PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Kenny Pickett threw one interception the last eight games of the 2022 season, on Tuesday during Organized Team Activities Mark Robinson got him as the second-year linebacker continues to progress.
“Just a ball aware play, came to me, took advantage of the opportunity,” Robinson said Tuesday.
When asked if it was indeed Pickett he intercepted.
“What’s crazy for me, I really don’t see helmets and numbers,” Robinson said. “I could care less about who throws it. I’m here to play against anybody that shows up. Nameless, gray faces, you get what I’m saying.”
He admitted he stole the last line from Mike Tomlin. He would confess it was Pickett he picked off calling him a great player (we needed him to say it in order to be able to tell you). Robinson wants to be great, saying he’s starting to feel more comfortable and things are becoming second nature for him. The Georgia native admitting part of it is what naturally happens for second year guys.
After a position change and playing only 13 games of linebacker in college, Robinson sat for most of his NFL rookie season. He did start the final two games of the year with the Steelers still in playoff contention. He ran down hill well for seven tackles on 50% of the snaps against the Ravens and then had a pair of tackles on 11 snaps against Cleveland.
The 5’11”, 220-pounder said he learned a lot last year from Myles Jack and Devin Bush, and called them his guys.
“I appreciate everything they taught me,” Robinson said. “I talked to them. I have a lot of love, a lot of respect for those guys. E Rob (Elandon Roberts), coming in and bringing that veteran pace and understanding (this year). That’s in the classroom and on the field, I’m going to absorb everything on the table.”
During OTAs players at almost all mostly split up reps. It’s not like the regular season, everyone gets a shot. Robinson says he doesn’t know what the Steelers have planned for him this year. He said he’s approaching it that he goes full go every opportunity he’s on the field.
He played only a total of 44 snaps his rookie year, but it’s motivated him. He weights 15 pounds more than he did in college and he’s not fat. His approach for the season sounds like a line in a Disney movie.
“It’s a dream worth living,” Robinson said. “Everything you imagine. Everything you dream, it’s there.”
Steelers have been looking for the next middle linebacker and while they added two in free agency, the former Ole Miss player wants to be another late-round contributor on a Tomlin defense.