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Complete camp coverage: 2017 football primer
Gelen Robinson's considerable strength lined up next to Eddy Wilson's unique strength-and-athleticism combination on the interior of Purdue's defensive line has meant significant trouble for the offensive line this camp.
Wilson hopes it's only a preview of things to come.
"Something serious," he said Tuesday when trying to describe what he envisions for the pair this season. "I’m telling you. You’ve got two guys just ready to run and hit everything moving. A lot of experience between us two. We both played as freshmen, so we know the game. We know what the Big Ten feels like. Year 3 for me, Year 4 for him, let’s go out and smack some heads. You feel me?"
Purdue’s coaches certainly do.
They moved Robinson inside from end in the spring, feeling he was a better fit there because of his size, both in weight to handle the pounding and lack of height to be an ideal end, and strength. It took some time for Robinson to make the adjustment then, whether it be different technique issues or simply realizing he had less space to work with on the interior, but with a full summer and 10 days into camp, he finally feels comfortable.
And that’s been evident.
Defensive line coach Reggie Johnson said Robinson has embraced the move inside and has showcased good quickness against guards this camp.
Wilson said Robinson’s strength — “He’s really strong,” Wilson said — has allowed Robinson to “move blockers with ease” in camp.
“Going into camp, I really knew exactly what I was doing. I didn’t really have to think about so much technique,” Robinson said. “Once you get to know your position and know the plays, you can just play and just go as hard as you can. You don’t have to do a lot of deep thinking. That’s what mainly helped me out this summer, and it’s been going great so far.”
A better knowledge of the defense and assignments within it has helped Robinson — and Wilson — maximize a good “get-off,” too, Robinson said.
And that only adds to their potential dominance.
Along with the strength, athleticism, understanding, chemistry and, now more than ever, the appropriate practice approach, Robinson and Wilson have progressed into potential consistent playmakers.
Wilson, for one, has the attitude every day to be dominant, he said. And, for the most part this camp, he has been, whether it’s been disrupting the line to blow up run plays in the backfield or bursting through the middle to send the quarterback running from the pocket.
“He’s a guy who can be as good as he wants to be,” Coach Jeff Brohm said. “He’s practiced hard up until now. He’s given good effort. He finds a way to make plays.”
Wilson said he's been able to do so consistently this camp, in part, because he’s more dedicated to producing each day. That includes the summer when Wilson made a concerted effort to get in top shape, changing his diet and oftentimes running with the combo group — not linemen. It helped him not only produce a solidly packed 295-pound body that is down to 21 percent body fat but also to develop a motor that he described as “non-stop” and "out the roof."
This year, Wilson is driven like never before.
“From my peers and coaches, everybody (is) telling me, ‘You can be the best.’ And I want to be. Every single snap. Every single play. Every time I’m on the field, I want to know that I’m the best player — and prove it to both my teammates and our competition,” Wilson said. “Where does that start? Practice. Every single snap, every time I touch the field, every time I’m in the drill, every time I’m doing walkthrough, I just want to be the best. So I want to practice having that mentality, having that playing mode all the time so once it’s game time, I can just turn it on.”
And keep it on.
Same goes for Robinson.
So far, so good, Johnson said.
“For us to be the unit we want to be, our effort cannot be questioned. I think they’ve been on point so far,” Johnson said. “Their effort has been really good inside, so I’m pleased with where they are.”
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