Ravens under-the-radar key contributor is ‘just scratching the surface’ of full potential

Second-year outside linebacker Tavius Robinson is quietly putting together an impressive breakout campaign.

A lot of Baltimore Ravens fans have been disappointed by the lack of playing time and production from third-year outside linebacker David Ojabo who has been a healthy scratch in four of the last six games. The 2022 second-rounder has just one sack in nine appearances and doesn’t contribute much on special teams with just 11 snaps all season in that phase of the game.

However, a young player at the same position who deserves more recognition for how far he has come and how well he has played this season is second-year pro Tavius Robinson. The 2023 fourth-rounder has carved out a role on defense that continues to grow while still being a core contributor on special teams and has earned the admiration of the coaching staff for his tenacious work ethic.

“It’s always about him coming in here and just doing whatever he can do to get better,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “You see him in the weight room. You see the way he trains. You see him in the meeting room. You see him in the film room on his own. You see him at practice. He takes very bit of coaching and tries to do it exactly the way he’s coached to do it in the most physical manner he can.

“Where he’s come as a football player, it’s been remarkable. It’s been really fun to watch, but I think he’s just scratching the surface. I really think he’s going to be even better than he’s been so far.”

Robinson has already set new career highs across the board with 3.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hits and four tackles for a loss in just 13 games. He has started each of the last three games including playing a season and career single-game career-high 93% percent of the total defensive snaps against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13.

As a rookie, he quickly established himself as one of the best edge setters and run defenders after three-time Pro Bowler Jadeveon Clowney and he consistently saw playing time on early downs. In his sophomore season, he has begun to display more of a disruptive prowess as a pass rusher while still being stout against the run. First-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr has been impressed with how he has grown and improved “in all aspects” of his game.

“I think now that the game has kind of just slowed down for him, and you’re able to see him just play even faster, play more aggressive and play more even more physical, and I think he’s even developed better as a rusher as well,” Orr said. “So, ‘T-Rob’ is one of those guys who [is] a Raven through and through. He’s a guy that we love. [He’s] not talked about a lot, but [he] just does his job consistently.”

A lot of the work that Robinson does for this defense when he is not pressuring the quarterback or blowing up a ball carrier in the backfield can’t be quantified by counting stats in box scores and often goes unnoticed by most without a trained eye for the game but is greatly appreciated by those that do, especially his coaches and teammates.

“He might not get the praise on the outside, but he gets the praise in our meeting room and our building because he does everything the right way,” Orr said. “If he doesn’t do it right, then he’s trying to do it right and he’s going to correct it. I’m happy with ‘T-Rob.’ I think he’s only going to continue to grow and get better, and he’s going to be very important for us down in these last four games.”

Every generation of Ravens defense seemingly has an edge defender and or interior defensive lineman who personifies what it means to ‘Play like a Raven’ with how they grind on and off the field. Robinson has all the makings of being the next Sam Adams, Jarret Johnson or Courtney Upshaw for this unit.