The Seahawks needed to get edge rushers in the 2020 NFL Draft. They got two. And Syracuse’s Alton Robinson might end up being great.
The Seahawks needed to get one or eight pass rushers in the 2020 NFL Draft. They got two. And those two need to be really good. In the second round, Seattle chose Darrell Taylor from Tennessee. But in the fifth round, the Seahawks chose Alton Robinson from Syracuse. Robinson might even end up being the better of the two.
To get more even more information on one of the Seahawks newest edge rushers I asked five questions to Neil Adler of FanSided’s Syracuse site, Inside the Loud House, five questions about Alton Robinson.
College memories
12th Man Rising: What are some of your favorite memories from Alton Robinson in college, the moments that stand out to you?
Neil Adler: The saying “saved the best for last” definitely applies to Alton. In his final game at Syracuse, he collected a career-high 10 tackles and one sack to help the Orange defeat Wake Forest in overtime. Also during his senior year, Alton notched four tackles in consecutive contests versus Pittsburgh and at Florida State. He then tallied five tackles, including one sack, at Duke, followed up by six tackles, including one for lost yardage, at Louisville. Quite an impressive stretch for Alton!
For his contributions, Alton won the Orange’s Tim Green Award as the squad’s most-outstanding defensive lineman in 2018 and 2019, joining Arthur Jones and Chandler Jones as the only guys to capture this honor twice. Alton ended his fabulous ‘Cuse career in the top 10 all-time at Syracuse both in sacks and tackles for loss.
Robinson as a teammate and his strengths
12th Man Rising: What kind of teammate do you think he was and how do you think he will transition off the field to the pros?
Neil Adler: Well, one thing I can say is that after Alton got drafted, there was an outpouring of support from his coaches, teammates, members of the media, and just people in general throughout the Syracuse community. I think folks appreciate Alton’s skills and talent, and they respect what he has gone through, and where he is today.
The Orange coaches gave him a second chance after some earlier personal struggles because they believed in him as a football player. Alton has a tireless work ethic, and he excelled in the classroom at Syracuse.
In short, I think that Alton proved a wonderful teammate at the ‘Cuse, and his personality traits will serve him well as he moves to the pros. Seattle appears a great fit for him, and I, of course, hope he performs at the same high level with the Seahawks as he has with Syracuse.
12th Man Rising: What are some of the strengths that should help him help the Seahawks?
Neil Adler: Alton has the potential to really serve as a disrupter in the NFL. He has terrific anticipation. He possesses the speed and flexibility necessary to take down quarterbacks efficiently and quickly. His foot quickness and focus on strip-sack opportunities are positives. Alton also has a keen sense to wrap up running backs before they reach a gap or hole. If he gets sufficient time on the field, he could really blossom into a pass-rushing dilemma for opponents.
Seahawks concerns about Robinson and what 12s don’t know
12th Man Rising: What would be some of your biggest concerns about him on the field in the NFL?
Neil Adler: Analysts and commentators certainly speak to his below-average length. His approach is sometimes described as too predictable, so Alton would benefit from working on his counter-moves. In defending the run, he needs to iron out his techniques, to make them more consistent. Alton’s explosiveness into blockers could improve, as could his transitioning up-field beyond the initial play.
12th Man Rising: What are some of the things, on the field or off the field or both, 12s might not know about Alton Robinson but should know?
Neil Adler: I just credit him for his perseverance. Alton dealt with some personal stuff a few years back, which I won’t get into here, because it’s over and done with. The fact that he had multiple high-major offers from the likes of Texas A&M, Alabama, Texas, Michigan, Baylor and Oklahoma State illustrates his promise and skill level.
He committed to Texas A&M, but then the Aggies withdrew their scholarship offer because of his legal issues. So Alton enrolled at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and later Syracuse, where he has thrived. Dealing with this kind of adversity, and succeeding to the point where he landed in the NFL, is a testament to Alton’s determination and hard work.
A few other tidbits about him. Alton was born in San Antonio and grew up in Converse, Texas. He has four sisters! At Judson High School, he was voted the team’s Defensive Player of the Year as a junior. And Alton is a fantastic athlete. In high school, he also played basketball and competed in track & field.