St. Louis Rams: Robert Quinn Ready To Go Out There And Eat - Missouri Sports Magazine

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St. Louis, MO (Shane Gray, Missouri Sports Magazine)

St. Louis Rams 2011 first round pick and top-tier talent Robert Quinn is hungry â€" hungry to dominate, that is, in 2012.

It almost goes without saying that when one combines hunger with breathtaking burst, superb speed, exceptional explosion, plus rated power and some of the purest pass rush potential on planet Earth, you have the prospective makings of an NFL monster, a potentially unstoppable force who wants to see his entire defensive line dominate, too.

“I’m trying to help my team win as much as possible,” Quinn asserted. “You know, dominate as an individual but also help my D line defense dominate and overall help the team dominate. And, of course, win the big one at the end of the year.”

If St. Louis Rams fans were pressed to select one Rams player most likely to breakout this Fall, the name almost certain to be heard most frequently would be that of Quinn, a product of the University of North Carolina.

And, if by chance another St. Louis player would pull the upset and win the fan vote, Quinn would almost certainly still attain the votes of three time Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson and standout defensive end Chris Long (via this outstanding piece from Jim Thomas.)

“I’m really looking forward for him to have a breakout season,” said Jackson during the offseason. “If there’s anybody I’d tell our fans to look for, it’d be Robert.”

Long, as mentioned above, has expressed a great deal of confidence in Quinn, too.

“Robert’s taken some big strides,” said Long earlier this Summer. “He’s going to be the guy. He really will be. I’m dead serious. If he takes the steps I think he’s going to take this year, I think he’s going to be the guy.”

Last year, the guys who made the biggest impressions among NFL defensive rookies were No. 2 overall selection Von Miller of the Denver Broncos and No. 7 pick Aldon Smith, a former Missouri Tigers star, with the San Francisco 49ers. That fact was not lost on Quinn, when asked about the big rookie year of Smith.

“It’s funny you mention Aldon, I’m actually pretty cool with Aldon and Von Miller, “Quinn explained. “Those two guys had great rookie seasons. I was trying to compete with them at the same time.”

Quinn’s inaugural NFL campaign was solid as he compiled five sacks in part-time duty backing up the since departed James Hall while chipping in two blocked punts (and getting his hands on a third) in special teams work.

In the coming campaign, Quinn’s second, the 22 year old will have a better chance to compete with the aforementioned defenders’ numbers, especially after getting settled into the pro game and moving into a starting role after serving in a rotational one a year ago.

“You are more comfortable in your second year and being comfortable around the system with your guys allows you to play faster,” Quinn said. “Going into the second year and picking up the speed of the NFL and how that works definitely helps things.”

“Like any level you play, going from your rookie year to your next year you just feel more comfortable and confident just because you know the ropes and how things work so you just feel more comfortable in general with that,” Quinn revealed.

“This year, even with the new coaching staff you kind of pick up the playbook kind of fast,” Quinn continued. “Like I said you’re comfortable. You see your accomplishments from your rookie year and of course want to build on those and have a better season so I mean it’s just every year no matter what year for anybody you look at the previous year and try to make a stepping stone each year.”

Speaking of taking annual steps, that is what fellow first round defensive end Chris Long has done since entering the NFL in 2008. His sack totals have ascended each season, increasing from four, to five, to 8.5 to 13 last Fall.

There is no reason to believe â€" when considering the fortifications that have taken place along the interior line and secondary as well as the continued elevation of Long and Quinn’s respective game’s â€" that the aforementioned bookends cannot become of the most dynamic tandems in the league.

However, for Quinn’s part, he asserts that he and Long are focused on team success, rather than just their own statistical compilations.

“I think me and Chris are really just trying not to look at individual stats,” Quinn conceded. “We want everybody, as we say, to go out there and eat and produce. Whatever you gotta do. I think anybody can be happy with their stats if we win. Like I said, if I don’t have a sack or don’t play the whole year but win the Super Bowl we’re happy.”

“We’re trying to look at the big picture,” Quinn emphasized, “not just say I went out and had 500 sacks in one season or something ridiculous but then didn’t go to to the Super Bowl and fell short. Especially with coach Fisher, you’re just trying to look towards winning the big one and whatever you get after that is just a big plus.”

Speaking of big, Quinn did not always have his eyes on becoming a pass rushing dynamo or dominant defensive end.

In his younger and smaller days, Quinn modeled the likes of Deion Sanders rather than Julius Peppers, Jared Allen, Dwight Freeney, Jason Taylor or even former Coach Fisher protege Jevon “the freak” Kearse.

“When I started playing I started playing DB so I was more looking at Deion and then got a little too big and then went to linebacker, ” Quinn expressed. “A couple year later I did D end and started learning and looking at guys. Even now, I think Jared Allen had like 22 sacks last year. Seeing some of the guys crazy numbers, it drives me to put up numbers.”

“Just being a guy’s nature trying to compete with other guys, stay on top,” Quinn continued. “So (I) kind of look at how they got to the level they are are now and try to perfect my game like they have and try to dominate and perform like they have as well.”

In high school, Quinn actually dominated in wrestling while messing around on the skateboard.

“Back in high school I actually wrestled,” the 6’4″ Quinn explained. “They tagged wrestlers as not very good basketball players so I kind of stuck to wrestling and used to skateboard, too. In high school I think coach had me at like a 118-3 record. Not to brag on myself, but three individual state heavyweight championships and one team.”

On the football field, Rams fans would love to see Quinn have three league leading seasons in sacks and a team title, too, just as he did while wrestling.

Time will tell how that plays out, but is anyone else encouraged to hear so much talk from Quinn about individual and team domination and the hunger that he possesses to be great?

After all, a good portion of NFL players possess tremendous athletic gifts. Quite a few others have at least one or two elite skills in the tool chest. Several more are hungry to perform and be great. But very few own the whole package and then also put it all together, something Quinn is clearly hungry to do.

Yes, make no mistake about it, Quinn seems poised and prepared to “go out there and eat” with the rest of the Rams revved up defensive line. It should be interesting to see what Long, Michael Brockers, Kendall Langford and Quinn can accomplish this Fall. If the Rams can get some leads and Quinn and Long can pin their ears back and go, look out.

(For more on Quinn and his work with Special Olympics Missouri, Inc., please check this.)

Photos by Michael Thomas, NFL Photographer. (Copyright MSM Images)