Baker Mayfield conferring with Jarvis Landry and other receivers has been a common sight at training camp this summer. (TheLandOnDemand)
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Whatever the attendance is Sunday for the Browns’ only preseason game in FirstEnergy Stadium this year, it is sure to exceed the largest crowd of the entire 2020 home season.
Because of state-imposed COVID-19 protocols, the 2020 season-high attendance was 11,989 for the division-clinching win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Now restrictions have been lifted, though fans are being encouraged to wear masks in all indoor settings at games. And with anticipation of a historic Browns season as thick as the air that hung over their training camp, a crowd of 40,000 may be expected for the practice game against the New York Giants.
But they won’t be treated to a sneak preview of Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Jarvis Landry & Co.
For the second game in a row, coach Kevin Stefanski has elected to rest the majority of starters on offense and defense. Giants coach Joe Judge is likely to follow suit with his team.
So instead of Mayfield v. Daniel Jones, it is expected to be Case Keenum, or maybe even Kyle Lauletta, v. Mike Glennon.
Or, rather, Joe Jackson and Cameron Malveaux rushing Glennon instead of Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney.
Stefanski and Judge were satisfied with two days of “spirited competition” in joint practices on the Browns’ Cross Country Mortgage Campus fields.
“I thought it was really, really good work in both days, situationally,” Stefanski said. “[I’m] pleased with that.”
While other coaches have played their regulars sparingly through their first two or three practice games – notably, Kansas City’s Andy Reid, New England’s Bill Belichick and Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin – Stefanski has protected his starters in bubble wrap.
Last week in Jacksonville, the only projected starters to see action were defensive tackle Andrew Billings, competing cornerbacks Greg Newsome and Greedy Williams and linebackers Sione Takitaki and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on defense. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins and fullback Andy Janovich were the biggest names on offense.
Everybody on offense has been competing regularly at practice with the exception of receiver Odell Beckham Jr., whose rehab from ACL surgery has limited him to occasional passes “on air” from Mayfield during special teams periods.
Mayfield is not concerned.
“Our job is to be ready physically and mentally and just be ready to roll as soon as season comes around,” Mayfield said this week. “You are supposed to be ready when you come back to camp physically, and work through and iron out all the little details. Right now, we are on pace to do that.”
Mayfield has shown steady growth in the second season of Stefanski’s offense under the personal tutelage of coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Taking ownership of the offense has been evident as Mayfield has been seen constantly conferring with his star teammates after plays and between practice periods.
“That makes life a whole lot easier right now,” Mayfield said of returning to the same offensive system and coaches for the first time in four years with the Browns.
“We are trying things that are pretty challenging offensively – how we want to run routes, certain looks and formationally how we are setting things up. We are trying to challenge ourselves each practice. Our guys are handling it correctly, and we are just getting better.”
Stefanski has not tipped his hand about play time in the preseason finale next week in Atlanta. Previously, he said he would treat it as the traditional season dress rehearsal, which could mean starters will see some action.
But even if they don’t, Mayfield is confident the offense will be ready for the Sept. 12 opener in Kansas City against the two-time AFC champion Chiefs.
“I think right now we are over-emphasizing communication on certain looks and adapting on the fly, and … taking care of the ball and no pre-snap penalties,” he said. “That is the biggest thing going in. Knocking the rust off of the early weeks of the regular season is ‘do not beat yourself.’ That is the important part, and we are focusing on that right now.”
In practices, Mayfield has displayed good chemistry in connecting with Jarvis Landry, Peoples-Jones, Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge, and tight ends David Njoku, Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant. He also has thrown often to backs Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
Beckham has not competed in a single team drill. So he and Mayfield have strived to form a bond throwing on their own.
“We are trying to save his legs for the real thing but we are getting plenty of reps right now,” Mayfield said.
Overall, Mayfield said the offense is “continuing to grow.”
He said the true identity of the 2021 offense won’t be known until the Browns adapt to the way teams defend them this year.
“Similar to how we were growing in it last year of how are teams going to play us, and that is how you evolve,” Mayfield said. “You exploit weaknesses, and however they want to defend you, you have to find the answer to it. That is the part about having continuity and having smart players that we do on offense to be able to adjust and adapt in games and handle that.”
And that is for another day, not Sunday against the Giants.