Aldrick Robinson's receptions total of three in three games might look minimal since joining the Vikings in mid-September.
But Robinson has made those catches count, connecting with Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins for a pair of touchdowns during that span.
"That's a good ratio; you can't beat that," said Robinson, who has three receptions for 42 yards in Purple. "That's a ratio you want to keep going."
After hauling in one pass for nine yards in his Vikings debut in Week 3, Robinson reached the end zone twice in a Week 4 loss to the Rams on national television.
Cousins found Robinson for a 16-yard score in the first quarter in Los Angeles before the duo hooked up again in the second stanza for a 17-yard score.
But those plays didn't just happen by accident for Robinson, who now has 11 career touchdowns after being a sixth-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by Washington.
"I knew what I was doing, and that was the key," Robinson said. "When you know what you're doing, you can play faster. Kirk knows where to put the ball, so I have to make plays."
The Vikings added Robinson to the roster on Sept. 17. The 30-year-old has seemingly been in one big cram session since, trying to learn the ins and outs of Vikings Offensive Coordinator John DeFilippo's system.
In addition to waking up early to review the Vikings offense on a daily basis, Robinson said he also studies flashcards at night that were given to him by Vikings wide receivers coach Darrell Hazell.
"Coach Hazell gave me some flash cards to fill out with formations," Robinson said. "The first part is that you have to know where to line up. Now that I know the formations, I can learn the plays and the concepts easier.
"I'm trying to make it familiar with what I already know. I've been in this league for a while and have been in a couple different offenses, so just seeing routes that I've seen before," Robinson added. "And then there's the terminology – you have to get the terminology down with how I can relate it to what I already know. It makes me learn things faster."
But the offense isn't the only thing the Texas native has had to adjust to. Robinson spent the 2017 season with the 49ers and was still in Northern California when he got the call to join the Vikings.
"I'm trying to get familiar to the environment and the weather change," Robinson said. "I came from Cali, so I was used to blue skies and warm weather.
"Coming out here, it's cold, so I have to get some new clothes and jackets and things like that to bundle up," Robinson added.
Robinson recently sat down for a Timeout with Vikings.com to discuss being reunited with Cousins, his best sport away from the gridiron and how much he enjoys being a father.
Q: What impresses you most about the culture Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer has created inside Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center?
A: Just being in this building is exciting. You come to work knowing there's a purpose. Everybody around here is so organized, and they move around like pros. Being in other places and noticing things, I know that it's being done here the right way. At the end of the day, we all want to be playing in February. It's good to be on a team that has that chance.
Q: What changes do you see in Cousins since your time together in Washington?
A: He's definitely more confident. He's always been talented, and I've seen that when he was younger and first came in the league. Now it's all about confidence. He has that, and he knows that this is his team.
Q: What impressed you the most about Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs?
A: Their work ethic. As talented as they are, they work just as hard, especially Diggs. He comes to work with his hat on every day. And they're emotional guys. A.T. … I didn't know he was that type of player, but then when I got around him, I saw that he was a dog. He brings that dog mentality to the table.
Q: What are your hobbies away from football?
A: I'm a bowler. I don't want to say professional, but I'm semi-pro. I love to bowl, and that's one of the things I do outside of football to take my mind off of things. I'm competitive at that, too.
Q: Have you ever bowled a perfect game of 300?
A: I have not. I've come close numerous times, but I've yet to do it. My highest score is 290. I had a spare the first frame, and then I struck out the rest of the way. And I've also done it the other way … struck out until the 10thframe and get a spare in the end. I'm close.
Q: You placed 2nd in the 200-meter dash (21.48 seconds) and 4th in the 4x100-meter relay as a high school junior at the Texas state final meet. Do you still have a passion for your track-and-field background?
A: I could have been an Olympian … maybe. I had some wheels. I was supposed to go to college for track but chose football. I even ran a little track in the summertime in an unattached meet. I ran like a 22 flat [in the 200-meter dash] and had a 10.6 in the 100. That's with no training, but it was good to be out there.
Q: You're a dad to a 5-year-old son; how much do you enjoy fatherhood?
A: I love it. He's Aldrick Robinson, Jr., so I call him, 'Lil A.' It's just a wonderful thing to see him grow and learn new things. It's fun to watch.
