Is Cameron Robinson a left tackle?

Just people putting stock into the UA game. He's one of the best prospects coming out for an OT in a looooooooooong time.

Well, I feel better I guess. They just sounded real down on him. Them mentioning guard was a little scary.

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college coaches will have time to develop his weaknesses. at bama he will not be looked at to start from day 1.

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Hopefully it's just a technique thing. I'm assuming he's really athletic to have gotten so much attention.

When it comes to prospects Cam and Cyrus were polar opposites of what you want in a 5 star Left Tackle. Both are great Left tackle prospects both worthy of their 5 star rankings but they are two different embodiment's of what people consider the perfect left tackle prospect

Cyrus was a tall lean lanky guy known mostly for his impressive wingspan, quickness and footwork. He was very much the same type of Left Tackle prospect that Matt Kalil, Jake Long, and Eric Fischer were. These guys are not great run blockers/road graters but the pure athleticism makes them prototypes which is one of the reasons Cyrus for the longest time called himself Cyrus "The Prototype" Kouandjio. I don't know if he still does, I don't follow him on Twitter. But with those long arms (complimented by their big hands they what are called slappers and positioners. They do not grab in ways that is considered holding in today's game. What they do is they are constantly using their hands to push a person rushing against them off balance/keep them off the straight line to the QB. Their preferred technique looks like slap fighting and karate. They also tend to move as they react to the guy who is moving around trying to get to the QB.

Cam Robinson is a Left Tackle in the same mold Michael Oher, Andre Smith, and Luke Joeckel. While DJ Fluker was exclusively a Right Tackle during his Bama career that man was simply a massive man and while he had some lankiness, this mean streak on the field and impressive weights he sometimes was able to effectively play at in Bama uniform definitely make him a Type 2. These guys are big but they are not impressively lanky like the first group. These guys can be anywhere from 6'3" and taller. They also tend to be chunkier guys than the first group. Their technique is closer to wrestling/grappling. Instead of using hand quickness to keep a defender off balance, they want to engage physically with the defender (also without holding) and stonewall the guy at the point of attack. If a guy gets loose from them and it is a quick pass these types of LT's are then taught to cut the guy as a last resort instead of trying to reengage with the guy who as an edge rusher is often much more athletic.

The problem is that you find very good Left Tackles of both types. As the talent level declines you are still likely to find guys who are lanky and athletic with good hands. You may just have to add mass to these lesser talented guys. The problem is the lesser talented wrestler type Left Tackles are called Guards. Hence why when discussing the bigger thicker left tackles people who for whatever reasons have incentive with making the guys doubt themselves will refer to them as "Just a guard". The truth is though is when you find a really athletic Type 2 Left Tackle they usually end up getting paid a lot more money. Why? Because until they at least start practicing with NFL vets (and even not until they start playing) its hard to determine if any Tackle can hack it. So if you are going to gamble on a 1st round talent at Tackle you take the chunky ones because if they don't work out at Left Tackle for your situation they still have value as a trade, as an elite Right Tackle, or even as a lowly guard. See the 2009 NFL draft, where 3 pf the 4 tackles taken in the 1st round were type 2's with only Eugene Monroe definitely fitting the traditional dimensions (long arms, lanky) of a Left Tackle. The other three guys are still playing the NFL as well and they have all played Left tackle and other positions for their NFL teams.

If it is not a quick pass and the MMA Style LT feels he is getting beat his next step is to yield position and attempt to re-establish their previous set up/engagement. These guys will also use cut blocks more if they know the guy rushing them this particular time is there simply because of rush package.

Both types of LT's ultimate goals are to keep the QB's jersey clean, keep their own name out of the paper, and to see the other teams dainty pass rusher get up like a girl when they are forced to do a twist/work on a Center in order to finally get a little bit of play on a QB. And as much as a left tackle can maul a dainty pass rusher, a center not only mauls they chew and they gouge.