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Chop Robinson wowing teammates, coaches in Dolphins training camp

Chop Robinson wowing teammates, coaches in Dolphins training camp

USA Today2 days ago
Miami Dolphins second-year edge rusher Chop Robinson is shining in training camp and wowing his teammates and coaches. Jaelan Phillips called him a "future Defensive Player of the Year candidate" and Robinson was given the honor of wearing the orange jersey at Tuesday's practice, a recognition from the coaching staff as a top performer from the previous practice.
Last year, with Bradley Chubb out for the entire season and Phillips sidelined due to a knee injury suffered in Week 4, Robinson had to play a starting role extremely early in his career. He didn't disappoint bwith 26 tackles, six sacks, eight tackles for loss, and 14 quarterback hits. In the second half of the 2024 NFL season, only the Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parson recorded more quarterback pressures.
Robinson now appears ready to take it up a notch in year two, which should put the Dolphins' opponents on notice.
"Chop's growing up man," quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said Wednesday. "That boy's growing up, getting a little more muscle, boy's getting a little faster."
"He's lights out man. And his motor, the way he bends the edge, the way he can play the run," Chubb said of Robinson. "I know some people in here said he couldn't play the run, but the way he does that is nothing short of phenomenal man, and I'm excited to see him keep growing."
With Robinson, Chubb, and Phillips all proven to be starting caliber players in years past, Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has to sort out a rotation that utilizes the entire group. He's even talked about running all three players at the same time. Despite the group competing with each other for snaps, they are all in support of Robinson's success even if it takes snaps away from them.
"(Chop's) a different breed. The way he moves, his get off, how low he runs to the ground," fellow pass rusher Quinton Bell said. "I see Chop having another breakout year just like he had a great year last year. But I think he is going to take it to a whole another level. His work ethic, the way he approaches practice every day. You wouldn't have even thought he was a rookie last year. So I'm super proud of him and his growth."
Robinson, 22, has an extremely bright future with the Dolphins on what the team hopes will be a strong front seven. His role on the team will be extremely important early in the season as the secondary continues to build chemistry.
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