Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah won't be the lightest linebacker in the NFL, but he's part of the lightest unit in the league (Cleveland Browns)
Browns second-round pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is linchpin of the lightest linebacker corps in the NFL
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from Browns rookie camp and interviews …
Rookie camp is about first impressions and the first impression of second-round draft pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is … he’s light.
Owusu-Koramoah, 6-1 ½, weighed in at his pro day at 221 pounds. There are at least 18 linebackers on NFL 90-player rosters who weigh less, including two on the Browns – fellow rookie Tony Fields (220) and converted safety Montrel Meander (215).
The Browns have committed to lighter, faster linebackers to keep pace with the league’s over-emphasis on passing. They have achieved the distinction of the league’s lightest linebacker corps with an average weight of 227.3 pounds among their nine linebackers.
In a TLOD examination of all 90-man rosters, the 49ers rank second (229.8), followed by the Colts (230.5), Vikings (234.1) and Bills (234.4). The heaviest average of NFL linebackers belongs to the Ravens (246.7).
“[My weight] is an advantage in terms of how the league is evolving in terms of more of a pass-based league and in terms of probably about 85 percent nickel and third-down defense,” Owusu-Koramoah said. “I think it is an advantage because the offense the way it is running in terms of more spread. I think it is an advantage because of how the league is moving forward and just my skillset in terms of getting to Point A to Point B in terms of slipping blocks and pressing blocks. I think that is something I will be looking forward to.”
It's possible, of course, Owusu-Koramoah will beef up some after a year or two dedicated to the Browns’ weight-training and nutrition programs.
“I think he could. He is young,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “A lot of the guys, we will get them in our program and I think Katy Meassick, our dietician, our strength staff and our high-performance staff will look at each of these guys and will figure out what the appropriate number is for them to weigh and what the appropriate dietary program is, if you will. It is individualized for each of those guys, but JOK, in particular, I am comfortable with where he is, and I know he will continue to grow, just because he is a young player.”
Numbers, please
The NFL’s relaxation of its jersey number restrictions has made single-digit jersey numbers a popular choice, especially among incoming players. But the Browns apparently will not assign any single-digit numbers to rookies.
Cornerback Greg Newsome, who will wear No. 20 after popularizing No. 2 at Northwestern, said he was told after the draft that single digits were off limits for rookies.
“The single digits are not something this program … We are going to keep it more of a you have to be at least a vet so we are trying to keep it kind of the same and keep it formal,” Newsome said.
“No. 20 is just cool. That is a number that had some openings, and I like No. 20. My dad [called me] Greg 2.0 so I was like, ‘OK, that is a cool little saying.’ I am going to embrace No. 20, and it is a new beginning anyway. I am kind of glad I did not get No. 2. I want to be somebody different that I was in college anyways. I want to be a different player than I was in college.
“If I wore No. 98, I would be OK with it. I will make the number. The player makes the number, anyway, so it was no challenge to me at all to switch numbers.”
Every number has a story.
Osumu-Koramoah wore No. 6 at Notre Dame, but that’s Baker Mayfield’s number. He will wear No. 28 – very unusual for a linebacker.
“First of all because it was the best option that I had,” he said. “Trying to use mathematics and figure out how I can equal six, I was trying to flip the eight around with the negative two to equal six. But there is no real motivation or story to it. I just like the number above the other numbers.”
Receiver Anthony Schwartz, who wore No. 5 at Auburn, would have a strong case for No. 1 because of his distinction as the fastest player in the 2021 draft. But he will wear No. 10.
“No. 10 is the number I wore pretty much all throughout little league, and I wore it my senior year of high school,” he said. “It was just always a number I grew close to. There is no specific meaning behind it, but I just kind of grew close to it growing up. Being able to get my number back in the NFL is going to be a great thing. Also, I was pick No. 91. Nine plus one equals 10 so it kind of worked out perfectly.”
Other numbers of note: running back/returner Demetric Fulton, No. 25; linebacker Tony Fields, No. 42; first-year defensive tackle Malik McDowell, No. 58; and offensive lineman James Hudson, No. 66.
OTAs on hold?
The Browns are scheduled to begin voluntary OTA practices on the field for all players May 25-27. The total of 10 practices would conclude June 1-3 and June 7-10, followed by the mandatory minicamp June 15-17.
The players union, led by Browns center and NFLPA president JC Tretter, is boycotting all voluntary practices, however. Tretter also has called for the elimination of mandatory minicamp but has fallen short of calling for a boycott of that, which could result in club fines.
Stefanski said rookies will remain on town and in the Browns facility after rookie camp, but the coach steered clear of expressing any sentiment about the NFLPA boycott of OTAs.
“I am going to just control what I can control, and I think we will learn more as we go,” he said.
Brownie bits
* Fields was absent on Friday and will not participate in rookie camp because of a foot injury apparently suffered in his pre-draft training. “He is going to be out a few weeks. Nothing concerning long-term,” Stefanski said …
* Fourth-round pick James Hudson was the only offensive lineman on hand. Which means he had a 3-to-1 coach-to-player ratio with offensive line coach Bill Callahan, assistant line coach Scott Peters, offensive quality control coach Jonathan DeCoster hovering over Hudson’s every move. Hudson, by the way, looked bigger than his 6-4, 302 official measurement …
* Stefanski previously said he didn’t expect to have tryout players on hand, but he needed somebody to throw passes so he invited a pair of quarterbacks – Josh Love of San Jose State and Riley Neal of Ball State. Also invited was Ohio State receiver Johnnie Dixon.
