Bengals’ Robbins vows to learn from uneven debut
“People say it all the time, especially on Twitter,” ruminated Bengals punter Brad Robbins said. “Everyone wants to be the punter on a team until it's really fourth down.”
On the Bengals' first fourth-down play in a 24-3 loss to the Browns, Robbins punted the ball 35 yards and hemmed Cleveland back at their 14yard line.
“Ever since I was a kid, I thrived and really embodied being in those positions,“Robbins continued. “Did I capitalize on every punt last game? No.”
Robbin's next two punts, which came with Cincinnati pinned deep, went for an underwhelming 45 and 41 yards. Then early in the second quarter, Robbins briefly lost control of the ball and shanked a 37-yard punt out of bounds.
“In all facets, I feel like I need to be better,” the former Michigan Wolverine said. “We're in the AFC North. I'm not going to say anything about the conditions. This is what I signed up for. This is the division I want to be in. I've played in plenty of conditions in college. It's time to call on that and be productive in that environment.”
Robbins called his next punt embarrassing. The Bengals made it to the Browns' 38-yard line and faced 4th and 3. Because of the importance of field position in a rain-soaked game and because the offense was struggling, Bengals coach Zac Taylor decided to send out his special teams unit.
The plan was for Robbins to pop the
ball up near the right hash by the goal line. Instead, Robbins' punt landed in the middle of the field, the gunners weren't in position to catch it, and the ball rolled into the end-zone for a devastating touchback.
Bengals safety Mike Thomas, the team's special teams captain in 2022, could tell the Westerville native needed to be picked up.
“He wanted to punt the ball better but wasn't getting the results at first,” Thomas said. “Instead of getting down and adding onto that, I said, ‘On to the next one. Don't even think about it. Bombs away.' You've got to encourage young guys. Even if you mess up, it's a long game. There's always another opportunity.”
Robbins rebounded, and his next punt was a booming 54-yarder late in the second quarter. That play showed why the Bengals drafted Robbins, demonstrated how he beat out Drue Chrisman for the starting job this offseason, and it gave him one positive to take from his NFL debut.
But Robbins' last meaningful punt of the game was even worse than the touchback. He nearly dropped the ball as he struggled gripping it in the rain, saw pressure coming right up the middle and delivered a mere 22-yard punt.
“Resilience is a big part of me and a big part of this team,” Robbins said. “You have to stay in an even-keeled mindset. Take it as it comes. If you keep showing up, you can't lose.”