Dunta Robinson is not happy to face Dixon in his debut
New acquisition Dunta Robinson with a defensive play against receiver Troy Bergeron. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)
FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson is not too worried about the fact that he didn’t play a game during the preseason.
“Eventually I’ve just got to play,” Robinson said on Monday after practice. “It’s a situation that I can’t really think about. Get my feet under me, that’s the bottom line. I’m a veteran in this game. It’s not my first time going through an experience like this. It’s something that I’m used to.”
Robinson stayed after practice to get some extra running in and will continue to do so this week. Here’s the preview story on Robinson.
“My thing is conditioning,” Robinson said. ”I just have to continue to condition myself and the only thing that is going to get me in game shape is playing a football game.”
Robinson didn’t play last preseason either, but the issue was different. He was holding out, hoping for a better deal with the Houston Texans.
Not playing because he was hurt was tougher.
“I’ve never been one to stand on the sideline and watch,” Robinson said. “It was kind of nerve wrecking, but you have to heal. The season is a journey. You’ve got 16 games to play. There was no need to rush it. I thank the organization for giving me the proper time that it took to heal.”
Robinson knows that he faces an uphill climb.
“I have to play a game in order to get in game shape,” Robinson said. “I’m not in game shape right now. It won’t happen until we play a football game. ”
He doesn’t plan to worry about his plight. He would have preferred to play in the preseason, but the Falcons didn’t let him play against Miami in the third game and rested 22 of 24 starters in the fourth game against Jacksonville.
“You have enough on your plate as a player,” Robinson said. “You can’t go out there saying oh wow, I haven’t played a game, what’s going
New Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson on Monday, March 8, 2010. D. Orlando Ledbetter, dledbetter@ajc.com
to happen? This is my seventh season in this league so I kind of know how to play football.
“I just have to go out there focused and fly around. That’s the main thing. It’s still a game and you have to have fun doing it.”
Robinson would have much rather seen the stationary Charlie Batch as opposed to the athletic Dennis Dixon at quarterback for the Steelers.
“Dennis Dixon, in his start last year, looked real good,” Robinson said. “Everybody gives you something different. With Dixon, you have a versatile quarterback. You hate playing against quarterbacks that can get out of the pocket. That’s one of the things that defenses hate the most.”
Robinson knows that the Falcons signed him for a reason. There pass defense was poor. He’s supposed to make it better.
“Those are the same expectations I have for myself and for this defense,” Robinson said. “I couldn’t come in here and say if we’re OK, that’s fine. That’s not my mentality and not the mentality that I’m trying to bring to this football team. We are trying to be the best.
Uncle Lou Holtz, who coached Robinson at South Carolina.
“I think we have the tools. Now it’s all mental. We have the attributes to be able to go out there and dominate football teams. Now we have to believe that we can do it.”
UNCLE LOU: Robinson had some advice for the rookies who will be making their debut on the road in Pittsburgh.
“One thing that Lou Holtz used to tell me in college all the time, he would always
say, ‘Guys, don’t worry about the fans, they can’t come out of the stands,’ ” Robinson said. ”That helped me as a freshman in college. He would always say that it’s going to be 11-on-11. You can’t worry about the fans because they can’t come out of the stands. That would be the one thing that I would tell these young guys.”
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139 comments Add your comment
Ball Hawk
September 7th, 2010
3:02 pm
http://www.thefalcoholic.com
Yeah, we are gonna be fine this week. We need to D up and sack that Vick wannabe.
SKYROCK
September 7th, 2010
3:17 pm
BeefATL72- Made me smile… I’m hoping it turns out that way so we can shut these smucks up about the Saints. Why do we have a group of morons writing stupid childlike crap on our Falcon’s page? Its got to be children living in Atlanta that move after the hurricanes. LOL
Falcon Jim
September 7th, 2010
3:26 pm
We need a beat-down
in Steel-town ! ! ! !
F.J.
1
dbird1
September 7th, 2010
3:46 pm
BeefATL72,
Loved it. your right on the money. I have never seen the luck that the Aints had last year. but that was last year and this is now. Aints have 9-7 tops. Reggie will get hurt, the D cant stop the run. cant wait to see that bubble burst
SeenThisB4
September 7th, 2010
4:02 pm
BeefATL72: What in the world, makes you think we won’t get more turnovers than that this year? Cause you say so? AH HA HA! Those turnovers weren’t a function of “luck” regardless of what you hope it was. Those turnovers were a function of attitude, aggressiveness, and ability. And as for the inexperienced QBs, I distinctly remember picking off Eli Manning, Super Bowl Winner; Tom Brady, Super Bowl Winner; Kurt Warner, Super Bowl Winner; Brett Favre, Super Bowl Winner; Payton Manning, Super Bowl winner.
It wasn’t just the new QBs we were picking off, it was everybody. Of course, you can slant your stats anyway you want to, if it makes you feel better.
GEAUX SAINTS, NFL CHAMPIONS! THIS IS OUR TIME!!
Falcon Jim
September 7th, 2010
4:16 pm
NFL analyst and Hall of Famer Dan Hampton has apologized for a “spur-of-the-moment” comment he made on Pro Football Weekly’s television show.
Latest Georgia sports news »
Previewing Thursday’s season opener in New Orleans, Hampton said the Minnesota Vikings “need to go down there and hit that town like Katrina.”
OOPS!
BeefATL72
September 7th, 2010
4:23 pm
SeenThisD4: You got 3 ints off Stafford, 3 from Kolb, 3 from Sanchez, 3 from Ryan, 5 from Freeman, 2 from Henne, 1 from Edwards, & 1 from Redman. That’s 21 in regular season. Sharper got 8 of those & he’s not going to be there for you. You’re going to have a rookie CB in his place.
You got 1 int from E. Manning (whom you’re not playing), 0 from Delhomme/Moore (whom you play twice again), 2 from Bulger (who is replaced by Bradford), 2 from Brady (both by Sharper who won’t be there), & 0 from Romo.
The playoffs won’t matter because you won’t be making it back there this year. And 5 turnover’s vs. Farve & still barily won in OT, LOL. Farve averages like 2 int’s a game his entire career. Peterson fumbles like 3x & you guys recover every one, which is crazy.
The ball bounced your way on nearly every fumble the entire season, which is simply unheard of. If half of those 15 (19 if you count the playoffs) fumbles are recovered by your opponents, you guys lose several more games & definitely against the Vikings.
Your 25th ranked defense that only got worse is going to cost you games, period. You are worried too, otherwise you wouldn’t be such an insane homer blabbering nonsense on someone elses blogs. Soak up the good feelings while you can chump. You’re in for a rude awaikening.
Sly Ty
September 7th, 2010
4:43 pm
@ BeefATL72, I agre with all you had to say, but how could you forget to mention the MADDEN CURSE. No player has ever gone without missing significant time or experiencing a lingering injury after being the poster boy for Madden
LonghornMan
September 7th, 2010
5:05 pm
Holtz is an idiot. ESPN management are all idiots for keeping Holtz around. Notre Dame and SC can do no wrong….he’s the ultimate ‘homer’ and it makes all of ESPN look bad just keeping ole ’slober mouth’ around. Holtz had moderate success @ Arkansas and ND following coaching legends. When the aura and talent from his predesessors dried up, he was out. At SC he did nothing except get his son up to the head coaching level. I hope Skip does better than the old man.
Falcon Jim
September 7th, 2010
5:12 pm
One reason for the fall of civilizations is a slow but steady gain in disrespect for the elderly and their wisdom.
I like Dr. Lou………………….a lot!
F.J.
GT Alum
September 7th, 2010
5:35 pm
Dumbo, if he didn’t do it last year when Holtz refused to acknowledge that ND isn’t what it used to be and that Weis was in trouble, I can’t see him ever doing it.
Lou has his moments, but for the most part he just makes me flip the channel from ESPN during halftime or when a game’s over. I think he’s one of those folks where you really like him or you really don’t like him…not much middle ground. He’s the ultimate definition of a homer, and I honestly usually don’t find his Dr. Lou segment to be very insightful or entertaining.
florida falcon
September 7th, 2010
5:41 pm
As much as i hate the Ain’ts. I hope they retire Favre once and for all!
Dilla
September 7th, 2010
5:42 pm
Dr Lou is the best motivator since Vince Lambardi
GT Alum
September 7th, 2010
5:42 pm
Falcon Jim –
And you just illustrated why a lot of people don’t listen to their elders. Because as soon as you dare to disagree with them or criticize an older person, they come out with the “That’s the reason the world is in the shape it is. Young people don’t listen to anything their elders say.” Saying something along those lines is a great way to make sure most people under the age of 40 immediately tune you out.
Falcon Jim
September 7th, 2010
6:06 pm
GT Alum, you might be right, but READ what I said. Truth.
But let’s get back to the Falcons. I still want it to become a rallying cry for this game that the Falcons have never won in Pittsburgh. It’s kinda like the no back-to-back winning seasons. We need to erase this, too.!
F.J.
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2010
6:41 pm
het beef- and we won the superbowl -end of story
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
September 7th, 2010
6:56 pm
Hiramsaint- I believe you intended to say that “the Saints won the superbowl – end of story”. I don’t believe “YOU” were out there on the field playing….correct?????? So the use of “WE” is totally incorrect….I’m just saying…….
Also I am so hoping to see you on a Falcons blog on Friday morning after the Saints lose on Thursday night to the Vikes in the Superdome….okay????
SeenThisB4
September 7th, 2010
6:56 pm
BeefALT72: First of all, your lying about those stats you posted. In the New England game, Brady got picked by Sharper and McKenzie who had been with the Saints for only six days. SIX DAYS. That wasn’t luck. I told you, it’s attitude, aggressiveness, & abililty. Credit Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams for that. The Saint defense will be ready regardless of who is in there for the Saints.
BeefATL72
September 7th, 2010
6:58 pm
@ hiramtaint
Cool story brah, too bad that was last year & you’re still going into THIS YEAR with a 25th ranked defense that’s only gotten worse.
By the way, hows the scoping of redneck chicks at the Walmart over in Hiram going, I hear you guys wrack up the cameltoe.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
September 7th, 2010
6:58 pm
BTW…Does anyone else think that Lou Holtz is Granny Clampett’s (Beverly Hillbillys fame) long lost twin brother????
BeefATL72
September 7th, 2010
7:06 pm
@ SeenThisD4
Your defense will be ready for what? To be ranked 28th in the league without Sharper, Cassillas, or Fujita? Your team couldn’t stop the run last year & now you’re down two LB’s, settling on a rookie FS, & you brought in 2 DE’s that are worse against the run than what you got rid of.
But go ahead & assume you’ll survive on turnovers again. It’s going to be awesome laughing at you about your horrible defense when those turnovers don’t come so easy & everything bounce your way again.
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2010
7:09 pm
nope -when i say we i mean we. as a falcants fan , you couldn’t possibly understand being part of a team. about wal-mart ,who’d you hear it from – your old lady ’cause thats who told me first. and no on the granny clampett thing
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2010
7:11 pm
hey beef – lets talk about your O- tick tick tick- yeah , i can’t say anything good about them either
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
September 7th, 2010
7:12 pm
NEWSFLASH DUDE – You AIN’T part of a team….unless you’re talking about “THE MISFITS”….or as they called “YOU” on the Katrina news reports….”THE REFUGEES” from New Orleans….then I can understand the “WE”.
SeenThisB4
September 7th, 2010
7:18 pm
It will much more humorous watching the falcant’s slow, inept, sorry defence getting eviscerated every week. You must think that being the 21st ranked defense like they were last year is demonstrably better, to the tune of 9-7. LOL!
Bottom line, the Saints are better than the falcants. The Saints are the 2010 Super Bowl Champions. And the NFL and NBC will remind you of that little tidbit, repeatedly on Thursday. Make sure you watch the pre-game activities.
Why don’t ya come on down on Thursday, you can watch the Saints hoist the Super Bowl banner in person, well at least on the screen outside the Super Dome!!
GEAUX SAINTS! TWO DAT! OUR TIME!!!
BeefATL72
September 7th, 2010
7:23 pm
LOL@hiramtaint, yeah, lets compare the 25th ranked defense that got worse to a 16th ranked offense that got better. Brilliant dude. Always knew you were the smart one between you & SeenThisD4.
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2010
7:25 pm
28th against the pass last year- man thats bad but now you have dunta robinson and he got how many picks last year. y’all should move up to at least 26th this year
SeenThisB4
September 7th, 2010
7:25 pm
Hiram: You’re a member of the Who Dat Nation, which per Payton means you’re a member of the team!
The falcant fans don’t have a clue. AND THEY NEVER WILL!
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2010
7:26 pm
16th -wow thats got to be at least good enough for a 9-7 season with no playoff contention LOL LOL
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2010
7:28 pm
how do you figure your O got better??? by your starters finding the endzone ONCE the entire preseason? yeah man – thats something to base it on LOL LOL
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2010
7:29 pm
seen thats why i say we won it and your right- the falcants never will understand being part of a team
SeenThisB4
September 7th, 2010
7:30 pm
BeetATL72: Exactly how did the 16th ranked offense get better? Let’s here it.
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2010
7:33 pm
seen – you should know – their starting O actually scored 1 whole touchdown this preseason. i bet the qb’less steelers are lickin’ their cops for some fried bird sunday
BeefATL72
September 7th, 2010
7:33 pm
@ SeenThisD25th
Your defense got worse & you were already ranked 25th. No more Sharper, replaced by a rookie CB who will be playing out of his position (yeah let us know how that goes, lol). No more Fujita, no more Cassillas. You guys are searching the waiver wire for one, maybe 2 LB’s as we speak. Have fun going into the season with 3rd string LB’s or ones that got cut from some other team. You didn’t address your lack of DT depth until the 7th round. And you brought in DE’s that are statistically aweful at stopping the run game, which you were already horrible at.
Our defense, on the other hand, which was already ranked higher than yours, got significantly better at every level. Increased depth at safety with the return of Moore. Upgraded secondary with Robinsion, both Grimes & Owens were playing lights out in the last 4-5 games, & upgraded coverage from the OLB spot. We added depth to DT’s with Peters & have a returning first round pick back from injury. And our DE depth couldn’t get much better right now with the emergence of Biermann & Sidbury.
So yeah, I’ll take our defense over yours any day & twice on Sunday. And our 16th ranked offense that got tremendously better simply by key players returning healthy, we’ll have a top 10 offense for sure. Pair that with a top 15, maybe even top 10 defense, and you don’t stand a chance with that horrible defense of yours that was already bad & only got worse.
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2010
7:34 pm
chops-
SeenThisB4
September 7th, 2010
7:34 pm
Hiram: It’s hard for them to understand that. ‘Course they still have the memory of their QB waving a finger at them!! LOL!!!
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2010
7:34 pm
and the coach bailing for a college job mid-season LOL LOL LOL
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2010
7:37 pm
yeah beef- no pick injury prone no games played yet robinson along with a bunch of other injury prone players will certainly take you to dallas in feb. you keep on believin’ that too. LOL LOL
BeefATL72
September 7th, 2010
7:40 pm
“BeetATL72: Exactly how did the 16th ranked offense get better? Let’s here it.”
————-
Are you really this daft?
Turner was injured & missed almost 7 games. Ryan missed 3 games. Harry Douglas missed the whole season. Norwood missed 3 games plus like half of 2 other games. Baker missed a few games. Dahl missed 5 games.
All those guys are back healthy with obviously Turner, Ryan, & HD being huge contributors. Add to that, we added quality depth behind our OLine.
You guys are stupid enough to focus on preseason like it proves something. The only thing it proves is you two are amatuers. The Lions went 4-0 in preseason then lost 16 games in regular. The Colts go 0-4 in preseason but win the SB. You guys are like “but but but, you only did (insert idiot stat) this preseason, so this obviously means you’re going to be terrible”. LOL, freaking amateurs.
The Taints horrible 25th ranked defense only got worse & it’s going to lose you guys a bunch of games this year. Mark it.
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2010
7:42 pm
i’d feel like a jackwagon if i was puttin’ my hopes on a bunch who haven’t played in over a year all coming back from injuries and a cb who didn’t even get a pick unless you count him pickin’ blanks pocket
SeenThisB4
September 7th, 2010
7:43 pm
BeatALT21D: That rookie CB you refer to is a 1 year vet, who played the entire year as opposed to your Peria, who played 2 and a half games. Besides he was always projected to be Sharper’s replacement, and Sharper mentored him on that the entire year. I bet he outperforms your Dumta from the get go. By the way, yes, Jenkins outperformed Dumte last year too. And our slowest LB will be far more effective than your rookie LB. Yout team’s defense didn’t get better, they at best, remain mediocre.
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2010
7:45 pm
almost all of our 2’s could start for any other team- we have depth at position , the falcants have shallow at starters
BeefATL72
September 7th, 2010
7:46 pm
@ hiramtaint
Your team had injuries too, remember? The difference is, we have great depth at every position on the defense right now. You guys are starting out of position rookies & hunting the waiver wire for starting LB’s, LOL. Your defense is horrible & the depth behind your starters is even worse. Pray to god you don’t get any of your starters injured… again.
SeenThisB4
September 7th, 2010
7:46 pm
BeatAtL21D: So basically you have the same fragile, injury prone offense. Yeah, they got better, uh huh..
SeenThisB4
September 7th, 2010
7:49 pm
It’s not the players. It’s the attitude, aggressiveness & ability. The Saints D will always be smashmouth. Get your casts ready.
Falcon Jim
September 7th, 2010
7:49 pm
‘aint no Falcon board no more……………………..
BeefATL72
September 7th, 2010
7:49 pm
Keep dreaming guys. If you had depth, you wouldn’t have had a 25th ranked defense last year. You haven’t added anyone, there’s ZERO chance for you to be better. Teams are going to run on you all day. And when you don’t get EVERY bounce your way on fumbles & you don’t face QB’s throwing the ball right to your secondary, you’re going to lose games badly.
hiramsaint
September 7th, 2010
7:50 pm
mike lombardi just said on nfl total access that matt ryan will be the problem for the falcants O. he must have been the last one to figure that out
Falcon Jim
September 7th, 2010
7:50 pm
Y’all take this outside.
Falcon Jim
September 7th, 2010
7:51 pm
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!