With Kareem Hunt gone, Browns don’t plan to employ a designated third-down back
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns training camp Day 10 …Over the years I’ve come to regard Stump Mitchell as the Yoda of Kevin Stefanski’s coaching staff because of the authority he commands in the running back room and also the insight he provides in his press briefings.
The longest-tenured Browns assistant coach – he’s in his fifth season, fourth with Stefanski – came through again in his first media appearance of training camp on Sunday.
Among the gems Mitchell dropped:
* Some clarity on changes in the running back rotation.
With Kareem Hunt departed, it was assumed that Hunt’s third-down role would be taken by second-year back Jerome Ford. Not necessarily true. The plan, right now, is for Chubb to play all three downs when he’s in there. And then when Ford comes in to give Chubb a breather, he will also play all three downs.
“[Chubb] has got more work in training camp at that role because we don’t have Kareem,” Mitchell said. “So now Nick is in there on third down as well. So, yes, he’s had an opportunity to run more of those routes even though he did it during training camp the past three or four years. He just was not that guy, unless he had to be.
“Now he’s going to be the first-, second- and third-down guy. When he’s tired or when coach wants to substitute Jerome in, Jerome will go in as that one, two, three-down back.”
* The transition to a running game predominantly out of the shotgun formation is going to require an adjustment by the backs.
“Sometimes these guys are impatient,” Mitchell said. “They start cutting before they should, and they don’t allow any interior lineman or the tight ends to be able to get on their block. So, we’ve been working constantly on pressing our run tracks.”
If there’s one thing Chubb needs to work on, it’s patience.
“Sometimes he’s not as patient in the gun as he is from the dot or from the home position, but that’s something we’re working on,” Mitchell said.
The Browns' confidence in second-year running back Jerome Ford remains sky high. (TheLandOnDemand)
* While Ford ran the ball only eight times in his rookie season, the coaches’ confidence in the 2022 fifth-round pick remains very high.
“We’re on his butt about it,” Mitchell said. “He’s bought into wanting to be that guy. So, these guys are working extremely hard. They know if they do their job, it will allow everybody else to do their job.
“[Chubb and Ford] both are fast. They both are explosive. Nick probably has a little more power than Jerome does, but I would hope Jerome would try to match the stats that Nick can put up.”
Mitchell said the growth in Ford is evident even without much live run periods in practice.
“I think his growth has been just in having confidence in himself, getting along better with his teammates,” he said. “That’s a huge thing. And understanding that there are the things that comes with a rookie that he really didn’t accept last year. Well, he’s still a rookie for nine games, so he’s going to do some of those things that he didn’t do last year.”
* There’s a reason Demetric Felton looked more natural at running back in the Hall of Fame Game than he did playing slot receiver last year.
“I see the fact that so far this training camp he has not had to go into the receiver’s room, so he’s not fluctuating mentally where he’s supposed to be,” Mitchell said. “Now, I’m constantly drilling him in on the plays of the receivers because if something were to happen to one of those guys, he need to be able to go in and play. We don’t need to be able to wait until the next week to say, now you got to play. He needs to be able to go in and play right away.”
Mitchell does not feel Felton is too slight (5-9, 190 pounds) to compete in the backfield at the NFL level.
“Absolutely he can,” he said. “I mean, we’re not asking him to be a starter. We’re asking him to be a part-time player for the most part. But to be successful on special teams, he’s got to be special on special teams in order to make the club. He can do things as a running back and as a receiver. So, he’s got to focus in primarily on special teams, and if given an opportunity, he’ll be successful as a running back.”
Greatest show at practice
The best single play in the eight practices at The Greenbrier was Elijah Moore beating Denzel Ward for a 3-yard TD in a 7 on 7 red zone period. Well, the duo teamed up on Sunday for the best play seen so far in two practices at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
In a 1 on 1 period, Deshaun Watson fired the ball to Moore on a moderate sideline out. With Ward all over him, Moore reached up at the last moment to snag the ball over his head. Both players were elevated with both feet off the ground when the catch was made.Again, Ward did everything right but the combination of the ball being at the right place and Moore securing the catch made for an offensive highlight.
The football cliché of “iron sharpens iron” is playing out in these competitive duels between Moore and Ward.
Brownie bits
Based on previous comments by Stefanski, Deshaun Watson is likely to start the Washington game on Friday and be relieved by Joshua Dobbs. How much each quarterback plays has been determined, Stefanski said, but the coach declined to reveal his plans …
The backup Browns had numerous special teams breakdowns against the Jets, but Stefanski said he and special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone are not overly concerned because of lack of live reps at practice. “I think the other thing to remember in that game, the Hall of Fame Game, is that … it’s the first time for those guys full speed covering kicks. So, you’re learning a lot. Those players are learning a lot in those reps. I think that will continue to get better.” …
Jim Miller and Pat Kirwan of SiriusXM NFL radio were on hand Sunday after visiting the Steelers’ camp in Latrobe, PA, the day before. They said the Steelers tackle to the ground for at least one period every time they wear pads. They’re one of a handful of teams that still tackle to the ground on occasion. The Browns do not. I asked Stefanski why not. “Well, honestly, I think every team and every head coach has to do what they think is best for their team,” he responded. “We don’t concern ourselves with what everybody else is doing. We just focus on what we think we need to do to get our team ready to play September 10 for a 17-plus game season.” …
Sunday marked an unusual day at Browns practice. Chubb agreed to take a veteran day off. I believe that is only the second time in Chubb’s five years that he agreed to not practice …
Among the players working with trainers and not practicing were cornerback Greg Newsome (groin) and tight end Harrison Bryant (undisclosed) …
Backup offensive tackle hopeful Tyrone Wheatley Jr. was back on the practice field.
