Alabama football had a secret weapon on its coaching staff that helped it to a dominant, 42-10 victory over Wisconsin.
Colin Hitschler, the Crimson Tide’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, had spent five seasons under Luke Fickell — including last year with him at Wisconsin. Hitschler assisted the Tide in getting the job done at Camp Randall Stadium, but now Alabama turns to another assistant this week versus Georgia. Christian Robinson, the team’s outside linebackers coach, becomes the significant weapon in the game planning for the Bulldogs. A native of Lawrenceville, Ga., Robinson was a standout linebacker for the Bulldogs from 2009 to 2012. He played in 51 career games, including 17 starts, across four seasons — helping the program to two SEC East Division titles in 2011 and 2012. Robinson totaled 159 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks.
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He became a defensive graduate assistant and defensive quality control coach at Georgia in 2013 and 2014.
The Bulldogs led the SEC in turnover margin both years, while having one of the nation’s best pass defenses in 2014.
Robinson would then link up with Dave Wommack, Kane Wommack’s father, at Ole Miss to learn the 4-2-5 “Swarm Defense” in 2015 and 2016. Wommack saw it as a special opportunity to add Robinson to his defensive staff at Alabama as a position coach.
He spoke Monday about what makes Robinson special in this profession.
“C. Rob and I were both fortunate to coach under my dad,” Wommack said. “My dad always did a great job of developing young coaches underneath him. He treated us all like position coaches. I think Christian earned enough respect from my dad and the rest of the defensive staff his second year to get to coach the inside linebackers and spend a lot of time with them. That is a credit to who he is, the character he has, the work ethic, and he is also a very smart football coach. He has a bright future.”
Robinson knows something about Georgia’s landscape playing and coaching in it.
He should have these Wolf ‘backers coming at Carson Beck of the Bulldogs from all angles.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
