By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia defensive coordinator John Rudzinski usually shows up in a serious mood for his weekly chat with media. Coach Rud is a no-nonsense kind of guy.

Rudzinski broke the mold on Wednesday though when his star linebacker Kam Robinson’s name came up, especially No. 5’s role in getting the game-winning sack for a safety in last weekend’s narrow, 22-20 win over visiting Washington State.

The Cougars were backed up against their end zone with a false start, moving the ball to the 1-yard line. Virginia smelled blood in the water and Rud likes to be even more aggressive in such situations.

“Kam came to the sideline during the time out and he’s like, ‘Blitz me,’” Rudzinski said, getting more animated as he relayed the scene. “He’s yelling, ‘Blitz me.’ Washington State changed personnel groupings and we matched the sub, and [Kam] was going to blitz regardless, so we might as well have brought him, so we brought him.”

The charging linebacker dropped Cougars running back Kirby Vorhees in the end zone for the safety, giving UVA the lead with only 2:41 to play. By making the play for the 2-point safety, the Cavaliers also were to receive the kick. Essentially, all they had to do was make a first down to secure their fifth straight win.

Robinson said his intent was to end the game right there with Wazzu in panic mode from their own end zone, and he did just that.

“All I seen was ball,” Robinson said. “I’m like, should I go hit him?”

Buried him in the end zone.

“It was game over,” Robinson said of the moment.

Rudzinski wouldn’t have expected anything less from a linebacker who is a game-wrecker.

“He’s made a bunch of plays,” Rud said. “It’s fun when you know that you can call something, and maybe you’re not in perfect position, and you know what? You have some erasers … and that’s what Kam is, he’s a natural eraser because he plays hard and he plays with an urgency. He wants to make every play, and frankly, good players make great plays and he’s made a bunch of them.”

Without any doubt.

Robinson, a 6-foot-2, 234-pounder from Essex High in Tappahannock, is second on Virginia’s defense in tackles with 35, even though he’s only played in four games (and not a lot in one of those, as he sat out the first three games recovering from a training camp collarbone fracture).

The tackles leader is Devin Neal with 40. He’s played in all seven games.

A bunch of plays, Coach Rud said. Other than the tackles, Robinson has posted 2.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack, a pass breakup, a fumble recovery, an interception returned 47 yards for a touchdown and a game-winning safety. A bunch of plays, indeed.

“I think the numbers and the recognition (Robinson has been ACC Linebacker of the Week following both of his past two games), all of that speaks for itself,” said Tony Elliott.

“He’s a guy that can do it all. He can run sideline to sideline. He can cover just about anybody on the field in man coverage if you need him to. He can rush the passer. He can fit the gap. I mean, there’s really not many things that he can’t do athletically.”

And then there’s that eraser thing Rud mentioned. That’s a nice bonus for any coordinator to have — a guy who can suddenly erase any mistake his teammates make and turn a potential disaster into a positive.

Robinson is one of those players who the opposing offensive coordinator and the quarterback must know where he’s lined up on every single play because he has the ability to wreck a gameplan in a hurry.

Elliott knows, having been a former OC.

“He’s a guy that you need to know and have a plan for in all those different aspects when you’re putting together your concepts to go attack him,” the coach said. “I’m so happy for him because last year, man, he battled, gave us everything he had, played through injury. It’s so good to see him out there healthy, running around, able to make plays.”

Last season, Robinson played hurt most of the campaign, and hurt is an understatement. He played when most men would have cowered and shut themselves down for the season.

Not Robinson. Not the eraser. Not the game-wrecker. Not the linebacker who would love to get the blitz call every play.

“I think he’s going to continue to get better,” Elliott said. “I don’t think he’s hit his ceiling. I think there’s still a good amount of room before he taps out. I’m just excited to have him on our team.”

Fair warning to all those other guys out there on the schedule. Robinson’s got a lot more in the tank.