In late August last year, Pro Football Focus put out a video breakdown of the Rams’ offense. It detailed how Los Angeles used different concepts — like play-action passes, using certain personnel groups — in order to create mismatches and advantages in scheme.
The host of that video? Zac Robinson, who is the Rams' new assistant quarterbacks coach.
"Really impressed with some of the things he was doing with PFF," head coach Sean McVay said of Robinson earlier this month at the NFL Combine. "He had some impressive things, whether it be breaking down our scheme or, he watched as much tape as anybody over the last couple years, with the things he was being asked to do."
While Robinson has "assistant" in his title, McVay noted that Robinson will be running the day-to-day operations of the quarterbacks room. Passing game coordinator/quarterbacks Shane Waldron will have more of an overseeing/advisory role for the signal-callers. And then, of course, McVay will remain the team's offensive playcaller.
But for Robinson, this is his first job coaching in the league. After playing college ball at Oklahoma State, Robinson was drafted by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He bounced around to a few other teams, but never accumulated any pro stats.
Recently, Robinson's been working for Pro Football Focus as an analyst. And he's also helped prepare quarterbacks for the Combine — as well as worked with a few QBs already in the league to aid in their improvement.
But now he's taking all that experience to his first professional coaching job on the L.A. Rams.
"It's definitely helped out big-time," Robinson told therams.com of his previous experiences. "I've been trying to stay in-tune, and take a big picture of what's going on with different schemes throughout the league — defense, offense, and getting kind of a big-picture of it. And then just getting in the mix, I'm fired up to be on a team. You always miss the competitiveness and being around a team and working toward a goal. So being a part of that again is what I'm fired up about."
Robinson is also excited to work with quarterback Jared Goff — who Robinson has been studying for years.
"Obviously I've been a huge fan of Jared's game since he was in college," Robinson said. "And following his career so far and watching every throw that he's made in the NFL, and just staying in tune with what he's doing. But obviously, he's a great player. So I'm excited to get to be around him and hopefully help continue to develop him. He's so good in such a natural player right now that you just kind of want to keep on the trajectory he's on right now."
"He's got just a great poise about him, great demeanor, never too high, never too low — so you love that part," Robinson added. "And then you mentioned the throws from the pocket — he's got every throw in the book. You love to see he can get out on the move and extend a little bit outside the pocket. So he's got everything you're looking for — great leader from everything I hear from the guys, and everybody loves him. So, obviously, all that stuff is really important."
Check out the top photos of the Los Angeles Rams offensive line and quarterbacks from the 2018 season.
Offensive Guard (76) Rodger Saffold, Center (66) Austin Blythe and Offensive tackle (77) Andrew Whitworth of the Los Angeles Rams faces off against the Dallas Cowboys at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Rams win 30-22 in an NFL Divisional playoff game, Saturday, January 12, 2019, Los Angeles, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Rodger Saffold (76), center John Sullivan (65), center Austin Blythe (66), offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth (77), and offensive tackle Rob Havenstein (79) take the field prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on September 16th, 2018 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif (Rams/Hiro Ueno)
Quarterback (16) Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams faces off against the Seattle Seahawks, the Rams win 36-31 in an NFL Week 10 game, Sunday, November 11, 2018, Los Angeles, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
(76) Rodger Saffold, (77) Andrew Whitworth, (79) Rob Havenstein, (65) John Sullivan, and (66) Austin Blythe of the Los Angeles Rams are introduced before the Rams 38-31 victory over the Vikings in an NFL Week 4 Thursday Night Football game, Thursday, September 27, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Quarterback (16) Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams breaks the huddle with (65) John Sullivan, (76) Rodger Saffold, (77) Andrew Whitworth, and (30) Todd Gurley against the Seattle Seahawks during the Rams 36-31 victory over the Seahawks in an NFL Week 10 regular season football game, Sunday, November 11, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Quarterback (16) Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams faces off against the Dallas Cowboys at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Rams win 30-22 in an NFL Divisional playoff game, Saturday, January 12, 2019, Los Angeles, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Quarterback (16) Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams passes the ball against the New Orleans Saints during the Rams 35-45 loss to the Saints in an NFL Week 9 regular season football game, Sunday, November 4, 2018, in New Orleans, LA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrates a touchdown during the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints on January 20th, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Quarterback (14) Sean Mannion of the Los Angeles Rams participate during pre-game introductions and the national anthem as the Rams face off against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. The Rams fall short of victory 13-03 in the championship round on Sunday, February 3, 2019. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) looks to throw during the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints on January 20th, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
(79) Rob Havenstein and (66) Austin Blythe of the Los Angeles Rams pose with the George Halas Trophy in the locker room after the Rams 26-23 victory over the Saints in the NFC Championship Game, Sunday, January 20, 2019, in New Orleans, LA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Wide receiver (12) Brandin Cooks of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and runs while tackle (79) Rob Havenstein pancakes a the Kansas City Chiefs player during the Rams 54-51 victory over the Chiefs in an NFL Week 11 Monday Night Football game, Monday, November 19, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Offensive lineman (72) Aaron Neary of the Los Angeles Rams blocks against the Oakland Raiders during the Rams 19-15 Victory over the Raiders in an NFL Preseason Week 2 football game, Saturday, August 18, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Tackle (77) Andrew Whitworth of the Los Angeles Rams blocks against the New Orleans Saints during the Rams 26-23 victory over the Saints in the NFC Championship Game, Sunday, January 20, 2019, in New Orleans, LA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams center John Sullivan (65) and quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the NFL Super Bowl LIII football game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Feb 3, 2019 in Atlanta. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Quarterback (16) Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams lines up against the San Francisco 49ers during the Rams 48-32 victory over the 49ers in an NFL Week 17 regular season football game, Sunday, December 30, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Quarterback (16) Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams passes the ball against the Green Bay Packers during the Rams 29-27 victory over the Packers in an NFL Week 8 regular season football game, Sunday, October 28, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) drops back to pass during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Center #55 Brian Allen of the Los Angeles Rams during the Rams 33-13 Monday Night Football victory over the Oakland Raiders in an NFL Season Opener Weeks 1 football game on September 10, 2018, in Oakland, CA. (Daniel Bowyer/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) carries the ball in for a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) scrambles out of the pocket during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrates during an NFL Football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen (55) celebrates after winning the NFC Championship Game with a final score of 26-23 against the New Orleans Saints on January 20th, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana to advance to the Super Bowl. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth (77) sets a block during the NFL Super Bowl LIII football game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Feb 3, 2019 in Atlanta. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Offensive guard #76 Rodger Saffold of The Los Angeles Rams during the 33-31 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL season game five match, at CenturyLink field, on October 7, 2018, in Seattle Washington. (Daniel Bowyer/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) and offensive guard Rodger Saffold (76) take the field prior to an NFL Divisional playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys on January 12th, 2019at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Quarterback (08) Brandon Allen and Center (55) Brian Allen of the Los Angeles Rams arrives at the airport to depart for Atlanta, GA the site of Super Bowl LIII. Sunday, January 27, 2019. Los Angeles, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Quarterback (8) Brandon Allen of the Los Angeles Rams drops back to pass against the New Orleans Saints during the Rams 28-0 loss to the Saints in an NFL Week 4 preseason game, Thursday, August 30, 2018, in New Orleans, LA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
And one perhaps underrated element of Goff's game that Robinson took notice of at PFF is the quarterback's ability to make plays out of the pocket.
"Jared ended up No. 2 behind Patrick Mahomes in terms of throwing yards outside the pocket — which, a lot of people think of him as a pocket guy, but when he gets out on bootlegs and things, he's really accurate," Robinson said. "So that one definitely — you just don't think of it right off the bat. But then once you watch him play, you're like, 'Oh yeah, they are getting some good, chunk plays with him moving outside the pocket and throwing on the run.'"
As Robinson said, his goal is to ensure Goff's trajectory continues to go on that path.
