Defense takes early lead in Browns’ first full-speed periods at training camp
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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.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WVA
Takeaways from Browns training camp Day 4 …
Venues change, but training camp football doesn’t. As usual, the defense has taken the very early lead on the offense.
The slow ramp-up to Friday’s first day of full pads saw an entire period of red zone football. It was 7-on-7 with no hitting, but it was full speed. Even in the condensed confines inside the 10-yard line, the rules (no hitting) favor the offense. Yet the spirited defense of Jim Schwartz won the day.
In total, the Browns’ offense ran 15 plays inside the red zone. It scored four touchdowns.
Deshaun Watson and Kellen Mond were the only quarterbacks to participate, as Mond apparently is being groomed as the starter against the New York Jets in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 3.
In his first set, Watson was 1 of 5. The touchdown came when David Bell beat Juan Thornhill with a darting inside move just inside the goal line. Linebacker Jacob Phillips had a nice breakup on a pass for Jaelon Darden at the goal line on Watson’s fifth pass. On Watson’s second set, he was 1 of 4. He scored on the first play when Donovan Peoples-Jones beat Greg Newsome off the snap. Thomas Graham had a breakup of Peoples-Jones on the second play. Watson couldn’t find an intended receiver on the third snap and he tossed it away, though he probably could have run it in in a real game. Elijah Moore caught Watson’s last pass beyond the end line.
Mond, who is battling rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson for QB3, had six snaps in his two sets. He scored twice. His first came on a short pass to Cedric Tillman. The second was a flare to his left that Demetric Felton ran in.
“I think the defense usually starts out a little bit ahead of the offense,” said guard Joel Bitonio. “Coach Schwartz has a great scheme. I think they’re excited to play for him. I know coach [Kevin] Stefanski and Deshaun and all those guys are going to come back and get their shots in.”
The defense got a little more animated and spirited with every stop.
“We want to lead this team, so every single day we’re going to try to bring energy,” Newsome said. “It’s hard going against those guys. I think we got one of the top offenses in the league. Doing a good job against them is only going to prepare us for going against anybody in the league. Yeah, we got the better of them today.”
Watson had several completions in an 11-on-11 period preceding the red zone exercise, starting with a dime to Daylen Baldwin over Grant Delpit on the very first rep.
If Malik Jackson's criticism rankled Myles Garrett, he didn't show it. (TheLandOnDemand)
Myles shrugs it off
Myles Garrett reacted for the first time to criticism of his leadership style from former teammate Malik Jackson.
On NFL Network early this month, Jackson, who played with the Browns in 2021, said, “Myles was a young player and I don’t think his leadership skills were the best. I think he needs to take that bull by the horns and just lead more by example as far as in the classroom because we all know what he can do on the field but to be able to go in the classroom, command that respect, and tell guys what to do is really where I think he really needs to take that jump.”
Garrett said about the comments on Tuesday, “I mean, I saw 'em, but he has a right to his opinion. We're all learning as we go. And leadership is a fluid thing. It takes different shapes and forms depending on the room and depending on the person. I can lead in the only way that I know how, and I only can continue to grow as a leader, and we'll continue to lead together. It's not just one person. We have a lot of experience in the room, and we have to be together. We have to do this together. And no one voice must speak louder than any other. We have to all be pushing at the same rate, in the same direction, and that's how winning teams, winning groups are made.
“Maybe my leadership style just didn't fit him. Like I said, I can only lead how I know how to. And I don't know if the result of the season played any part in how he felt about my leadership style, but I have the most respect for him. I think he's a consummate pro. I think he's a great guy. He looks out for a lot of us and continues to try to grow, and he'll be a better leader in any way I can.”
Ground zero
Newsome explained his reasoning for switching from No. 20 to No. 0. The number was approved for certain positions this year by the NFL, which makes Newsome the first player in the history of the Browns to wear it.
“That’s pretty cool … [so] that was a little behind it,” he said. “And going into this next year, I kind of wanted a fresh start.”
Newsome hasn’t been satisfied with his first two seasons since being taken No. 26 overall by the Browns in the 2021 draft. In 27 games, he’s held receivers to 79 receptions on 138 targets (57.2 percent) for an average of 9.9 yards per reception and a passer rating of 85.0 – all of which are decent numbers. But he’s still looking for his first interception and he seems keenly aware of it.
“Been in the league for two years and I think I’m ready to really make that next jump,” he said. “That’s kind of what I mean about a fresh start. So I kind of wanted to just change everything.”
I suggested the 0 looks like a bulls-eye on his back and may attract the attention of opposing quarterbacks.
“I hope so,” Newsome responded, “so I can get a little more production.”
Stefanski said, “We love interceptions. Our DBs love interceptions, and that's something that's a goal for all of our guys. But I think [no interceptions in two seasons] can be a little bit misleading.”
Brownie bits
Rookie right tackle Dawand Jones returned after two days battling an illness. Jones took reps with the second offensive line in an 11-on-11 period …
Receiver Amari Cooper missed a third day in a row with an undisclosed minor injury …
Although he did not take reps at receiver, Jakeem Grant took the first reps in both kickoff and punt return drills …
BoPete Keyes. Now that’s a name that you might not have expected to hear much of. The well-traveled cornerback – the Browns are his ninth team in three years – nearly intercepted one Mond pass and then jarred a reception loose on the last play of a 7-on-7 period …
Players are staying in a wing of the 500-room signature hotel of the Greenbrier Resort. The rooms are decorated in bright colors and large prints that cover the entire walls. Newcomers can get lost in the maze of shops and special meeting rooms inside the vast hotel. Guard Joel Bitonio said, “I mean, there's like statues and weird things. I'm not next to other players, so I don't know where my room is. But when I walk back into the building, I have to kind of go through this maze to get back to my room. And last night, I swear I was lost. I was like, I'm not exactly sure which way I go and I just kept walking. I ran into my room eventually, but it's definitely a maze there." …
Players get their first CBA-mandated off day on Wednesday.
