Name: Robert Marco
School: Washburn University
Position: Offensive Line
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 315

Q: What were some of your goals heading into your final collegiate season?

Some of my personal goals were to become more physically dominant as a player which comes down to being explosive and well conditioned. Maintaining physicality or even increasing your physicality as the game goes on is essential to winning personal match ups and games. A big team oriented goal I had this season was to win the conference. Our team was very talented in a incredibly talented league. We knew if we won the MIAA we’d have a great shot at a National Title.

Q: If you could describe your style of play in 3 words, what would they be?

Physical, Smart, Relentless. This is a motto that has been instilled in us by our coaches and they did a phenomenal job, that’s how I would describe my game along with a number of my teammates.

Q: How will you train and prepare this offseason for the draft or other pro opportunities?

I’m training with two of my coaches from Washburn. Both of them were in Graduate Assistant positions last year. Mike Miller is currently preparing to play with an Arena team in Dallas and the other, DJ Lynn has himself trained for years and has worked with a number of other athletes. They’ve been doing a great job helping me perfect my form. They have done a lot of speed training with 40 yard dashes and 20 yard shuttles themselves and they have been doing great passing on that knowledge. I have also been working with an NFL Offensive Lineman, Brian Folkerts, who played Center with the Panthers and Rams and he along with the other two have been helping me perfect my snapping.

Q: When you are studying film, what do you focus on or look for?

When I’m studying film, I first check out the scheme that they run and how each player fits in. What gap tendencies the Dline has and where and how the LBs tend to fill when they read puller or zone. I also look at LB and Safety alignment during blitzes and if they change their stances when blitzing. Easiest way to tell is a LBs weight displacement in their stance and they’re eyes, though you can’t always see that on film that is a great indicator in game. Some are better than others at hiding that. Motor and hips are big things I look at on the Dline. If a guy tends to quit early, I know he’ll get frustrated pretty quick. A guy that flips his hips well and sits in gaps are a pain sometimes obviously and you know you have to really count on technique and speed between you and the guys next to you to beat those guys. Hitting their hips and getting tight vertical doubles can get those guys moving.

Q: What separates you from the other players at your position?

Something that separates me from other players is my physicality. Putting people on the ground is one of the more gratifying feelings. The feeling of putting another grown man on the ground is something you need to love as a football player and especially an Offensive Lineman. That’s all we got. We live for goal line run plays and putting people on their back. If we get those two together, we’re really living.

Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?

A working man’s mentality. I’ll be there all day everyday and give whatever it takes to make that team whether I play or not. I’ll be there to take in any knowledge I can get to make the team, unit, and myself better. I never quit a thing in my life. I’ll do this until I can’t anymore.

Q: What is your final pitch or sell to NFL and other pro league scouts?

My final pitch would be to take a chance. I don’t have all the accolades, I didn’t get All-American. I’ve gone up against All-Americans and I know where I stand with my abilities. I have tangibles, but my intangibles are what make me. It’s a chance in your eyes maybe, but I know for a fact that isn’t the case.