It’s a compromise that could help both the Los Angeles Rams and offensive lineman Greg Robinson save face.
The Rams are moving their enigmatic, former 2014 first-round draft choice (the No. 2 selection overall) from left to right tackle to make room for free-agent acquisition Andrew Whitworth, according to AL.com.
But Los Angeles likely was going to have to make a move with Robinson even if it didn’t snatch Whitworth away from the Cincinnati Bengals with a three-year deal worth some $34 million with $15 million guaranteed.
The Auburn Tigers alum has been flagged 42 times in 46 games, AL.com reported, including 27 times for holding. He led the league in holding penalties in 2015; he had the second most in 2016.
Head coach Sean McVay talked about Robinson during a Friday news conference, as reported by AL.com:
Right now, the plan is Andrew’s going to be our left tackle, and we’ll give Greg an opportunity to play on the right side. I think that’ll be a good opportunity for Greg to go to that right side, and we’ll see how (Rob) Havenstein is able to do if we allow him to play guard and tackle. You feel fortunate because you’ve got some depth inside with Roger Saffold and Jamon Brown, and Andrew Donnal played a lot of snaps last year. So we’ve got some guys on this roster that have some position flex, but being able to get an Andrew Whitworth — he knows what it’s like, he’s played the game at a Pro Bowl-caliber level at that left-tackle position — will give us the flexibility to put Greg on the right side and see how he does there.
McVay added that he told Robinson about the Rams’ new plans for him and that Robinson was on board with the changes.
Last month, Robinson talked about his aversion to moving to guard.
“It’s not really something that I’m just going to accept, because I’m so used to playing tackle,” Robinson said. “It would be hard to adjust. But if I have to adjust, that will be something that I will do.”
With the signing of the 35-year-old Whitworth to supplant him at left tackle, Robinson may realize that he needs to step up his game in 2017, which is the final year of his contract.
If Robinson is going to have a bounce-back year and show he belongs in the NFL, this would be the year.
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