When 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said that cornerback Rashard Robinson needed to bulk up his body in order to battle receivers down the field, Robinson had a different view. The second-year cornerback said he needed to stay “on top” of the receiver instead.
When things started to unravel in the blowout loss to Dallas, Robinson needed safety Eric Reid to pull him aside and calm him down.
When Robinson was benched in favor of rookie Ahkello Witherspoon, he continued his stream of penalties, committing two of them on special teams, including one when he pushed an Eagle in the back when the play was over.It gave him eight for the year, and several of those were of the bone-headed variety.
Given all of that, it’s not surprising 49ers coaches lost patience with Robinson and dealt him to the Jets Tuesday for a fifth-round pick. Players and coaches have said that it takes maturity to deal with the adversity of a winless season, and maybe Robinson lacked that maturity.
In contrast, Ahkello Witherspoon, who will replace Robinson, seems extremely coachable and is of a similar size. Witherspoon touted film study and the repetition of technique, saying he couldn’t help be successful with those two elements.
On Sunday in Philly, he was a bright spot on a soggy day, making three tackles and picking off a pass to set up the 49ers’ only touchdown. Since the beginning of the season, he looks to have piled muscle upon his spindly frame.
The trade of Robinson is simply more evidence that if a player isn’t totally bought in, he gets shipped out. Robinson seems like a good guy and he never shied away from the media even after some brutal performances. Nevertheless, the 49ers obviously want more from him then he could give, and that’s why he is now a Jet.