A large part of Deshaun Watson's comfort in his second season with the Browns stems from the influence he's had in a new Browns playbook. (TheLandOnDemand)
Another day of Deshaun Watson owning the day at Browns 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.
Takeaways from second day of Browns minicamp …
The Browns’ defensive backs responded with a better day defending the offensive-centric 7-on-7 periods on Wednesday. But Deshaun Watson continued to be the talk of minicamp.
“He’s slinging it,” observed tight end David Njoku. “He looks great. Very accurate, very impressive. He’s locked in. Energy’s there.”
“He’s making crazy plays,” said running back Nick Chubb.
After practice, Watson reiterated how much more comfortable he feels in his second year with the Browns and in having his true personality blend in with his teammates. A big part of that is the influence he’s having with coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt in adapting the 2023 offense to Watson’s preferences.
As a result, Watson is mentally in tune to what the vision on offense is; whereas, last year he was learning what already was in place.
I asked him, “What percentage of the playbook is completely new plays from last year?”
He smiled and answered, “Everything … everything.”
Pressed on that, Watson hedged a little and said, “I would just say just the foundation and the structure of the offense is the same, but as we build and continue to get ready for the season, everything else is new.”
Watson doesn’t want it to sound like Stefanski is just copying the Bill O’Brien playbook from his best years with the Houston Texans, though he admitted, “this league is a pretty much a copycat league … you kind of learn from different trees. But everything is all Kevin.”
With a lot of input from Watson, obviously.
“We have those conversations every day,” Watson said. “Every time we get in the meeting room, they're asking questions, I'm asking questions. I'm giving suggestions or making statements. They're doing the same thing. So it's an open room once we get in that room, and that's how we're going to continue to grow and be able to have success, because no one in that room … is stubborn. No one is insecure with it. This is the way we need to do it. Everyone's open to it. Whatever works is going to work for us, and if we like it, then we're going to run it.”
Chubb on J.B.
No player might identify more with Jim Brown than Chubb because of the position they share. By the end of this season, Chubb should rank second to Brown on the Browns’ all-time rushing list. A typical year for Chubb would leave him about 4,700 yards shy of Brown’s franchise record of 12,312.
So, it would take about four more seasons of his typical production for Chubb to surpass Brown. His contract runs only through next season, so I asked Chubb if he thought his career in Cleveland could be extended long enough for him to approach Brown’s career total, and if he would like a chance to surpass it.
“Who knows? Anything can happen,” he said. “I like to take it one day at a time, not look too far ahead. But yes, we'll see.”
Also, since the NFL has announced the league’s season rushing title would be renamed the Jim Brown Award, Chubb was asked if that gives him more motivation to win it. He finished second to Derrick Henry in 2019 and third to Josh Jacobs and Henry in 2022.
“I mean, altogether, it's definitely special,” he said of the award. “It honors him and what he did here and across the nation. Probably the best running back to ever play football. So I think he definitely deserves it to be in his name.”
Do's and don'ts
Over the last two years, at least six NFL players have been suspended for violating league rules against gambling. Some bet on NFL games, but most bet on other sports. It’s legal now, of course, in most states, but the NFL rules prohibit using a gambling app on team premises – including the parking lot.
Some believe there will be more violations because of the confusing nature of the NFL rules. I asked Stefanski if the Browns had done extra work in educating their players on the do’s and don’ts of using gambling apps.
“Yes, often. … because we take it really seriously,” he said. “You could ask the players. We've talked a lot about it throughout this offseason. Just because you're teaching off of things that are happening around our game and happening with other teams, and we don't want to lose a guy for any reason.
“We don't want them to get injured. We don't want to lose a guy for breaking a rule of any sort. So you have to educate them on the rules because there is some things that are new, as you know, with sports gambling. So part of my job and our job with this organization is to educate our players. We're going to spend more time on it. We talked about it yesterday. We're going to spend more time on it this afternoon as well.”
Brownie bits
The Browns are still in the process of planning a memorial for Jim Brown and have been in touch with his family about dates and a format. The club is favoring a date in August and the place would be Cleveland Browns Stadium. As for a season-long remembrance, having Brown’s No. 32 printed on one side of the team’s helmet has been discussed with the preference, for now, of that being a one-game memorial rather than for all season …
In advance of the team hosting an alumni barbecue later in the day, Stefanski addressed the entire team about franchise history. His address concluded with a showing of the team video department’s tribute to Brown after his passing …
In a full team field goal period, Cade York made 5 of 6, with the last from 50+ yards curling just inside the right upright …
Wide receiver Anthony Schwartz joined his teammates in position drills for the first time since OTAs started, but he did not participate in team drills. Schwartz had been wearing a sleeve on his right leg. Also, defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey stayed inside to rehab an undisclosed injury.
