Cornerback M.J. Emerson's two days of battles against Justin Jefferson earned praise from the NFL's top wide receiver. (Cleveland Browns)
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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 14 …
In the final joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings, the Browns improved on their offensive operation, but not their offensive production.
Penalties were down from six to two. That was the good news.
The rest of the story is the offense struggled to find the end zone in red zone periods and were shut out in two 1-minute offensive periods.
Before practice, quarterback Deshaun Watson sought to put the joint practices in perspective.
“Overall, it’s just keep stacking these days, keep growing, keep learning and that’s all we can do,” he said. “I think the best teams, not during just training camp, [are] ready for week one, but [also] ready for week one and the other 16 games. As we continue to grow with that, that’s when the best teams become -- towards the end of the year.”
Red zone
On the first play of a 7-on-7 red zone period from the 10-yard line, Watson threw for Jerome Ford in the left flat and Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace stepped in front, intercepted, and sprinted to the end zone.
Then in the 11-on-11 red zone periods, Watson and Jameis Winston had a stretch of 14 snaps without getting into the end zone.
The stretch included a sack of Watson, a Watson keeper forced by defensive coverage, a dropped Minnesota interception of a Winston pass, and then a Dwight McGlotheren interception of a Winston pass for Michael Woods.
Watson responded with three TDs over the next six snaps and Winston had three over his last five.
During these periods, James Hudson received the brunt of first-team reps at left tackle, and Germain Ifedi and Hakeem Adeniji rotated there less frequently than the day before.
1-minute offense
Both squads had a period with their first- and second-team offenses trailing on the scoreboard, 28-20, with one minute to go. Each drive began at the opponent’s 45-yard line.
Minnesota’s Sam Darnold got the first reps and gained only 10 yards in four plays. On fourth-and-10 from the 35, his pass was intercepted by Browns cornerback Kahlef Hailassie.
Watson was up next. After a sack on second down, he converted third-and-13 with a connection to Cedric Tillman. Then the drive fizzled in a sack, a throwaway while flushed from the pocket, a Jordan Akins drop and short completion to Jerry Jeudy as time ran out.
Minnesota backup Nick Mullens’ stint was highlighted by a fourth-down completion at the back of the end zone to Trishton Jackson. But Mullens’ two-point try failed when newly arrived cornerback Faion Hicks broke up a repeater pass to Jackson.
Winston converted one first down on his turn. He ended proceedings by stopping the clock on third down with a pass out of bounds and then tossing the ball errantly in the end zone when his receiver apparently ran the wrong route.
Overall, coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t sound overly concerned with the one-minute period.
“Hard to say … I didn’t have the best view of it,” Stefanski said. “Obviously, those are great, great situational exercises and drills for us. Just talking to their coaches, they get a lot out of it as well on both sides of the ball. It puts you in positions to make some calls that you’ve worked through in the indoor, and some walkthroughs and you bring it out here and it’s the first time really getting full speed reps of some of those things. So I thought the guys did, by and large, a good job.
“But obviously, when you have the ball and you’re down eight, you have to go score.”
More growth for M.J.
With Denzel Ward sitting out again while in protocol – Stefanski conspicuously avoided saying Ward suffered a concussion – his protégé and partner M.J. Emerson enjoyed a second day of elite competition against Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson had his share of catches, but Emerson also had his share of breakups, earning praise from the league’s reigning top receiver.
After practice, Jefferson said, “He’s a long, physical corner. He’s definitely going to cause some problems out there on the field … so, it’s great to go up against corners like that give me the extra work or just put an extra little boost in my play style.
“[Going up] against him and seeing him up close, he’s definitely a tremendous corner. We’ve been going at it this entire joint practice, so it’s definitely work on both sides.”
Emerson vaulted into prominence his rookie camp in joint practices against the Eagles. Now in his third season, it seems that Emerson took advantage of this rare opportunity against Jefferson.
Emerson is the most likely next member of the Browns’ defense to receive a contract extension. But he’s not eligible until after the 2024 season.
Taper down
The joint practices were the peak of Stefanski’s training camp. Now the coaches will taper down to trim the offensive and defensive packages, trim the roster and get ready for the Dallas Cowboys on September 8.
“Now you’re really into the streamlining world and seeing what fits your guys,” Stefanski said. “And that’s so much of it going back to the spring and then into July and August, finding out what you think you might do well, finding out the things that maybe you aren’t so good at. So you shelve those, or you find better ways to do them.
“So that’s where we are offensively and defensively. And then finding out the guys that are available. Guys that you can … where you’re going to plug them in, where you’re going to move them around, those type of things.”
Brownie bits
Stefanski said no regulars would play in Saturday’s game against the Vikings. Dorian Thompson-Robinson will get the start at quarterback and Tyler Huntley will play the rest of the way. This is not necessarily the final battle in the competition for QB3, but it could go a long ways in deciding it …
Receiver Amari Cooper left the field on the final team red zone period. Stefanski attributed it to being “sore.” Same with tight end David Njoku, who didn’t participate in any periods after 1-on-1s …
Tackle Maurice Hurst left the field under his own power after get rolled up on during a play. Stefanski didn’t have an update …
The coach said tackle Michael Hall could “potentially” be out a while after suffering a stinger on Wednesday …
Defensive end Za’Darius Smith was back on the field for the first time since suffering a knee contusion on August 5 …
There is a feeling Monday could be a big day for left tackle Jedrick Wills, who has not practiced since having MCL surgery in December. There is optimism Wills could be cleared to practice …
Also, cornerback Greg Newsome did some light work individually with cornerbacks coach Brandon Lynch after the morning walk-through. The Browns said all along Newsome could be ready for the season opener after having surgery on a hamstring at the beginning of camp.