DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns 2019 training camp preview: Analyzing the cornerbacks

https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-2019-training-camp-preview-analyzing-the-cornerbacks


Browns 2019 training camp preview: Analyzing the cornerbacks

The Browns’ summer break is still in full swing, but we’re back in the office and applying extra precautionary layers of sunscreen as we prepare for 2019 training camp. It’s going to be a zoo in Berea, and we’re ready to chronicle absolutely everything that happens.

As part of that preparation, we’re putting each position group under our finest microscope over the next two weeks. This roster is full of star power, sure, but it’s going to take all 53 -- and more -- for the Browns to accomplish their goals.

We’re moving forward with the cornerbacks, a group that has received a much-needed injection of depth and talent over the past two seasons.

THE CORNERBACKS
Denzel Ward
Greedy Williams
T.J. Carrie
Terrance Mitchell
Phillip Gaines
Juston Burris
Jhavonte Dean
Robert Jackson
Donnie Lewis Jr.
Lenzy Pipkins
Jermaine Ponder
Tavierre Thomas

What we know: Outside of quarterback, it’s hard to find a position group that improved as much as this one did last season. It required a complete overhaul, and no addition was more important than Ward, the No. 4 selection in the 2018 NFL Draft who made an immediate impact with two interceptions in his professional debut and played at a high enough level the rest of the way to earn a Pro Bowl nod. Ward had a lot of effective players around him, too, and the Browns were able to trot out a respectable group each week despite a number of injuries sprinkled throughout the season. One year after looking for players competent enough to start, the Browns, with Ward, Carrie and Mitchell, enter training camp with three bona fide regulars who have proven they can play. The Browns hope to have a couple of more whom they can count upon, and that’s why Cleveland’s general manager, John Dorsey, continued to fill the room with competition throughout the offseason.

What we don’t know: The Browns believe they got a first-round talent in the second round when they traded up to take Williams. The former LSU star has the length and quickness teams covet in their cornerbacks. He also has the swagger and confidence, both of which were on display throughout an offseason workout program that featured plenty of first-team action. The competition between Williams and Mitchell is far from over, though, and it will be one of the true battles set to unfold at training camp. If Williams is ready to be a starter, the Browns will have some legitimate options and depth at their disposal. Could Mitchell kick inside? Could Ward? It’s a good problem to have and a great future to anticipate if the Browns open the season with their second-year Pro Bowler on one side of the field and a rookie who beat out last year’s starter -- who played very well, at that -- on the other.

X-Factor: How the Browns fill out the back end of this room shouldn’t go overlooked. Injuries happen everywhere, but they always seem to hit a little bit harder at cornerback. As Cleveland has experienced too often over the last few years, your defense can find some real trouble if there’s significant dropoff between the starters and backups. E.J. Gaines was the fourth cornerback exiting training camp but found himself in a starting role before the midpoint of the season. Carrie lost a battle with Mitchell for a starting job but found himself guarding All-Pro Julio Jones in Week 10. It will be worth watching if a player like Phillip Gaines, a midseason waiver claim who has 22 career starts, nabs one of those spots or will someone more off the radar, such as Pipkins, rise to the challenge. Whomever the last two cornerbacks are, they’ll have to prove valuable on special teams -- much like Thomas did from start to finish last season.

The biggest number: 0 - That’s how many cornerbacks on the current, 90-man roster were on this team when Dorsey took over in December 2017. The overhaul has been thorough.

Says it all: “He can bend, he runs with ease. He can catch the flash of the ball. He doesn’t have to track it into his hands. He’s smart. He has the ability to recover if he’s beat. He can get out of his hips. There’s nothing he can’t do. He’s longer. People talk about his size, but he’s longer than you think he is, he’s bigger than you think he is. He has the ability to be as good as anybody I’ve coached.” -- pass game coordinator/secondary coach Joe Whitt on Denzel Ward

How many were kept on last year’s initial 53-man roster?: 6

Greedy is an intriguing addition (and someone who hasn’t gotten much discussion) ... he’s in a pretty good spot because our pass rush and Ward should allow him a lot of opportunities for impact

Greedy is potentially a big addition. On paper, he is - he now has to earn that status. He will be picked on early and often.

Yeah, teams will go at him, especially in the run game IMO ... I think we see a lot of outside zone runs to go at him and the LBs

The good news is that we are not forced (Mitchell) to baptize him by fire prematurely, before he is ready and confident in his abilities.

He could turn out to be what we all think he can become ... with his length (See Greedy vs Metcalf) and speed, to go with the fluid natual hips of a guy 3 inches shorter than he.

Which is why it’s important to have Mitchell healthy; he was very reliable last year while on the field. Having him be our 3rd CB (or Greedy) makes us way better

j/c:


https://www.pff.com/news/pro-every-nfl-teams-biggest-training-camp-battle

It’s a good problem to have here ... actual depth at the secondary level

True story.

It'll be interesting to see who gets named the starter. I really like Terrence Mitchell. He did an excellent job last year creating turnovers, tackling, and being aggressive before he got injured.

It probably depends if Mitchell or Greedy looks better in the slot vs on the outside

CBS:

Greedy: flashes galore. Easy INT was nice but thought he tackled well. Aggressive and low. Missed Cov3 hurt, though. Tough to keep him off the field.

TMitch: creating turnovers as he always does. Solid night but doesn’t have the twitch or M2M ability Greedy brings.

CBs Part II:

Gaines: in the right spot all night. Will be nice depth.

Burris: played well from the slot in edge duty. He has an outside chance.

Pipkins: plays fast. 15 snaps. Fighting for a slot role. Long shot.

Dean: few snaps. A nice tackle, likely not an NFL guy, though.

https://twitter.com/jake_burns18/status/1159882283303755776

Burris was pretty disruptive when they put him in the box ... He’s had a good camp from all accounts. Dean also made a few nice plays in the run game.