**This post is sponsored by Sprint.**
If there was anything positive to take away from the Saints crushing loss to the Cardinals this past Sunday it has got to be the play of rookie first-round draft pick Patrick Robinson.
I noted it in my post-game wrap-up on Monday morning as one of the only three good things to take away from the loss...
Patrick Robinson was making some pretty nice tackles out there, leading the team actually, and probably turning in his best performance to date.
Jeff Duncan also gives Robinson his due in his weekly post-game film study...
PLAYER OF THE GAME: You had to search pretty hard to find one on the Saints sideline, but Patrick Robinson was certainly deserving. The rookie cornerback was on the spot, making his first career start for the injured Tracy Porter. He responded with a solid game, leading the Saints in tackles and recording a pass breakup.
And, of course, you guys voted him as the Saints player of the game this week.
So of course we've got to award him Canal Street Chronicles' highest honor, the Game Ball of the Week.
Robinson's performance was great timing because until Sunday, I've got to admit I was starting to become a little skeptical about whether the Saints had made a mistake taking him in the first round. Perhaps you felt the same way? I don't think it is unrealistic for any of us to expect a first round draft pick to contribute almost immediately.
Against the Cardinals was the first time Patrick truly looked comfortable as he covered tons of ground and made some sweet hits. He wasn't perfect of course and he still has a lot of development ahead. I think his coverage needs some work and his tackling may not be technically sound. But the good news is that we've seen the potential and he seems to be heading in the right direction.
Naturally this begs the question: Will we look back on this game fondly as Patrick Robinson's breakout performance? Or was this just a brief glimpse of what is yet to come only after a few more bumps in the road? Perhaps you think it won't ever get better and Robinson is a bust to the bone.
Talk about it.