ROBINSON TO PLAY? Bay City's D-Back at San Francisco May Move Up
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Bay City's Trenton Robinson is ready to play and may get the chance tonight on TV. (49ers Photo)
A few days ago he wasn't even on the depth chart.
Now, suddenly, he's listed third behind C.J. Spillman and Eric Reid.
Trenton Robinson, in his second year as a free safety for the San Francisco 49ers has done the hard work that may soon earn him some playing time, according to Taylor Price, 49ers.com.
The 49ers face the Minnesota Vikings at 8 p.m. tonight on television, (WEYI Channel 25) a pre-season game that may give the MSU grad a chance to showcase his talents.
Although he didn't play much in his rookie season last year, doing well in practice may have paid off for the dedicated defensive back out of Bay City Central.
"The sixth-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Michigan State used his greater understanding of the 49ers defense to stand out in the team's off-season program," wrote Price.
At the 49ers three-day mini-camp, Robinson rotated with the first-team defense at free safety on the final day of mini-camp and also turned in an impressive diving interception the day before during a 7-on-7 drill.
Robinson credited the turnover to his improved knowledge of the 49ers defense. With a more than a year of practice time under his belt, Robinson is now able to react to everything he sees on the field.
"I can't even explain it," Robinson said, "you get in here and you don't know anything, you still have a lot to learn, but I just can move now. I hear a call and it's natural. I don't have to think about anything before I go."
"I'm just running and moving a lot faster. It's great."
It also helps that Robinson continues to be mentored by Pro Bowl safety Donte Whitner.
Robinson, a three-year starter in college, was immediately drawn to Whitner, a fellow Big Ten Conference standout at Ohio State.
Whitner helped Robinson throughout the 2012 season. In fact, the second-year safety remembers his first encounter with the veteran hard-hitter in the defensive back meeting room quite well.
Robinson, a 5-foot-9, 193-pound safety, credits his improvement to the mentorship from the eight-year veteran who excels at using his leverage as a 5-foot-10, 208-pound safety.
"Anything I have a question on, he'll give me the answer to it, or he'll help me think through it to find the answer to it," Robinson detailed.
Robinson's development has caught the attention of San Francisco's defensive coordinator. Vic Fangio, entering his third year with the 49ers, commented on the progress being made by Robinson and two other second-year defensive draft picks, Cam Johnson and Darius Fleming.
In Fangio's mind, the trio of defenders made the most of their time with the 49ers in 2012 as well as in the team's off-season program.
"They're all a whole lot better than they were last year. Cam Johnson is a very viable candidate to make this team right now. Trenton is, too.
Robinson believes the hard-working nature of the 2012 draft class is paying off. The group took a short bit of time off following their rookie season, three weeks to be exact, before getting back to work at 49ers headquarters.
?As a group, us second-year guys, all the guys I came in with my class, we all hang out all the time and we talk about football, the things we want to be and things we want to do,? Robinson said.
With the guidance of veterans on the roster coupled with the camaraderie of his fellow draft class, Robinson has been able to make strides in his first full off-season in the NFL.
The interception at mini-camp, for example, speaks to the faster and more instinctual player Robinson has become.
"It feels good," he said. "That's what we do as DBs, that's how we move up, by making plays. That's what I'm trying to do."
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