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Front 7 clicks.. then our secondary won't have to be that good to win games.. pass rush and run stop >>>>>

I agree. I think Scooby might be the DROY of the league, and ONeil was possibly the worst defensive coordinator in the history of the league. Pettine might still have a job if he hadn't hung his hat on that goof.

I see that you must have hooked up w/Swish.

5 things to know from Day 2 of Browns minicamp
Posted 1 hour ago

Andrew Gribble
Senior Staff Writer
@Andrew_Gribble


Talking situational football, Joe Thomas, Joe Kim and more


1. Browns work on situational football on Day 2
Day Two of minicamp was aimed at putting the Browns in different game situations and teaching them how to react accordingly.
“I think the guys, they’re giving me everything they have and we’re practicing in a lot of situations so that our team understands situational football and just how easy it is to lose a game if you don't understand how to deal with certain situations,” said coach Hue Jackson, who met with reporters Wednesday afternoon following the second practice of a mandatory veteran minicamp.
“So we put them in a lot of situations today, taught them today some things about the game, had some teaching moments, which I think is very important as well.”
That’s been a theme as Jackson and Cleveland’s coaching staff aims to lay a foundation for when the team breaks for the summer Thursday and returns for training camp in late July.
“We’re trying to expose our team to any and everything that can happen in a football game so that when it does happen, we’re kind of poised, we’ve kind of rehearsed it a little bit so that we can deal with those things and move forward,” Jackson said.
“Because we know winning these games in the National Football League comes down to that, it comes down to who can take the ball away from the other team’s offense, who can keep the ball, who can play great special teams and eliminate the self-inflicted wounds that happen to
football teams.”
As the Browns near the end of offseason workouts, Jackson likes what he sees out of a team he says remains a work in progress.
“I feel very comfortable and confident where we are right now, but I think as we all know this is just the start of what the team’s going to be once we get to September, no one knows that, there’s a lot of things that can happen between now and then but the core of the team is here,” he said.
“I feel good in some areas, I feel there’s some areas we need to continue to keep improving as players. We can get better. There’s a lot of players here that I think can take another step through the summer, through training camp in order to get themselves where they need to be for the season.”

2. Griffin III focused on improving everything, even the smallest details
Robert Griffin III has drawn some laughs and questions for his multiple throwaway passes that cleared the fence surrounding the Browns practice field during OTAs and minicamp.
It hasn’t been by accident, as Griffin said he has enhanced his focus on sliding to protect himself and throwaways, two things he stressed he didn’t practice enough during his four seasons with the Redskins.
“You have to practice what you play,” Griffin said. “So sliding, throwing the ball away, all of those things, keeping us in positive down-and-distances, those are important. It seems funny, throwing the ball over the fence, but it’s just a part of the process. You have got to take everything into account.”

3. Jackson on Joe Thomas: ‘He’s here every day and he doesn’t have to be’
Browns nine-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Joe Thomas received a day of rest Wednesday after going through Tuesday’s practice.
Asked about “inheriting” Thomas’ practice schedule, Jackson dismissed the notion and instead said he’s inherited a “really good player.”
“My job is to make sure he can get to the game and play as well as he can play, but making sure he’s prepared to play, has done enough work and I’ll feel very comfortable with that,” Jackson said. “I know exactly and he knows exactly what he needs to do and I’m very comfortable with our medical staff, our strength and conditioning staff and our conversations about how to get him to where he needs to be so he can play great.”
Thomas has played every single snap, all 8,959 of them, during his nine-year NFL career.


4. More praise for Joe Kim
One day after Desmond Bryant and Danny Shelton heaped praise upon strength and conditioning/skills development coach Joe Kim, second-year outside linebacker Nate Orcharddid exactly the same Wednesday.
Kim, one of five new members to Cleveland’s strength and conditioning staff, has worked with a number of NFL teams over the past two decades, including the Browns, where he began his NFL career from 1992-95 as an assistant strength and conditioning coach/pass rush specialist. He has a wealth of martial arts knowledge and experience as a seventh Dan Black Belt recognized by Kukkiwon, USA Taekwondo and the World Taekwondo Federation.
“It’s a shocker,” Orchard said. “You look at the guy and are like, ‘He’s got no moves’ and next thing you know he’s whipping his hands around. You give him some respect. I’m really excited and so is everyone else. For a lot of guys, this is their first time working with someone like this. I understand he’s got the DBs, running backs, he may even have the kickers doing this stuff. It’s really fun having him on staff.”


5. Coons on the mend
Browns kicker Travis Coons is one of a handful of Browns on the mend and not fully participating at this week’s practices.
Coons, who is coming off a productive rookie season, is Cleveland’s only kicker on the 90-man roster. Patrick Murray, a second-year pro out of Fordham, is with the team on a tryout basis.
Asked about what’s ailing Coons, Jackson expressed minimal concern.
“He won’t be out an extended period of time,” Jackson said. “Sometimes guys get a little tweak. We take care of guys and try to make sure they’re OK. He’s done a great job. He was out here the other day kicking. If a guy has something, we want to make sure we get it behind us.”

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/...3-a3f4b5d921b4

Now.........this guy is not a bozo! He is completely honest, objective, and would never dare try to deceive his readership.

We absolutely need more writers like him.

I don't know what you are talking about.

I like Wright and think O'Neil was a total joke as a coach....I like/d Pet.....but his loyality to JO ended his dream.

Sorry man, the last time I smoked that was in 69 or 70. Even then, more out of curosity than something I did, so that is what, 46-47 years? It's hard to put a finger on th exact year. I have slept since then.

Scooby Wright was a 7th round pick.

Ok, this is what goes through my mind whenever I see high praise for him.

I am not calling anyone out, this is a serious question for those of you who are really pimping this guy. I am asking because I know zero about him. What is it that makes some of you think he will be the steal of the draft, considered for DROY, etc.? He did last to the 7th round after all.

Again, serious question. I am curious.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/scooby-wright%20iii?id=2555292

Mostly because of this. He has a huge upside and if healthy might surprise.

In my opinion, he's one of those guys that is worth taking a chance on because he could very well be an all star. BUT he could also be a special teams ace at best.

The guy came off a injury last year, so he didn't play much. He came back for the bowl game and had arounf 15 tackles.

The year before he got nearly every award for a backer and defensive player.

His measurables off the field aren't all that good. He isn't big, has average speed, but the kid fills holes and makes tackles. I see him starting by game 4.

wow that's optimistic and a bold statement for a 7th rounder

Scooby will rarely see the field outside of special teams.. LB crowd is tight, and Davis/Kirksey will be our two starters at MLB.

Well..........it pales in comparison to his earlier claim that Scooby will will Defensive Rookie of the Year.

J/C
RE: Scooby Wright

Negatives- He had the knee injury, his timed speed was pedestrian before that. Thee are questions about his coverage ability.

Positives- He has very good instincts for the position, he displays good toughness to play inside, he plays with a high motor and finishes plays very well.
JMO

Scooby has just a great instinct and intellect for the game. His recognition and reaction is outstanding. It took him awhile to get the physical back after the knee surgery. Not everyone is Adrian Peterson that can have acl surgery on monday and run for 200 on sunday lol.

I want my intelligent, instinctual defensive players in the middle. Its why I was so big on Campbell at SS. I want athletes the farther you get outside but in the middle i want the guys that is gonna put the Defense in the right set and who isnt gonna get faked out of his shoes at every misdirect play (lol Chaun Thompson)

There was a video clip on that page and looked like Browns are using those robot tackling dummies. kinda cool. I really like that they can use those and its a moving target they can unload on during these no contact drills. I think they would do better using silicon dummies on them in human form though lol.

I understand exactly what you're saying. Now I'm not well informed enough about Wright to have a firm grasp of whether to agree with you or not, so I'm not going to claim to.

But what I will say is sometimes combine numbers simply don't tell the story. Sometimes guys are simply football players. Their instincts and natural ability to play the game rise above all else. Now I don't know if Scooby is such a player. However, we've both seen this before and know that such players exist.

Late to this. Good post! Great read.

Tougher practice equals more reps equals improvement. Glad to hear we are working harder.

If you get better, you don't have to battle as often.

Play like a New Brown. . . .

That is amazing to read. Hope he is all that and a wee bit more. You see him all downs or situational or what? Haven't seen his game that I remember. Hope he remains healthy.

'Peen, you always say something thought provoking. I am going to look for this kid. Hope he can stick.

I have to disagree with you 100 percent. Of course I am basing this on pure hope so I will be eating crow if I am wrong.

I love Scooby Wright. Go back and look at the draft day thread, I wanted him.

He's a seventh round pick in a draft where we selected fourteen players. He is not likely to make the team, let alone start.

Wow....look at this....at least somebody else things the kid can ball out for the Browns.

http://cover32.com/2016/06/02/boom-bust-browns-scooby-wright/

Who said he can't?

I guess I am confused. You just said he probably won't make the team.

"Not likely" is not the same as "can't."

J/C
I liked this clip of Solomon Wilcots offering his take on Browns practice in veteran mini-camp because I don't feel as if he has an agenda. If anything he is usually subdued when discussing the Browns.

Wilcots at mini camp

I thought Wilcot's got hired to do the Brown's preseason games last year? Did they fire him already? If not, it might be hard to say how objective he is.

You want to go with that, fine. LOL



Sounds like you are hedging bets

The Fifth Quarter: Browns DBs coach on Joe Haden's return: 'I expect him to be back in the Pro Bowl'

By NATE ULRICH Published: June 9, 2016

Almost every day I spend covering the Browns at team headquarters, FirstEnergy Stadium or on the road, there are too many news items, notes and observations to fit into the newspaper. So this blog is designed to feature the nuggets that don't appear in print. They're like deleted scenes on a Blu-ray/DVD or the youth football players who ride the pine during the game but get to shine afterward in an extra session often called "The Fifth Quarter."


Here are some leftovers from the third and final practice of mandatory minicamp held Thursday in Berea.


Time to rebound
When defensive backs coach Louie Cioffi followed defensive coordinator Ray Horton back to Cleveland, where they spent the 2013 season coaching the Browns, cornerback Joe Haden reached out right away.


"The first person I talked to was obviously Coach [Hue] Jackson," Cioffi said. "The second text I got was from Joe. He was extremely excited that we are back together."


Cioffi and Horton helped Haden reach his first Pro Bowl three years ago. Haden repeated the feat in 2014 with Cioffi and Horton coaching the Tennessee Titans.


Then last season Haden was plagued by injuries and missed 11 of 16 games. To make matters worse, he had surgery on his left ankle on March 16.


Now Cioffi is determined to help Haden bounce back, and the assistant coach is confident he will.


"I expect him to be back in the Pro Bowl," Cioffi said. "He’s that kind of player. We are going to do everything we can to get him back to that status. I think he’s going to help us win a lot of football games. He’s been awesome. He’s been rehabbing like crazy. He’s been great in the meeting rooms, and I think he’ll be ready to go when the season starts."


He has faith
With 33 seasons of coaching in the NFL under his belt, Al Saunders knows what a wide receiver looks like. And Saunders has repeatedly seen reasons to believe converted quarterback Terrelle Pryor can become a successful wide receiver at the game's highest level.


"The season’s yet to come here, but I know one thing: he’s improved by leaps and bounds," Saunders, senior offensive assistant/wide receivers coach, said of Pryor, who switched to receiver last summer, appeared in three games with the Browns and caught one pass for 42 yards. "It’s really hard -- that transition from the quarterback position to a wide receiver position in a physical environment is so different. He’s being asked to do things that he’s never really been asked to do before, and he’s got to make a lot of ground up in that way.


"But every day he gets better. He does something that really gives me room for optimism that he has a future at that position, and we’re really excited about him. He’s dedicated himself in the classroom, and his work ethic is better and better and better, his efficiency is better and better and better. I look forward to getting him in training camp and see where we can go from there. But he’s done a nice job."


No one questions the athletic ability of the 6-foot-4, 223-pound Pryor, who caught a touchdown pass of about 50 yards from quarterback Robert Griffin III on the second-to-last play of Thursday's practice. But the former Ohio State standout will need polishing to maximize his potential as a playmaking threat.


"When you’ve got a guy that size and you’ve got a guy that can run vertically with that speed, it’s something to work with," Saunders said. "What we’ve got to get Terrelle to be able to do -- and he’s doing a better job of it -- is the ability to change direction at full speed, and that’s always harder for someone who is so much higher cut.


"The thing that I learned a long time ago from a coach by the name of Don Coryell was never ask players to do what they can’t do and put them in positions to do what they can do, and one of the things we’ve learned here over a period of time is how to maximize the talents of the players that we have and put them in a position where they can succeed. So that’s what we’ll do with Terrelle as training camp comes upon us, and same with all those other guys is get them in a position where they can do good things. And he can go vertically, saw him at the end there running down the field, running by somebody. He’s a big target in the red zone. Tall and strong and fast are good qualities to have."


Quotable
1. Offensive line coach Hal Hunter on center and 2015 first-round draft pick Cameron Erving: "He’s a physical guy, but I’m going to tell you what now, he can run like heck. He may be one of the most athletic centers. ... He’s really, really athletic. I think about all the centers in the NFL I know of right now. ... If I was going to race a guy in the 40-yard dash, I’d put my money on Cam Erving to win that one. He can really run and change direction for a big, tall, high-cut guy. I think that’s what everybody was so interested in with him [in last year's draft]. They felt he was athletic enough. We were looking at him in Indianapolis as a left tackle. That’s how well we thought about his athleticism."


2. Hunter on Erving being overpowered by opponents last season while playing guard: "Some of these defensive tackles, these three-techniques in this league, they are men. You look at some of the guys like the [Geno] Atkins guy down in Cincinnati, [Gerald] McCoy down at Tampa Bay, those guys can play now. I mean those guys are really good players. So for it to be a young rookie playing at the guard position, and when you’re spending all week, you’re playing left tackle one day, then you’re playing some tight end, then you’re playing left guard, right guard, taking a little reps at center, that’s doing it all, man. At this level, you better hunker down in one position."


3. Defensive line coach Robert Nunn on nose tackle and 2015 first-round pick Danny Shelton: "The thing that Danny has bought in to, and he's gotten the weight off right now, he's in a very good place mentally, very good place physically and he's a different player. He can do so many more things at the weight he's at right now and the condition he's in. So he's got to keep that and time will tell. He's the one that controls that. I can help him only so much and the strength coaches can only help him so much, and Coach Jackson can only help him so much. He's really in a good place right now. I see him being more than a first and second down player. Will he be in there on every nickel package situation? No, but he will be in there against certain people. ... There's a certain guards that really struggle with blocking guys like Danny, so he will be in the package if he stays right where he is from a mental standpoint and a physical standpoint. The guy's got special talent to be that big and to move as quick as he can. All he's got to do is stick with the process and keep improving his hands, keep improving his pad level and keep improving his footwork, and the sky's the limit for Danny."


4. Nunn on whether coaching a 3-4 scheme is drastically different after spending virtually his entire career coaching 4-3 systems: "It is ... but, hey, it's coaching and getting the guys to believe in what we're doing and sticking with the system and staying with the process and there's nothing that's going to happen I told them that we can't figure out, and we'll have an answer for it. We've just got to stick with the process and play tough and smart."


Extra points
1. A position battle appears to be brewing at the nickel cornerback spot. Jamar Taylor spent the final practice of mandatory minicamp covering the slot for the first-team defense instead of K'Waun Williams. Taylor, who arrived this offseason in Cleveland via a draft trade with the Miami Dolphins, broke up a pass over the middle that rookie quarterback Cody Kessler intended for wide receiver Andrew Hawkins. Apparently disappointed he didn't intercept the pass, Taylor dropped to the ground for push-ups. Williams, the team's primary nickel corner last year, later broke up a pass from Griffin.


2. Erving was limping badly toward the end of practice. However, he kept practicing and finished.


3. Asked to identify a defensive lineman who's been a pleasant surprise so far, Nunn chose defensive end Xavier Cooper, a third-round pick in last year's draft.


4. Rookie outside linebacker Joe Schobert intercepted a pass from Griffin that safety Rahim Moore deflected. It was at least the third time this spring Schobert picked off a tipped pass.


5. The following players didn't practice: kicker Travis Coons, wide receiver Taylor Gabriel (sprained ankle), cornerback Joe Haden (ankle), safety Don Jones, offensive linemen Shon Coleman (knee) and Dan France, defensive end Carl Nassib, tight ends Seth DeValve and Gary Barnidge (sports hernia surgery last week) and rookie wide receiver Jordan Payton (finishing school at UCLA).


6. A third-round pick in this year's draft, Coleman was sidelined throughout spring practices while rehabilitating his right knee after undergoing surgery in January on a torn medial collateral ligament suffered last season at Auburn. But Hunter said "he’ll be ready for fall camp."


7. A few players returned to practice after missing time with injuries: linebacker Cam Johnson, offensive lineman Alvin Bailey, who's competing for the starting right tackle job, running back Glenn Winston and tight end Randall Telfer.

http://www.ohio.com/blogs/cleveland-brow...o-bowl-1.689338

5 things to know from the end of Browns minicamp
Posted 4 hours ago

Andrew Gribble
Senior Staff Writer
@Andrew_Gribble
Cleveland heads into summer break with upbeat final practice

1. QB competition to resume in late July
Based on how coach Hue Jackson has addressed the position throughout the offseason workout program, it was little surprise he said Thursday he was “absolutely not” ready to name a starter before training camp.
“I haven't even come close to letting my mind go there,” Jackson said. “I’m just trying to help our football team improve and that position improve as much as I can. That is what really is important. As we start getting closer in training camp to getting ready to play as I’ve seen more things, and I’ll go back and evaluate all of this, but I can assure you guys that there will be no earth-shattering announcement between now and training camp or anything like that. You guys go on your vacations, have a good time.”
Jackson had a good time watching the progress of all five of his quarterbacks from the start of the offseason workout program, to OTAs, to the past three days of veteran minicamp. Of note, Jackson said Robert Griffin III has “gotten better” amid high scrutiny from outside of the building.
“He has gotten better in a lot of areas,” Jackson said. “It goes back to the same thing. These men are allowing the coaching staff to coach them, and we are doing the best job that we can to put them in the right environment so that they can get better. There are a lot of guys that have improved. You know, from Step A to where we are today. We also understand that we have a big hill to climb. We’re just going to keep climbing until we get there.”

2. Coleman a ‘tremendous player’
Corey Coleman quickly worked himself into NFL shape after a few whirlwind months on the draft circuit and impressed Jackson throughout OTAs and minicamp.
The first-round pick has received constant attention from Jackson and senior offensive assistant/wide receivers coach Al Saunders on the practice field, and that’s been reciprocated with continuous improvement.
“He’s a tremendous player,” Jackson said. “He’s going to be pretty good. I ride him pretty hard because he has so much ability and I want to get it out of him. He’s really shown why we drafted him in the first round. He is a tremendous talent. If he keeps working like he is and stays as humble and he has great desire to be a great football player, I think that’s going to happen for him.
“He’s still got to earn it. He’s got to work for it. He’s got to go fight for it to go get it. I think he will.”

3. Cioffi’s high hopes for Haden
Browns secondary coach Louie Cioffi has yet to see Joe Haden on the practice field but he’s been more than encouraged by the cornerback’s progress in his recovery from offseason ankle surgery.
Cioffi was Cleveland’s secondary coach in 2013 in the same capacity under defensive coordinator Ray Horton. He worked closely with Haden in what was his first Pro Bowl season.
“When I got hired here, the first person I talked to was obviously Coach Jackson. The second text I got was from Joe,” Cioffi said. “He was extremely excited that we are back together. I expect him to be back in the Pro Bowl. He’s that kind of player. We are going to do everything we can to get him back to that status. I think he’s going to help us win a lot of football games. He’s been awesome. He’s been rehabbing like crazy. He’s been great in the meeting rooms, and I think he’ll be ready to go when the season starts.”

4. Deep competition at right tackle
Offensive line coach Hal Hunter named four players when prompted about the ongoing competition at right tackle.
That’s good news, he said, about a competition that includes a mix of veterans and rookies with varying experience at the position.
Alvin Bailey, who spent the first part of his career in Seattle as a jack-of-all trades, received the bulk of the work with the first-team offense throughout the offseason program.
“When he swings over the right tackle, all the technique is absolutely backward,” Hunter said of Bailey, who last played at left tackle for the Seahawks. “We’ve worked a lot of his technique, and our system is a lot more complicated than what they did in Seattle. We’re asking him to do a lot more, but he’s picked it up really well. I’ve been pleased. He’s got a ways to go to be able to do what we want, but he’s making progress.”
Rookies Spencer Drango and Shon Coleman are also in the mix and so isMichael Bowie, who has been with the Browns since 2014 but has yet to play because of injuries.

5. Pryor improves by ‘leaps and bounds’
Saunders was nowhere near ready to pencil in Terrelle Pryor to a significant role for the 2016 season opener in Philadelphia, but he was adamant about the former quarterback’s improvement.
“The season is yet to come here, but I know one thing: He’s improved by leaps and bounds,” Saunders said. “It’s really hard, that transition from the quarterback position to a wide receiver position, and the physical environment is so different. He’s being asked to do things that he’s never really been asked to do before. He’s got to make a lot of ground up in that way, but every day he gets better, he does something that really gives me room for optimism that he has a future at that position. We’re really excited about him. He’s dedicated himself in the classroom, and his work ethic is better and better and better. His efficiency is better and better and better.
“I look forward to getting him in training camp and see where we can go from there. He’s done a nice job.”

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/arti...ce-60533c66d85e

I had forgotten about that. Probably because I didn't see any preseason games last year. That could possibly influence his opinion. I take solace in that he said several things that have been echoed by others who've been to OTAs and mini camp.

Browns assistant coach press conferences - 6/9

Posted 5 hours ago

Clevelandbrowns.com@Browns Facebook



Six Browns assistants meet with reporters Thursday





Included below are select quotes from interviews with the following Browns position coaches during today’s media availability:

Defensive backs coach Louie Cioffi
Inside linebackers coach Johnny Holland
Offensive line coach Hal Hunter
Defensive line coach Robert Nunn
Senior offensive assistant/wide receivers coach Al Saunders
Outside linebackers coach Ryan Slowik



Defensive backs coach Louie Cioffi:

On potentially feeling unsettled due to new personnel in the secondary, plus DBJoe Haden missing time:
“No, I’m excited about this group. It’s a very young group with two veterans, really. There’s a lot of opportunity for guys, both at the nickel position and the corner position. You can never have enough corners in this league. This is a passing league. The more guys we have that can compete and be ready to play for us, the better off we will be in the long run.”

On the confidence level with two younger safeties in DBs Ibraheim Campbell andJordan Poyer:
“I have confidence in both of them. I was fortunate enough to coach Campbell at the Senior Bowl when he was a rookie so we have some history together. I’ve also been around Poyer during my last stop here [in 2013]. They’ve both been in our system before. They’ve done everything that we have asked them up to this point. I think it is going to be a very good competition moving into camp.”

On if Haden has shown signs for a positive return after missing time last season and this offseason due to injury:
“When I got hired here, the first person I talked to was obviously (Head) Coach (Hue) Jackson. The second text I got was from Joe. He was extremely excited that we are back together. I expect him to be back in the Pro Bowl. He’s that kind of player. We are going to do everything we can to get him back to that status. I think he’s going to help us win a lot of football games. He’s been awesome. He’s been rehabbing like crazy. He’s been great in the meeting rooms, and I think he’ll be ready to go when the season starts.”

On what he knew about DB Justin Gilbert prior to joining the Browns and how Gilbert has looked during offseason workouts:
“Before I got here, we obviously had studied him and had him on our board. He was a high first-round pick, very talented athlete. We discussed possibly taking him. Everything I know about him is good. The same thing here. When I first got here, we sat down. We mapped out a plan. He has goals and I have goals. What we are going to do is do everything we can in our power to get him to reach his goals. He has been tremendous. He has done everything that we have asked. He has been attentive in meetings. He has been very productive on the field. He’s been amenable to the techniques that we have asked him to play, and he’s been successful in that area. Hopefully, that will continue. I don’t see any reason why he can’t be a very good corner in this league.”

On if it can be tough to give all players a ‘clean slate’ when hearing about past situations:
“No, I always approach that every time you go into a situation that everyone starts on the same page. Right now, in the DB room, we have 19 players. That’s 19 different personalities. My goal, as a coach is to get the very oat out of those players and to get them to reach their goals. If I do that, then it’s better for everybody. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt. It’s really an old saying, ‘I see better than I hear.’ As long as they are doing what I see, we’re good to go.


Inside linebackers coach Johnny Holland:

On how the ILBs have progressed during offseason workouts:
“(LB) Demario Davis, he has done a terrific job for us coming in and trying to learn the system and has been a leader for us. He’s been working in the weight room and he’s a good worker on the field. (LB) Christian Kirksey, he’s been very impressive athletically. He’s getting stronger and bigger. He shows a lot of athletic skill on the field that we really like. A lot of it will come down to how we play with the pads on. I’m looking forward to him having a great year. (LB)Justin Tuggle is one of our inside linebackers. He has been a great addition for us. He has some size and speed. He’s a very sharp guy. A lot of it will come to when we put the pads on. There’s a lot of competition at the positions. We’re very pleased with Tuggle and his progression and learning our defense. (LB) Tank Carder has been very consistent. He’s a dual player that can play both positions. He’s a smooth athlete and does exactly what we want him to do. I’ve been very impressed with Tank, as well. (LB) Scooby Wright (III), our seventh-round draft pick, he’s playing the Buck linebacker for us. He’s done an excellent job of trying to learn our defense, working very hard. He’s going to have a bright future. Scooby plays with the effort that we like. He’s a very intense player and he had a lot of production in college, which we are looking to get some production from our inside linebackers. We have our free agent, (LB)Dominique Alexander. We are very pleased to have him. We like his athletic ability. He’s a smart kid and an instinctive player who can make plays. We are very impressed with our inside linebacker group. There is a lot of competition there.”

On if LB Christian Kirksey has the ability to be a starter:
“Yeah, absolutely. Kirksey has the tools that you look for at that position. He’s athletic enough to cover. We’re going to develop him with some pass rush skills. This system fits his athletic ability. (Defensive coordinator) Ray (Horton) does a good job of moving our linebackers around and giving them the opportunity to rush. Kirksey definitely has the ability to be a big time player in this league.”

On if LB Demario Davis has displayed strong leadership ability:
“Yes, most definitely. He’s a dynamic worker. He’s in the building all the time. He wants to be a good player. He’s always working to get better. He’s one of those guys that he’s going to lead. He’s going to show up early and he’s going to stay late. We’re definitely pleased to have him. We just have to take his pay to another level, and I think he’s going to be a big time player in this league. I’m excited about working with him.

On emphasizing the need to stop the run and the amount of teaching involved:
“Ray is our defensive coordinator, and we put a lot of emphasis on that. That’s one of the points that we touched early in the offseason is that we’re going to be able to stop the run. It’s practice. Guys have to know what to do and know how to fit gaps, and that’s what we’re working on this offseason. We’re working hard. You have to be physical. Our guys run to the ball hard right now. That’s a part of stopping the run, as well. We’re going to do a good job of stopping the run.”

On if he likes the physical type of training camp that Head Coach Hue Jackson has described:
“Absolutely. In order to be an inside linebacker or a defensive player period, you have to be physical. In order to be physical, you have to practice being physical. You can’t just be physical overnight and get into a game and be physical. We’re going to practice physical when it’s time to, and we’re going to practice smart when it’s time to. As an inside linebacker, the more opportunities we have to tackle and practice physical, we want to do that.”





Offensive line coach Hal Hunter:

On if the Browns have an interior swing lineman who can also serve as a backup center:
“The guy that did it in the past I guess a couple years ago when (OL Alex) Mack got hurt was (OL John) Greco. We’ve had Greco do [center-quarterback] exchange every single day out here. He’s done a really good job of it. He’s really functional at it. He’s smart. He understands it. He probably didn’t take any reps during the spring, but he’ll get reps during the fall there. Because it’s a whole new system, I wanted him to have the opportunity to just focus on right guard and just practice there at the position. I have no question that he could come in if he had to come in [at center]. They dress maybe seven or eight guys so somebody has got to be the swing man.”

On if OL Mike Matthews is getting reps at guard:
“No, he’s been mostly focusing on center. There is so much going on at center right now. We’ve had him mainly focused there at center. He’s gotten some reps, probably not as many reps as he would like, but we’ve had a lot of guys working that center position. He’ll get his opportunity in camp. He’s a tough kid. He’s a smart kid, a competitive kid, comes from a good stock. Football is important to him. I’ll be anxious to see him put the pads on and let him go.”

On right tackle:
“At the right tackle position, there is going to be a lot of competition at right tackle because you’ve got (OL) Alvin Bailey that came in. You look at Alvin Bailey when he played last year [in Seattle], he went in for (former Seahawks and Broncos OL) Russell Okung at left tackle. He played really good. When they had me evaluate him, I was like, ‘Why am I wasting my time because they’re not letting him go?’ Then, I was really excited when he came in here for the visit. When he swings over the right tackle, all the technique is absolutely backwards. We’ve worked a lot of his technique, and our system is a lot more complicated than what they did in Seattle. We’re asking him to do a lot more, but he’s picked it up really well. I’ve been pleased. He’s got a ways to go to be able to do what we want, but he’s making progress. (OL) Spencer Drango has come in and has kind of been a little bit of a surprise. He’s been working the backup right tackle, picking up the offense good. He’s a tough, competitive kid, fairly athletic. He’s a four-year left tackle. We’ve gone to right tackle so we’re getting his technique. He’s gone in there and competed. He’s still got a ways to go, but he’s in there. (OL) Michael Bowie played a little bit of right tackle early in the spring, and he played some guard. He’s been finishing out the last couple weeks at left tackle. Then of course, (OL) Shon Coleman. Shon Coleman was a really impressive guy at Auburn when we watched him on tape. He reminded me a lot of a guy I had at San Diego from Auburn named Marcus McNeill, who played me for and was All-Pro for the first two years for me in San Diego – Shon Coleman, they have a lot in common. He’ll be ready for fall camp. There are going to be a lot of guys competing at that position which is good news.”


Defensive line coach Robert Nunn:

On the message to the Browns defensive line after minicamp:
“I told them, for the next few weeks or days or weeks or whatever, get you mind off of it. Relax, get their mind right and start training. Come in here, and if you’re not in the best shape of your life, then it’s your own fault. I believe every one of them will. All of them have got a plan, and we’ve talked about the plan in the offseason and how they’re going to train and where they’re going to train, when they’re coming back. I just told them a minute ago, they have to come back with the same frame of mind and be ready to go to work and we’ll see where this thing goes.

On having strength and conditioning/skills development coach Joe Kim on staff:
“I’ve worked with Joe for 17 years. He and I go way back. I’ve been close to Joe for a long time and have worked with him for a lot of years. That was one of the first discussions that I had with (Head Coach) Hue (Jackson) was about Joe. Joe is a great teacher. He can teach. The guy has great energy when he’s around guys. If he’s teaching martial arts or football or how to drive that tractor over there, he can teach. He’s a good teacher.”

On DL Danny Shelton during offseason workouts and if he can be a three-down lineman:
“The thing that Danny has bought into is he has gotten the weight off right now, and he’s in a very good place mentally, very good place physically. He’s a very good player. He can do so many more things at the weight he’s at right now and the condition he is in. He’s got to keep that, and time will tell. He’s the one that controls that. I can only help him so much. The strength coaches can only help him so much. Coach Jackson can only help him so much. He’s really in a good place right now. I see him being more than a first- and second-down player. Will he be in on every nickel package situation? No, but he will be in there against certain people. When we get in a situation where there are certain guards that struggle blocking certain guys like Danny, he will be in the package if he stays right where he is from a mental standpoint and a physical standpoint. The guy has a special talent. To be that big and to move as quick as he can, all he’s got to do is stick with the process and keep improving his hands, keep improving his pad level and keep improving his footwork. The sky is the limit for Danny.”


Senior offensive assistant/wide receivers coach Al Saunders:

On how the Browns can put a strong group of WRs on the field if they are so young:
“If they continue to make the improvements that they’ve made since they’ve been here, we’re looking forward to a group of very energetic and very capable players. These guys work hard. They’ve had great careers in college, and those that have been here for a year have made marked improvement on a daily basis. What they’ve learned so far in this OTA session and these minicamps is what we expect of them in terms of their energy and their effort in the classroom and on the field. They’ve made some great strides. Now, we got to Phase 2, which is the training camp. We play real football at that time. We’ll see how they progress through that. I’m excited about this group. They’re great kids.”

On WR Corey Coleman:
“Corey is what we thought he was. He’s a talented football player. He’s got great speed. He’s got some great route-running ability. He just has had a very limited background in his college days. That’s what we’re here for is to make sure that he learns how to progress the basics and gets better and better. I’ve been really pleased with his attitude and really pleased with his effort. I think the Cleveland fans are going to be excited to see him when he gets up to speed in every phase of the game. We’re looking forward to that, also.”

On if WR Terrelle Pryor will be able to make an impact and contribute this season:
“The season is yet to come here, but I know one thing: he’s improved by leaps and bounds. It’s really hard, that transition from the quarterback position to a wide receiver position, and the physical environment is so different. He’s being asked to do things that he’s never really been asked to do before. He’s got to make a lot of ground up in that way, but every day he gets better, he does something that really gives me room for optimism that he has a future at that position. We’re really excited about him. He’s dedicated himself in the classroom, and his work ethic is better and better and better. His efficiency is better and better and better. I look forward to getting him in training camp and see where we can go from there. He’s done a nice job.”



Outside linebackers coach Ryan Slowik:

On LB Emanuel Ogbah’s progress and when he may be ready to play regularly:
“Each day, he’s gotten better. He’ll ask questions that are a little more advanced than the question he asked the day before. You can see it, once he starts to just let it go and play, how talented he is. Each day is a step in that direction. It’s been good.”

On if LB Barkevious Mingo’s role and if he may be playing in multiple spots in the front:
“We hope to. How much he moves around is up to him as far as how much he kind of embraces the defense and continues to grow in it. So far, that’s the plan to get him active in different ways and doing different things.”

On how Browns players have benefitted from strength and conditioning/skills development coach Joe Kim and the hand-fighting techniques:
“Any time you have more eyes, more hands on a player, the better. We only have limited access to them. Obviously, schematically, we’re a lot of the time just worried about getting them lined up, making sure they understand the call and understand their responsibilities. The fact that you can have somebody that is dedicated to that craft all the time is just really helpful. You can just see their hands moving, their feet, their hips staying active in the rush. It’s been great.”

On the message to Browns players about not focusing on how reps are split in practice and snaps during the season:
“Right now, it’s all about competition. That’s a decision that they are making for themselves. They understand the importance of that position and that role. They’re competing with each other. That’ll play out.”

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/...c-4b2a84149559

Seeing two things here.

1) Coleman missing everything on the field due to rehabbing the knee is going to make it almost impossible to have him be our starting RT day one. He's behind. Looking like it will be Bailey to begin with. Not having 2 rookies next to each other opens the door at RG.

Erving, ?, Bailey. Who's at RG?

2) Payton WR missing everything because of school is really going to have him behind. This is the one to watch for potential Practice Squad.

Agreed ... as of now those two rookies are on track to have minimal impact

No.

Just no.

Don't you dare start another "play like a ..." motto. I reported your post for profanity. It offended me and butt hurt me intensely. I hope you get banned.

hahaha

Thanks for posting all of those articles. I like Urlich's the best. More straight forward w/out the bought bias.

--On Haden: He did have his best year under Horton and Cioffi. I'm not sure if it was the coaching or that it was a contract year or some of both. But, at least it's something to good to consider.


--Pryor will probably be a one-dimensional guy. That guy might be able to make some big plays, but I don't think he will ever get in-and out cuts well.

--On Erving being fast. Maybe we should move him to WR.

--On Shelton. The comments about him being in the right frame of mind and being right physically right now makes me wonder...

--The RT situation could be a real sore spot this year. The center position could also be poor.