Training Camp Day 17: Robinson Rams
FAIRFAX, VA - Before last year, Robinson had absolutely dominated the past decade. Winning five district titles, a region championship, and a state title, the Rams had accumulated a record of 55-6 and had established themselves as a dynasty in the Northern Region. Yet last year that dominance we were so used to seeing from Robinson wasn't there. With a 6-4 record, Robinson was forced to sit out the playoffs for the first time since the 1998 season. Just as odd as it is to see the Yankees not playing in October, it was every bit as strange not to see Robinson competing in the playoffs.
With that in mind, expect head coach Mark Bendorf to put this team back on the right track for 2007. Robinson doesn't lose very often, so don't get used to it. From the seniors on down to the freshmen, this is a collection of players that knows how to win. The seniors on this team were freshmen back when Robinson advanced all the way to the state championship game, and there's nothing that they would love more than to put this program back on top.
What is Robinson's strength in 2007?
Looking at Robinson's front four, it has to be the defense. Derek Qadir, Thomas Schaefer, and Logan Perryman all return for Robinson and they've got the credentials to dominate the line of the scrimmage. They are all well over 225 pounds and over 6-foot-2, which is enough to make their presence fully known. Unfortunately, the linebackers and secondary are all complete newcomers to the defense which could present a problem. Yet seeing as most Concorde teams will feature a run-oriented attack, the advantage is in Robinson's favor.
How bad did graduation affect Robinson?
Graduation has hit Robinson real hard. Aside from losing their linebackers and secondary to graduation, the Rams also lose their entire offensive line, receiving core, and top three running backs. Yet with Robinson, graduating players is never as big a problem as it's made out to be. Bendorf has so much depth and talent to work with, that he can continually churn out successful teams. This year, Bendorf is using a stable of six different backs and he has six tackles fighting for playing time. Other coaches would dream of having numbers like that, but for Robinson, it's a luxury they take full advantage of.
Who will step up for the Rams on offense now that their top three running backs are gone?
Considering Bendorf doesn't just feature one back in his offense, there are a whole host of backs who could step out into the spotlight. As mentioned above, six different backs are being rotated in, so finding one clear-cut back that is better than the rest might be hard to find. Yet the two players who should receive a majority of the carries are Alex Murray and Peter Ferrara. Ferrara is a quick and shifty back who loves to bounce it to the outside, while Murray already has a year of experience under his belt. Also aiding the offense will be quarterback Tim Meier. Starting all ten games his sophomore year, Meier should get the Robinson passing game back this year.
Key Match Up
Taking one look at Robinson's schedule is enough to make any coach shudder. With non-district games against Stone Bridge and DC-power Anacostia, it's clear that Bendorf is out to get his team battle-ready for the Concorde District. The game that Bendorf will most likely want his troops ready for is against Westfield. Bendorf recognizes that Westfield is the clear favorite in the district and he'll definitely want his team fully prepared when he takes on the Bulldogs. With the Westfield game being their first district game of the year, they have a chance to make a statement to the region with a win here.
Extra Point
It's been 17 years since Robinson last missed the playoffs in consecutive years. Robinson will likely make the expanded eight team playoffs, but a stat like that speaks volumes about the strength of this program. So for Robinson to again post a record of 6-4 or worse, it would have to be seen as a disappointment. They are a team right now that is on a mission looking to prove that they are still a force to be reckoned with.
