Former Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas may have retired in March but he has not strayed far from the team.
The Wisconsin product was at organized team activities Wednesday in a hands on role. Thomas was working with rookie offensive lineman Austin Corbett and the rest of the unit.
Corbett is still in the mix to replace Thomas at left tackle. Head coach Hue Jackson was asked about the possibility earlier in the day.
“It is fair to say that he will have a chance over [at left tackle]. The numbers, who is first or who is second, it honestly does not matter. We are going to try him out there, and we will try him at guard. As we said when we drafted him, his versatility is what really sold us on him and his ability to do a lot of different things, because you have to have guys – whether they are first line guys or second line guys – that can line up in different positions when you talk about putting the best five guys out there and then you talk about having the best seven or eight guys on your team," Jackson said.
The Berea Report: Who could become a dynamic duo for the Cleveland Browns this season
Thomas had spoke on the possibility of coaching in March when he retired.
"I respect the heck out of these coaches because there is no way I could spend the amount of time that they do as a coach. I would definitely want to stay around the game, coaching players individually...Do a few things with the team here. I want to be, even though I will not be on the field, somebody who can be a positive representation for the Cleveland Browns and help them in any way I can without being on the field. I do not know what that position is going to look like yet but hopefully, we can do something and then I can still be a part of the game and be a part of this team.”
Wednesday did not mark the first time that the former first round selection had worked with the Browns' offensive linemen. Shortly after the injury that ended his season and, consequently, his career, Thomas was working with Spencer Drango on the transition to left tackle.
“Coach Thomas? Coach Thomas has a lot of experience, doesn’t he?," Jackson said at the time.
"It is a lot of fun having him out there. Joe, as I keep telling you guys, is a huge part of what we do in not just we wish he was out there for us, but the players, he is a mentor to a lot of these guys in a lot of different ways. Having him out there and having him be involved is huge. As I asked him earlier in the week, I wanted to make sure he is traveling with us, going on the road and being part of this because this is still his team. Having him around and having him want to be a part of that is very important to me, to our players, to our staff and to all involved," Jackson said.
"He is a football player by trade and a mentor and a coach when he is not. I think it is hard to let that go. He is invited to anything we have. He knows that. He can run the meeting if he wants. As long as you give him the right information, we are all good.”
Thomas has yet to announce his post-playing career intentions. He is taking some time with his family before deciding whether or not to return to coaching or to the broadcast booth.
This is a great move. Joe is the best technician that I have ever seen as an OT. He is very cerebral and he understands the importance of technique. I'm talking about how you come out of your stance, your knee bend, keeping your chest over your thighs, getting your head across the opposite arm pit when gap/angle blocking, having short, choppy steps when pass blocking, always maintaining an excellent base, a punch that comes from the inside and is controlled, etc, etc.
And if we are making a playoff run.......maybe we can activate him.
This is very exciting news! And yes Vers, could not pick a better word... an absolute "technician". I don't think there could be any comparison between having a "coach" pointing things out and a HOF legend (fresh off the field at that) taking you by the hand and showing you the ropes.
I have hoped for this move. Films, footwork, lifting, Thomas could help so much in so many ways. Get him on board, formally or informally. His presence on Hard Knocks would be grand!
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
I dont think he'll be involved much (maybe a few hours here and there) ... but I hope he can have an impact.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
There really isn't a better guy to learn from, as far as technique and the mental side of things.
Glad he's willing to help out.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
It’s been a busy offseason for the Cleveland Browns, but their newest addition might be the wackiest one yet: MMA star and UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell worked with the team in a variety of drills at OTAs.
Liddell: ‘We’re fighting to win’
Liddell worked with the Browns players in one-one-one situations and against dummies and pads, working with all of the positions.
“I like the environment,” Liddell, 48, said. “I like the training environment. It reminds me of training camp. Very focused and working on what you gotta do.”
Liddell, who, alongside Randy Couture is largely credited with bringing MMA to mainstream America, debuted professionally in 1998. He recently came out of retirement and plans to fight rival Tito Ortiz sometime in the future, though no date is set yet.
But for one day, he was all-in on the Browns, helping them focus on “body-on-body contact” and balance.
“The bigger thing that we work on is mindset,” Liddell said. “We try to get these guys to treat it like a fight. You’re fighting the guy in front of you. You’re trying to break him mentally and physically.” Patriots brought in a Taekwondo grandmaster a few weeks ago
Though the Patriots and the Browns have been on opposite ends of the win column over the past decade, both are using some new strategies to improve this offseason. New England hired MMA expert Joe Kim, who used to work with the Browns as well as nine other teams. Kim is helping with the pass rushers, a group that struggled last season for the AFC champions.
You can't fix stupid but you can destroy ignorance. When you destroy ignorance you remove the justifications for evil. If you want to destroy evil then educate our people. Hate is a tool of the stupid to deal with what they can't understand.
This thread totally lost me after lampdogg's initial post...
Love JT though and that he's still a part of the team and working with them because he wants to and due to his passion for the game (and heck maybe even the Browns).
This thread totally lost me after lampdogg's initial post...
Love JT though and that he's still a part of the team and working with them because he wants to and due to his passion for the game (and heck maybe even the Browns).
Arousal isn't necessarily a sex thing, trip. Some of you should get your minds out of the gutter and stop reading Beeline books and watching porn tapes.
This thread totally lost me after lampdogg's initial post...
Love JT though and that he's still a part of the team and working with them because he wants to and due to his passion for the game (and heck maybe even the Browns).
Arousal isn't necessarily a sex thing, trip. Some of you should get your minds out of the gutter and stop reading Beeline books and watching porn tapes.
Apologies, I can't follow this logic at all...what are Beeline books though? and "Tapes"?
Having Thomas mentor our young OL will only benefit this team ... JMHO
John 3:16 Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
I think it will Memphis, I have liked Coleman since we drafted him ...
John 3:16 Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
what happened to the links of JT talking about his techniques ?
I would have to guess that the "F-bombs" in them got them removed.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Sounds great, but Joe can only teach what he knows. He knows what others taught him.
He was just able to do it better than 99% of the other players.
I thought it was in this thread, but it's not. There's a clip on here of Joe being interviewed by another former lineman (someone mentioned his bent finger.) In that video Joe talked about coaches teaching it wrong, that part of his development was overcoming the standard teaching and learning a better approach specific to LT. Yes, Joe can teach what he knows, but it's what he learned by experience not from those who coached him.
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