Elijah Moore’s chemistry with Deshaun Watson continues to form
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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 5 …
New Browns receiver Elijah Moore has been hailed for the speed he brings to the offense. But limiting him to that skillset alone doesn’t do him justice.
Moore put on a clinic against cornerback Denzel Ward on one play in a full-speed, 7-on-7 period in the cramped confines of the red zone.
On Tuesday, the offense had trouble scoring in this competitive and vital period, failing on 11 of 15 snaps overall, including 7 of 9 with Deshaun Watson at the helm.
On Thursday, Watson’s first attempt zipped off the hands of Nick Chubb. On the second snap, Moore lined up to Watson’s far left on the 10-yard line. He feigned a route to the left corner, then did a double-move, inside-outside number on Ward. Moore slipped and nearly fell after the second move inside the goal line, but regained his balance, and when he looked for the ball, it was coming where only he could touch it – high and over his right shoulder. Moore snatched the ball with both hands with Ward on his hip, swatting for it with his left hand.
That play symbolizes what Moore brings to the offense, and to Watson.
“Yeah, I mean, double moves,” he said afterwards. “I get really excited, and then going against a good corner like [Ward], I'm going to get better and he's going to get better, too. So, matchups like that, I get excited. Just like I feel like everybody does. They see that out there, it only brings more attention to – okay, I want to go next. You see what I'm saying. It’s just contagious.”
Elijah Moore has become Deshaun Watson's go-to receiver with Amari Cooper still out. (Cleveland Browns)
With No. 1 receiver Amari Cooper out a fourth day in a row with a minor tweak, Moore has been able to continue meshing with Watson. The process started soon after Moore got his wish and was traded from the New York Jets. From OTAs to private workouts to minicamp and now to training camp, Moore has made a noticeable impression as a go-to guy for Watson.
"We're day by day,” Moore said. “We didn't play a game yet. You see what I'm saying? We're just practicing out here. We're doing our one percent. Like he always says, the work is going to come first, so we're just focused on that. The connection is going to build as days go on. We're going to have our days where it's not going to have our days where it is, but we're going to try to have more days where it is than it's not.”
Moore is the one receiver in the upgraded position group that can line up anywhere – in the slot as Kevin Stefanski increases his use of 11 personnel (three receivers, one back, one tight end), in the backfield as a mismatch against linebackers, and, especially with Cooper out, on the outside.
Besides quickness, speed and strong hands, Stefanski cites Moore’s intelligence as another of his attributes.
“In order to be versatile, you got to line up all over the place. So I'd tell you, just intelligence, first of all,” the coach said. “With some of our players, the more you can do, we're going to do it for you. But you got to be able to line up, and you got to be able to, hey, you're playing the X this play, and then you're playing the Z the next play. So that in of itself, is a high bar to clear, and he's great at that.
“And then physically, I mean, you guys see he's both quick, he's fast, he's got very, very, very strong hands. He's competitive. So there's the versatility piece of where he can line up, but just the different jobs he can do because of his skill set just is impressive.”
And in Cleveland, Moore has Watson throwing him in the ball. With the Jets, it was, um, Zach Wilson, which contributed, no doubt, to his frustration and desire to be traded.
I asked him what’s the difference between the quarterback in Cleveland and the ones he left in New York.
“I can let you all answer that question,” he responded, and walked off with a big smile.
Nothing for granted
Linebacker Anthony Walker’s recovery from quadriceps tendon surgery in September is proceeding nicely. He believes he’ll be practicing with the team at some point in training camp and hopes to be ready for the season opener.
Which, in Walker’s mind, is remarkable after an injury that could have been career-ending.
“For me, I didn’t think I would be able to ride a bike again after I had surgery,” he said. “My first time having something like that, it was scary. I’m not going to lie to you. You can’t do anything. I’ve been playing football and walking around normal for 20 some odd years and then one day you wake up and you need help to do everything. So taking it one day at a time, every step has been a blessing. Riding a bike again to walking normal without crutches and then running and all that stuff. So I don’t take any of that for granted.”
Walker, 27, was a free agent in the spring, and didn’t have a lot of choices after the surgery. But one reason he’s glad it worked out to return to the Browns is because he believes the team is ready to win.
“I’m getting older,” he said. “And at this point it’s the appreciation of winning a team that’s built to win, a team that is ready to win right now. And that’s what the Browns are and that’s what we’re trying to get accomplished. The opportunity to win is what brought me back ultimately.”
When Walker went down in Game 3 last year, the leadership void in the middle of the Browns’ defense was never filled. They were more comfortable taking a chance on his full recovery rather than trying to sign another veteran to lead the young linebacker group.
“A-Walk, he’s a future coach,” Stefanski said. “His dad’s a coach. He’s a coach on the field, but provides great leadership throughout our building. But a lot of what he does, we don’t see. Some of his impact happens, really when no one’s watching.”
Brownie bits
Watson’s fourth and final play in the full-speed red zone period was intercepted by Martin Emerson, who stepped in front of Jaelon Darden at the goal line and took off for the other end zone. So Watson was 1 for 4 in the period, making him 3 for 13 over the last two practices. He had more success in the middle of the field, hooking up with Moore (twice), Donovan Peoples-Jones (twice) and David Bell in 11-on-11s, and on a deep ball to Darden over cornerback Mike Ford in a 7-on-7 period …
Rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson got his first reps in team drills of the summer as he is groomed for second half play time in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton on August 3. DTR completed a deep ball to new receiver Austin Watkins for a touchdown, and zipped scoring throws to boyhood friend and fellow rookie Cedric Tillman on two occasions in the red zone period …
Receiver Anthony Schwartz made his debut on the field after missing the first four days with a hamstring injury he brought from the OTA season. Schwartz worked lightly and didn’t participate in team drills …
Linebacker Matthew Adams suffered a calf injury in Tuesday’s practice and will be out a couple weeks, Stefanski said …
Pads come on for the first time Friday. Stefanski will follow with another padded practice on Saturday, which will be the climax of sessions here. The team will depart for home following a light workout Sunday morning.
