Jimmy Haslam wants to see what Deshaun Watson looks like in competitive practices this week. The Browns' owner needs a big year out of his quarterback and team to aid his stadium campaign. (TheLandOnDemand)
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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 SUPHUR SPRINGS, WV
Takeaways from Browns off day at training camp …
Jimmy Haslam has been a keen observer of his team on the practice fields aside the Sports Performance Center at The Greenbrier Resort.
In the midst of a complicated, high-stakes campaign for public funding of a new stadium and commercial development project in Brook Park, Haslam is not naïve to the possibility that a deep playoff run from his team would bolster support for the project.
“It doesn’t hurt, right?” Haslam conceded with a chuckle on Saturday. “But I think most people are going to look at this as a long-term project [regardless of the team’s record in 2024].”
Nevertheless, there are subtle hints that Haslam is a little agitated about some things. He sees several key players beginning camp on the sideline still recovering from 2023 injuries. And he made an interesting comment when asked about expectations for Deshaun Watson.
“He’s worked hard. He told us he’s in the best shape he’s ever been in,” Haslam said. “So, we’re excited to see what happens next week, get the pads on and see how he does. But he’s in a very good frame of mind as I think you all saw [on Friday].”
Some of that mindset includes a defensive, if not defiant, edge. Watson has not been shy about using profanity when asked about his many critics.
“Look, I think Deshaun’s trying really hard and I think blocking out the noise is something really important to him,” said Dee Haslam. “So I think he was probably emotional when he said that. I mean, that’s something that I can see in the current situation saying that. But I think Deshaun is really focused this year and I think he’s much more comfortable and confident.”
Jimmy conceded he noticed a difference in Watson when the quarterback returned in April from rehabbing from surgery in Los Angeles.
“When he came back in April, it was obvious [he] had a much different mindset than we’d seen before,” Haslam said. “Hopefully we’ll get a great year of play out of him because I know he wants that and we want to see that.”
Because of a suspension and then multiple injuries, Watson has played only 11 games and one quarter through two seasons of his five-year contract for a fully guaranteed $230 million.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Watson is cleared medically to participate in practice when pads come on this coming week.
Caution: No hitting yet
The first day in full pads is Monday, but Stefanski said his script for the day is the same as last year -- no hitting. He’ll use the first day to re-acclimate his players to practicing techniques correctly with pads on for the first time since January.
“You have to understand, when the pads come on, this is still a game that you win with technique,” he said. “Every coach in America, the first day those pads are on are reminding their players not to let their technique go out the window.”
Gone are the days of conducting the nutcracker drill on the first day with pads. Former Browns coach Hue Jackson used to sound a loud siren to signal a full contact period during padded practices.
“We can tell some stories about those practices,” Stefanski said, referring to his early years in the 2000s with the Minnesota Vikings. “That first day is really just setting the pads, still getting technique is our premium, still conditioning is at a premium, and then we’ll transition to going against each other.”
No specialist needed
When Dustin Hopkins dropped every kickoff precisely where coordinator Bubba Ventrone wanted it during a kickoff period on Saturday, it verified a decision Stefanski and Ventrone made prior to camp.
Unlike the Kansas City Chiefs, and perhaps some other teams, the Browns will not try to train a defensive player to use as a kickoff specialist.
The new kickoff format is expected to expose the place-kicker more as a last line of defense. One strategy teams are considering is having a defensive player kick off to give the kicking team an advantage.
“We have discussed it,” Stefanski said. “You know, there’s pros and cons with everything. We saw our kicker [Hopkins] get hurt chasing [Houston returner Dameon Pierce]. So you can get hurt obviously in that.
“But also, you’ve seen some position players pull muscles when they’re asked to kick the ball. That’s something they’re not used to doing. There’s pros and cons. I understand the idea behind it, getting 11 defensive coverage guys, if you will. I don’t know if that’s something that we’ll explore right now.”
Offensive line update
With Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills still not cleared to practice, the Browns have been repping James Hudson at left tackle and Dawand Jones at right tackle.
In three seasons under former line coach Bill Callahan, Hudson made 13 starts -- all at right tackle. While he did take practice snaps on the left side, it appeared that Callahan decided Hudson was better at right tackle.
New line coaches Andy Dickerson and Roy Istvan apparently want to see for themselves and prefer to keep Jones exclusively at right tackle. Veteran free agent pickup Hakeem Adeniji has been the second team left tackle.
Asked if moving to Jones to the left side has been ruled out, Stefanski said, “I wouldn’t rule out anything at this point. It’s in camp, so you can’t look too far into day one. We’ll move guys around. So, in football, as you know, you have to be ready to adjust, especially with that position. And guys have to be able to play both sides. So, we’ll see how it goes at.”
However, when Callahan experimented with cross-training, it would happen early in camp. So if Jones isn’t getting reps at left tackle now, it probably isn’t going to change this year.
Conklin is still rehabbing from major knee surgery in September and hasn’t been seen on the field at all. Wills had less severe surgery in December and made his first appearance outside on Saturday.