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Did anyone else watch the Browns vs Giants game that was broadcast here locally last night (8/29/2020)? I think it was from 2008? What a game! We still had Braylon Edwards, Jamal Lewis, Jerome Harrison, etc., etc. Anderson was our QB.

Jamal Lewis really poured it on that game. Edwards had a really good game too.

The broadcast itself was pretty blurry, like it was a copy of a copy of someone's VHS tape. It was actually hard to watch, but I soldiered through. I'm glad I did.

#Browns waived WR Damion Willis and waived C Casey Dunn from reserve/injured. Source says Willis, claimed via waivers this week, failed his physical

https://twitter.com/MaryKayCabot/status/1300079351325696000

I figured Dunn would be gone when he got hurt

That would be awesome to have him back by like week 5

Clearly the question is out there....

I think the only expectation of Wills at this point is to not get the QB killed while learning the ropes. So far though that doesn't appear to be attainable, he's struggling. I can see alot of TE/RB help for the first half of the year to let him get settled

It's one of those things where you "know" it, but there's still a painful realization when the guy goes out there, as a rookie, with no offseason, switching positions, and is going against seasoned PB-level competition.

Anyone who would suggest such a thing is clueless to NFL adjustment. I expect hard work, some failures, and about four learning curves. He has several mountains to climb.

I hope he can stay focused enough to succeed. His "competition" daily for work should only make him better faster.

Let's hope so. "Baker-rolling-right" didn't seem to exploit many defenses last year.

Great news ... this kids gonna be good ...

All I'm saying is that it's one of those things where a fan can understand it 100%, and it still be a painful thing to watch. With TC usually being a time of awful hot-takes, this one barely makes the list, IMO.

I agree with you, Tab. It will take some time for him to learn the position. I don't know if he will be great. I am concerned about how he has performed so far, but it's definitely not conclusive. The biggest thing, I think, is like what Callahan said: he needs to show a continuous improvement.

What I am very worried about, though, is that the early errors don't come at Baker's - or the offense's as a whole - expense.

Stars on Browns’ offense help rookie Jacob Phillips ‘keep laying bricks’

https://www.beaconjournal.com/sports/202...ing-bricksrsquo


Jacob Phillips hasn’t had an aha moment while trying to cover 6-foot-4 tight end Austin Hooper or seeing running back Nick Chubb primed to bulldoze him.

While those would be frightening experiences for some, the rookie linebacker said competing against the Browns’ star-studded offense has boosted his confidence and made him believe he belongs in the NFL.

The third-round pick from Louisiana State was thrust to the forefront after linebacker Mack Wilson hyperextended his left knee on Aug. 18, and Phillips has tried to take advantage of the extra work.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed on Tuesday that Wilson will not need surgery. With a timetable of four to six more weeks before Wilson can return, Phillips is battling three-year veteran Tae Davis and former Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith for the starting job at weak-side linebacker.

B.J. Goodson and Sione Takitaki appear to have locked down the middle and strong-side spots, respectively, for the Sept. 13 opener at Baltimore. If Phillips is called upon, he said he’s ready.

“The players that we have on offense, being able to compete against them every day, make plays against them, has definitely given me a whole lot of confidence I can do it against every other team in the league because I know how special our team is here,” Phillips said on a Zoom call. “I’m definitely ready. Actually, I can’t wait for it.”

Phillips may have made an impression with his energy and enthusiasm, but limiting league MVP Lamar Jackson of the Ravens is another matter.

“Jacob runs around and he wants to ‘See ball, get ball’ and he’s built athletically to go do that,” Stefanski said of Phillips, 6-foot-3 and 228 pounds. “Like every other rookie at every other position probably with every other team, it’s not perfect. There’s a growing period to this and I think he’s made strides each and every day he’s been out there on the grass.”

Phillips said most of his snaps have come on the weak side. But with Goodson sitting out Sunday’s scrimmage at FirstEnergy Stadium for a personal reason, Phillips also saw action in the middle.

“There’s no added pressure,” Phillips said of filling in for Wilson. “I put pressure on myself, I’m a big competitor. Nothing really affects my mental drive as far as wanting to be a better player myself.”

Phillips called the scheme designed by defensive coordinator Joe Woods “real complex,” but Phillips believes he has improved.

“I feel like being in this defense has let me showcase and have more opportunities to be a well-rounded player,” Phillips said. “We do a lot in this defense — we get to cover, we get to blitz, we get to run, a whole lot of things. I’m enjoying it. It’s a fun and fast defense and I can’t wait to play.”

Phillips said Wilson has mentored him and he felt for Wilson when he was hurt.

“Always cheer for my brothers, always want my brothers to play,” Phillips said, calling the fact Wilson is avoiding surgery “a blessing.”

The defense was dealt another blow when rookie safety Grant Delpit, the 44th overall pick, ruptured his Achilles on Aug. 24 and was lost for the season. Delpit and Phillips were teammates at Louisiana State.

“Grant is a brother to me, so I definitely reached out and I definitely was real, real torn up about the situation,” Phillips said. “It’s football, you’ve got to realize that God has paths for everybody. I tell him to ‘Keep your happiness, stay up, don’t let this get you down because there’s still so many things in front of you, so many more goals that can be reached. This is really just a speed bump.’”

With more opportunities against a talent-laden offense, Phillips said there has been no particular play when he felt he’d arrived.

“You kind of just realize you’re really built for this,” Phillips said. “You take every day day by day and keep laying bricks.

“After everything I’ve experienced, I’ve been put in so many different situations and I don’t feel nervous for anything. I feel very confident. I feel happy to be in this position and blessed to be progressing like this. Hope to do well during the season.”

In the coaches’ eyes, Phillips may require more improvement when it comes to pass coverage to play a big role early. But Phillips is ready to prove himself in that regard.

“When you have more opportunities ... you can showcase you’ve got that skill,” he said. “If you’re never put in that position, people don’t know you can do it. You’ve seen me breaking up passes and covering, doing all those things... You’ll see Game 1.”

Wouldn’t it be great if Phillips and Goodson could be adequate

j/c...

Whaddya know!

Notes: Safety Ronnie Harrison acquired in trade with Jaguars for 5th-round pick

https://www.brownszone.com/2020/09/03/no...5th-round-pick/



BEREA — The season-ending injury of rookie Grant Delpit left a large hole at safety.
General manager Andrew Berry attempted to fill it Thursday by trading for Ronnie Harrison.
Berry sent a fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft to the Jaguars for Harrison, who’s started 22 games at strong safety in two years. He was a third-round pick out of the University of Alabama in 2018 and will join former Crimson Tide teammates linebacker Mack Wilson and left tackle Jedrick Wills.
Harrison (6-foot-3, 214 pounds) started eight of 14 games played as a rookie and 14 of 14 last year. He has three interceptions, 12 passes defensed, three sacks, a fumble recovery and 103 tackles in his career. He finished second on the Jaguars last year with 70 tackles and nine passes defensed, adding two sacks, two interceptions and the fumble recovery.
Delpit was the No. 44 pick out of LSU and expected to start Week 1, but his right Achilles tendon ruptured Aug. 24 during a non-contact drill in practice. When he’s up to speed with the system, Harrison will likely start alongside Karl Joseph and bump 10-year veteran Andrew Sendejo to the role of No. 3 safety.
The Browns also have Sheldrick Redwine, a fourth-round pick in 2019, and undrafted rookie Elijah Benton.
Harrison, 23, is under contract for two more years and could pair with Delpit as the starters in the future. Joseph and Sendejo signed one-year deals as free agents.
The Jaguars are in full rebuild mode and have parted with several veterans as they stockpile draft picks. Harrison had been running with the first-team defense, but the Jaguars have rookie Daniel Thomas, a fifth-round pick from Auburn.
Harrison won two national championships at Alabama, and the trade excited his former teammates.
“Let’s get it rocking brother..#BamaBoys #DawgPound,” Wilson tweeted.
“Let’s Get Active!!” Wills tweeted.

PIVOTAL YEAR

Denzel Ward went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie after being the No. 4 pick out of Ohio State in 2018. He’s determined to make it back this year and earn status among the upper echelon of NFL cornerbacks.
“I believe every time I get the opportunity to go out there and show what I can do is a big opportunity to show that I am an elite corner in this league and do what I can do to help my team win,” he said.
Ward feels he’s improved his technique under the new coaching staff and has “definitely made a lot of strides.” Returning to the Pro Bowl is only one of his goals.
“I got a lot more than just the Pro Bowl,” he said. “Just go in and try to win every game that I can.”

GETTING READY

The first home game is Thursday Sept. 17 in prime time, so coach Kevin Stefanski will use Friday’s practice to prepare his players for the experience. The session will start at 7 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium and feature the routine of a gameday.
“It is a dress rehearsal in the stadium,” Stefanski said. “I mean that literally in terms of they are going to be in their uniforms, the coaches are going to be dressed in their game attire, we are going to put headsets on and the coaches will be up in the booth.”
He said it will be a “crisp, quick practice” and won’t include the scrimmage period of Sunday’s session at the stadium. It will be the final work before Saturday’s roster cuts, but the Browns aren’t treating it like a normal preseason finale.
“It is not going to be something where we are going to play the young guys for an hour to see what we have because the truth is, this whole camp has been an evaluation of those young guys,” Stefanski said.

STANDING OUT

With starting cornerback Greedy Williams still sidelined with a shoulder injury, others have gotten more repetitions. Ward said undrafted rookie A.J. Green has caught his eye.
“I feel like he has been having a great camp and making plays when he has been in there,” Ward said.
Green played at Oklahoma State and reportedly received $145,000 in guaranteed money to sign with the Browns.
“He has done a nice job,” Stefanski said. “He has good size. He has been very eager to learn. I have been pleased with what he has been doing.”

MAKING IT COUNT

Rookie receiver/returner Donovan Peoples-Jones didn’t need preseason games to impress the coaching staff and likely lock up a roster spot.
“It is tough, but like with everything, you have to adjust,” he said of the preseason being canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. “It has been a crazy year so far and a lot of adjustments have been made, and that is what we are going to continue to keep doing.
“I am using practice as preseason reps. When we do team (drills) in practices, it is kind of like a mock preseason game where all that stuff matters.”
The sixth-round pick out of Michigan has looked good as a receiver and returner.
“He has gotten better every day,” Stefanski said. “He came out here, and his effort has grown immensely from Day 1 to Day 13. We are putting a lot on his plate … and he has not backed down one bit.”

EXTRA POINTS

The Browns waived safety J.T. Hassell, cornerback Donnie Lewis Jr., receiver J’Mon Moore and defensive tackle Ricky Walker. After the trade for Harrison, the roster stands at 76. It must be cut to 53 by Saturday at 4 p.m.

** Linebacker B.J. Goodson missed practice for a personal reason. He was out earlier in camp with a personal reason but practiced Tuesday and Wednesday.

** Cornerbacks Williams, Kevin Johnson (lacerated liver) and M.J. Stewart Jr. (hamstring), offensive linemen JC Tretter (knee), Chris Hubbard (ankle) and Alex Taylor (undisclosed injury) and linebacker Mack Wilson (knee) remained out.

I feel like "pleased" is going to be Stefanski's "battled" in terms of words he often repeats in his assessments.

He could use whatever words he wants as long as he wins.

That's great to hear. Hope it translates to good running plays on Sundays!

Another first time head coach with tons on his plate calling plays.

What can go wrong?

Baker, Garrett, Chubb, Hunt, OBJ and Ward all test positive for Covid prior to kickoff.

The same things that could go right.

We'll see how it goes.

If he’s competent then it’ll be smooth. Unlucky for us we’ve hired Pat Shurmur, Hue Jackson, and Freddie Kitchens. The trifecta of incompetence.

Came across this article this morning. I didn't want to start a new thread and didn't think of it as just a Bengal-game-thing. Good stuff here:

https://247sports.com/nfl/cleveland-brow...Game-151642556/

Great article, Willie! Enjoyed reading the execution details. Pretty involved, but we should get better at this. The idea of heavy carries by Chubb and slashes by Hunt could be a staple. This line with Willis should get even more effective. I also like running wider some, more than we have bothered with for last several seasons; still controls clock and wears D-linemen down side to side. And adding play action to a workable run game has to be a precious thing for Mayfield.

I grew up with some of the electricity that was Leroy Kelly owning games with our sweep. Tickled to see us dedicating ourselves to this. Chubb & Hunt, Land Merchants.

I was VERY happy when we signed Hooper.My second favorite FA signing, after Conklin. I didnt know Janovich, but happy with him too

The Cleveland Browns defense must get healthy in a hurry

The Cleveland Browns defense is banged up and struggling. Six key defenders returning from injury could provide a huge boost in moving forward.

By Sam Penix -September 21, 20200

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/browns-defense-needs-to-get-healthy-in-hurry-2020/


The Cleveland Browns are 1-1 coming off a big win against the Cincinnati Bengals, and while the offense is showing signs of significant improvement, the Browns defense is a huge question mark. The scheme is one part of the equation, but a rash of injuries has left the secondary and linebacker rooms in tatters. If Cleveland hopes to continue winning, they’ll need to get some key defenders back quickly.

The Cleveland Browns defense must get healthy in a hurry
Olivier Vernon is unsurprisingly injured once again
Olivier Vernon has developed a reputation for being injury-prone over the past few seasons, and an abdomen injury sidelined him for Cleveland’s Thursday Night victory. When healthy, he’s a significantly above-average player against both the run and the pass and is an excellent complement to superstar Myles Garrett.

His injury doesn’t appear to be too serious, so he should be able to return against the Washington Football Team on September 27. The Browns defense will be going up against second-year rookie Dwayne Haskins, and the defensive line could wreak havoc on the young signal-caller, as Washington’s offensive line is one of the weaker groups in the league.

Adrian Clayborn will try to play through the pain
Vernon’s absence on Thursday thrust Adrian Clayborn into the starting lineup before he exited with a hip flexor strain that he will reportedly attempt to play through. He’s logged a sack in each of his two games thus far and has been one of the NFL’s most underrated pass-rushers for a while now.

He allows defensive coordinator Joe Woods to rotate out Garrett and Vernon, keeping all three players fresh. It would be a significant loss if Clayborn can’t go, although Porter Gustin filled in quite well on Thursday night.

Two starting linebackers potentially returning soon
Mack Wilson’s return could provide a massive boost to the entire Browns defense
Wilson was drafted in the fifth round in 2019 and was labeled a steal by many because of his Alabama pedigree. In reality, Wilson played like a fifth-rounder. He struggled mightily early on, as he was thrust into a starting rule due to Christian Kirksey suffering a season-ending injury.

Wilson showed improvement as the year went on, and by the end of the campaign, was a replacement-level player. For a prospect who likely needed another season in college, that’s not bad at all. His excellent coverage ability didn’t quite translate to the NFL as a rookie, but hopefully, that will come with time.

Entering camp as the presumed starter at WILL, Wilson suffered a hyperextended knee that he was able to avoid having surgery on. Initially, it was feared that Wilson suffered complete ligament tears and would be out for the season. He could potentially return to practice this week, and while it’s unlikely he suits up for Washington, getting a starter back will be a big help for the Browns defense as a whole. This is even more important if Wilson can contribute in pass coverage, which is something that both Malcolm Smith and B.J. Goodson are having severe issues with.

Jacob Phillips presents a higher ceiling at MIKE
Third-round rookie Jacob Phillips started for Wilson at WILL and played 12 snaps before suffering a knee injury in Week 1. He didn’t practice last week, and his status going forward remains in doubt. Although his playing time came at WILL, Phillips’ skillset is better suited for MIKE, where he can stay between the tackles and use his elite explosiveness to blow up run plays.

Coverage was not his strong suit at LSU, so that is an area he will need to improve in. However, his athletic traits give him more potential in the middle than veteran starter B.J. Goodson, whose first two games as a Brown have not gone well. Goodson tackles well, but he lacks the athleticism or instincts to make impact plays and has been routinely picked on in coverage. Smith is a better athlete, but he has many of the same issues as Goodson. Both players are what they are at this point in their respective careers; veterans best suited as backups and special teamers.

Phillips was a third-round pick (and selected over other prospects such as Ohio State’s Malik Harrison) for a reason; this regime likes what he can bring to the table, and there’s really no downside to playing him over Goodson. Phillips called the defense at LSU, and he is capable of doing the same as a rookie. Whether or not Woods will actually move Goodson to the bench is another story.


Two starting cornerbacks have yet to play
Greedy Williams has the ability, but availability has been an issue
Following the 2017 college football season, Williams was a projected top-five pick. He had the height, speed, and man cover skills to be an elite player. By the time the 2018 NFL Draft rolled around, he had fallen to the second round, where Cleveland moved up to get him. His rookie season was not great, but that elite talent hasn’t gone anywhere.

He has the potential to be an excellent number two to Denzel Ward’s number one, but he has to be on the field for that to happen. He missed four games early last season because of a hamstring issue, and now he’s missed the past few weeks of practice to a shoulder injury. Terrance Mitchell has done a stable job in Williams’ absence, but the Browns defense needs its starter back on the field.

Kevin Johnson is fortunate to be alive
Johnson was signed to play the slot for the Browns after a fine season for the Buffalo Bills. He had an impressive training camp before a teammate fell on him during a drill, and Johnson’s kidney was lacerated. He has not practiced since, but the more important thing is that he’s even in a position to keep playing football.

That injury can be fatal depending on the severity, and thankfully Johnson’s was relatively minor. Special teams ace Tavierre Thomas has gotten a chance to play slot over the past two games, and the results aren’t great. Waiver claim and 2018 Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-round pick M.J. Stewart dealt with a hamstring injury early in camp but is now healthy.

He didn’t see the field defensively in Week 1 and got just seven defensive snaps in Week 2. Oddly, Thomas is playing over Stewart, but neither should be heavily counted upon. Johnson’s return could make the biggest impact of any player mentioned above, whenever it ends up happening.