Kevin Stefanski was overjoyed to see the energetic turnout for his team's only practice in FirstEnergy Stadium. (Cleveland Browns)
Kevin Stefanski, players wowed by fan turnout and reception for Browns practice amid storm
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from Day 10 of Browns training camp …
It started with a 45-minute rain and lightning delay during which several hundred of the estimated 27,000 in attendance in FirstEnergy Stadium simply refused to run for cover. We’re talking about a Browns practice – not even a simulated game scrimmage – and fans didn’t want to give up the closest seats to the field.
Thousands of fans under shelter in the lower bowl did the wave to pass the time. As the rain stopped and the clouds parted, Myles Garrett trotted to the middle of the field and waved his arms above his head to stir up the football-starved crowd.
When the entire team assembled for pre-practice cals, coach Kevin Stefanski greeted everyone with a short speech over the house mic before handing off to Baker Mayfield. And the place went bonkers when the quarterback closed his remarks with a pep talk.
“We've been working. We've got a new team, we're ready to roll. We're setting a new standard and these guys are ready to rock for you guys. We're in this together, Cleveland,” Mayfield hollered.
About two hours of practice ensued with an energy level notches above any of the previous nine at the team’s Cross Country Mortgage Campus.
And even though Mayfield oversaw two unsuccessful two-minute drives against the No. 2 defense to end the proceedings, fans chanted his name as he conducted a media interview on the south sideline.
“It wasn’t even a fully packed stadium but it sure felt like it,” Mayfield said, his face dripping with sweat as the stadium turned into a steam bath.
The crowd was larger than at any of the Browns’ eight home games last year during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Reigning NFL coach-of-the-year Stefanski was moved by the reception.
“This was incredible,” he said. “Not surprised. This is a uniquely loyal fanbase, and I appreciate that. Great seeing all of the kids out here and people bringing their families out here, so that was outstanding. They brought the energy. They definitely brought the juice out here. I know the players responded to that.”
Now, about those two-minute duds
This was the first time in camp that Stefanski exercised the two-minute offense. It showed. He paired the No. 1 offense against the No. 2 defense, and the No. 2 offense against the No. 1 defense. The No. 1 offense was shut out in two trips with 55 seconds on the clock. And the No. 2 offense scored touchdowns both times.
On his first series, Mayfield took the offense from the 36-yard line to the opponent’s 46. That drive fizzled in an Austin Hooper drop, a throwaway to stop the clock at :22, an off-his-back-foot throw it up that should have been intercepted, and an overthrow for Donovan Peoples-Jones on fourth down.
The second series began at the opponent’s 40, also with :55 on the clock. It expired in an incompletion for Rashard Higgins, another overthrow for Peoples-Jones, a pass out of bounds, and final one out of bounds for Higgins.
It didn’t change Mayfield’s overall upbeat review of the day.
“We’ve gotten better as the days have gone on,” he said. “I think we’re learning what we’re trying to expand on offensively. We’re doing a better job of taking care of the ball. We did some two-minute stuff. I have to be a lot better on that.
"As this camp goes on, I think we need to continue to stress situational importance of third downs, two-minutes and taking care of the ball. Just keep emphasizing everything we need to as the year goes on.”
Stefanski reasoned, “You have to learn from every rep, good or bad. Certainly, it is not very fun when you learn from the bad reps, oftentimes for the players. We can teach off of it. It is our first time being in a two-minute team drill like that so communication just has to be on point. I thought the guys did a nice job, but you could say bad job by the offense and say good job by the defense. Just as long as we are continuing to learn and trying to get better with each rep.”
In this case, though, it was bad job by the No. 1 offense and equally so by the No. 1 defense.
Backup quarterback Case Keenum succeeded on both his two-minute opportunities, getting a pinpoint pass to tight end Harrison Bryant, who made a good catch as he hit the padded goalpost versus safety Jovante Moffatt, and a soft lob to David Njoku, also against Moffatt, who played with the first team because of injuries to Ronnie Harrison and Grant Delpit.
“I think the defense has made our offense really, really work,” Stefanski said. “They have done a nice job of being tight in coverage. The pass rush and the run fits have been outstanding. It is a really good battle back and forth, and we have said that I know you want to score every practice, but I think these guys are trading blows every day.”
Baker on big money
Mayfield reacted favorably to the lotto-like contract signed by fellow 2018 draft class QB Josh Allen of the Bills (six years for $258 million).
“I am very happy for Josh,” Mayfield said. “Josh is a great guy. Going through that [draft] process with him, I am obviously very happy for him. In a tradition-rich town like Buffalo, they are lucky to have a quarterback like him who cares about it and lives that same mindset that they do up in Buffalo.
“Like I said, I am worried about winning. I think the rest will take care of itself. Yeah, it is good for the quarterback position overall. I would be lying if I said otherwise. I am worried about winning right now. I do not know the timeline on it. We have not talked about it because I am worried about winning this season.”
The Browns are dragging their feet on extension talks with Mayfield’s agent. Nothing appears to be happening. Mayfield was asked if he’d be OK if the Browns started the process during the regular season.
“I am not doing the negotiations so quite frankly I do not give a damn,” he said. “I am worried about winning Week 1, then going on to Week 2 and focusing on that week one week at a time. That is my mindset, so no matter how many times I get asked this question throughout the year, it is going to be the same answer because that is just the truth.”
Brownie bits
Stefanski invited Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy to the practice, and he spoke to the full team on the field after work was done. “First off, that guy is obviously a Hall of Famer but just a great human being,” Mayfield said. “Obviously, a great coach. Everybody you hear from, you hear great things about him. I got a chance to talk to him before practice, and then his message to the team afterwards [was] it is not about talent and it is not about bringing extra guys in, it is about not being outworked, doing your job and doing it at a very, very high level. It is just a great message from somebody like that who has done it before.” …
The kicking competition swung again to challenger Chase McLaughlin, who blasted kicks from 40, 43, 45 and 49. Incumbent Cody Parkey missed wide left from 49, but made the others. Even so, McLaughlin’s kicks had more juice on them as they went through the uprights. All kicks were aimed to the closed end zone. Stefanski said the kickers practiced on Thursday towards the problematic Dawg Pound end zone …
Besides the TD in two-minute, Bryant made a nice catch of a Keenum pass over rookie safety Richard LeCounte in the end zone …
In a 7-on-7 drill, Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins beat Greedy Williams and hauled in Keenum pass with a diving catch in the end zone. Higgins promptly rolled out the red carpet and David Njoku and Mayfield feigned snapping photos of him …
Massive tackle Malik McDowell left early with an oblique injury …
It turns out that Delpit has been out for nine practices with a new hamstring injury, not because the team is managing him after Achilles surgery last year. Stefanski said he’s hopeful he’ll return soon.
