Get ready, Bucs fans. New Bucs defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson is coming in hot to Tampa Bay.

And he’s exactly what this team, and specifically this defense, needs. From a skillset and production standpoint, Robinson will improve the Bucs’ defense by only a minimal, incremental margin. But, from a mindset Robinson will help Tampa Bay in droves. The Bucs defense got pushed around last season. That won’t happen anymore this year.

Standing at 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, Robinson fits the plan of the Bucs to get bigger this season. Nobody is going to confuse him for Logan Hall. An experienced player, Robinson won a championship with the Rams during the 2021 season and has played for five teams now, including Tampa Bay. Although he was let go by the Panthers this offseason, he actually got a pay raise from the Bucs.

Bucs DT A’Shawn Robinson – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Jim Dedmon

A’Shawn Robinson Brings A Fierce Nature To Bucs

So why is A’Shawn Robinson still around at age 31 and playing for so many teams? It’s without a doubt his attitude. Robinson is known as a fire-starter – a guy that doesn’t take flack from anyone and will give it back twice as hard. He often picks fights in the right setting and backs up his teammates, too. In many ways Robinson has been kicking ass since day one. That’s a message he wants every opponent to understand.

And it’s why its kept him around the league for so long.

“It comes from a little kid they used to pick on for not having anything – for being so poor,” Robinson said about where the origin of his ass kicker mentality comes from. “So you know what I did every day? I whipped somebody’s ass. Every day. Every day you said something I’d beat the shit out of you. That’s where that came from. Even in college, joke around, I’m gonna beat your ass. That’s just how I became and I’m the same way on the field.

“People talk and try to do dirty stuff. I just got tired of it. I just started letting people have it, let them know that I’m going to be the shit out of them, how I’m going to do it. I just destroy. I guess that’s how I was as a kid. If I can (create) madness, that’s how I saw it.”

A’Shawn Robinson Is Excited To Play With Vita Vea

When hearing about all the scuffles that A’Shawn Robinson has gotten into, it could make one view him as a selfish type of player. However, that could not be further from the truth. His championship experience speaks to the fact that he’s a great teammate.

Bucs DT A’Shawn Robinson – Photo by: Vincent Carchietta – IMAGN Images

“All I love to do is win,” he said. “I thrive on that.”

Robinson also talked about his excitement of getting to play with Vita Vea along the defensive line and what they can do together.

“They’ve got the big dog up front,” Robinson said of Vea. “He eats people, kills people, destroys them. To play next to him, to play off each other, is great.”

Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photo by: USA Today

Robinson will likely start in Todd Bowles’ 3-4 defense next to Vea and former first round pick Calijah Kancey. He’ll also serve as a reserve nose tackle, backing up Vea when they are in nickel or other schemes. While Vea, who’s been a team captain for several seasons, is more of a lead by example type of guy, Robinson can be the rah-rah type of guy to bring the energy this defense could use.

The Bucs brought in Robinson, linebacker Alex Anzalone and outside linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad so far in free agency on the defensive side of the bal. That was by design. They’re all here to ensure the Bucs return to the days of being physical and feared on defense – an identity that used to be a staple of this team. Game plans and schematics will dictate a lot, but the players’ approach and attitude is just as important.

Robinson’s approach is to kick ass and take names.