The Browns return to First Energy Stadium for practice just two weeks from the 2002 season opener in Baltimore. (Rob Lorenzo Photography)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from Day 13 of Browns training camp …
If this were a normal training camp, Saturday would have been the last Browns practice open to fans.
Don’t worry. You didn’t miss much. Without pads, the workout was relatively light and eventless. At least there wasn’t an interception thrown by a quarterback, which was something different.
On Sunday, Kevin Stefanski takes his team to FirstEnergy Stadium to re-acquaint everyone – including himself and assistant coaches – with their new workplace.
“It will look like a normal practice for most of it, and then we will go to a move-the-ball competitive-period type drill,” he said. “This first one is really that.
“The second time we get in there, we will really use it as a dress rehearsal, both literally with them wearing the uniforms but we will have headsets on, the scoreboard and all of that. Just use that as a dress rehearsal both for our staff and for our players.”
After Sunday, media access will be severely reduced as Stefanski shifts into regular-season mode to get ready for the Ravens on Sept. 13.
Wide open third receiver
To nobody’s surprise, receivers coach Chad O’Shea confirmed that the third receiver role behind Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. is wide open.
Based on practice reps, it appears that the depth chart after the starters goes like this: Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge, rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones, Taywan Taylor, Damion Ratley, J’Mon Moore, JoJo Natson, Ja’Marcus Bradley. Newcomer Damion Willis was not on the field on Saturday.
“I do not think anything is set in stone,” O’Shea said. “I think the evaluation is still ongoing. We look forward to getting out on the field today and then getting into stadium practice will be a great opportunity for some of these guys to be in a different setting.
“Really, there are a lot of guys that are doing a good job, and I would say the competition is still open.”
My observation is that Peoples-Jones is the one making the biggest move since the start of camp.
Sounding as if he doesn’t want to give Peoples-Jones a big head, O’Shea said, “[This] is how I describe it with Donovan. He has worked hard. He has made progress. He is striving for consistency in his game, just like our other players are.”
Two point, three point
Stefanski affirmed there is no turning back on the plan to have rookie Jedrick Wills as the starting left tackle against Baltimore.
To that end, line coach Bill Callahan sounded encouraged about the rate of progress Wills has shown going against veteran ends Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon every day.
“I think I have gauged his rate of improvement,” Callahan said. “You would love to have it much higher, like a veteran level, but let’s be realistic, that is just not going to happen in this day and age because of the tardiness of techniques of not having the offseason and things of that nature.
“I do think that the players learn more once they get into the games. They are really more in tune to what is going to occur and what they can expect. That rate of improvement is key. Week in and week out as we move through the schedule and during the season, I just want to see constant improvement, I want to see his technique get better and I want to see him graduate to a level where he can handle just about anything. Now, he is not going to be proficient at everything, but I want him to have good exposure and a good understanding of the things that are going to be facing him.”
Wills, a right tackle at Alabama, has been alternating between a two-point stance and a three-point stance, with his unnatural left hand on the ground.
“Most of our tackles are down in three-point,” Callahan said. “We have given a little bit more flexibility to the left tackle to the open side of the formation where there is not a tight end adjacent to him to play from a two-point because that is where their best defensive player is located. To be in that position from the two-point, probably more comfortable for the tackle because he can see a lot more, he can anticipate a little bit better and it does help them when they do pass set.”
Always an MVP
There are no ex-Marines and no former Heisman Trophy winners. You’re always a Marine and once you win that statue you are forever a Heisman Trophy winner.
What about Super Bowl MVPs?
Newly acquired linebacker Malcolm Smith was Super Bowl MVP in the 2013 season championship game for the Seahawks. He is only the second Super Bowl MVP to join the Browns. Former Washington Football Team quarterback Mark Rypien was the 1991 Super Bowl MVP and joined the Browns in 1994.
“It is definitely cool for my family to have something like that attached to my name, and it is special, but overall, it is just a testament to the group we had and the work we put in and even myself individually,” Smith said.
“It is a special award. People want to know, ‘What was it like to be at the pinnacle and play so well? What was your mind’s state before the game? How did you get ready?’ Most of the time, it is eliminating the pressure and eliminating the idea and anxiety that comes with the moment just walking in.”
Smith’s experience – 10 NFL seasons with five teams – will be valuable for the Browns’ linebacker corps. He has 52 career starts; all the others have 35 combined.
Brownie bits …
Tight end David Njoku (wrist) walked slowly into the fieldhouse shortly after warmups …
Kicker Austin Seibert was 8 for 8 behind the team field goal unit …
Rookie linebacker Jacob Phillips got reps with the first team because B.J. Goodson (personal) was out. Also out were tackle Chris Hubbard (ankle), cornerback M.J. Stewart (hamstring), cornerback Greedy Williams (shoulder), cornerback Kevin Johnson (liver), center JC Tretter (knee) and linebacker Mack Wilson (knee).