Jadeveon Clowney has been all smiles since joining the Browns, and his play on the first practice with pads shows why he's happy. (Cleveland Browns)
On the first day of pads, Jadeveon Clowney makes his presence felt at Browns camp
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from Day 6 of Browns training camp …
The pads came on, and the gloves came off for the defense.
For the first time, Joe Woods’ new-look defense had the chance to rush the passer and press receivers and tight ends at something more than jog speed.
It was the first time for new defensive end Jadeveon Clowney to make his presence felt. And he did not disappoint.
On Saturday, defensive line coach Chris Kiffin made some prescient comments when asked about Clowney.
“All I know from Jadeveon is what I’ve seen and he looks awesome, looks healthy, in good spirits, attentive in meetings, everything we’ve asked of him he’s done,” Kiffin said. “I think he’s very motivated, very excited. He’s already said it, he feels real comfortable here. He’s in a great spot and he looks like it.”
Clowney had two virtual sacks of Baker Mayfield in a three-play sequence. Both came at the expense of right tackle Jack Conklin. It was just a glimpse of what Clowney could mean at the end spot opposite Myles Garrett if he can stay healthy this season.
Other defensive notables were safety John Johnson, who stepped in front of receiver Alexander Hollins to defend a pass from No. 3 QB Kyle Lauletta, though he dropped the interception, and linebacker Mack Wilson, who leaped to intercept a pass intended for tight end David Njoku in the end zone.
Mayfield riled up
Early on, the offense was making more plays than the defense.
Receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones made a nice sliding catch to the right sideline while closely covered by Denzel Ward, and then Mayfield connected for a touchdown with receiver KhaDarel Hodge, who put a stop-and-go move on big, 6-3 corner Brian Allen and strode easily to the end zone.
But in a 7-on-7 period, Mayfield got upset with himself after a rash of throws hit the ground.
“Ridiculous!,” Mayfield barked while stomping to the sideline. He turned to his offensive teammates on the sideline and exhorted, “We gotta do better! We gotta do better!”
The next time in on a team red zone drill, Mayfield completed passes in the end zone to tight ends Austin Hooper and Njoku.
In between was a miscommunication with Jarvis Landry.
After the six-play series was up, Mayfield did not celebrate the touchdowns but crouched down on the sideline to discuss the misconnection with Landry.
Wood hardened
Receiver Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins said he re-watches the Browns’ 22-17 divisional playoff loss to the Chiefs “all the time.”
One of the biggest plays in that game was Higgins’ fumble out of the end zone after trying to reach the ball over the goal line. The ball came out when Higgins was ear-holed by Chiefs safety Dan Sorensen.
The Chiefs were awarded the ball at their 20-yard line. It turned out to be a 10-point play, increasing what should have been a Chiefs’ lead of 16-10 to 19-3 at halftime.
“I tend to go back to that,” Higgins said. “We needed a spark. And it was like how can I contribute to give us that spark. I feel the majority of battles I had that game, I won them, but I could’ve [done them] at a higher level. I had a couple mental errors.
“Moving forward, we have them Week 1 so we have to try to eliminate that.”
Does Higgins like the idea of playing the Chiefs in Week 1 to start the season?
“Hell yeah,” he said.
Brownie bits
Linebacker Anthony Walker (knee) will miss at least a week with a non-contact injury suffered on Monday, but won’t need surgery, coach Kevin Stefanski said. Safety Sheldrick Redwine (ankle), may miss a week, also. Rookie running back Tre Harbison was assisted by trainers and then carted into the fieldhouse with what looked like a head injury …
Rookie linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah left the Covid-reserve list and made his first appearance of camp. JOK participated only in individual drills and will be eased back in. “He understands what is at stake and the work that needs to be put into it. He will be just fine,” Stefanski said …
With Owusu-Koramoah out, Wilson has stepped up as the WILL linebacker. Stefanski said linebackers will now get trained at all three positions in Walker’s absence. On Tuesday, Jacob Phillips stepped into Walker’s MIKE linebacker spot. Phillips is also considered a contender for the starting WILL position …
With Ronnie Harrison (hamstring) still out, Redwine (ankle) out and Grant Delpit having a maintenance day, the defense was down to Jovante Moffatt as one starting safety with Johnson. No. 2 nickelback M.J. Stewart also got some time at safety …
There were no skirmishes on the first day of pads. Stefanski said, “We talk about it. It is football. It is emotional. At the end of the day, you have to be smart. If you do that in a game, you are going to get thrown out. I think the guys understand that we need to practice hard, but we also have to take care of each other.”
