Is this the future of the Browns' running game under new coordinator Ken Dorsey? (Cleveland Browns)
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Leftovers from Browns OTA practice and interviews …
New Browns running backs coach Duce Staley is an in-your-face coach who was known to mix it up with Jim Schwartz’s defense when the two coaches were with the Philadelphia Eagles’ last Super Bowl championship team. Their training camp battles were legendary.
“Here’s what coaching is to me, OK?” Staley said this week. “Putting these guys in the best position possible to make plays, number one. Two, getting them to run through a brick wall with me -- and not for me. ‘Cause I’m gonna run through it first. If they decide to come along, I got the right guys. That’s it, one and two.”
As a player, Staley rushed for 5,785 yards in seven seasons with the Eagles and three with the Steelers. His last season as a running back was 2006.
“I live vicariously through my players, because I wish that I could still play the game,” Staley, 49, said. “When I did play, I loved every minute of it. The blood, the sweat, the tears. That’s a part of their dream, and I loved it. So, the closest I can get between the lines is to play through them. So, every ounce of energy, everything I got, every day, they’re going to get it -- good, bad, or ugly.”
At the Browns’ last OTA open to media on Wednesday, running back Pierre Strong fumbled a handoff from Deshaun Watson. In the next practice period, Staley had Strong push a wooden plank on the ground for about 20 yards as punishment.
“Let me just say this to you. Anytime we put the ball on the ground, we’re gonna get on the ground, and that’s called a sled,” Staley said. “It has a very unique name. And when you catch up with [Strong], ask him what the name is. He’ll have to pull you to the side to tell you.”
If the Browns wanted an energy boost from their change in running backs from Stump Mitchell, whom I called the Yoda of Browns assistant coaches, to Staley, well, they succeeded.
Staley takes over at a time the Browns are in transition in their running game.
Franchise back Nick Chubb is recovering from two knee surgeries and his return possibly won’t happen until midway in the season.
In Chubb’s place, the Browns will employ a committee approach similar to last season. It should feature Jerome Ford and Strong, with D’Onta Foreman replacing Kareem Hunt as the short-yardage back, and Nyheim Hines as a potential receiving back.
“I see a good group,” Staley said.
In addition to starting the season likely without Chubb, Staley takes on the challenge of managing a running game that is transitioning to a predominantly shotgun-spread offense to take advantage of Deshaun Watson’s preference and skill-set.
Under new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, the Browns will run a lot more RPO’s with Watson out of the shotgun and also more empty sets with the lone running back lining up as a receiver option.
I asked Staley about the challenges to the running game imposed by a shotgun-spread offense as opposed to having the quarterback predominantly under center.
“Well, man, it’s been around for a while now, you know,” Staley said. “Of course, back when I played, a lot of things were under center, and you couldn’t do the RPO’s if you wanted to. When the RPO’s came into this game, then it was a lot of shotgun.
“So, you got to be able to run your offense, no matter if it’s trap, no matter if it’s zone, no matter what it is. You gotta be able to do everything out of gun, just like you do most of it from under center. So, shotgun has been a part of the game for a long time [and] we’re just gonna take it and use it ourselves.”
For better or for worse.
Hail, Cesaire
Jacques Cesaire, formerly with the Houston Texans, replaced Ben Bloom as defensive line coach. It’s the one position coach under the microscope because Schwartz’s entire defensive system is fueled by the defensive line.
Cesaire played his entire NFL career with the San Diego Chargers from 2003 to 2011, predominantly as a 3-4 defensive end. His best season came in 2006, when he contributed 4 sacks, 6 quarterback hits, and 6 tackles-for-loss on Marty Schottenheimer’s 14-2 Chargers team.
It’s probably no coincidence that Cesaire’s expertise is in the interior game of the defensive line.
Schwartz’s first Browns defense mostly lacked pressure from the tackle positions. The additions of veteran free agent Quinton Jefferson and rookie Michael Hall – plus the return of tackles Maurice Hurst and Shelby Harris – spoke to the priority of upgrading the interior pass rush.
“It’s the most important part of the rush, those two defensive tackles,” Cesaire said. “Nothing can happen unless those two different tackles are collapsing the depth of the pocket.
“And so, we focus on those guys a lot, on the different things that they have to do, the different techniques that they have to do in order to do that. They have to be specific with their footwork, with their hands, and what they’re doing with their hands. And then ultimately, they have to be rushing together.
“Someone’s going to get the center, someone’s going to get the guard, but ultimately guys have to be rushing together. So, the defensive tackles, the quarterback standing right there, so we don’t need to be running out or doing anything fancy. I want guys that are going forward at all times.”
Brownie bits
Under-radar free agent pickup Devin Bush had a great rookie year after the Steelers made him the 10th overall pick of the 2019 draft. The linebacker from Michigan was third in defensive rookie of the year voting behind Nick Bosa and Maxx Crosby. Bush’s career was never the same after a torn ACL suffered in Week 6 of his second season in a game, coincidentally, against the Browns. “I still got a lot of football left in me. I’m still 25, so we’ll see,” Bush said …
Second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who finished his rookie season with a hip injury, has increased his throwing in the last week of OTAs …
The revelation of OTAs is that coach/personnel consultant Mike Vrabel has been a vocal, hands-on coach with different position groups, including linebackers, tight ends and special teams. “Vrabes is an incredible asset for us organizationally,” said coach Kevin Stefanski. “He’s an incredible asset for me. I don’t know what he would be doing if he wasn’t here. He cannot sit on a couch, so we’re getting our money’s worth, and he’s in every drill, and he’s doing great in the meetings. like I’ve told him, he’s an energy multiplier. It’s fun having him around. He’s a great influence for our young coaches. He can provide some really good mentorship to our young coaches, and obviously, he provides great value to our coaching staff as well.”