admittedly, i don't know anything about Thomas other than his measurables ... hopefully he can impact
I like Thomas. He has every physical ability you want in a DL, but he does need to refine his technique.
He fell in the draft, I believe, because of his music interests. (he's an artist and a producer)
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.
Good news from what I can see out of camp about the QB's. Normally this time of year we hear the age old "The defense is a bit more ahead of schedule than the offense" which translates to "we are going to score less than 15 points per game".
@ByNateUlrich 10m10 minutes ago More #Browns HC Hue Jackson said WR Corey Coleman declined to take a scheduled day off for rest and impressed during today’s practice
Was getting ready to post this... I like it. Corey has got to know it's make or break time.
“I’m going to make that play 10 times out of 10. If it’s a flag, it’s a flag,” Jenkins told ESPN. “You can’t slow yourself down thinking about rules in a split second. The game happens really, really fast, faster than the rules,
I think the helmet rule is going to hurt football. The speed of the NFL game is incredible. You don't have time to think a lot of the times. Instead, you just react.
I think fans are going to get frustrated by the interpretations of the new rule and that it will lead to more lengthy delays in the game, confusion for all, and more controversy.
" Issues like the new helmet rule " .. The only thing the NFL cares about is the businesses model & profits ; They could care less about the Game itself !
The Cleveland Browns have signed DB Christian Boutte, TE Orson Charles and DB Jeremiah McKinnon. To make room on the roster, the team waived DL Trenton Thompson. Boutte is a 5-10, 187-pound rookie out of Nicholls State. He was a three-year starter at corner for Nicholls State. He is a native of Opelousas, La. Charles is 6-3, 257 pounds and is officially in his third NFL season out of Georgia. Originally selected by Cincinnati in the fourth round of the 2012 draft, Charles has appeared in 36 career games with the Bengals (29 from 2012-13), Lions (two in 2016) and the Chiefs (five in 2017). He is a native of Tampa, Fla. McKinnon is 5-11, 192 pounds and officially in his first NFL season out of Florida International. Originally signed by Dallas as an undrafted free agent in 2016, McKinnon has spent time on the Titans’ and Giants’ practice squads. He is a native of Miami, Fla. https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-3-players?utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral
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.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Browns rookie Baker Mayfield says Hue Jackson’s praise won’t cause him to become satisfied: ‘I’m not done working’
Published: July 30, 2018 - 2:57 PM | Updated: July 30, 2018 - 3:02 PM By Nate Ulrich
Beacon Journal/Ohio.com
BEREA: Baker Mayfield has no plans to let off the gas as the rookie quarterback progresses faster than the Browns anticipated he would and increasingly avoids “oh, crap” moments.
Mayfield appreciates the public praise he received from Browns coach Hue Jackson after four training camp practices but insisted it won’t alter his approach. Jackson’s message can be boiled down to this: Mayfield has exceeded the organization’s high expectations for the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft.
“That’s exciting to hear, but that does not mean I’m satisfied,” Mayfield said Monday before the fifth practice of camp. “I always say that I set my own expectations, set my own standard, and I have to live up to that. I’m not done working.”
There was a play in the first practice of camp that perfectly illustrates Mayfield’s improvement. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner stood in the pocket during a goal-line period, and instead of scrambling to the right when he began to feel pressure like he often had in spring practices, he stood his ground and delivered a touchdown pass. The moment stuck in Jackson’s mind, and Mayfield attributed it to him gaining a better understanding of offensive coordinator Todd Haley’s system.
“[In organized team activities], I would have kind of a general grasp of the plays and the concept where I’d go through one read, maybe two, and then if he wasn’t open, it was kind of like an ‘oh, crap’ moment, [get] flustered and get out [of the pocket],” Mayfield said. “But now I’m trying to put those pieces together to where I go through those reads, I’m settled in the pocket, I trust my protections, I’m trusting my guys to get to where they’re supposed to be. So that’s the difference.”
The scoring strike was one of many Mayfield has thrown in camp. Perhaps even more impressive, he hasn’t thrown an interception through four practices.
“That’s kind of the No. 1 rule of playing quarterback,” Mayfield said. “You take care of the ball and you put your team in a good position to win.”
Mayfield is also focusing on calling the right protections and consistently releases his passes at a rapid pace.
Mayfield’s strides and Jackson’s compliments suggest the University of Oklahoma product could push veteran Tyrod Taylor if this trend continues. The Browns fully intend to start Taylor in the Sept. 9 regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they have given him all of the first-team reps during the spring and early stages of camp.
Meanwhile, Mayfield, who has practiced exclusively with the No. 2 offense during camp, hopes to create a genuine competition while being a team player.
“I wouldn’t say [I’m] closing a gap,” Mayfield said. “We’re trying to get everybody else better on this team right now. We’re trying to make the whole offense in tune. … It’s about the Cleveland Browns and the 2018 season. We’re trying to push to be whole lot better than it’s been here in the past, and that’s our goal.”
I don't see it happening. Tyrod (by all accounts) has looked good so far in camp. His experience is the difference between the two right now. I think Dorsey and Hue value that.
Injury update heading into the first players day off: LB Genard Avery (groin), TE Devon Cajuste (concussion), TE Seth DeValve (quad), DL Daniel Ekuale (calf), OL Desmond Harrison (toe-PUP), WR Jeff Janis (knee), DL Lenny Jones (concussion) and OL Greg Robinson (concussion) all missed Monday's practice
Yup... that rule is going to be a crap show and is certain to be the cause of more than one controversial ruling this season.
Who wants to take a guess on the odds that we lose a game due to one of them?
#dwaynerudd
I think a lot of teams will be losing games because of that rule. People whined about the confusing catch rule, which by the way won't be any easier to deal with this year, just you wait for all the fans and players complaining about this helmet rule. It'll be like holding, it could be called on just about every play.
Imagine 4th and goal from the 1, late in the 4th down six points, the RB sees a hole and lunges to score, the sideline ref raises his hands and the crowd goes wild.....until the back judge throws a flag for lowering his head. Game over.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
The one rule change that might be okay is the new kickoff rules.
Check this out:
I have a few takes on this:
--It should make things safer because there won't be running starts and players will be closer together. Also, no wedge blocking.
--It seems to be similar to punt returns/coverage. That might actually be exciting. Not sure about that one, but I'll be watching w/interest.
--I think Special Team's coaches are really going to earn their keep w/the rule changes. I think there will be a lot more strategy involved and it will be interesting to see how teams adjust as the season progresses.
BEREA, Ohio -- Rashard Higgins has taken the momentum from his best game as a pro and carried into his third and most important offseason. That game -- a two-touchdown performance in Pittsburgh -- capped a tumultuous season for the fifth-round pick out of Colorado State, one that started with him getting cut.
It was also something he might have seen coming.
"I dreamed about it that night," Higgins said on Monday.
It was a strong impression to make with new GM John Dorsey looking on from the press box that afternoon. Now Higgins is trying to put enough on film this summer to make it difficult for Dorsey and Co. to send him away in early September.
"(He's) made plays," head coach Hue Jackson said. "That is what receivers have to do. They have to make the plays when the ball is thrown. Whether it is under-thrown, over-thrown or whatever that is, you have to make the play. That is what Rashard is starting to do."
Higgins latched on with the Browns' practice squad after he was cut last season, but he didn't stay there long. He got called up in Week 2 against Baltimore and received 11 targets, catching seven passes for 95 yards. He said after the game that he told himself he didn't want to get cut anymore .
He caught just 17 passes for 149 yards in between that game and the finale in Pittsburgh, but the first two touchdowns of his career against the Steelers were enough to give him this shot. His mindset hasn't changed.
"Going in, I never want to be in that predicament again," he said, "so I am doing whatever I can to not put myself in that for the coaches to say we need to cut him. That is how I am approaching things."
"I think that he looks around and says, 'Hey look, I want to be one of the guys that is left standing in the room,'" Jackson said. "He is working his tail off."
Higgins admitted on Monday that he was taken aback by the difference between players in the NFL and what he faced in college when he first arrived here. He set career records at Colorado State for receptions (239), receiving yards (3.649) and touchdowns (31).
"When I came out here it was kind of a shock to me just because guys were bigger and me being in the Mountain West, I'd never seen bigger guys," Higgins said. "We went against guys at Alabama, but that was only a one-time thing. Just coming out here and going at a different speed than I'm used to, it was kind of a shock to me."
So far this camp, he already appears to have developed a chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield. Both have been getting time with the second team and Mayfield to Higgins has become a common sight over training camp's first five days.
"I meet with Baker all the time," Higgins said. "I ask him questions, little questions, we sit together at lunchtime, we eat together, I'm always in his ear, not only him, but Tyrod (Taylor), I'm asking Tyrod the same things but more so with Baker. I don't know why, I'm just with Baker a lot."
Mayfield acknowledged the chemistry, too, on Monday.
"He's a guy that you see when he has the ball in his hands, it looks really natural," he said. "He's just a ball player. He's a fun guy to be around, positive, energetic. I seem to always kind of gravitate toward guys like that."
Higgins was part of the group that went out to Los Angeles on Taylor's dime and worked out at UCLA and USC. It was something he said he's never seen a quarterback do before.
With the nickname "Hollywood" and never one for lacking confidence -- he said his rookie training camp that he wanted seven touchdowns that season -- Higgins hopes to parlay a strong finale and a strong offseason into a roster spot.
"I always got confidence, man," Higgins said. "Got confidence in myself and everything that I'm doing."
Right now, he's working to live up to that goal of never getting cut again.
“I’m going to make that play 10 times out of 10. If it’s a flag, it’s a flag,” Jenkins told ESPN. “You can’t slow yourself down thinking about rules in a split second. The game happens really, really fast, faster than the rules,
I think the helmet rule is going to hurt football. The speed of the NFL game is incredible. You don't have time to think a lot of the times. Instead, you just react.
I think fans are going to get frustrated by the interpretations of the new rule and that it will lead to more lengthy delays in the game, confusion for all, and more controversy.
No doubt. And it is funny how the calls are going to seemingly favor the favorite. Don't expect the Browns to come out on top of many of these.....at least if we have a chance to win.
If we are down by 20 we get a few to even the season totals a bit.
Think about it, you played running back. I played linebacker, though not all that well....but the point being is that when you were about to make contact, it is a normal reaction to lower you head.
Think of it in other terms, I boxed....when you were about to get hit in the kisser, you turned and lowered your head.
The refs could throw a flag on every play.
It would be funny is the refs took a stand and threw a flag on nearly every play of the game for lowering the head because it happens on nearly every play.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
BEREA: Tyrod Taylor not only spearhead the planning of throwing sessions he conducted with teammates a couple of weeks ago in Los Angeles, but the veteran quarterback also paid for some of the players’ travel expenses.
“He texted a group of guys, the wideouts, the tight ends,” wide receiver Rashard Higgins said Monday before the fifth practice of training camp. “He asked them who would be able to attend. He got a head count. He paid for everybody’s room. He paid for the flights.”
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inRead invented by Teads Added Higgins: “I’ve never seen a quarterback do anything like that.”
The Buffalo Bills have. When Taylor was with them last year, he paid for several teammates to work out with him in Atlanta during the summer.
This time around, Taylor had receiver Jarvis Landry to help him organize the workouts at the University of Southern California and UCLA. Quarterback Baker Mayfield, receivers Corey Coleman, Antonio Callaway and Landry, running backs Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson and tight ends David Njoku and Seth DeValve were in attendance.
Taylor said he believes some chemistry the group developed has seeped into camp. On Monday, he threw a touchdown pass to tight end David Njoku in a goal-line drill. He later hooked up with Coleman twice and Landry once for gains of at least 15 yards on out routes.
“It allowed us to get a head start on some of the things that we discussed about in the workouts to actually being out on the field with the defense in front of us,” said Taylor, who’s expected to enter the upcoming season as a starter. “I think that those sessions definitely were beneficial.
“Once you get back, you have your different position coaches coaching, but as long as you are speaking the same language and everyone is working off of the same technique, then we are definitely ahead of where we would have been if we did not get together.”
Taylor and Landry also summoned a small group of players in March to go through passing drills in Miami. All of it has helped Taylor establish himself as a leader.
“We have a great opportunity in front of us to change a culture, to change a narrative of what has been said around here for a long time,” Taylor said. “That window of opportunity is not in a couple of years. We need to win now. Whatever it takes to get that done, I am all behind that.
“I felt that it was beneficial to get the guys together in the spring and in the summer as well. As far as who paid for it, that is neither here nor there. The main thing that came out of it was that the guys were willing to get together, separate from their families and spend time with each other getting ready for a season.”
Mayfield noted the value of the experience and commended Taylor for making it happen.
“Tyrod doing all of that shows how much of a team guy he is,” Mayfield said.
have we ever had a QB in cleveland since 99 do this?
and even if Tyrod is a one year rental, talk about an excellent guy for baker to learn from.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
Browns Training Camp Happenings (Day 5): David Njoku’s drops; Larry Ogunjobi, Jamie Meder in a battle Published: July 30, 2018 - 6:59 PM | Updated: July 30, 2018 - 7:09 PM
• Tight end David Njoku isn’t finishing plays. On Sunday, the 2017 first-round pick kept dropping passes. On Monday, a Tyrod Taylor spiral skipped off his hands and turned into an interception by DeMarious Randall.
• Al Saunders is trying hard to help Njoku. The 71-year-old coach lines up where a free safety would during some tight end drills. Saunders coached Browns wide receivers last year before that job was given to Adam Henry. He was offensive coordinator in Kansas City during the meat of superstar Tony Gonzalez’s career (league-leading 102 catches in 2004).
• Larry Ogunjobi took turns with Jamie Meder working with the “ones” at nose tackle. Meder played 179 snaps in 10 games last year before going on inured reserve. Ogunjobi missed two midseason games but otherwise got in 301 snaps as a rookie third-round pick. They are the tag team replacing departed former first-round pick Danny Shelton.
• Tim Couch hung out at practice with fellow former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar. Couch said he’d be having a couple of cold ones with ex-teammate Aaron Shea if Kosar cared to join them.
• You can see what General Manager John Dorsey saw when he jumped on running back Nick Chubb with the No. 35 overall pick. Chubb ran and cut with authority. Dorsey had never been involved with picking a running back even close to that high. “Happy to be here, no matter where they took me,” Chubb said.
• After Tuesday’s day off, the Browns will practice from 3-5:55 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Friday’s intrasquad scrimmage in Berea is tentatively set to begin at 4 p.m.
Browns Training Camp Happenings (Day 5): David Njoku’s drops; Larry Ogunjobi, Jamie Meder in a battle Published: July 30, 2018 - 6:59 PM | Updated: July 30, 2018 - 7:09 PM
Day 5:
• Tight end David Njoku isn’t finishing plays. On Sunday, the 2017 first-round pick kept dropping passes. On Monday, a Tyrod Taylor spiral skipped off his hands and turned into an interception by DeMarious Randall.
• Al Saunders is trying hard to help Njoku. The 71-year-old coach lines up where a free safety would during some tight end drills. Saunders coached Browns wide receivers last year before that job was given to Adam Henry. He was offensive coordinator in Kansas City during the meat of superstar Tony Gonzalez’s career (league-leading 102 catches in 2004).
• Larry Ogunjobi took turns with Jamie Meder working with the “ones” at nose tackle. Meder played 179 snaps in 10 games last year before going on inured reserve. Ogunjobi missed two midseason games but otherwise got in 301 snaps as a rookie third-round pick. They are the tag team replacing departed former first-round pick Danny Shelton.
• Tim Couch hung out at practice with fellow former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar. Couch said he’d be having a couple of cold ones with ex-teammate Aaron Shea if Kosar cared to join them.
• You can see what General Manager John Dorsey saw when he jumped on running back Nick Chubb with the No. 35 overall pick. Chubb ran and cut with authority. Dorsey had never been involved with picking a running back even close to that high. “Happy to be here, no matter where they took me,” Chubb said.
• After Tuesday’s day off, the Browns will practice from 3-5:55 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Friday’s intrasquad scrimmage in Berea is tentatively set to begin at 4 p.m.
I ask a lot of rhetorical questions, but this is legit.
I have read a couple of articles about certain guys breaking tackles and having long runs. The video I have seen doesn't show guys tackling. They just run up and are in position to tackle and touch the guy rather lightly. The offensive player typically keeps running even if the whistle blows.
The question is: Is the defense really tackling or are the reporters taking some gigantic liberties when they talk about breaking tackles?
I've previously done some writing with/for the guy who wrote this, and I've had a couple of conversations with him while he's in Cleveland covering camp. He's come away really impressed with what he's seeing out there; particularly from Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry and Hollywood Higgins.
He's certainly not alone. A few people I've spoken with are blown away by the increased competition, upgrades in talent and clear strides taken by the team overall; One said the team looks more organized, in-form and cohesive now than they did prior to the start of the regular season last year, and that the battles both in team drills and individual drills are much more back-and-forth than we've seen previously, Which is somewhat antithetical to what Mike has observed, but exciting none-the-less: I'm not sure if anyone remembers specifically, but last year it was a lot of "Offense won the day" or vice versa, but this year it seems competitively gridlocked on any given play.
Very exciting time. It's hard to know if we're getting prematurely ahead of ourselves, but the optimism and excitement coming out seems genuine.
I'm perhaps most excited to hear that the offense is working, with emphasis on the running game. The offensive line has been my main point of concern post-offseason additions. Tretter and Zeitler didn't really live up to the hype last year, while losing Thomas was a big one, so I was concerned how the line would go - but I do quite like our defensive front, so hearing that the offense looks capable, even if only through the limitations of practice, is music to the ears.
I didn't. I did some writing for Mike on his individual website, which was called BrownsBeat. He'd done some writing for DBN (and others) but not as much as he is now.
There was about 5/6 of us on that site but it was during the Hoyer/Manziel era - I think we just got sick of the awful on-field content combined with the endless off-field drama. We all just somewhat stopped.
It was a lot of fun, however, and a big part of encouraging me to enrol in university for the journalism degree that I'm about to complete.
I'll try, but I'm just guessing w/most of them. I'll reply in green font.
Originally Posted By: Iluvmyxstripper
I have question for you or 3 or 4.
1. can Landry beat double teams as a number #1 if Gordon misses games?
Yes, but there is a caveat. He has been a number 1 and has beat double teams. He has always drawn a ton of attention, but has still put up huge numbers. The caveat is that he would even be better if we had Gordon on the field. More weapons translates into more single coverage opportunities. This one was not much of a guess. More of a fact.
2. how much of Haleys playbook from Pittsburgh will he integrate into.this years playbook?
Sounds like it's his offense. He's not incorporating. He's bringing his offense to Cleveland.
3. is the front office looking at other free agent WRs like Decker or looking to.trade with reciever heavy team?
No idea. There were reports they were looking at Dez. I wouldn't mind if we brought in Macklin.
4. is the optimism this year any different than last years blind optimism.?
I think we have more talent this year than the last 2 years, but I think that several posters are way too optimistic. We still have a ton of question marks. Optimism is cool for a fan, but when reality sets in, those same fans often call for people to be fired or benched. That is not good.
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