On another sweltering day at camp, Kevin Stefanski conducted one live tackling period for the first time in his six years as Browns coach.
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Kevin Stefanski told his team it would be a tougher, more physical training camp, and through the first six days it certainly was more than last year’s skip through the elaborate flower beds of The Greenbrier resort.
And then Wednesday happened.
Without warning or fanfare, Stefanski conducted the first tackling-to-the-ground practice period in his six training camps as Browns coach. It was eight minutes of football the way it used to be practiced in stifling, summer heat.
Each of the three healthy quarterbacks had five reps, and there were enough inside runs by the running backs to hear the long-lost sound – at a Browns camp practice -- of pads smacking and bodies thudding to the ground.
“I think it’s the first time we’ve done it here, and I think it’s a welcome change,” said right tackle Jack Conklin.
“The energy was high. We loved it. Hopefully we get to do it again,” said running back Jerome Ford, who felt the brunt of linebacker Winston Reid’s full body on one tackle.
If the offense loved it, you can imagine how the defense felt.
“As a linebacker, that’s what you live for – running and tackling,” said rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger, who made a strong tackle on Dylan Sampson in the period after taking him down with a forearm thud on Monday, the first day of full pads. “You talk to the defense, we’re all excited about any live period we get. We love it. That’s what we love to do – get guys on the ground.”
Cornerback Greg Newsome said, “It was fun. I had a good time. Any time that we’re able to be a little more physical, tackle before we actually get to the season, I actually really like the idea. I’m super excited we got a chance to be real physical today.”
Amid the physicality, however, the play of the day was turned in by an offensive player. On a crossing route, Gage Larvadain, the undrafted receiver from South Carolina who seemingly finds the end zone more than anybody, took a quick pass from Dillon Gabriel, sidestepped a defender and zig-zagged through the second-team defense 25 yards to the end zone.
The only touchdown on the day was celebrated by members of the first-team offense, led by guard Joel Bitonio, that rushed to greet Larvadain in the end zone.
At the beginning of camp, Stefanski coyly avoided answering when asked if he would have live tackling this summer. It was such a hit with his players, he’s going to have to run it back, for sure.
Emerson will not be abandoned
Stefanski confirmed that cornerback Martin “M.J.” Emerson will need surgery to repair his left Achilles tendon injury suffered on Tuesday. He was immediately placed on injured reserve. Soon the long, often lonely, rehab process will begin for Emerson, who is in the last year of his rookie contract.
“It’s hard, and that’s part of the sport,” Stefanski said of the rehab process. “Oftentimes when you get injured, you have to go get surgery somewhere else and then you come back and whether you’re rehabbing here or elsewhere, you’re in the training room and it’s hard.
“It depends on where you are in your rehab, whether you can get back and join meetings and even that can be hard mentally for some. Some guys really need that and want that to stay in. Some guys, it hurts that they’re not a part of it. So, you try to just work with the player circumstantially where they are and what they need. But MJ’s a big part of this football team. Whether he’s out on the field or not, he’s a big part of this football team.”
Newsome said, “He’s a huge piece of our defense. Just being a brother, it’s bigger than the game of football. I’ve seen him putting in a lot of work. A guy that just brings passion and energy. As a brother, I’m gonna miss him every single snap. I definitely feel for him. I know he’ll get through this and he’ll be back to his form.”
Conklin’s been through a few of these lonely rehabs.
“It’s tough,” he said. “Any time you’re going through an injury, especially a long-term one, it is a lot on you mentally. The [offensive linemen] were always checking on me, staying in touch. It’s really a day-by-day thing. You have to take it in incremental steps.”
QB tracker
The quarterbacks started the day throwing to receivers covered by defensive backs in a one-on-one period. Joe Flacco had two sets of three reps, Gabriel had sets of three reps and two reps, and Shedeur Sanders had one set of three reps. One of Sanders' sets was against the first-team defense, though he was surrounded by second-team offensive players.
In the one-on-one period, the defense defended 7 of 14 passes, and the offensive players dropped down and did push-ups after the session, signaling defeat.
In the first team period, Gabriel took the first rep.
Overall, the numbers …
Flacco was 3 of 7 and lumbered about 15 yards to block for receiver Kaden Davis on an end-around carry.
Gabriel was 6 of 11 and was credited with the Larvadain RAC TD. Gabriel avoided an interception when undrafted rookie DB LaMareon James dropped an errant throw.
Sanders was 6 of 10, including a nice throw on the move to receiver Kisean Johnson at the right sideline in the live tackling period.
Brownie bits
Right tackle Dawand Jones overheated and was driven off the field on a cart late in the 90-minute session. Cornelius Lucas took his place …
The heat has been oppressive and unrelenting, even at Wednesday’s session that started at 9:30 a.m. At his post-game press availability after practice, Conklin looked like he was caught in a rainstorm as sweat poured off his body. “It’s great,” he said. “You want to struggle. Camp is a struggle, anyway. But the more struggle you can get, [the better]. You really don’t find out who guys are until it’s tough into the game, long drive, and you see how guys are mentally holding up. To have weather like this and have longer drives, I think that’s really what builds the fortitude of a team. And you can really see what guys are made of.” …
Safety Grant Delpit missed another day with an undisclosed leg injury. He worked with a trainer on the field after practice.
Players are not off on Thursday, but will work mostly inside and in meetings. No practice is scheduled.