it and has no problem keeping pace with speedy receivers. Furthermore, his ball skills are impressive and he does possess elite coverage talent. His speed also makes him ideal for punt returns, averaging 15.2 yards per return as a sophomore (9th in the country). However, some fumble issues as a returner have cast some doubt about his ability to play this role at the next level.
Robinson also has an undeniable ability to get up. At the Combine, he registered as a top performer in the vertical (38.5") and broad jump (11'1"). This allows him to get a consistent hand on the ball and compete well with big targets. Robinson notably went against A.J. Green as a sophomore and fared pretty well against the former Georgia product.
When I asked him about transitioning to the NFL at the Combine, Robinson was blunt in his answer:
Transition. That’s the big difference in the next level. You got to be able to react much smoother and quicker than you did in college. In college a lot of guys take choppy steps and things like that, and you can’t have that at the next level. It’s one cut and go at the next level.
Small-framed, athletic, versatile corner who stands out against mid-major competition and could develop into a No. 2 given his fluid movement and ball skills. Punt-return ability adds to his value.
| Height | Weight | 40 Time | Bench | Vertical | Broad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5'10" | 199 | 4.33 | 17 reps |
38.5" | 11'1" |