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Browns receiver Travis Wilson fulfilling potential
Consistent performance impressing his coaches, improving his chances

By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Monday, Aug 04, 2008

BEREA: Every so often, Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel reminds you that he comes from the Bills School of Coaching.

That would be the often-critical Parcells and Belichick.

Take, for instance, the case of wide receiver Travis Wilson.

Selected in the third round of the 2006 draft out of the University of Oklahoma, Wilson arrived with the potential to be a productive pro receiver. Last year, however, he spent every game on the inactive list after some thought he had come on toward the end of his rookie season.

Crennel said Wilson's high draft status might have made him think he could go on cruise control in year two and that Wilson did not understand what it took to succeed in the NFL.

Ouch.

Perhaps Wilson knew that was the knock on him as he heard his coaches preach the word ''consistency'' during this offseason. Whatever a coach or teammate whispered in his ear seems to have planted a seed.

Wilson has been one of training camp's bright spots this summer, catching everything in his general direction. When he's unable to haul in a pass, the ball usually hasn't been catchable.

His progress carried over Friday night into the Browns' appearance under the bright lights at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Wilson made an impressive diving catch for a touchdown and flashed the potential the Browns saw when they drafted him.

''It's just what the coaches wanted to see from me the past two years — more consistency,'' Wilson said. ''Everyone out here has talent, but the great ones have consistency, and that's what it takes to get to the next level, so the coaches want to see more of that out of me. I just matured, relaxed and [am] having fun out there.''

Fate has presented Wilson and the other receivers on the Browns' roster with the opportunity to move up the depth chart. With Joe Jurevicius down with an injury and not expected to return until the start of the season, the No. 3 receiver slot is wide open.

Wilson knows it, but doesn't dwell on it.

''Not just me, but I feel like every receiver has come in here and wanted to be the No. 1 receiver, so as well as everyone pushing to make the most of that opportunity, where it falls . . . it will take care of itself,'' Wilson said. ''I'm out here like everyone else trying to be No. 1.''

That's not an unwise attitude to take and one that Crennel has noticed as training camp continues. His face lights up when asked about Wilson.

''Travis has had a particularly good OTA (organized team activities) period, he began to show up and make some plays, and I think that has carried over to training camp here because when the ball comes his way, he's been catching them,'' Crennel he said.

''I think that helps his confidence because he has been wondering whether he's going to be able to hang on here. But this year his third year, he's beginning to show up and I think he has improved a lot as a receiver.''

Wilson said the improvement stems from his lack of production his first two seasons.

''I've always been self-driven, but obviously the last two seasons didn't go according to plan,'' he said. ''That left a taste in my mouth like no other, and it gave me motivation bigger than anyone else can give me.''

Crennel said much of the change stems from maturity.

''I think, for one, he understands the system better and knows what is expected, and two, sometimes when you come in you think you've got it made because you got drafted and you don't understand how tough the competition is. Now I think he understands the whole picture, so we see a better Travis Wilson,'' Crennel said.

Williams doesn't get it

Count former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Corey Williams as someone who doesn't understand the problem with Brett Favre in the cheese state.

''I've been hearing little stuff about what's going on in Green Bay, [but] I don't know too much about what's going on. I would have thought that after the season he had [last] season, they would have welcomed him back, but who knows.''

Brownies

Crennel rested Kellen Winslow, Josh Cribbs and Gary Baxter on Sunday. Williams, Lawrence Vickers and Kevin Kasper were back on the field on a limited basis. . . . Defensive back Warren Lahr played for the Browns from 1948 to 1959, not from 1948 to 1950 as reported Sunday.

Link

It’s about time he steps up and starts making plays. Hopefully he will start to show the consistency that he hasn’t had.

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It’s about time he steps up and starts making plays. Hopefully he will start to show the consistency that he hasn’t had.

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Reading that article, I get the impression it wasn't just the consistency or lack thereof, but also work ethic. RAC's comments about him just finding out what it takes to succeed might tell the whole story..

Anyway, his timing is impeccable. if he can turn it on now, it's perfect timing with JJ being out of commission. He'll get a nice clean shot at winning the slot.

IMO... He has the talent of a Keyshawn Johnson... I hope he blossoms and unleashes his skills come regular season.

You have to catch the ball. (spoken in my Herm Edwards' "You play to win the game" voice)

"Hello!"

I'll beleive it when I see it.

I have always been high on Wilson. He just took time to adjust. Some do, some hit the ground running. As you said, he's shown alot so far this camp. I hope he does well. He has the tools and is finally getting them out of the toolbox and using them.

It would be a huge boost if he can be the #3 guy ... and another notch on Savage's belt.

Overall, I liked what I saw of Wilson in camp. The only thing I didnt' like was that he seemed a little slow for his size.

Maybe it's just me, but he didn't seem slow at all in the Friday night family thing at the stadium... not at all slow...

WR...probably our most in depth position with viable talent this year.

Especially if you count KW2 and Rucker who both have more WR in them than TE.

Even with JJ out (I'm sure he'll be back) some posters freaked out a bit too much like what are we going to do now...OH NO especially on the other board.

We are deep in WRs - the emergence of Wilson is great. Depth is great. I think he will be our #3 without a doubt and JJ will find it hard to take that status back from him. What I do see with JJ in his last season - Is him coming in with our spread offense in the Red Zone. Who's going to be on him as the #4??? Its like another TE - that is where he'll be very effective. And lets face it - RED ZONE is the name of the game.

JMHO

Crennel said Wilson's high draft status might have made him think he could go on cruise control in year two and that Wilson did not understand what it took to succeed in the NFL.

He thought he was the best WR in the draft..trouble is he wasn't..and decided not to do the work..and got overwhelmed with becoming a pro..

From what I saw in the camp practices I've been to, he's looked good. I hope he kicks it into overdrive during the preseason games. Braylon flourished in his 3rd year. Maybe lightning will strike twice for the Browns in Wilson's third year.

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He thought he was the best WR in the draft..trouble is he wasn't..and decided not to do the work..and got overwhelmed with becoming a pro..

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You forgot to add, "But that's all behind him now."

Wilson working, aiming for consistency
Steve King, Staff Writer
08.05.2008
The Browns can only hope that wide receiver Travis Wilson improves as much over the next four months as he has over the previous four months.

And if he does, then he could end up being a key player for the club in 2008 as it continues to look for a No. 3 wideout in the absence of Joe Jurevicius, who is out for at least the first part of the regular season as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

The Browns had high hopes for Wilson when they selected him in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft, at No. 78 overall, but things didn't work out for him in his first two years.

He played in just four games as a rookie, with two starts, and caught but two passes for 32 yards. Last season, he did not play at all, being made inactive for all 16 games.

He struggled again this spring as the Browns began their organized team activities. At what may have been a low ebb for him, he dropped two short passes within the span of several plays, using his hands to grab both sides of his helmet in frustration following the second one.

It was a telling scene, and at that point, you had to wonder when -- or maybe even if -- the light would finally go on for Wilson.

He certainly wasn't lacking in talent. He finished his career at Oklahoma as one of the top receivers in school history with 105 receptions for 1,315 yards (12.5 yards-per-catch average) and 17 touchdowns in 42 games.

Plus he had good size, being 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds. He had all the right ingredients to make it in the NFL.

"I think maybe it was just that things were going like he had planned and he lost his confidence a little bit," said Browns free safety Brodney Pool, who was in the same recruiting class as Wilson at Oklahoma and played with him there for three years and now three more in Cleveland.

"I've always called him T. Money because he was such a money player in college. But I kept teasing him the last couple of years that he was just Travis again."

Since those struggles in the spring, though, Wilson has been looking like the receiver the Browns thought they were getting. He is playing like he did at Oklahoma, catching everything in sight -- sliding, diving, jumping and stretching out to get the ball. His play has been one of the highlights of camp to this point.

"The numbers don't lie," Browns head coach Romeo Crennel said following a training camp practice. "His catches are up in camp this year and his drops are down."

Up as in way up, and down as in way down.

It's been an amazing -- and impressive -- about-face.

"Travis had a particularly good OTA period," Crennel said. "He began to show up and make some plays, and I think that's carried over to training camp here because when the ball comes his way, he's been catching them.

"I think that helps his confidence because he's been wondering whether he's going to be able to hang on here. I think he's improved a lot as a receiver. This is his third year here, and I think for one he understands the system better and knows what is expected of him, and two, sometimes when you come in, you think you've got it made because you got drafted and you don't understand how tough the competition is.

"Now I think he understands the whole picture, so we see a better Travis Wilson."

A more consistent Travis Wilson.

"The past two years, it's been consistency that's been the problem," Wilson said. "Everyone out here has talent, but the great ones also have consistency and that's what takes their game to the next level. Coaches want to see more of that out of me.

"I feel I have matured. I'm relaxed, and I am having fun out there."

Yes, it's a lot more fun to be part of the mix instead of standing on the sidelines, sometimes just in street clothes, as was the case last season. It's something Wilson had never experienced before, and it's something that he and the Browns hope he never experience again.

That's why he's so much looking forward to Thursday night's preseason opener against the New York Jets at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The way he sees it, it's the real start to his NFL career.

"It's going to be good to get out there and get some game action," Wilson said. "Football is fun in a t-shirt and shorts, but to go against someone from another team, it's going to raise the stakes higher."

The stakes were already raised for Wilson going into this year. He's done the job this far, but, as Crennel pointed out, "You've got to do it in the game."

Pool is confident his longtime teammate will meet that challenge as well.

"To me, he's already T. Money again," Pool said.