As the Bengals focus more on field position, they're counting on more from Brad Robbins

The day before every Cincinnati Bengals game, head coach Zac Taylor meets with the coordinators and football data analyst Sam Francis to plot out decisions that they’ll have to make on game day.

They go over situations like their approach on 4th and short when they’re past midfield. If they’re expecting a high-scoring game, they’ll enter the game with the plan to go for it. If they’re expecting the game to be a low-scoring field position battle, they’ll enter the game with the plan to punt.

Without quarterback Joe Burrow for the rest of the season, the Bengals will be playing a lot more low-scoring field position battles. In last week’s 16-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals totaled 10 first downs and 222 yards. A few missed opportunities on special teams carried even more significance.

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“We kicked a touchback (on a punt) toward the end of the half, and that's some hidden yardage right there,” Taylor said. “There were some opportunities in all three phases to capitalize on the hidden yardage portion of things that could have led us to potentially more points and allowed us to win the game that they capitalized on and we did not."

An early turning point in the game took place on 4th down from the Steelers’ 49-yard line late in the first quarter. Bengals punter Brad Robbins delivered a solid 38-yard punt, but he wasn’t able to pin the Steelers inside of the 10-yard line. That drive ended with a field goal that gave the Steelers an early 3-0 lead.

Then early in the fourth quarter, the Bengals were pinned deep in their own territory. When the Bengals needed a booming punt, Robbins only gave the Bengals a 41-yard punt that sailed out of bounds. The Steelers finished that drive with a field goal and a 13-7 lead.

According to Puntlytics, Robbins ranks 30th in the NFL in punting expected points added, which is a reflection of the efficiency of his punts. He was frustrated with his inability to flip the field in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens, and Robbins said he just wasn’t able to find the sweet spot of the football that day.

“Do you ever feel like you’re running in quicksand?” Robbins said. “I was struggling. I kept adjusting and trying to tinker and find something. But in those games, you’ve just got to find a way to get it done.”

The next week against the Steelers, Robbins had one of his most frustrating punts of the season when he kicked a touchback on 4th and 5 from the Steelers’ 43-yard line. The Bengals drafted Robbins because of his strength as a situational punter with great hang time and accuracy. That strength hasn’t translated right away for the rookie punter.

“As a guy who prides himself on knowing situational football, I got a bit too greedy,” Robbins said. “If you watch the film, when I hit the ball, I knew it was deep. I was telling the ball to sit. It just lands a hair deep. If it lands a few yards shorter, it would be good for the team. I’m definitely disappointed. There’s a lot to learn from. I can do a lot better for our team.”

The bright spot of Robbins’ season is that the Bengals are barely allowing any return yards, but Robbins said he has to trade some return yards for distance. Just like a rookie at any position, he’s facing new types of situations and learning through experience.

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Robbins said that he’s always working on his technique, but “it’s more mental than anything.” He’s going over notes from his college career and reflecting on what he has done when he has been at his best. He has a list of quotes from people who have influenced him, and Robbins is also looking back at that.

“No one is harder on themself than me,” Robbins said. “I need to be able to go back to my roots. It’s about re-finding that purpose. I believe in myself. Our coaches believe in me. The punt team trusts me and believes in me. It’s just all about execution at this point.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The Bengals are counting on more from punter Brad Robbins