Thompson-Robinson reported that with every passing week, he’s becoming increasingly at ease.
He remarked, “I think you just get more and more at ease with the game.” “Playing in the NFL differs from college in terms of style. Therefore, I believe I’ll be fine if I can just keep improving in the ways that I work with the offense, my reads, and my timing with the tight ends, running backs, and receivers. But simply going about my business, aware of whatever the AVP, Coach (Kevin) Stefanski, or Ashton (Grant) have planned for me at practice.
According to Kevin Stefanski, Thompson-Robinson demonstrates the leadership qualities that are necessary for a quarterback.
He remarked, “I believe that’s the quarterback’s job.” No matter how long you’ve been in this field, it’s your responsibility to manage traffic, arrange for people to queue up, and perform other related tasks. That’s the reason he puts in so much effort, and young quarterbacks need to put in a lot of effort to understand their role so they can assist others in performing their jobs.
Throughout his time in college, Thompson-Robinson made excellent use of his mobility. At UCLA, DTR ran 471 times for 1,826 yards and 28 touchdowns. He gained 609 yards and nine scores from rushing in 2021 and 645 yards and twelve touchdowns in 2022.
Last Sunday, he gained first downs and ran three times for twenty yards. He believes he will do whatever it takes to keep the offense going, even if that means rushing more.
He declared, “As the quarterback, it is my responsibility to get first downs and touchdowns.” “I’m confident that I can use my strong legs to gain some first downs and, as I mentioned earlier, keep the defense off balance. Having to play man coverage against a quarterback who is rushing is perhaps one of the toughest things a defensive coordinator can experience. I will so make every effort to aid the squad in winning.
Despite not throwing a deep ball against the Steelers, Thompson-Robinson plans to increase his skill set in the upcoming weeks. Regarding moving the ball further down the field, he was questioned.
He responded, “Yeah, shoot, I hope so, but no, that’s not in my control.” I’m hoping we can run the ball with Kareem Hunt and Jerome Ford, as well as throw and shoot as many passes as we can. However, I don’t think anyone would be upset if I could toss a bubble five yards out and he caught it far enough. My role is to oversee the game strategy and ensure that I am fulfilling all of Coach Stefanski’s requests.
When a quarterback like Joe Flacco, a Super Bowl MVP who has passed for 40,000 yards, is listed behind him in the depth chart, Thompson-Robinson was asked if he felt greater pressure.
“Shoot, you guys have no idea how much pressure it was on me to hear my name being chanted by Steelers fans during a game. Everyone was thinking about this game, the Steelers, and how big of a rivalry it was. Joe coming in here is more of a blessing than anything,” he remarked.
“As I mentioned, I have a lot of questions for him. This morning, we were slicing it up and such. It’s excellent that he’s now attending early meetings with P.J. (Walker), me, and us. He fits perfectly. As I mentioned before, I’ve only known Joe for a day or so, but I already love him. It’s been fantastic.
Although he did not specify a backup quarterback for this week, Stefanski stated that Flacco will comply with all instructions.
Stefanski remarked, “He’s a pro; all he needs to do is be a great teammate, and he has done that.” “And performing your job and being a great teammate go hand in hand. Consider all the men we have had over the years; they are seasoned leaders who show excellent leadership without requiring much communication. Guys that do that are currently on our roster. Thus, Joe will just be himself in a special and genuine way and support this football squad through his preparation.
