Amik Robertson was an unheralded signing to kick off the Washington Commanders' legal tampering window. But that doesn't mean the feisty cornerback has come just to make up the numbers.
In fact, he's coming for it all.
Robertson might be undersized, but he's got the heart of a lion. The impression made over Washington's offseason program was notable, challenging wide receiver Terry McLaurin and others in the cornerback room through vocal leadership and supreme competitiveness. It was early in the process, but it didn't take long to figure out why head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters coveted him heavily.
And just before training camp, the 2020 fourth-round pick out of Louisiana Tech made his intentions clear.
Amik Robertson is aiming to become the veteran leader Commanders need in their secondary
While Robertson admitted to taking a back seat to other prominent locker-room leaders with the Detroit Lions, that will not be the case in Washington. He is looking to take the next step, become an inspirational presence, and put in the hard work needed to become an important part of the team's defensive puzzle under new coordinator Daronte Jones.
“As a Washington Commander, of course I’m gonna work my tail off. My goal this year is to embrace my role; you know, I took a step back at the Lions, didn’t want to step on a lot of guys' toes. But I think at the Commanders, I think it’s my time. It’s my time to take on that leadership role."
As Robertson stated, this might be his moment. At a time when there are a lot of unknowns on defense amid wholesale changes, the corner stepping up would be a massive asset both on and off the field.
Robertson comes highly recommended. Lions head coach Dan Campbell couldn't speak highly enough of his inner fire, his ability to punch above his weight, and his willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team. Those characteristics matter to Quinn, and Jones has already preached the importance of versatility within his secondary.
There are concerns. Robertson can get outmatched physically. At 5-foot-9, he is also vulnerable in contested catch situations. He'll never stop fighting with everything he has, but the quality and consistency are sometimes lacking.
Jones will know how to maximize his strengths. Having a front seven capable of generating pressure consistently should also help, as will the creative, aggressive alignments he plans to implement within his 3-4 base system.
Robertson could benefit greatly. But looking at his mindset heading into training camp, his influence away from the field will be just as important as his on-field contributions.
And if he does go down once or twice, he will go down swinging.
Add us as a preferred source on Google