Robinson Reveals That Life With The Broncos A Snap Long Snapper From UI, Ferris Would Like Larger Role In Nfl

Most athletes who advance to the professional ranks do so by taking immense personal pride in their performance.

But when those successful athletes find themselves as backups in the NFL, the limited playing time can sometimes be difficult to cope with.

Some grow dissatisfied and begin grousing about their status.

Jeff Robinson has a more productive approach: taking pride in what he’s getting a chance to do - long snapping and working on special teams - and continuing to work hard to get more playing time for the Denver Broncos defensive unit.

“It’s frustrating, but I realize not everyone can play,” said Robinson, a University of Idaho and Ferris High grad. “Still, I think I’m in control of my own destiny; I think I’ve just got to improve my skills and get to where I’m playing the run better and then keep rushing the passer the way I know I can.”

Robinson is getting a handful of plays every game as defensive end, backing up one of the NFL’s best sackers, Simon Fletcher.

But he’s on most of the special teams and fills the crucial role of long snapper.

“I could be a snapper in this league for 10 years,” Robinson said. “But I want to become more than just a snapper, I’d like to be able to play a lot AND snap if possible.”

He certainly showed he could do that at Idaho, earning Division I-AA All-America honors and being drafted in the fourth round by Denver three years ago.

“What I need to do is gain some weight so I’m a little more stout against the run,” the 6-foot-4, 265-pound Robinson said.

The Denver defense, which today takes on the Seattle Seahawks rushing attack - tops in the NFL has been erratic this season.

“We’ve given some games away where we didn’t show up for some reason,” Robinson said. “Defensively, it seems like we play really good or poorly, there’s no middle ground.”

The Broncos held New England to three points, Arizona to six, and shut out an offensive Oakland team, but then gave up 31 to Philadelphia, 27 to San Diego and 42 to Houston.

“The big thing to us is third downs,” Robinson said. “If we can’t buy a third-down (stop), teams do well against us. In our six losses, teams are like 60 percent on us on third downs, and in our seven wins, teams are like 28 percent on us. It’s a dramatic difference.”

The defense has changed considerably under new coach Mike Shanahan, who replaced Wade Phillips this season.

“It’s a good defense but it’s new so sometimes there’s a little uncertainty,” he said. “By now, though, we should have it ironed out. We end up playing a lot of eight-man fronts with a safety rolled up to help stop the run.”

Robinson likes what he sees of Shanahan, a Broncos offensive assistant during its last three Super Bowl appearances.

“If you give Shanahan time, he’s definitely going to create a winner,” Robinson said. “He’s going to make the changes he needs to get it done. His utmost goal is to get a championship and he’s not going to stop until he gets it done.”

Robinson’s contract expires at the end of the season, leaving “the question of whether they’ll have me back or if I have to go someplace else,” Robinson said. “I mean, I’d love to stay in Denver, I love it here, and I think playing for Coach Shanahan is great, but I don’t know if they’ll want me.”

Robinson said there’s no sense worrying about that until the season ends.

“Right now, I’m striving to get more playing time,” he said.

At the very least, he’ll be an important cog on the special teams in a game that could be close enough to be decided by special teams play.

“We’re of the attitude that we have to beat Seattle and I know they know they’ve got to beat us to have any hopes for the playoffs,” he said. “That should make it a real good game.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo