Falcons’ Dunta Robinson says he needs to be better
Dunta Robinson arrived at Falcons' training camp, knowing he has to be better. (Phil Skinner/AJC).
Dunta Robinson is smart enough to know that there’s a sliding scale for professional athletes. When salary shoots up, expectations rise with it. Win, and bask in the spotlight. Lose, and burn in it.
Give Robinson credit for this. He’s not running from criticism, or the burn. The Athens native came back home last season and signed a $57 million free agent contract with the Falcons with the hope and expectation of giving them some help at cornerback. Help, he did – just not as much as fans would’ve like, media would’ve liked and most importantly he would’ve liked.
The Falcons’ pass defense was better in 2010, but well short of brilliant (22nd overall). In the playoff loss to Green Bay, defensive backs seemed like milk bottles being knocked over by Aaron Rodgers in a carnival game. It obviously wasn’t all Robinson’s fault: There were another 10 Falcons on the field (most of them looking like scattering fire ants). But he could’ve been better in the game and in the season. It’s what impact players are supposed to do. The contract creates that expectation level.
When asked Friday to grade himself on a scale of 1 to 10 last season, Robinson didn’t hesitate to flog himself.
“About a 5,” he said.
Dunta Robinson arrived too late to stop Jordy Nelson for a 6-yard touchdown early in last year's playoff loss to Green Bay. (AP photo)
He remembers getting burned for a touchdown early against the Packers, saying, “My eyes got distracted for a second, and the ball got outside of me. You tell yourself later, ‘If I make a play there, maybe the game’s not the same.’
“When a quarterback has a game like that, it’s tough on everybody. But as a cornerback, the only way you can make an impact in a game is to make a huge play. I didn’t make that play.”
We should add some perspective here. Robinson really wasn’t that bad. Opposing quarterbacks targeted him on 90 pass plays last season, which ranked 24th among NFL cornerbacks. So there’s a respect factor there. By comparison, Brent Grimes was targeted 124 times, which ranked first in the league. Robinson was burned for 53 catches (58.9 percent) and three touchdowns. He had seven pass breakups and one interception.
Again, the numbers are not dreadful. They just don’t scream “game-changer.” Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said early in the week that the Falcons’ “pass defense has got to get better. It’s still a concern for us.”
But when asked specifically about Robinson’s play last season, VanGorder said, “He had a good year. He didn’t get as much action as [Grimes] but he settled down that position.”
He expects to be better. For starters, the addition of Ray Edwards should improve the Falcons’ pass rush, which obviously takes pressure off the secondary. (The Falcons ranked only 20th in sacks last season.) Secondly, his head won’t be spinning as much in year two. There was an adjustment period last season, switching from the predominantly man-to-man schemes in Houston to the Falcons’ mostly zone alignments.
Robinson admits there also was pressure that came with returning to play for his home team — and, yes, the contract.
“I feel a lot better this year,” he said. “I got very comfortable in Houston. I was there for six years. I came here. New faces, new city. I had to prove myself all over again. It felt a lot different. Last year I was learning to trust these guys and they were learning to trust me. Now I’m like, ‘Let’s play football.’ I just feel more relaxed.”
He doesn’t have a problem with taking blame for the team’s defensive problems — even when he may not deserve it.
That’s refreshing. It’s not a common occurrence in team athletics.
“If you’re going to be in this position, you have to take the good with the bad,” Robinson said. “When things don’t go well, I want them to call my name. I want people to say, ‘What’s he doing to change it?’ because that’s the kind of player I consider myself – an impact player.”
He also knows that if he answers “5″ on the scale again after this season, something will have gone wrong.
By Jeff Schultz
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86 comments Add your comment
Larry
August 6th, 2011
7:49 am
Jeff
Is there a way to implement an IQ, grammar or at least a spelling test to first qualify before access to blogging here? If so, I think we both eliminate 99% of the Eagle’s and Saints’ degenerate fans that contaminate this site and enhance the quality of your blogs tenfold!
drmaryb .(*_*).
August 6th, 2011
8:02 am
Trolls Jack ID’s!
_____________
drmaryb.(*_*)
A lot of yall think that because im a nasty ugly evil person that I dont get horny too. Well I do. I offer schultz some and that sumofabitch wouldnt even screw me. He really did not have to open his eyes and I could have put a paperbag over my head if necessary. I dont think you guys really understand what it feels like to go year to year with out any sex. I am so tire of renting movies, I just want to get laid once.
August 5th, 2011
11:17 pm
Can you guys help out?
Link
Report this comment
.
drmaryb.(*_*)
*tired of renting movies.
Link
Report this comment
August 5th, 2011
11:18 pm
.
drmaryb.(*_*)
This is still Micheal Vick country.
Link
Report this comment
August 5th, 2011
11:21 pm
_____________________
I did not post any of this crap!
This troll has no stones of his own and is to be ignored.
Go to Hell – T. S e r u m! Take your meds and get a job!
mike vicks new puppy
August 6th, 2011
8:18 am
a little help someone. this guy beats me and holds me under water. i already had to kill 3 of my brothers in the “puppy pit”. he said if i dont win i get put on the microwave. at least thats better than being owned by puppy hitler
TheAntiMe
August 6th, 2011
8:47 am
I did not post any of this crap!
This troll has no stones of his own and is to be ignored.
Hi, drmaryb .(*_*)., I’ve never known you to be anything but classy and I’m quite sure that I’m not alone. These are tough times on our blogs these days but the trolls out there can bite it, as far as I’m concerned.
JSS
August 6th, 2011
9:45 am
Larry
August 6th, 2011
7:49 am
“Jeff(,) Is there a way to implement an IQ, grammar(,) or at least a(n) spelling test to first qualify (to gaining) before (misplaced use of a prepositional phrase) (to gain) access (to commenting here) to blogging here?”
I can’t stop laughing! :-0 When did Larry Bedford Forrest get the nerve to start questioning anyone’s use (or lack of) of grammar skills? Go crank the generator another 20 minutes and download a 21st century version of a web browser. Maybe then you’ll be able to pretend that you have grammar skills…
Scott Anderson
August 6th, 2011
9:49 am
A hit
After he fired the best HC the Falcons ever had in Dan Reeves. He gets what he deserves
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Dan Reeves was the worst coach the Falcons ever hired. What a pathetic dumb ars he was. From the Draft to clock management , Reeves had no clue.
He was in Atlanta way too long. Horrible Reeves legacy at coaching.
tjhook
August 6th, 2011
9:53 am
What team does everyone believe will be the Falcons’ greatest challengers?!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 6th, 2011
10:17 am
tjhook
August 6th, 2011
9:53 am
What team does everyone believe will be the Falcons’ greatest challengers?!
___________________________________________________________
Is this a trick question?
Every team that lines up vs CHOKE is guaranteed the greatest chance for victory
Afterall, the last time the Eagles lost to the Falcants, the qb for the Falcants was the same qb now starting for the Eagles
I hope Julio has invested some of that salary because he is going to go deep, and CHOKE is going to float one of those butterflies and get Julio leveled by the free safety
CHOKE is a JOKE
NEUTER THE POODLE WITH THE ARM MADE OF NOODLE
TROTTINGHOME
August 6th, 2011
10:25 am
Hard to write about something when there really is nothing to write about right now…you actually have to work to create a story right now…not happening here.
TROTTINGHOME
August 6th, 2011
10:28 am
I think Jerry ‘the BUFOON’ Glanville was the worst coach we had…or you could pick anyone of a half a dozen.
nobody
August 6th, 2011
11:03 am
Not scared of the eagles. The Pack is still lightyears ahead of them. Eagles have a solid offense. But they’re defense is still not on the level of the Jets, Packers, Ravens, etc and those teams( pack excluded) haven’t won a Super Bowl. Good luck eagles with a terrible LB and S corp
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 6th, 2011
12:21 pm
nobody
August 6th, 2011
11:03 am
Not scared of the eagles. The Pack is still lightyears ahead of them. Eagles have a solid offense. But they’re defense is still not on the level of the Jets, Packers, Ravens, etc and those teams( pack excluded) haven’t won a Super Bowl. Good luck eagles with a terrible LB and S corp
__________________________________________________
Yet the Falcants make their defense look elite
Just the last 2 meetings alone, the Eagles have out scored the Falcants:
Eagles 65
Falcants 24
That’s down right EMBARASSING
For God sake win a freakin playoff game without Vick
FalconUGAFan
August 6th, 2011
12:27 pm
@icemelt-It was Rob Ryan not Matt Ryan doing the smack talk…
Good to hear from Dunta.I liked his hire even though it was expensive.
D man
August 6th, 2011
12:56 pm
I’m glad Daunta rated himself a 5 last season because his performance was average at best. He needs to step it up this season if we are going to be successful on defense. One more week until I see the birds at the dome…
Vick Supporter
August 6th, 2011
3:40 pm
Look are you losers still talking about Vick four years later lmao.
Read up on this since you don’t have any articles about you own weak armed “QB”
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110806/SPORTS02/110806003/Vick-beating-blitz-camp?odyssey=nav%7Chead
valleyboy32
August 6th, 2011
4:18 pm
all these vic band wagon fans that werent falcon fans please exit this blog
valleyboy32
August 6th, 2011
4:19 pm
THESE PAPER CHAMPS YALL GONNA CRASH N BURN
Snake Doc
August 6th, 2011
7:59 pm
Who says he needs to do better? Who dunta robinson. did he play for the falcons last year? Wow – Never heard of the invisible corner back. how much does he make? too much for being invisible?
Old Youngman
August 6th, 2011
9:10 pm
If he doesn’t do better then Falcons will not go very far in playoffs. I’m going to call him Toast if he keeps getting burned for tds…
A Hit..
August 6th, 2011
9:32 pm
@ Snake Doc,
Dunta is suppose to be the next LOCKDOWN ALLPRO CB for the Falcons..
The only thing hes gonna lock is his SUV doors before Moss and DeShawn Lite him up in 6 weeks on NBC!
@FalconUGAFan
Thanks for the correction!
A Hit..
August 6th, 2011
9:34 pm
“Yet the Falcants make their defense look elite
Just the last 2 meetings alone, the Eagles have out scored the Falcants:
Eagles 65
Falcants 24
That’s down right EMBARASSING
For God sake win a freakin playoff game without Vick
”
And this was a 13-3 Football Team last season? Whew…
A Hit..
August 6th, 2011
10:02 pm
“But the stud of the day was clearly Vick, who zipped sharp passes deep and across the middle with great precision all morning despite the continued absence of his top two wide receivers.
“He’s been outstanding,” offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. “He’s doing an outstanding job. He’s a very bright guy. He picks things up very quickly. He’s got a natural feel of the game. He’ll be very, very good and that’s part of that last step in his sort of evolution.”
Vic MVP 2012!!
Randy get your arse in there..Dunta your going to have many sleepless nights after Sept. 18th!
CuseFalcon
August 6th, 2011
11:44 pm
Michael Vick + NFL + Quarterback = Lots of highlights, but no ring. Reap it Philly. Funny how when he was here, Philly fans said you will never beat us or win a super bowl with a running QB, and now you have him……..good luck…….Hell, you could even say Philly is the Atlanta Braves of the NFL, all these playoff appearances and no RING!!!!! If Andy Cox, oops I mean Reid is such a genious then where are the rings, we got smoked by Green Bay last year for sure….but you lost at home to them to. Win or lose in week 2 means nothing in January if you get there. Its a long race not a sprint.
PHILLYSUX
August 6th, 2011
11:54 pm
Michael Vick cant audible at the line of scrimmage because is he to stupid (see Bobby Bushay).
Snake Doc
August 7th, 2011
11:48 am
@ A Hit – No wonder I never heard of him. The Falcons are supposed to have a lock down corner? First I’ve heard of this! Can you imagine how good the D could be if we actually did have a lock down corner?
What happened to Prime Time? I’m sure he could do better then the invisible, unknown dunta.
Of course having said all this, I do hope he performs up to his billing. The Falcons would only be better if he actually does his job. Here’s hoping the injury thing is over with and Dunta can perform or it will be a short post season for the Falcons!
Tommy Maddox
August 7th, 2011
7:10 pm
As much as I hate Philly, they have been stocking up on key players. I’m afraid they are going to be a handful to deal with.
ugaclassof2004
August 8th, 2011
12:31 pm
No the worst coach we ever had was Bobby Petrino: hands down. A complete embarrassment from start to finish. Him leaving us was probably the best thing that could have happened to this franchise.
Glanville, June Jones, Jim Mora, Leeman Bennett were all subpar.
Reeves took us to that Super Bowl, but overall I’d have to give his tenure in Atlanta a C-. His drafts were horrible and he was a terrible GM. It was time for him to go.
As of now, Mike Smith is our best coach. But its not just him, Blank and Dimitroff are all on the same page as well. All successful NFL franchises have the Owner/GM/Coaching staff working with instead of against each other. Blank’s made his mistakes, but he’s head and shoulders above the Smith family. I think we’re in good hands.
Eskoballa
August 8th, 2011
1:04 pm
fact of matter is as long as we got brent grimes on the otherside we re fine. i like how opposing offense avoid throwing his direction and then underestimate Grimes Abilitiy lol. thats why we aint get much from dunta last year lol. they choose to throw away from the tall guy and then mis judge the small one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF64kZ-N5vQ). See how high he can jump!?!?!? I dont know about ya dunta smack talkers, but i like this duo. the real problem we need to address is the defensive end (which we signed ray edwards for) and nickel cornerback.
Eskoballa
August 8th, 2011
1:13 pm
and if your still not convinced then heres more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaYROqGdCTQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62yPLxIjNQg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXsOnNwINLU&feature=related
Vick Supporter
August 8th, 2011
9:09 pm
Here’s some more info about a GREAT QB…not some waek armed “Ice” who says he “wants” to throw deep,lol. Really?!?!? You “want” to throw deep? Ice”. Vick doesn’t have to want to throw deep…he does it with a flick of the wrist and puts it where its supposed to be with accuracy…while “Ice” has to do his whole windup thing he does. Hell I’d rather Have Newton or Tebow than “Ice”. He was TOTALLY exposed in the playoffs just like I predicted. I remember telling you clowns that if “Matty” couldn’t stretch the field, they had zero chance in the playoffs…and I told you that he couldn’t…and when he does, it has no accuracy. Now after 4 years, he wants to throw deep,lol. Man I almost laughed my head off when I saw that article.
See you Sept 18th!!
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/15412135/vicks-passion-reason-players-flocking-to-eagles
deandrums
August 9th, 2011
9:00 am
Dunta needs to make more plays and be a playmaker! he was mostly non existent through most of the tear last year. Maybe that hit on De Sean Jackson made him wacky……..
Ivan
August 9th, 2011
12:48 pm
Four years folks. And the Vickies still can’t get over it.
atl sb bound
August 9th, 2011
2:50 pm
yea vick won some playoff games but never had back to back winning seasons either. eagles are all hype, they wont be able to live up to their expectations or unless they get a real franchise qb like a guy named matt ryan.
Chucktown38
August 10th, 2011
11:15 am
Everyone needs to get off this SHUTDOWN CB! In my 41 years of watching football I can maybe recall 3 shutdown CB’s. Sanders, Green and Reeves, but with that said there really isn’t such a thing.This so called shutdown stems from a great pass rush and an over all good D.So stop dropping shutdown CB.
Chucktown38
August 10th, 2011
11:17 am
Man everyone stop banging on D Rob, the kid was playing crappy zone D all year. He is a man to man player. Please act like you know something even if you don’t.
Chucktown38
August 10th, 2011
11:21 am
Hey MV7 fan do us all a solid and stop pulling for the Falcons. Go on to Phili and MV7 we will all be better for it! Stop posting on here too.