DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Training Camp part 2

Brock to Corey for 45 yards.

https://twitter.com/StSPodcasts/status/894660610763444224

Nice.

That's on Nacua and Hillary.

Training Camp Log, Day 10by Scott Petrak August 7, 2017

CHANGE IT UP: With the preseason starting Thursday night, coach Hue Jackson switched how he scripted practice. The first-team offense and first-team defense didn’t face each other, and much of the day was spent working against the formations and plays expected from the Saints.

NEWS OF THE DAY: Jackson named Brock Osweiler the starting quarterback for Thursday night — and Thursday night only. He’ll be followed by Cody Kessler, DeShone Kizer and possibly Kevin Hogan.

CAMPER OF THE DAY: Tight end Seth DeValve. He continues to emerge in his second year and showed off his athleticism with a pair of long catches on go routes down the right sideline from Osweiler. On the first, he beat undrafted rookie cornerback Channing Stribling. Later he picked an underthrown pass off the back of safety Calvin Pryor.

https://www.brownszone.com/?p=2496

damn.. Devalve mossed one over a couple guys too. Brock was QB.

Reports that Louis got a 25 yard pass from Brock for a TD..

Brock is a brand new man today.

I could be wrong but if Brock is going against the 3rd team secondary, then he must be getting the lion share of reps today.

Thanx for the PC.

Brock to Devalve this time

https://twitter.com/StSPodcasts/status/894667838920765441

Randall Telfer - TE - Browns

Coach Hue Jackson said Monday that Randall Telfer is currently the Browns' No. 1 tight end.
Of Telfer, Jackson said he "likes his blocking," which was Telfer's strength as a sixth-round prospect coming out of USC in 2015. It's only a matter of time before first-rounder David Njoku emerges as a real threat, but for now the Browns are making Njoku pay his dues. In addition to Telfer, athletic second-year TE Seth DeValve is listed ahead of Njoku on the depth chart.

Source: Nate Ulrich on Twitter Aug 7 - 5:26 PM

It was a very good day for Brock Osweiler, new Browns starting quarterback
7:06 PM ET
Tony Grossi
ESPN Cleveland


More takeaways from Day 10 of Browns training camp …

1. Taking ownership: On the first day he was named Browns starting quarterback, Brock Osweiler enjoyed his best day of practice this summer. He was given twice the reps of the other quarterbacks and enjoyed perhaps and completed 13 of 19 passes in team drills, including a one-handed, diving grab from Corey Coleman at the right sideline. Osweiler spread the ball around on the day, as seven different receivers caught his passes. There was a noticeable energy to the offense and a lot of smiles on the players’ faces, although it was heavy on installation for the Saints game on Thursday and hitting to the ground was limited (except for one Myles Garrett pop to the ground of running back Terrence Magee that elicited oohs from the spectators). It sure looked like Osweiler immediately began the process of taking ownership of the offense. “I think that is his personality, and if I know Brock well, that is what he will try to do,” coach Hue Jackson said. “[The competition] is not over yet, but I would love to see him go play well on Thursday night and lead the team and run our offense to the best of his ability.”



2. That makes sense: This was not a controversial move, of course. So when Jackson expanded on his reasoning for elevating Osweiler over Cody Kessler for the starting job, his explanation made perfect sense. “For one, we have a veteran player who has played in games and knows how to win, and I need to give him an opportunity to demonstrate that,” Jackson said. “No. 2, we still have some young quarterbacks that need to play a lot of football. If I stuck one of those other guys out as a starter, they weren’t going to play a lot of football because they probably would come out when the other veterans come out. When you sit down and think through it all, and you think what is best for our football team, it is best for me to trot Brock out there, see if he can go lead this offense and lead the team, and in the process keep getting these young guys more reps of playing football. They just need to play.” Jackson indicated that Kessler and DeShone Kizer would get the bulk of reps in the Saints game after Osweiler. Kevin Hogan might not get any, as he received very few on Monday.

3. Getting ahead of ourselves: Although Jackson threw Kessler and Kizer a bone by saying “it’s not over,” there is precious little time for either to unseat Osweiler now. Jackson wants to name his season starter prior to the third preseason game. The problem is that the third game comes only five days after the second preseason game Aug. 21 against the Giants. Usually when coaches are conducting an open quarterback competition, they name one quarterback the starter for the first game and another for the second game. Jackson did not do that, leaving himself the option to give Osweiler the second game, too, which would wrap up the competition, no doubt. “You never know,” Jackson said. “I want to just work towards this Thursday night first and foremost. This is about this week, this opportunity and then we will keep going from there because there is still a lot about Brock I need to know, too, playing in a game.”

4. Time to get serious: Two other signs that this change will be more than just a one week thing and it will be very difficult for Kizer or Kessler to make a run at Osweiler: 1. Kizer was receiving first-time reps pretty much every day for the first nine days. Not so on Monday. 2. Jackson conceded, albeit gently, that Kessler squandered the opportunity of receiving first-team status since OTAs. “I have said since the beginning that this thing is an opportunity. You have to nail it,” the coach said. “If you don’t, it was going to be fluid. I have done exactly what I said I was going to do. I think that is only fair to the players, the players in our locker room and our organization. My job is to put the best guy out there that is going to give us a chance – not saying that Cody still can’t be that guy – but right now, what I’m feeling is let’s go in a different direction.”

5. Depth chart unveiled: Jackson’s first “unofficial” depth chart of the preseason included a few surprises. Randall Telfer was list No. 1 tight end, followed by Seth DeValve and rookie David Njoku at No. 3. “Randall is a blocker,” Jackson said. “Randall can get after you that way. As you guys know, we play in a lot of different packages, a lot of different personnel. I haven’t decided what the first play is going to be so it could be a whole bunch of tight ends out there on the first play. We will see how that all unfolds.” Also, rookie Jabrill Peppers was listed No. 2 at free safety – not strong safety. The starting safeties were Derrick Kindred (free) and Ibraheim Campbell (strong). Jackson used the “safeties are interchangeable” cliché to explain that one. In a below-radar move, Austin Reiter surfaced as the No. 2 center behind JC Tretter. One starter should come as no surprise – Myles Garrett at left defensive end.

6. Quarterback update: The unofficial quarterback tracker of record, ESPN Cleveland’s Jason Gibbs, crunched the numbers on the passing numbers in team drills: Kessler: 6 of 8, one interception; 59 of 89 overall; Osweiler, 13 of 39; 70 of 120 overall; Kizer, 8 of 11; 44 of 85 overall; Hogan, 3 of 6; 19 of 30 overall.

http://www.espn.com/blog/cleveland/post/...ing-quarterback

Browns Camp Notes: Hue Jackson Maintains QB Competition Not Over
August 7, 2017 7:23 PM By Daryl Ruiter | 92.3 The Fan

BEREA (92.3 The Fan) – Brock Osweiler will start Thursday night.

What happens from there at quarterback, who knows.

“This thing’s not over by any stretch,” head coach Hue Jackson said following Monday’s practice.

Maybe it should be.

The offense had one of their most productive and spirited practices of camp with Osweiler at the helm slinging footballs all over the field – and deep too – while receivers were laying out to try and haul the passes in Monday afternoon.

Even DeShone Kizer, who is currently the No. 3 behind the new No. 2 Cody Kessler, let it rip a few times with success.

Then there was Kessler, who struggled again to get a ball on target from beyond 10 yards. He even got picked off by linebacker Joe Schobert on a simple wheel dump off route to a running back.

Kessler had gotten the first reps since the offseason program began but Jackson could no longer justify staying the course.

“I have said since the beginning that this thing is an opportunity. You have to nail it,” Jackson said. “If you don’t, it was going to be fluid. I have done exactly what I said I was going to do. I think that is only fair to the players, the players in our locker room and our organization. My job is to put the best guy out there that is going to give us a chance – not saying that Cody still can’t be that guy – but right now, what I’m feeling is let’s go in a different direction.”

But Jackson isn’t completely sold on Osweiler, at least that’s what he’s saying publicly. He acknowledged that Osweiler is winning over his teammates, which is fairly important and impressive since Monday’s practice was his first significant time with the starters.

Osweiler was the most consistent of the top-3 on the depth chart through the first 9 practices which earned him a chance to go from a throw-in trade for a second-round draft pick to opening day starter on Sept. 10.

“I think we all watched him compete with the twos and move the ball and move the team,” Jackson said. “It had something to do with it.”

Also on Jackson’s mind is reps for the 3 young kids – Kessler, Kizer and the fourth QB Kevin Hogan.

“If I stuck one of those other guys out as a starter, they weren’t going to play a lot of football because they probably would come out when the other veterans come out,” Jackson said. “They just need to play. DeShone needs to play more. Cody needs to play more. Kevin needs to play more.

“I thought this was the way to do it.”

News to Me – If the Miami Dolphins were interested in Osweiler, no one told Jackson.

“It has never been brought to my attention,” Jackson said. “I wouldn’t know. No one has mentioned that to me.’

Monday morning ESPN’s Adam Schefter told The Dan Patrick Show that Miami expressed interest in Osweiler but “Cleveland really wasn’t interested in parting ways with him,” Schefter said.

Catch of the Day – Receiver Corey Coleman made the catch of the day when he went full extension during an 11-on-11 drill on the near sideline to haul in a deep ball from Osweiler after getting behind defensive back Darius Hillary. The catch drew a small ovation from fans who saw it up close.

Injury Report – DL Caleb Brantley (finger), OL Gabe Ikard (concussion), DB Ed Reynolds II (knee) and DB Howard Wilson (knee-PUP).

http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2017/08/07...jTXvW7o.twitter

https://twitter.com/PatChiesa/status/894655686650540033

Notes: DeShone Kizer disappointed not starting vs. Saints but understands processby Scott Petrak August 7, 2017

BEREA — Rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer tried to balance the disappointment of not being chosen the starter for the preseason opener Thursday night with his appreciation of the big picture.

“I’m a competitor. It’s my ultimate goal to be out there playing,” he said Monday after coach Hue Jackson named Brock Osweiler the starter against the Saints. Cody Kessler will play second, followed by Kizer. “We put in a lot of work to do what we do and I’d love to be the guy who’s stepping out there as the starting guy, but until then, this is still part of the process.

“We’ve been able to obviously have a certain path they want me to take. Coach Jackson’s been pushing me along that path and moving me at the pace that I think is acceptable at the time and hopefully one day I will be the guy to step out there on gameday as the first guy to take reps. But for now, it’s about just maximizing the opportunities that are given to me.”



Kizer, the No. 52 pick out of Notre Dame, could still be the guy when the games count. Jackson will continue to re-evaluate the depth chart at the position and said it could change following Thursday.

“I don’t think anything’s really over right now,” Jackson said. “DeShone is progressing.”

Inconsistency has been an issue for Kizer and it cropped up in the red zone Friday during the Orange and Brown Scrimmage.

“A lot of room for improvement, a lot of room to take my game to the next level,” he said of what he saw on the film. “A guy who’s looking to learn as much as I possibly can, a guy who has some consistency things that I need to clean up. There’s still a lot of work for me to do before I become the quarterback that I want to become one day.”

Kizer called an overthrow to running back Duke Johnson on the goal line Friday “unacceptable.” But he said he’s not disappointed in his overall accuracy and believes he’s getting better.

“That’s always going to be No. 1,” he said. “This game doesn’t work at the quarterback position if you can’t put the ball on the receiver.”

LOAD LIGHTENED

Second-year linebacker Joe Schobert has life a little easier physically this year. Instead of playing outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, he gets to play in a 4-3.

“Compared to what I was doing last year, it would be more like I was a D-end in this defense,” he said. “Definitely glad to be off the ball, behind the line, being able to run the plays down rather than taking on (right tackle) Shon Coleman in the run game every day.”

Schobert is the second-team middle linebacker and is pushing veteran Tank Carder for the starting job. He had an interception of Kessler on Monday.

“I get a chance to run around a lot more this year and make some checks, call the defense, it’s a little more responsibility and it’s been good,” Schobert said.

CHART TOPPERS

The first unofficial depth chart was released and included a few noteworthy items. Rookie Myles Garrett was listed as the starter at right defensive end, Desmond Bryant at defensive tackle, Shon Coleman at right tackle and Randall Telfer at tight end ahead of Seth DeValve and David Njoku.

“Randall is a blocker. Randall can get after you that way,” said Jackson, adding he’ll use several personnel packages involving a variety of tight ends.

Rookie Jabrill Peppers, the No. 25 pick, was listed as a second-team safety behind Ibraheim Campbell and Derrick Kindred. Peppers is first at kickoff return and punt return.

EXTRA POINTS

Linebacker Christian Kirksey (knee) and receiver Jordan Leslie (evaluated for a concussion) returned to practice after surviving injury scares over the weekend.

** Safety Ed Reynolds (knee), rookie defensive tackle Caleb Brantley (finger), offensive lineman Gabe Ikard (concussion) and defensive back Marcus Burley (face laceration) remained sidelined.

** Cody Parkey went 5-for-5 in the field goal competition to end practice, with a long of 54. Rookie Zane Gonzalez was 4-for-5, with the miss wide left from 33 yards.

https://www.brownszone.com/?p=2501

Telfair must be having a good camp so far. I'm hoping it's not an indictment on Njoku too.

Telfer is a good blocker but not much of a threat to catch the ball. I think we will end up seeing DeValve and Njoku in the majority of two TE sets.

Browns training camp snapshot (Day 10): Randall Telfer, Jabrill Peppers provide surprises on first unofficial depth chart
Published: August 12, 2011 - 1:36 PM

Monday’s developments

All of the hype about the Browns’ tight ends has been centered on rookie David Njoku, a first-round draft pick (No. 29 overall), and Seth DeValve, who appears to be one of the team’s most improved players.

Randall Telfer, meanwhile, had become somewhat of a forgotten man at the position.

But when the Browns released their first unofficial depth chart of 2017, Telfer was listed as the No. 1 tight end, followed by DeValve and Njoku.

“Yes, he is,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said when asked if Telfer is indeed the top tight end heading into Thursday night’s preseason opener against the visiting New Orleans Saints. “Randall is a blocker. Randall can get after you that way.

“As you guys know, we play in a lot of different packages, a lot of different personnel. I haven’t decided what the first play is going to be, so it could be a whole bunch of tight ends out there on the first play. We will see how that all unfolds.”

Rookie Jabrill Peppers is listed as the backup free safety behind Derrick Kindred. When the Browns drafted Peppers in the first round (No. 25 overall), they said he would play strong safety. But the starting strong safety is Ibraheim Campbell, with Justin Currie second on the depth chart.

Is Peppers being listed as a free safety significant?

“No, I don’t think so,” Jackson replied. “You have seen all of the different packages that we play in on defense. We move that free safety and strong safety. They are kind of interchangeable. I wouldn’t even read into that at all.”

Defensive end Myles Garrett, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, is the only rookie listed as a starter. Peppers, however, is the primary punt and kickoff returner.

• Jackson changed the practice format to prepare for the Saints, with the starting offense and defense facing scout teams instead of each other.

• Brock Osweiler, whom Jackson named the starting quarterback for the exhibition opener, made several impressive deep throws. He connected twice with DeValve and once with wide receiver Corey Coleman on long passes. DeValve reached over safety Calvin Pryor’s back to make a circus catch. Coleman made a diving, one-handed grab.

• Backup middle linebacker Joe Schobert intercepted a pass from quarterback Cody Kessler after it was deflected in traffic over the middle.

• Quarterback DeShone Kizer completed deep balls late in practice to receivers Jordan Leslie and Jordan Payton.

• Cody Parkey made all five of his field goals, including one from 54 yards. Rookie Zane Gonzalez made 4-of-5 field goals, missing from 33, the shortest distance both kickers tried.

• Leslie left Saturday’s practice to be evaluated for a possible concussion, but he was cleared and returned Monday.

• Starting weakside linebacker Christian Kirksey also returned to practice after experiencing an injury scare in Friday’s Orange and Brown Scrimmage.

• Former Browns receiver and GlenOak High School graduate Brian Hartline has been hired by Ohio State as an offensive quality control coach. His duties include assisting receivers coach Zach Smith. Hartline served as a coaching intern at OSU in the spring.

Tuesday’s schedule: Practice from 3:25-5:55 p.m.

— Nate Ulrich

https://www.ohio.com/akron/sports/browns...ial-depth-chart

So have the coaches work with him to learn how to catch better. rep after rep and we may have more than just a blocking TE.

Devalve is showing that he has GAME! I just don't get this.
???

I have no clue .... can Devalve block? ..

Don't worry about it .. this is just coach speak ...

Actions speak louder than words ... we'll see much more of Devalve than Tellfer ... Tellfer will be in on 3rd and 1's and on two tight end sets to block ...

Then again, which would you rather have in your TE, the ability to block or the ability to be a weapon in the passing game?

Devalve will get 8 snaps for every snap Telfer gets as the season wears on.

Shoot, if there are some really tough cuts at other positions, Telfer might be sacraficed.

Jabrill Peppers' versatility on defense will be tailored to each week's game plan
3:10 PM ET
Tony Grossi
ESPN Cleveland

Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.

Takeaways from Day 11 of Browns training camp …

1. Tackling myriad roles: Much has been said about Jabrill Peppers’ potentially diverse uses on defense, special teams and offense. He tackles, he returns kicks, he handles the ball. Well, his versatility in Gregg Williams’ defense alone is giving coaches caution about overloading the rookie safety from Michigan. Peppers’ underlying strength is tackling. But coaches believe his ball skills – so evident in his return game – make him valuable, too, as a deep safety, despite his one career interception at Michigan. So he showed up at free safety, second team, on Hue Jackson’s first unofficial depth chart. “A lot of players can physically do a lot of things,” safeties coach Jerod Kruse said. “It comes into question sometimes the mental overload when you’re asking him to do a myriad of things. Right now, [on defense] we’re working him in some different situations in strong, free and the nickel safety position. It’s a constant communication back and forth with him to make sure if you’re feeling overload we have to take a little off of you. As we get into the season, we’ll have a really focused approach for what his role will be in that game, and who knows what it will be.” Peppers is open to doing anything the coaches want. But he points out, “I pride myself on tackling.”



2. Show time coming: The Browns have had No. 1 receiver Corey Coleman on a pitch count and No. 2 Kenny Britt has been “managed” with VDO (veteran days off). That has allowed the next wave – second-year receivers Ricardo Louis, Rashard Higgins and Jordan Payton – to receive extra reps through training camp. Here is receivers coach Al Saunders’ update on their development: “I couldn’t be happier with the way those guys work. All of those guys when we drafted them were kind of in a developmental mode. We knew that they would take time to develop their skills and techniques to be competitive at this level. If you watch the video from last year to now … Ricardo Louis is just a different guy. He’s playing with speed, his routes are better, his techniques are better. The same for Rashard. Has done a tremendous job in his ability to change direction and understand the offense. Jordan has done a much better job in terms of his acceleration, the techniques he’s using. So we’re excited about their progress and now we’re going to play some real football. I’m really excited to watch those guys play.”

3. He’s No. 1: When Jackson’s first depth chart was unveiled, one of the surprises was at tight end. Seth DeValve and rookie David Njoku, who were drafted by the present Sashi Brown regime, were listed second and third, respectively. The starter was Randall Telfer, who came in the sixth round of Ray Farmer’s second – and final – draft. Jackson explained that Telfer is the position’s best blocker and the coach’s intention to pound the ball accounts for his place atop the depth chart. “Whenever a new coaching staff comes in, it’s like another tryout for a new team,” Telfer said. “I’m glad that they believe in me. I’ve worked my tail off to get to this position.” Telfer said he learned the importance of blocking from the tight end position from former Southern Cal coach Lane Kiffin and Trojan tight end Rhett Ellison, now with the Giants. “It’s something I definitely take pride in,” Telfer said. Telfer missed his rookie season with a foot injury and produced but two receptions in 2016. He takes his No. 1 place on the depth chart in stride. “The way we use our tight ends, we can all be thrown in at any moment,” he said. “David, I compare him to an Avatar, he’s a freak of nature. Seth has great route running ability, great hands. Everybody in our group has something to offer.”

http://www.espn.com/blog/cleveland/post/...weeks-game-plan

Nate Ulrich’s Browns briefing: Pen collector Trevon Coley writing his story as most pleasant surprise of training camp
Published: August 8, 2017 - 3:34 PM


By Nate Ulrich
Beacon Journal sports writer
BEREA: Browns defensive tackle Trevon Coley loves football and pens.

Yeah, pens. All types of pens.

He started collecting them in high school and estimates he has 30-40 in his car and 200 in a box at his house.

“The one that writes the smoothest -- that’s my favorite,” Coley said Tuesday before the 11th practice of training camp.

“It’s a blue ink pen and it’s silver, and it’s the smoothest pen I have. I’ve had people try to take that pen from me, and I’ll fight over that pen.”

It turns out Coley will also fight for a roster spot on a loaded defensive line. The big man with an ink obsession has written a nice story for himself this summer as the most pleasant surprise of camp.

“Coley has done a sensational job,” coach Hue Jackson said.

Coley, 6-foot-1 and 310 pounds, entered the NFL last year when he signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent from Florida Atlantic University. They cut him Aug. 29, and it took him until Nov. 30 to find another job, a spot on Washington’s practice squad. Two days after Washington cut him, the Browns signed him to their practice squad on Dec. 15.

Now Coley is listed second on the team’s unofficial depth chart at defensive tackle. He’s behind veteran Desmond Bryant and ahead of 2015 third-round draft pick Xavier Cooper and rookie sixth-round choice Caleb Brantley. At times, he has even worked with the first-team defense opposite tackle Danny Shelton.

Coley insists he’s simply doing whatever defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and defensive line coach Clyde Simmons ask of him. The simple approach has helped him consistently make plays, including several batted passes near the line of scrimmage.

“It’s not a trick,” said Coley, a native of Miramar, Fla. “It’s actually Gregg. He just says if you’re not rushing, you’re a pass defender, get your hands up, and I just try to get my hands up every chance I can.”

Not bad for someone who’s relatively inexperienced as a defensive tackle.

Coley weighed 225 pounds and played defensive end and linebacker in high school. When he arrived at FAU, his college coaches moved him to the interior of the D-line, and by the time he was a junior, he weighed about 305 pounds.

“I didn’t like [gaining weight] at first, honestly, but you get used to it after a while,” said Coley, whose cousin, Rohan Davey, played quarterback for the New England Patriots from 2002-04. “I feel great now. I feel like I was made to be this big.”

Coley started all of his 48 games at FAU, earning first-team All-Conference USA honors and the team’s MVP award as a senior.

Yet he went undrafted, a fact he thinks about every day.

“If I could have wrote the story, it would have been written different,” Coley said. “But, hey, that’s a challenge that was placed in front of me, and I’m all for it.”

Much-anticipated debut

Rookie defensive end Myles Garrett wants to put the NFL on notice in his preseason debut Thursday night when the Browns host the New Orleans Saints in the exhibition opener.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s preseason or a scrimmage, I want to display dominance when I’m on the field,” said Garrett, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. “So I’m trying to have a dominant performance.”

Garrett has been credited with several virtual sacks in training camp, but he hasn’t been allowed to hit the quarterbacks. He won’t need to hold back against the Saints.

“It’s kind of a relief,” Garrett said. “It’s really harder to avoid hitting him than it is to actually wrap him up and take him down. Now that I can follow through, I can actually show that I’m getting there and I’m making big plays.”

Assuming Saints 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees plays, he will be in Garrett’s crosshairs.

“You’ve spent most of your life looking up to those guys and watching them play, watching them make big plays, not only in the regular season, but in the playoffs and Super Bowls,” Garrett said. “But now, idolizing them is over. It’s time to show that you’re in their class and you can play with the big boys.”

Garrett is the only rookie listed as a starter on the depth chart.

“It’s an honor,” he said. “[Williams] said he was going to make me earn it. And I’m just trying to show that in this preseason and all throughout the season that I’ve earned it and that I’m here to stay.”

Versatile defensive weapon

Rookie Jabrill Peppers isn’t a strong safety, a free safety or a hybrid safety-linebacker. He’s all three.

That’s the way assistant defensive backs coach Jerod Kruse describes the first-round pick.

“I wouldn’t want to put a term on it necessarily with him because of the things he can do,” Kruse said when asked if Peppers’ primary position is strong safety. “Right now, we’re working him in some different situations in both strong and free and the nickel safety position. So when you can do different things, that’s the nice thing. We don’t have a tag necessarily sometimes for that guy, but we know with what we’re going to do defensively how he fits each and every week.”

Peppers is listed on the depth chart as the second-string free safety, but the Browns are counting on him to start. He’s also listed as the primary punt and kickoff returner, and Jackson has said he wants Peppers to eventually moonlight on offense.

Kruse said potentially overwhelming Peppers is a concern.

“That’s what you’ve got to be real careful of,” Kruse said. “So it’s a constant communication back and forth with him to make sure, ‘Hey, if you’re feeling overload here, we’ve got to make sure we compartmentalize some things differently for you or take a little bit off you this week.’ But as I think you’ll see when we get into the season and approach this weekly, we’ll have a really focused approach for what his role will be in that game. And who knows what’ll be? We’ll all kind of see when we get there.”

Versatile offensive weapon

Wide receivers coach Al Saunders explained why the Browns believe running back Duke Johnson can play slot receiver for them in addition to his normal position.

“[Versatile running backs are] like the queen on the chess board,” Saunders said. “They can move to every spot. They can do everything, and they give you an advantage when it comes to personnel matchups.

“If you have a player like that and it allows you to be very creative on offense, it allows you to expand and play from sideline to sideline with players that are normally in the backfield. And he catches the ball as well as any receiver that we have, and he has a gifted talent as a pass catcher.”

Extra points

• Rookie tight end David Njoku explained he’s been limited in practice recently because his back tightened. The first-round pick is trying to take precautions, so he said he didn’t know whether he would play Thursday.

• Njoku said he has watched game film of Browns Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome since he arrived in Cleveland. “He’s a beast,” Njoku said. “He’s really explosive and a great athlete and I’m just trying to uphold that same legacy.”

• Randall Telfer is the first tight end listed on the depth chart, followed by Seth DeValve and Njoku. But Telfer isn’t planning a parade. “The way we use our tight ends, we can all be thrown in there at any moment,” he said, “and we all have something to offer.”

https://www.ohio.com/akron/sports/browns...f-training-camp

Coley might be a nice surprise. I've read great things about him, and he had 1st team reps throughout camp. That's a great sign.

Browns’ Garrett out to ‘send a message’ in exhibition debut

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Myles Garrett won’t be satisfied with just sacks or de-cleating a running back.

For his first NFL exhibition, Cleveland’s rookie wants to make sure the New Orleans Saints remember him — and that the rest of the league takes notice.

“They don’t have much film to go off of, at least not of me now, and they don’t know what I have to offer,” Garrett said Tuesday. “So I’m looking forward to sending a message through this first game.”


Garrett, who has more than lived up to expectations in his first training camp, will make his preseason debut on Thursday night when the Browns host the Saints at FirstEnergy Stadium. The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft is eager to showcase his speed, power and new pass-rush moves he’s been trying out on Cleveland offensive linemen eager to see him abuse someone new.

Soft-spoken yet dead-serious, Garrett wants to make a mark.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s preseason or a scrimmage,” the defensive end said. “I want to display a dominance when I’m on the field, so I’m trying to have a dominant performance, whether it’s preseason first series or whenever I get out there.”

He’ll be out there with Cleveland’s starting defense. After beginning camp deep on the depth chart, Garrett has worked his way into the lineup with steady, solid performances. He has shown a willingness to put in extra work, staying on the field after practice to run 100-yard sprints to build his stamina.

It’s been something to see, and now the Saints will be the first team to get a close-up look at the 6-foot-4, 272-pounder.

The former Texas A&M standout has enthralled Browns fans and even wowed Hall of Famer Bruce Smith, the league’s career sacks leader, who stopped by camp for a visit last week. He has won over 10-time Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas, who was beaten badly by Garrett last week while protecting quarterback Cody Kessler.

The only thing Garrett hasn’t been able to do is hit a QB, but that will change against the Saints.

“It’s kind of a relief,” said Garrett, who was credited with two sacks in last week’s scrimmage. “It’s really harder to avoid hitting him than it is to actually wrap him up and take him down. Now that I can follow through, I can actually show that I’m getting there and I’m making big plays.”

But while he’s targeting QBs, Garrett has also expressed respect for players he has grown up admiring.


Drew Brees may or may not play in Garrett’s debut, but he’ll face Ben Roethlisberger in the season opener and QB stars Andrew Luck, Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers are on Cleveland’s schedule.

Garrett already admires them, and now it’s time to attack them.

“You’ve spent most of your life looking up to those guys and watching them play, watching them make big plays, not only in the regular season but in the playoffs and Super Bowls,” Garrett said. “But now, idolizing them is over. It’s time to show that you’re in their class and you can play with the big boys.”

https://apnews.com/48eb36af99a84eb7975faff034d2edbe

Corey Coleman's second year gets a little better
6:37 PM ET
Tony Grossi
ESPN Cleveland
Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.

More takeaways from Day 11 of Browns training camp …

1. Coleman cleared: It’s been a good start to Corey Coleman’s second season. He has been able to stay on the practice field without hamstring recurrences. He has made his share of catches. And now, he won’t be charged by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office in connection to a December, 2016, incident in the lobby of a downtown condominium. Coleman was implicated in the assault of a 26-year-old man, along with his brother, Jonathan, and another man. Coleman’s brother and the other man, Jared Floyd, were indicted on one count of felonious assault, but Coleman was not charged. “I’m glad that ruling came about,” coach Hue Jackson said. “We need to move beyond that and get him to playing football, which he has been. Hopefully there were lessons learned from that situation.” Coleman has been on a “pitch count” in training camp after he missed most of OTAs and minicamp with hamstring issues. Receivers coach Al Saunders said Coleman has “come a long way” in his understanding of the position at the NFL level. They need him practice full speed all the time to develop. “As the weeks come on, he’ll be able to practice at a higher speed and higher volume,” Saunders said.

2. Progress: In a team period early in practice, the Browns’ offense suffered three sacks in five plays – two on Brock Osweiler, one on Cody Kessler – and then DeShone Kizer was intercepted by Briean Boddy-Calhoun throwing for tight end J.P. Holtz. That period ended with Kizer threading the needle to receiver Jordan Leslie in the middle of the field, drawing a polite golf clap from the bleacher inhabitants. Things picked up after that, however, particularly for Osweiler and second-year receiver Ricardo Louis. They teamed up when Louis beat cornerback Channing Stribling for about a 40-yard pass play, as Louis got behind Stribling and stretched out for Osweiler’s throw. Later, in a goal-line period, Louis effectively pushed off Stribling again and brought in Osweiler’s fade to the right corner with one hand. “Ball’s in the air, he’s got to go dominate the ball. He made some plays today,” Jackson said of Louis.

3. Phil the author: Former Browns GM Phil Savage was on hand with Solomon Wilcots, Browns preseason TV analyst, to do their Sirius XM NFL Radio show from camp. Savage has authored “4th and Goal Every Day,” on the rise of Alabama football under coach Nick Saban, who was the man who originally hired Saban as a personnel assistant with the Browns in the early 1990s. I asked Savage if he goes into his years as Browns GM (2005-08) and he joked, “No, that’s in the

Corey Coleman's second year gets a little better http://espn.com/blog/cleveland//post/_/id/3628

Saunders said Coleman is on a pitch count... sucks to have someone so raw, so young, having to be needed on a pitch count already. Soft tissue Coleman!

But, limited reps is better than biking on the sidelines!

I'd rather have him healthy for the season than practicing in training camp.

I edited out the Coleman legal stuff. If you want to read it follow the link.



With the legal situation behind him, Corey Coleman can focus on trying to meet Jackson’s challenge to become the team’s lead receiver. He missed almost all of the Browns’ spring practices because of a hamstring injury, but he has quietly had a stellar training camp and will play in the preseason opener Thursday night against the visiting New Orleans Saints.

“He’s starting to show up,” Jackson said. “I think he kind of started off slow. I think we eased him back into it just to make sure that we could get him through a lot of these practices, and I think we’re starting to see him get in better shape and play more and make more plays. Hopefully Thursday night he’ll go out and play football.”

• Receiver Ricardo Louis made two incredible catches. He dived to catch a deep pass from quarterback Brock Osweiler with rookie cornerback Channing Stribling covering him. Later, he ran a fade route and used one hand to grab a 2-yard touchdown pass from Osweiler in the back right corner of the end zone with Stribling applying tight coverage. “He is making plays,” Jackson said of Louis. “Ball was in the air, and he has to go dominate the ball.” Osweiler threw 2-yard touchdown passes to tight end Seth DeValve and running back Duke Johnson on the two previous plays.

• Cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun intercepted a pass rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer intended for tight end J.P. Holtz, and cornerback Darius Hillary picked off a pass Osweiler intended for Corey Coleman.

• Tight end Randall Telfer had his left ankle examined by an athletic trainer on the field, but he didn’t leave practice. Later, he caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Osweiler by his fingertips.

• Jackson is eager to see rookie defensive end Myles Garrett finally be able to hit the quarterback when the Browns face the Saints. Defenders aren’t permitted to hit their own quarterbacks in practice, though it happens by accident sometimes. “He is hitting our quarterbacks. That is for sure,” Jackson quipped. “He is doing a good job. He is a good player, but he still has some things to fine-tune and some things to work at, and he is doing it each and every day.”

Wednesday’s schedule: No practice. Preseason opener 8 p.m. Thursday against the New Orleans Saints at FirstEnergy Stadium.

— Nate Ulrich


Browns training camp snapshot (Day 11): Corey Coleman won’t be charged in assault case https://www.ohio.com/akron/sports/browns...GQZmoVY.twitter

This.

A second-year WR is on a pitch count...? Really?


Do some yoga, Corey.

Teams will play loose on him, because all he has in his arsenal is speed to do a go route. He needs to practice, he needs to refine and improve his route running. IMO anyway.

I agree. But if you have to choose between the two, you choose him playing in actual games. Obviously having to choose is not ideal.

I don't know. I have often felt that training camps are injury camps if you allow. These guys today don't need training camp like it was when the players all had off-season jobs selling cars or pitching beer. They all know the score. Most stay in good shape in the off season.

I seriously doubt Belichick would agree with this sentiment. From what I understand their practices are brutal. The theory being playing in the fourth quarter of a regular season game is a breeze comparatively. I'll take thi philosophy over Hue's "protect the children" mothering any day. But that's just me.

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FEATURESUsing Duke Johnson more as a receiver gives coaches reason to be excitedby Scott Petrak August 8, 2017

BEREA — Duke Johnson lined up in the slot Tuesday and caught back-to-back passes from Brock Osweiler on an out and a hook. During the scrimmage Friday he got wide open at the goal line on a seam route.

Get used to it. Johnson remains the No. 2 running back behind Isaiah Crowell but could have a giant impact this season as a receiver.

“I’ve been fortunate in my career to have guys like Duke Johnson that have not only great running skills, but also skills as a receiver and skills as a player-in-space guy,” said veteran receivers coach Al Saunders, who compared Johnson to Marshall Faulk, Lionel James and Dante Hall. “The thing that that allows you to do, they’re like the queen on the chess board. They can move to every spot. They can do everything and they give you an advantage when it comes to personnel matchups.”

Coach Hue Jackson will try to create mismatches through Johnson’s versatility. If he’s in the huddle and the defense treats him as a running back by keeping an extra linebacker on the field, he can line up in the slot as a receiver. If the defense goes with an extra defensive back, Johnson (5-foot-9, 210 pounds) can carry the ball up the middle.

“We ask a lot of Duke,” Jackson said. “He is a terrific football player. He is very valuable to what we do.”

Johnson, a third-round pick out of Miami in 2015, caught 61 passes for 534 yards as a rookie and 53 for 514 last year. He’s the first Browns running back with 500 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons. He joined Dub Jones (1951-52) and Earnest Byner (1987-88) as the only backs with 500 yards in back-to-back years.

He’s expected to be used in the slot or split wide even more this season, so those numbers should rise. He could become the first Browns player with 50 catches in three straight seasons since receiver Kevin Johnson in 1990-92, and the first NFL running back with 500 receiving yards in his first three seasons since Herschel Walker in 1986-88.

“He catches the ball as well as any receiver that we have and he has a gifted talent as a pass catcher,” Saunders said.

The opportunity for Johnson at wideout is in part because he’s good at it, and in part because the Browns have a need at the position. After starters Corey Coleman and Kenny Britt, receiver remains a giant question mark, so Johnson could see significant time as the No. 3.

Running routes from the line of scrimmage is different than out of the backfield. Johnson usually spends part of practice with the wideouts and said he’s been trained like that since high school.
V
“That’s something I enjoy is being in the slot, because it’s something different for me,” he said. “It’s something that I normally don’t do a lot of and when I get a chance to do it, I just go out there and have fun with it.”

Plenty of backs show good hands on swing passes and checkdowns, but the routes are longer as a receiver, which requires the ability to track the ball while running downfield.

“The most difficult thing for a running back is to catch the ball going away from the quarterback where he has to judge the ball in the air and Duke has a natural feel for that,” Saunders said. “So we’d like to accentuate that and give him the opportunity to use those skills.”

Johnson rushed 73 times for 358 yards and a touchdown last year, totaling 872 yards and a touchdown on 126 touches. He was disappointed in the production.

“I didn’t make enough plays. Didn’t make enough plays for the team,” he said. “That’s something that I brought to the coaching staff that I need to do is make more plays, so they’re giving me the chance and opportunity to do that.”

Johnson blamed himself for not being “mentally ready.” He said he didn’t do enough film study of the defense and committed to changing that this season.

“My thing is if I can see something happen before it happens, I can always be ahead of the defense, and last year I caught myself a lot of times behind the defense and didn’t make plays,” he said.

In his expanded role, Johnson didn’t have an ideal number for his touches this season.

“Never can be too many,” he said.



https://www.brownszone.com/2017/08/08/using-duke-johnson-receiver-gives-coaches-reason-excited/

G/C. Two things are hard, almost impossible to find in Free agency. Really good wide receivers, and really good Offensive lineman. You see teams hold onto their own like it's gold.

That said, Branden Albert is an Offensive lineman, selected 15th, who went to two pro bowls and plays tackle, he was/is most recently a Jaguar, who talked of retirement, and wants to return, but they are not letting him.

Shouldn't the Browns be on the phone, trying to get this guy in here, if he still wants to play, the Jaguars can't keep him from playing.

I look at it this way, if nothing else, they could get a decent 6th man for when they run behind the unbalanced line.
I have little confidence in Erving, and Coleman, because of week 17 of 2016, and if Roderick hasn't beaten them out, I'd at least like to see this guy come in and see what he has in camp.

Is anyone else following this situation.
Gotta Love the Browns!

Ya ... he only reported back because the way they designated him when he left the first time he would have had to pay back 3.4 million ... he went back so he didn't have to pay it ... the jags dont want him around so they changed the designation so he doesn't have to pay it back ...

Reports were that he before he left the first time 3rd teamers were owning him ... it sounds like dudes checked out ...

Training camp is weird:



https://twitter.com/SeniorBowlPhil/status/894976109225414657

I always find it weird when a former coach or GM returns to a team that fired them in order to cover it for the media ... like Brian Billick reporting from Baltimore or if Jeff Fisher would interview Goff