ST. LOUIS -- Tootie Robbins proved to the St. Louis Cardinals and to opposing defensive linemen last year that he has more going for him than an unusual first name.
The Cardinals expected their first-round choice in last year's NFL draft, Luis Sharpe, to quickly gain a starting place on their offensive line and he did, at left tackle.
But little was known about Robbins -- who played his college football at East Carolina and was the Cardinals' pick in the fourth round -- until he arrived at training camp.
All Robbins did was become a starter by the end of the exhibition season, convincing the Cardinals to move six-time All-Pro Dan Dierdorf from right tackle -- the only position he had ever played -- to center.
'I knew I had to be doing something right,' Robbins said. 'When they move a guy who has been an All-Pro for so many years to make room for me, it's a wonderful feeling. Dan and all the other guys have really helped me along.
'I knew I had the ability to play. All I had to do was go out and learn from the veterans and show I could play. As long as I worked hard I knew I would be OK.'
The 25-year-old Robbins, who is 6-foot-5 and weighs about 290 pounds, got his initial NFL education in an hurry last season, lining up against some of the best defensive ends in the league, including Art Still of Kansas City and Ed 'Too Tall' Jones of Dallas.
His performance has given him some added confidence coming into this season, when he has to face newly acquired defensive end Bubba Baker every day in intrasquad scrimmages.
'I feel a lot more comfortable this year,' said Robbins, who missed most of training camp with a knee injury but is expected to be ready to play when the regular season opens. 'Last year both Luis and I were under a lot of pleasure. I didn't know what to expect last year. I was just a rookie trying to make the team.
'Even though Luis and I came in and played as well as we did, I still have a few jitters when I go out there. It's going to take a few years to get used to being out there against some of those guys. I've still got a lot of new things to learn.'
But the performance of Robbins and Sharpe and Dierdorf's work at center has given the Cardinals probably their best offensive line since the team's glory days of the mid-1970s.
'I think right now we have great potential,' Robbins said. 'We're improving each day. I think before the season is over we'll show that we do have a good offensive line and I think we could have the best offensive line in the league. We have heart; we have a desire to excel.'
In addition to the two second-year tackles and Dierdorf, the Cardinals return both starting guards, Terry Stieve and Joe Bostic, and backups Randy Clark and Art Plunkett. Dan Audick was acquired from San Francisco in a trade for George Collins and will also be available in case of an injury.
Robbins cannot escape any interview without explaining how he acquired the name of Tootie, even though his given name is James.
'I have no idea,' Robbins said. 'I think it was either my mother or aunt who first called me that. I've got to find out. I've been living with it since elementary school.
'I prefer to be called Tootie rather than James. I never got used to the name of James. And Tootie is unique. You don't hear it very often, if ever. And I guarantee if you ever met another one, he wouldn't be as big as this Tootie.'
