The NFL offseason is where optimism is restored. Especially for fans of a team who had a less than stellar prior season. Aside from injuries, it’s nearly impossible to escape the positive-s the summer months have to offer. And interviews, with players and coaches, reflect that vibe.
At least most of them do.
Los Angeles Rams’ starting left tackle Greg Robinson sat down with Rams’ Insider Dani Klupenger after Friday’s practice. The brief interview kicked off with Klupenger talking about how excited she was to check in with the first offensive lineman since the onset of OTA’s. She first asked for a broad sense of how the line is coming along, and the enthusiasm took a bit of a hit...
It hasn’t been all so pretty, but we’re coming along. It’s good just that the camaraderie is there. Everybody is back and healthy. Just trying to get back on the field...back on the same page, pick up where we left off last year.
Ok. It’s not the most encouraging thing he could’ve said, but it's fair to assume most teams need to shake off the rust early in the year. Klupenger then notes the Rams’ being bit by the "injury bug" in 2015, and asks G-Rob if he thinks that’s the reason it’s "not so pretty."
Yes, and I’m pretty sure it’s not just our group...not to point out anything. But everybody is still getting back into the groove of things. I feel like we’ve got a long way to go. We’re not quite there, but the beauty of that is that we don’t play until September.
Let’s hit pause here. Clearly neither of these statements breed the aforementioned optimism, as Robinson notes it’s not just the offensive line group that’s struggling to click early in the offseason.
But there were positive-s throughout the conversation. Robinson did talk about the health of the offensive line, and how injuries proved challenging due to the uncertainty of who they’d be playing alongside from week to week. If they’re able to stay healthy in 2016, they can finally start to grow as a unit. He’s right about that.
I doubt many question the potential of the Rams’ offensive line as a whole. They are certainly inexperienced, but, given health, they could provide a solid front for Todd Gurley and, at some point, rookie quarterback Jared Goff. A lot of that, though, will hinge on Robinson - who was drafted second overall in 2014 - and his ability to get his job done.
I’ll fast forward to the end of the conversation, where Klupenger asked Robinson about his expectations (for himself) for the upcoming year...
Really just to step up and be a leader. Be there for the team. Like I said, I don’t want to put any limitations on myself, so the sky is the limit. I think this is going to be one of the best years I have, and it’s all about how I prepare myself.
There we go! Now we’re talking.
But I couldn’t help but reflect on something he said earlier in the conversation, when Klupenger referenced that both he and fellow tackle Isaiah Battle were looking great. When asked if he’s lost some weight...
Yeah, I’ve lost like five.
He weighs 332 lbs., according to the Rams’ site. And his goal?
My goal was to lose about 20, but I’ve got a little time. I’ll probably work on it a little more in the rest of this offseason when I leave here. It’s really just critiquing and being aware of what I put in my body. I don’t think it’s going to be much of a challenge.
It may be critical of me to ask, but when did Robinson set this stretch goal of losing 20 lbs., and what is prohibiting him from reaching it? He’s got the goal, he appears to know what he needs to do to achieve it...yet he’s 25% of the way to realization and will "probably work on it a little more the rest of this offseason."
It remains to be seen as to whether or not G-Rob can reach his weight loss goal, and if the Rams’ offensive line can stay healthy and cohere as a unit. The beauty of it, as he stated, is that we've got ’til September.