Rashard Robinson has turned heads since he arrived at the SAP Performance Facility. The cornerback has already received praise from a few of the most respected veterans on the San Francisco 49ers roster.
Antoine Bethea said that he likes what he’s seen from the rookie cornerback so far. Torrey Smith added that Robinson is 'confident as ever' and ‘works his tail off.’
You can now put defensive backs coach Jeff Hafley on the list of those who have been impressed by Robinson. That starts with the corner's competitive nature that is evident at each practice.
"What you love about him is, you like corners who have that dog in them, that confidence in him. He's got that," Hafley recently told 49ers.com. "He's competitive, and you've got to have that in you."
San Francisco selected Robinson in the fourth round this year (133rd overall) out of LSU. The corner posted 30 tackles and one interception in his two seasons with the Tigers. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he posted a 4.49-second 40-yard dash, a 121-inch broad jump and a 35.5-inch vertical jump.
What stands out the most about Robinson is his 6-foot-1 frame and long, 32 1/4-inch arms.
"The skill set," Hafley started. "He's got size, he's got length and he's got man-coverage ability."
Robinson worked hard during the offseason program in order to learn the intricacies of an NFL defense. Additionally, the corner got tested on a daily basis going against the speed of Chip Kelly's offense.
Hafley has appreciated Robinson's approach at the onset of his professional career.
"He's been a lot of fun to be around, and he's gotten better every practice," the coach said. "That's our goal right now, to get better everyday.
"He's done a great job, in the classroom and on the field."
Robinson is one of 10 cornerbacks on the 49ers roster that will be vying for playing time when training camp begins in August. It's Hafley's hope that the impending competition will bring the best out of each player.
If his upward trend continues, Robinson's best could make him a factor in San Francisco's secondary sooner rather than later.
"We have a young room for the most part at the corner position, full of guys trying to win that job," Hafley said. "They're pushing one another which is great to see."
