National Football League

Browns WR Robiskie confident in second pro camp

Published Aug. 4, 2010 7:07 p.m. ET

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Brian Robiskie believes finding a comfort zone at the Cleveland Browns' training camp can help get him into the end zone, too.

The second-year wide receiver from Ohio State did both Wednesday. He looked perfectly at ease grabbing a 45-yard touchdown pass from new quarterback Jake Delhomme to finish the first practice of two-a-day drills performed in high humidity.

''It feels great,'' Robiskie said, sweat still dripping off his face after 15 minutes of signing autographs following the two-hour workout. ''That was our 2-minute drill. You score, it's over. That's the way you always want to end.''

Robiskie faked left, ran right and got open in the corner. He held off a late challenge from defensive back Mike Adams and made a nifty over-the-shoulder catch.

''It will be good to watch that one on film,'' Robiskie said. ''More importantly, I want to look at three or four plays I didn't get right. I've got to see what went wrong, go back out and do it right.''

Robiskie had almost forgotten what the end zone looked like. After scoring 24 touchdowns among his 127 career catches in college and being a highly touted second-round draft choice, he did little as the Browns started 1-11 a year ago. He had just seven catches in 11 games, and four of them came in a 30-23 loss to San Diego in December.

''The good thing about all the bad stuff is that last season is over,'' Robiskie said. ''It's done, finished. We're all here working on a new season and with a real positive attitude.''

The son of former Browns head coach Terry Robiskie is well-schooled on the game's finer points, but discovered the transition from college star to professional player is not a snap.

''It helped that my dad told me things, but until you experience it yourself you just don't know,'' Robiskie said. ''I've learned a lot. I'm more comfortable. I also know I'll never quit learning and can always get better.''

New team president Mike Holmgren believes the slender receiver has gained mental strength from his rough rookie season.

''High draft choices, rookie receivers, it's a different world for most of them,'' Holmgren said. ''You'll see a lot of fine college receivers drafted high, come in their first year and kind of putz it around a little bit. Then the second year, bang, because now I get it. Brian has a chance to be someone like that.''

Coach Eric Mangini isn't sure why Robiskie didn't catch on immediately, though he likes what he's seen early in camp.

''Sometimes it takes guys a year to really get a sense of the system, get a sense of the league, get a sense of requirements, all those things,'' Mangini said.

Veterans Delhomme and Seneca Wallace were brought in at quarterback to replace Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, who were jettisoned after last season's offensive debacle when. The Browns scored fewer than 10 points in seven of their first 10 games.

''These two guys have a lot of insight,'' Robiskie said of his new passing partners. ''Whenever the quarterbacks give you an opportunity, you want to help them out. You get excited. Every receiver wants to get the ball. We've changed our offensive schemes and that should help.''

One new wrinkle on display has nothing to do with Robiskie, yet looks promising.

The athletic Wallace and all-purpose speedster Josh Cribbs, a quarterback in college, lined up in the backfield. The defense didn't know which man would take the long snap - or whether he would run, pass or flip it to the other guy.

''I like the progress we are making in some of our speedball stuff,'' Mangini said.

Robiskie has been Delhomme's favorite target in traditional sets. The former Carolina Panthers starter also found tight end Ben Watson and Cribbs several times Wednesday.

''Brian's a very precise route-runner,'' Delhomme said. ''He does extremely well locating the football in the air. He has a great sense of timing and body control to catch deep balls.''

Robiskie is more concerned with getting the Browns to break out of the pack in the AFC North than having a breakout season.

''I just feel like I am making progress,'' he said. ''I think it comes from seeing progress from the entire team. Everybody is more comfortable, more confident.''

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