Amik Robertson has had a solid career up to this point with the Las Vegas Raiders. You could make the argument that he has already surpassed expectations. Yes, Robertson struggled a bit during his first two years. However, 2022 was the first time we saw Robertson put together a string of really good games and earn a roster spot for the next season. Let’s recap Robertson’s up-and-down career so far.
Despite His Size, Amik Robertson Can Tackle
Robertson stands at just under 5’9″, and with a frame that small, you’d imagine he’d struggle to tackle running backs and receivers, positions that are usually a bit bigger than Robertson. However, Amik was a very solid tackler this year.
Robertson had 35 total tackles on the season, not a bad number for a cornerback. He was very impressive, as were many of his teammates, in Week 13 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Amik had four tackles in that contest, and Pro Football Focus gave him a tackling grade of 87.6. Robertson would earn tackling grades of 72.0 or higher against the New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, and L.A. Rams as well.
With his small size, something that helps is Amik Robertson’s agility. He’s very quick and has a fast reaction time. Just look at how quick he moves on this play:
Amik Robertson takes the fumble all the way back for a TD! ?
?: #DENvsLV on CBS
?: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/qvpR1tCMp1 pic.twitter.com/ZgwblouswO— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2022
He Needs To Be More Consistent In Coverage
This is a bit of a frustrating aspect of Robertson’s game because he shows so much skill at times. Robertson has had some very impressive moments in pass coverage this past season, but he has struggled a bit as well.
Amik Robertson played very well in matchups against the Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, and the San Francisco 49ers. However, aside from those three, no other game really stood out. Robertson also had some games where he just wasn’t good. PFF gave him a coverage grade of 56.0 or lower in eight games. His overall coverage grade of 61.3 ranked 99th among all cornerbacks.
As already mentioned, Amik had some very solid games. Robertson has a lot of skill, which can make up for his lack of size. A jump ball against a taller receiver may be harder for Amik to defend than for some other cornerbacks. Still, Robertson did a lot better job staying with receivers in the open field this year. Watch him cover Keenan Allen in man coverage on this play:
Nice coverage by Amik Robertson on Keenan Allen in the slot on third down
Amik is undefeated when an opponents talks smack pic.twitter.com/NKAz6T4zl5
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) December 7, 2022
Robertson has the tools to succeed, and he showcased them occasionally in 2022 for the Raiders. If he can put it all together on a more consistent basis, he can really make a name for himself in this league.
What Does Amik Robertson’s Future With The Raiders Look Like?
Amik Robertson still has one year left on his rookie contract before becoming a free agent next offseason. As of now, he’s a fringe starter, but most likely he will be a backup next fall. We can only assume that Amik was able to earn himself a roster spot for next season with his improvement. Still, he will need to repeat that feat if he wants to keep his positive momentum going.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
The Stiff Arm Head Around The World: Chandler Jones And His 2022 Raiders Campaign