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Cleveland Browns training camp 2017: Safety preview
Updated July 25, 2017

A look at the Browns' safeties

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Browns enter 2017 assured of opening the season with their third safety pairing in as many years. Last season, Jordan Poyer and Ibraheim Campbell were the starters. In 2015, it was Donte Whitner and Tashaun Gipson.

This year’s Week 1 starters remain somewhat of a mystery. The Browns drafted a safety for the third straight year and traded for another. New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams made a point of saying his players need the ability to play two positions.

Maybe that means cornerback Jason McCourty seeing time at safety. Maybe second-year Trey Caldwell, drafted as a corner, is listed on the free safety depth chart as he was last season.

Like we said, it's a mystery. Which makes it a position to watch during training camp.

Here’s a look at the players competing for spots.


RETURNING PLAYERS

Ibraheim Campbell

Campbell, a fourth-round pick of the Browns in 2015, was the starting strong safety to begin last season but lost that job midway through. He got additional starts due to injury, finishing with 30 total tackles and a Pro Football Focus ranking of 85 among safeties.


Derrick Kindred

Kindred was a fifth-round pick of the Browns last season and started five games at strong safety before suffering a season-ending foot injury in Week 12. He had 30 total tackles and was PFF’s 84th ranked safety, one spot ahead of Campbell.


Ed Reynolds

Reynolds, a fifth-round pick of the Eagles in 2014, spent most of his first two seasons in the NFL on the Eagles’ practice squad. He was signed to the Browns’ practice squad last season and was activated in Week 7 after Poyer was lost for the season. He started seven games at free safety, finishing with 27 total tackles and a sack. He was the Brown’s highest-ranked safety (51st) according to PFF.



NEWCOMERS

Calvin Pryor

The Browns acquired Pryor after trading Demario Davis to the Jets. Pryor became expendable when the Jets drafted Jamal Adams sixth overall. The 18th overall pick in 2014, Pryor struggled in New York, playing mostly strong safety. He had two interceptions and 129 total tackles in 44 games (38 starts) with the Jets. He was PFF’s 83rd-ranked safety last season.


ROOKIES

Najee Murray

Murray, who played at Kent State (after transferring from Ohio State) and is from Steubenville, was signed after a tryout during rookie minicamp. He had 21 passes defended, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions in 27 games at Kent State.


Kai Nacua

Nacua was signed as an undrafted free agent following the draft. He had 14 interceptions and 164 tackles in 46 games at BYU. That included a pair of interception returns for touchdowns.


Jabrill Peppers

The Browns selected Peppers 25th overall in April’s draft. While expected to be a strong safety, Peppers’ versatility will likely have him moving around the defense. He’s also expected to return punts and have a role on offense. He was the Big 10’s defensive player and return specialist of the year in 2016.


OTHER CONTENDERS

Justin Currie

Currie was signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2015 and spent his rookie season on IR (ankle). He spent the final four weeks of last season on the Browns’ practice squad.


PROJECTED STARTERS

This remains one of the tougher positions to project because it’s unclear how Williams will use Peppers on defense. Also, Peppers played strong safety with the third-team defense in offseason workouts. Pryor and Reynolds might be the most likely pairing for Week 1.




We've all discussed and contemplated the safety positions for the upcoming year. We don't really know how Williams will use the two spots ... will Peppers/Pryor be used in the hybrid role? Will McCourty be used as a FS? Can Kindred, Campbell, or Reynolds improve?

To me, this is the biggest question for us on the defensive side of the ball. QB, WR, and S are my three biggest concerns by far.

Yeah, the unit is a mess right now.

A lot of people like Kindred, but he was awful last year in coverage. I remember when he and IC were both on the field at the same time. They would kind of be interchangable in regards to SS and FS, but both were horrid, especially at FS.

Reynolds isn't very good, but he helped stabilize the FS spot later in the year. At least we didn't have to see Kindred or IC back there again.

Pryor? I think he is more of SS. Heck, I think Peppers, Kindred, and IC are all SS's.

Who knows, perhaps one or two will make a quantum leap and/or exceed expectations, but as of right now, it is my belief that this unit is terrible and all the hopeful talk in the world won't change that.

Here's my issue as well. I don't think we have a true FS on the team right now.

Don't be too quick to write off ER II - one of my "underdog" (underdawg?) players...

I'm looking for Ed Reynolds to make a leap this year. We need someone to step up at FS. He may be the guy to do it.

I have this suspicion that Kai Nacua could emerge as FS. It might take time to adjust to the speed of the NFL, but his college record looks like he's a ball-hawk. Here is a highlight vid. Most of the time these things show a collection of plays, the better plays repeated several times from different angles. Note that his highlight vid is 3 minutes without a single repeat.

He could emerge. I know a lot of people liked him coming out of college. Honestly, we need some players like that to be surprises in order to expedite the rebuilding process.

There's some talent here but it seems like a lot of guys suited to play strong safety and not a ton of free safety potential.

I think Peppers has the ability to become a FS...but he needs to be kept in more of a strong safety role to start with so he can learn more. His swiss army role at Michigan showed his versatility but also likely inhibited some of his progress as a more pure safety.

If I remember correctly, Calvin Pryor started out as a FS and if he could use this as a fresh start to return to it, that would be great. I really liked him when he was drafted but he hasn't exactly lived up to the hype.

Kindred and Campbell are pretty much the same player...though I prefer Kindred. I don't think both these guys make it out of camp.

Like many, I'm rooting for Nacua. If he turns out to be a UDFA gem and can be a respectable starter/or platoon with Reynolds at FS, that will be a massive win.

Honestly, I kinda wish we had kept Poyer. He wasn't a world beater but he was steady and decent in coverage. I haven't seen enough of Reynolds to know if he's an adequate replacement.

I hope you're right. I like this kid, and even though it's a long shot, it would be awesome to see him make it as another of our UDFA gems. Here's a pretty good interview with him (including some decent info on GW's FS -vs- SS philosophy). Gotta love Nacua's attitude:



Cleveland Browns: Kai Nacua is ready to ‘go 100 percent’

by Peter Smith

The Cleveland Browns drafted 10 players in the 2017 NFL Draft including three first-round picks, but undrafted rookie Kai Nacua could be one of their best additions.

As much focus is put on the NFL Draft, teams including the Cleveland Browns have found some terrific players after the draft is concluded. Isaiah Crowell, Jamie Meder, Briean Boddy-Calhoun, and Anthony Fabiano are some players on the Browns roster that went undrafted and have a chance to be contributors. Former BYU free safety Kai Nacua is in that same boat.

Nacua tied the single-season team record for interceptions with six in both 2015 and 2016 and owns the single-season and career record for interception return yardage for the Cougars. His skill set, production and athletic profile make for an ideal combination for the Browns and what they want to do with their defense.

I was a huge fan of Nacua’s game and hoped he would end up on the Browns, believing he could not only make the team but potentially start (no pressure), so it was exciting to get to talk to him as he prepares to compete in training camp.

Pete Smith: How much do the games against the Utah stick in your craw?

Kai Nacua: I mean (ha), Holy War. Holy War has always been, for me, one of the best games I think I’ve always played in. I’ve always had fun in it, just having the rivalry, having the hostility either at home or at Utah. Any time I see a Ute, I’ll still say “what’s up?” but that’s as far as it goes.

PS: Those two games came down to the wire (35-28 in Las Vegas Bowl, 20-19 last year).

KN: Yeah, yeah. You know, things happen in games and I know I played with no regrets, but can’t change the outcome, but it’s alright.

PS: As far as I’m concerned, I thought you were more than good enough to be drafted. How did you feel about that and how much did it surprise you that you weren’t.

KN: Going into the draft, I was prepared for the worst. I was prepared to not be drafted, because that’s what I heard. I didn’t have the speed. I wasn’t physical enough to tackle. At that point, I can only think of what I can control. I was just, “You know what? I’mma go out. I know what I can run for my 40 and that’s exactly what I did.”

I showed them the speed’s not an issue and some still question my speed. I’d never been scored on in two and a half years in college. I take that personally. I don’t let anyone score on me.

Preparing for that whole situation, it was shocking because I had teams calling me during the draft and they were just like, “I’ll be looking to get you here,” and I’m like alright, sweet, I’ll be waiting by my phone and then it comes down to that pick and they end up picking someone else.

It was very frustrating just because I knew what I expected and what my family expected of me. And just to see all my family kind of reacted after they didn’t see that has been eating at me ever since and that’s just going to push me. I have five younger brothers who are looking up to me and I’m sharing everything I can with them right now to make sure they can get drafted if they’re going to be sitting in that spot with family watching and then you don’t hear your name called.

PS: So to clarify, 4.49 40, 6.87 3-cone, 39-inch vert and 10-7 broad jump is too slow?

KN: I… for me, I don’t think that’s slow, but I still hear that my speed isn’t where it needs to be, so every day I’m working at it.

PS: To me, that’s a helluva athletic profile. Why Cleveland? The goal is to be drafted. Every kid wants to be drafted coming out, but when you do get to be an undrafted free agent, you have a little bit of flexibility in that you get to find the best situation for you. So how does that translate for you to Cleveland?

KN: Cleveland was the best spot, I felt and me and my agent felt it was the best spot for me to go and play, like potential play time to get in and affect the team the way that I do. I’ll go get the ball and I’ll make sure the defense is on point with whatever we do, because that’s what I did at BYU. That was honestly the Browns and looking at all the rosters and teams calling, that was the best option for me to go in and make an impact right away.

PS: Yeah. I look at the free safety position and after the Browns didn’t draft anybody, you already know how pumped I was to get you in here, because I think you’re going to be in a position to not only going to be in position to make the team, but it goes beyond that. A BYU show had me on (BYUSN) and I think they were even surprised how far I think this can go, even as a rookie this year for you.

KN: I appreciate it.

PS: How early did you get a feel that the Browns wanted you?

KN: I think it was about, I want to say sixth or seventh round is when I got a call from Coach (Jerod) Kruse, the safeties position coach. He was just telling me that they liked me and if it comes up, they’d love for me to go there.

They were never on the radar at first because I never had heard from them and then right when the draft ended, I think they were one of the first to call. I was talking with my agent and was like, oh I’ll have to call you back. We looked up all the teams that called and they were gonna be the best option. Coach Kruse really sounded like he wanted me there and he liked what I did on the field, so it was a perfect situation for me to go there.

PS: So you can’t rule out the possibility that my lobbying had an impact to get you to Cleveland, that maybe the coaching staff was paying attention and decided that they had to go get Kai Nacua.

KN: It might’ve been, might’ve been (laughs).

PS: In addition to the talent and athletic ability you have, one of the reasons that I thought this situation made sense — now, feel free to tell me if I’m dead wrong — when I watched BYU, you’d show Cover-2 and immediately drop to Cover-3 and it was just a question of which three would drop back and it was just a question of which three are gonna drop back. You had opportunities to come down in the box in kind sort of a joker role and then you obviously have a ton of experience playing that deep middle.

KN: Yeah, that’s pretty much exactly what was going on and I did my best in everything I could.

PS: Transitioning that to now you go to a defense and again, tell me if I’m wrong, with Gregg Williams that’s going to want to show a lot of Cover-3 and Cover-1, taking a guy who has a ton of experience playing that center field role can now come in and — look it’s an NFL adjustment and everything else — but in terms of role, it’s like you are right back to what you were doing at BYU.

KN: No, yeah and that’s what they expect of me. It’s what I did in college. It’s what I’m going to do in the NFL is I go get the ball and I tend to know where it’s going to go, where the quarterback’s feeling, where he wants to look for the open guy. That’s just kinda what I do.I go find the ball and that’s exactly what I’m going to do for Coach Williams and the Browns if I get the opportunity.

PS: You had 14 interceptions at BYU and you sort of hinted at it, but how do you explain to people who you ask you how you’re able to — some of your interceptions, it looks like the quarterback simply overthrew it, but as you know, you have to be there for that to happen. So when people ask you how do that, how do you get these 14 interceptions, how do you explain it?

KN: For me, I played quarterback in high school, so I actually know kinda where the windows are and the rhythm of a throw and how the quarterback wants to get it to his receivers. So that was a big advantage for me is in like into Cover-2, so if they ran an out and streak, I knew the timing because I knew my corner was going to shoot to that flat real fast, so I knew he was trying to hit a hot, like probably 10-12 yards and I knew I had to get on top of that or pick a ball.

Even in Cover-1, I knew that we’re bringing pressure wherever he’s gonna look — it’s different in college. They can fake you out a little bit, but when pressure’s coming, you gotta get rid of the ball and you’ve gotta trust whatever way he takes you and try to go to make a play on it.

PS: The other thing that’s difficult to ignore in seeing you play is when you get the ball in your hands, you’re very unique in just how aggressive you are to going the other way. I’m curious where you developed that mentality and have you ever had coaches almost try to dissuade you from being so aggressive. And what I mean by that is there are times when you will take that big cut back and go for the big and I have to imagine you have coaches who are doing the “No! No! No! Yes!” type thing.

KN: Yeah, you know I just love having the ball in my hands and that’s what I want every time I’m back there at safety. I see the ball in the air and think, you know, that has to be my ball. I love having the ball in my hands and I do try and score every time I get it and get like the biggest return I can because yeah, at BYU, I know I had coaches, they would tell me you need to get down right here and end the game or this series.

I’m just like — the game’s still going until the last whistle blows and the clock hits zero, so in my mind, I’m like why not try and score? Of course, take care of the ball. I don’t want to give the ball back right away because I just took it from them.

PS: You’ve been here a little while. How much does Gregg Williams stress “strong” and “free” in his scheme?

KN: To be honest, we’re pretty similar in what we do, like the strong and the free. I mean, obviously the free’s are going to be more in the backfield and playing the ball wherever it goes and he expects the strongs to be strong, you know in the box, if they bring them in there. Other than that, it’s not too different. I’m trying to learn both positions because you never know when you’ll get caught in a hurry up position, I’ll have to be the strong or something, then I have to be able to know both positions.

PS: And I’m not looking for you to out anybody, but is the situation where you’re seeing Coach Williams and Coach Kruse move guys back and forth a little bit or are you guys pretty much standard, you’re a free safety, you’re a strong safety type setup?

KN: They are…mixing it up a little bit, but no one’s set in any position really. They’re looking for the best opportunity to put guys on the field that will make plays and do what the coaches ask. I wouldn’t say anyone’s set at just a strong or just a free.

PS: With that, how much are you guys playing around with big nickel (three safeties on the field at once)?

KN: I don’t know if I can answer that question. The coaches might have to answer that question, because I haven’t really messed with it. I haven’t seen too much of that yet.

PS: Obviously from a fan and a little bit of a media perspective, obviously you’ve got guys like you, you’re that ball hawking guy, but you’ve also got guys like Jabrill Peppers or Calvin Pryor, Ibraheim Campbell who can be that strong, may bounce around to free a little bit, but the team may want to throw them in the box a little bit.

KN: Yeah, I think that might come with game plans. Certain teams may have a bigger slot or they may want to show a bigger package, but yea, I can’t get into it. I’m not really sure.

PS: Impressions of Gregg Williams?

KN: For me, I love the guy. I love his intensity. I’ve never shied away from any intense conversations or coaching the way he coaches. I’ve had it at BYU. You know, they’re screaming maybe for no reason but you just gotta know they’re trying to create chaos and just trying to see how you’re gonna play under that type of noise, that white noise that’s gonna make you lose focus. But I love his intensity, I love the way he’s coaching us. I’m just excited.

PS: Have you learned any new words from Coach Williams?

KN: Uh, I can’t say I’ve learned any new words (laughs). Maybe not yet.

PS: You’re getting ready for training camp. With everything you’ve seen and done so far, how do you feel about your chances with the Browns and the NFL in general?

KN: Right now, it’s just, I feel like, knowing what I gotta do on the field and doing it at 100 percent, making the plays I know I can make because I know the coaches have already seen the film and that’s what they’re expecting of me. They didn’t want me to come in just to not do what I do. That’s all that’s on my mind right now. Learn the playbook, then learn it to the best ability and once I know my position, I can learn other positions to potentially be a threat in other areas on the field. I’m just in a learning mindset and just ready to go 100 percent.

Link

I believe Williams is gonna be playing primarily right side safety left side safety instead of your more traditional 1 deep and 1 up to the box safety. he wants guys that can separate the receiver from the ball. Kindred is a thumper its why he was starting at FS in the spring. Pryor is a thumper, its why we traded for him. Peppers is a thumper, its why we spent a first round on him. 2 deep nothing goes over you kill everything infront of you.

I don't believe we are putting as much value on safeties that can cover as we are safeties that can run to the ball and once they get there, knock you into the middle of next week.

Really good defensive philosophy, if you have a monster pass rush. If not, you get carved up by the quick accurate passers.

This is a horrible group of players.

There are 2 firsts rounders, and 2 4th rounders in the group. lets see how they look under Williams. Look we had 10 year vets that struggled to grasp what Horton was teaching last year. See ball get ball is probably much easier for these guys to grasp than the Steeler zone principles Horton was trying to teach last year.

One of those first rounders is Calvin Pryor. Just based off of the eye test early in the off-season, we're in trouble.

People were high on the safeties last year at this time, too.

It's that time of the year, man. They catch Delusionalitis at this time every single year.

Again, its an entirely different defensive scheme these guys will be playing. I guess its delusional to think a complete change in defensive philosophy could effect players positively.

Even if most of these guys improved, they'd still only be average.

We have many hitters, but who will be the free roamer? That's the main question I have about our safeties.

Mary Kay Cabot
✔
@MaryKayCabot
#Browns Hue Jackson said Derrick Kindred will start out as the No. 1 free safety, Jabrill Peppers and other will compete at strong safety

Hmmm, Kindred at free safety?

been hearing for awhile he was a lock for starting FS, Williams loves the guy. hardest hitter in the secondary.

Hmmm...I just listen to the presser and Hue said that Pryor would be the strating SS and he was non committal on the FS, but hinted that Peppers might be looked at (deep) FS.

This kid seems to have game. If he doesn't get the job, then I hope he works in some. Liked what I saw!

j/c

this is the position i have a total lack of faith in. and frankly all the talk and pre-season spin isn't going to change my opinion one bit.... I might have a little faith in Corey Coleman and the WR group, and even Kessler. That's my area that I have a small amount of optimism. with the safeties ... I won't believe any of the hype till I see it on the field Sundays.

Peppers I think can be used as an interesting tool to attack with - but FS and coverage ?? I don't see who is going to step up. I know nothing about Kai - but I'll remain skeptical based on his un-drafted status.

I feel this way about S, QB, and WR ... I'll have to see it to believe it

Hopefully, one or more of these guys will surprise.

I thought Kirksey played like a Special teams guy for awhile. Then last year, he played like he belonged. Made a huge leap. Perhaps Kindred can do the same.

I remember thinking Brian Russell sucked for Minni and bad-mouthed the move, but he played very well for us. Perhaps Pryor or Reynolds can do the same thing.

Peppers might live up to the hype and be a dynamic safety.

One can always hope...

Brian Russell was very good for us. And he was then replaced by Mike Adams, another guy who was good for us. And both were undrafted.

I definitely miss those guys, not sure why we let either of them walk. (I mean, at the time, they're pretty old now, lol)

From memory both guys, Russell and Adams, we're both smart players. Maybe not the most physically gifted but intelligent and in the right place at the right time, and helping the other players around them.

i don't know enough about our safeties to say one way or the other for certain, but it seems to me, they are more physically gifted than mentally gifted.

That's a good point.

But, I was trying to encourage you.

We need one guy to step up and be that smart player either at FS or SS. We need that "QB" in our secondary the guy that knows who should be playing where and when.

I liked kirksey from an early time, even if he wasn't playing lights out it seemed like the game wasn't too big for him and he belonged. It's sort of why I feel a little optimism for Kessler and Coleman. Unlike Frye and Quinn and some others who looked like deer in the headlights, CK didn't give off the same vibe to me. . . We've all discussed that (significant) improvement with arm talent and willingness to throw deep is needed. . .

With the safeties have not seen anything that gives me reason to believe that there might be am improvement, which is why I am pessimistic. that is not to say it can't happen. Others are no doubt more qualifes than me to judge the likely hood of a jump in performance.

Was busy typing a reply and didn't see your next post before I responded. Appreciate the encouragement

LOL..........I probably shouldn't have made that last post. Dudes were just driving me nuts in the Outhouse and I needed a distraction.

agreed here

I couldn't think of what we were missing - but you make a great point and sum it up

Funny thing is, it gives me confidence - we have a mentally gifted football player at safety now - peppers

I am not getting on your case, but what makes you think that Pepper is "mentally gifted?" The failure of the drug test? What?

maybe he forgot the purple text??

I know he is mentally gifted based on what every coach and teammate says about him - his teammates and coaches go out of there way to mention his football IQ.

Okay, thanks. Now that you mention it............I do remember reading that.

Gipson was undrafted as well. I hope/pray that we find a diamond in the rough again at FS, because I sure don't like what I see from our known commodities.

Yes, I thought of that and intended to mention that. I don't have my other sources other than Harbaugh but I did red where he said peppers was the smartest player he has ever coached ... He mentioned one other player at the same time.