DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns minicamp notes

It will be interesting to watch Cameron's production this year. I mean, if I remember correctly, two of Cameron's best games where when Gordon was out. Now, we have Gordon, Hawkins, we may possibly be drafting a WR high, a vet in Burleson who will get some catches, Little in a contract year, and the deep threat in Benjamin.

Maybe Cameron should cash in on a Pitta like contract now while his value may be at its highest? With the volume of potential receiver options, Cameron just may not get as many looks as he did last year.

He's still an amazing red zone target, just not sure if he will get lost inbetween the 20's because of, I cannot believe I'm gonna write this, ....potential depth in this receiving corp.

I'd ask you to pick 2 or more as he's clearly worth all of them.

I just have a hard time looking at where the best TE's in the NFL are drafted now and it's all in round 3-4 for the most part.

Browns | Zac Diles trying out
Tue, 29 Apr 2014 20:49:19 -0700

Cleveland Browns LB Zac Diles (Titans) is in camp on a tryout basis. He played one game for the Tennessee Titans last season.


Browns | Two work on the side
Tue, 29 Apr 2014 20:48:40 -0700

Cleveland Browns WR Charles X. Johnson (knee) and LB Brandon Magee (pectoral) each worked on the side at practice Tuesday, April 29.


Browns | Travis Benjamin works on side
Tue, 29 Apr 2014 20:47:16 -0700

Cleveland Browns WR Travis Benjamin (knee) was able to work on the side with trainers at practice Tuesday, April 29. He is working his way back after a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Head coach Mike Pettine said Benjamin's rehab is on schedule, but he'll likely be kept out of practice until training camp in July to strengthen his knee.


Browns | Two return to practice
Tue, 29 Apr 2014 20:46:51 -0700

Cleveland Browns SS Josh Aubrey (ankle) and LB Quentin Groves (ankle) each ended last season on Injured Reserve, but were able to return to practice Tuesday, April 29.


Browns | Dion Lewis works in practice
Tue, 29 Apr 2014 20:46:22 -0700

Cleveland Browns RB Dion Lewis (leg), who ended last season on Injured Reserve with a broken leg, was able to return to practice Tuesday, April 29.

Source: The Chronicle-Telegram - Scott Petrak

KFFL

Cameron was almost identical to Witten in terms of production this past year, and with constant QB turmoil.

Olsen is close, but again, has stability at QB.

I look at guys like Gronk, Graham, and Thomas, and all have top 5 QBs. (Brady, Brees, and Manning)

Davis is a top TE as well.

Out of these, I would rank them:

Graham
Gronkowski (if healthy)
Davis

Then the rest are kind of bunched together. Other TE have greater experience, and consistency at QB, but does that mean that they are better, or that Cameron's as good, and will continue to grow, and improve if we finally settle the QB spot?

Well if you start looking at those things then you have to open the book up to Cameron too. After one or two, those guys aren't second options. Thomas is the third option for the Broncos, Olson is the third option, but yeah you're right. They're kind off all jumbled together after the top 5. Just a bunch of 3rd and 4th rounders bunched together.

j/c

I would feel better if chud wouldn't have been coach with gorden and Cameron breakout year. this is kind of like 07 with kw3 and be. how did that turn out?

j/c...

I've been high on Cameron since his first catch in preseason as a rookie. Just something about him I liked. Was very disappointed in Shurmur for not using him more and the little he did use him it was for a 1-3 yard pass.

Last year they named him as the starter and so many where we need a TE we need a TE...We didn't. Cameron was just fine and that was with a merry-go-round of QBs.

I use to watch Weeden play and would key on Cameron...boom he's open for the check down, Throw it Weeden, Cameron is wide open, throw it! Sack...he never took his eyes off the primary that entire play. So typical.

He's not an all around great TE but he did get better in his blocking last year. But he is without a doubt is a WEAPON. Now saying all that.

I think if he does get better and has an All Pro season...I think he will be gone. More so we got a lot of young guys that will be maturing into 2nd contracts. It won't be a matter of how good Cameron is or not. It will be - are we going to spend that kind of money on a Position of TE? that is the part I think will determine if we lose him or not. I'm sure he will have the production to make him high up on the list of TE.

We can easily re-sign Cameron, Taylor, and Sheard.

I would think that with our depth on the defensive line, that this will be Rubin's last year with the team.

I haven't heard anything but speculation about Cameron wanting to play on the west coast.

I thought this thread was about mini camp updates?

The article that leads this thread talks about Jordan Cameron and the Browns talking about an extension.

Browns minicamp notes: DE Desmond Bryant back at practice after offseason heart surgery, and more notes

What a relief: Defensive end Desmond Bryant was back to work at Browns minicamp on Wednesday after being excused the first day for reasons not associated with his heart condition.

Bryant had two episodes of irregular, fast heart beat during games last year. After the second one, which was much milder than the first, he shut it down in December and had a cardiac ablation to correct the problem, which first surfaced a year earlier when he played for Oakland.

Bryant was not cleared to return to his normal offseason conditioning regime until March, he said, but everything is fine now.

“While it was kind of a trying time, I was also excited to get this procedure done and put that behind me,” Bryant said. “Since then, the training, I’ve been feeling really well, I’m back, I’m healthy, today got back on the field a little bit, and can’t wait to keep going.”

Bryant’s first episode occurred during the Buffalo game on Oct. 3. (That’s the game Brian Hoyer tore his ACL, which made the Bills’ game the most impactful of any on the 2013 season). Bryant said it was scary to feel an irregular heart beat and then be transferred via ambulance to the hospital by halftime.

Bryant returned to play the next game and suffered another episode seven weeks later against Jacksonville. But he said it was mild and the episode really wasn’t determined until the next day.

Bryant said he didn’t think his play was affected by the first episode. But, statistically, he had his lowest tackle totals over the next seven games, and no sacks.

He said he has no concerns about the procedure or episodes affecting him this year. He’s more focused on learning the new system on defense installed by first-year coach Mike Pettine.

“I think, personally, it’s more complex than any defense I’ve run before,” said Bryant. “So it’s definitely a learning curve for me. I feel I knew all the ins and outs of defensive line play, but they’ve got a few wrinkles here and there that kind of switch things up, that really make it challenging for offenses. I can’t wait to continue to grow and learn in this system and see where this takes us.”

The good news is that Bryant is a good learner – he attended Harvard University.

“I’m confident in my abilities. I know any defense you put me in I’m going to excel. It’s a new challenge for me, but I accept challenges,” Bryant said.

Keeping the W: The bottom line of the NFL is Ws and Ls, meaning wins and losses. In another vein, safety Donte Whitner has decided to keep his W. He said he has scrapped the idea to legally change his last name to Hitner.

“I think the majority of people will call me Hitner, regardless, especially if you go on the field and lay a couple big hits,” Whitner said. “Plus, I didn’t want to go through changing credit cards and mortgages and cars. They want me to do all this stuff and I can’t do all this paper work again. I considered it until they told me I had to go through so many documents and sign all these papers and change everything. All for one letter change? I’d rather not.”

Brownie bits: The Browns have converted Keavon Milton from tight end to offensive line. Officially, his jersey number has switched from No. 83 to No. 63. Milton is 6-4 and 293 pounds. The position change leaves the Browns with only five tight ends … Three Big Ten officials were on hand at Wednesday’s practice. This, of course, is a voluntary extra minicamp, the perk granted by the league (and NFL Players Association) to a new coaching staff. I can’t recall a Browns coach using game officials this early in a season … Former Michigan coach Gary Moeller visited practice. He is the father of Browns offensive line coach Andy Moeller.

http://espncleveland.com/common/more.php?m=49&action=blog&r=17&post_id=31921

I for one am extra pumped to hear Bryant back at practice and rumbling along.

Hitner, I don't care if that isn't his official name... it's the name I'm and have been calling him hahaha...

He was supposed to be the big blocking TE ...... so maybe he can become a nimble OT, with solid feet.

Probably not ..... but it's a nice dream. lol

Many excellent OTs have sprung from the TE position. Especially if they are the old school blocking TE. Granted the transition normally occurs early on in college. Probably will 2-3 years of developing. In the meantime we dont to use too many OL starters on ST so we will see him there n probably Jumbo package H-back.

jmho

Doug Dieken swears he could have been a all pro TE

Here's what coach Mike Pettine is saying about Browns today

Browns coach Mike Pettine met with reporters following the final practice of the team's voluntary veteran minicamp. Here is a transcript from the news conference:

On if the team achieved its goals this week: “I think we’re off to a good start. We had in the very first meeting just laid out some objectives that we wanted. One of the biggest ones was to establish the tempo, how we were going to get out of the huddle, how we were going to fly around on both sides of the ball. I think a lot of it is teaching them how to practice at a certain pace and a certain way to protect each other, to be good teammates who are not on the ground a lot and there’s not a lot of contact. I think when you learn to practice that way, then you can get a lot done in shorts. I think there’s some teams that don’t get a lot done because they don’t have a good feel for how to go at full speed but still protect each other. Then, I think it was a continuation of learning the system and learning the drills, getting to know their coaches, what the expectations are. As I told them when we just broke down that we’re getting ready to swim across the Atlantic, and we’ve just took just taken one step in, that we have so far to go, but it was a good first step.”

On if the Browns will pick up DL Phil Taylor’s fifth-year option: “Yeah, that’s something that we’ve discussed. That’ll be a part of the meeting again this afternoon, but that’s something more for (Browns General Manager) Ray (Farmer). Anything that’s contractual that has to do with a player in that sense, I’ll defer that to Ray.”

On if the Browns fear what Taylor’s attitude might be without picking up his fifth-year option: “It hasn’t occurred yet so I’m not going to deal in a hypothetical situation, but that’s something you certainly take into account when you have those option years.”

On how being good on draft day impacts on field performance: “It’s a players’ league. When you look at it, coaches can only affect it so much. I think that it’s critical for us. For the personnel department, that’s their Super Bowl. This year, it’s in May, but it’s absolutely critical that we have a solid draft. We don’t need to hit a grand slam. We get a chance to make some significant changes to the roster in some areas where we fell that there’s a need, but I think we’ve done a good enough job – we’ve talked about this already – is that we’ve really stabilized the ship in free agency, and we have the opportunity now when we’re on the clock that we can take the best player available.”

On if Taylor fits into his defensive system: “Yeah, Phil’s explosive. He’s got some pass rush ability, yet he’s solid enough to be at the point of attack. Absolutely, he’s a fit for us.”

On if he has a specific quarterback he likes in the draft: “Though I was former quarterback does not make me a quarterback expert. I have my opinions, got to spend time with all of them, a good amount of time. We talk about the ‘it’ factor a lot with quarterbacks, just that type of personality, those traits that you want to have in your quarterback – a guy that is confident, assertive and poised, that can handle teammates when they need to be handled at things going on in the offensive huddle. I think that’s important. That was more what I was looking for more than necessarily the mechanics part of it. That more falls in the wheelhouse of (Browns quarterbacks coach) Dowell (Loggains) and (Browns offensive coordinator) Kyle (Shanahan) and their evaluation, but I learned a lot along with way as far as what they’re looking for and how to evaluate. It was a great process and I think we’ve done a good job getting the board stacked, and hopefully, it plays out the way we want it to on draft day.”

On if Shanahan had more input on drafting a quarterback than he did: “As he should…yeah, I’m going to defer to an expert. I know what…I can say what a good one looks like, but there are times where I don’t know if I can say why he’s good. But as far as the technical part of it, that I’ll certainly defer to him and Dowell and then as far as what they’re looking for in the system. Now the one thing about him and one of the reasons I hired him is that his system is flexible. He was able to successful with a (Raiders QB) Matt Schaub [with the Houston Texans], who wouldn’t be on your list of mobile quarterbacks in the NFL, and then he was able to have a historic year with (Redskins QB) Robert Griffin (III) who’s probably the most mobile. He’s flexible in what he can do as far as different quarterbacks. They come in all shapes and sizes, but I think we’ve gotten to the point where were very much on the same page with what we’re looking for.”

On Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel: “I’m not going to share draft opinions. That’s just something we agreed not to do, to get into talking about individual players. He’s a special guy, but it’s something I don’t want to go into too much detail as far as our opinion.”

On if Manziel has an ‘it’ factor: “Again, I don’t want to discuss it. I think it’s pretty clear that of the guys out there that he’s probably one of the ones that you talk about first, but I just won’t go into details as far as our opinions.”

On previously saying that offensive tackle is not a priority in the draft and the possibility of several tackle prospects available at No. 4: “We’ve talked about all the scenarios and how it would affect our roster. When you have this extra time it drives you nuts. I was here until 11 (p.m.) last night going through scenarios, so I could probably deal with not hearing that word for a while. We’ve talked about the trade up, the trade back, if we sit there who do we take, how does that board play out, are the grades close enough that we can lean a little bit more towards need than towards best player if the grades are close. All the scenarios, I think it’s been at nauseum and we still have more time to go. It’s not done yet.”

On if he is a fan of the NFL Draft being two weeks later this year: “I thought I’d like the extra two weeks being hired as the last staff put together. I thought that would help us, but I think we were very efficient with our preparation. And not having the players in, as much as coaches complain about that, I think that really helped us as coaches kind of crystallize our offseason – that we can focus just on free agency, we could focus on the draft and get that stuff knocked out. It’s tough waiting this long because then it kind of pushing things back towards the summer. Your rookie camp’s pushed back, all those things. I think the general consensus in coaches I’ve talked to is we’d prefer it to be back in April.”

On if the Browns have talked with the Falcons about potentially trading first round draft picks: “I think all the teams in the top 10…I know the phones have been ringing off the hook. I just think all the teams in the top have really talked and I know they have always been a franchise that’s been, especially recently, been active as far as moving up. I can’t speak for Ray. I would guess the answer is yes, but I can confirm that because I just know there’s been a lot of calls going both directions.”

On if his thoughts about Browns QB Brian Hoyer have changed after minicamp: “No, it hasn’t. I think he’s been…just as far as his preparation, how he approached the practice field, how he interacted with the players, it was as we expected and then some. I said this the other day, that he’s the ultimate competitor. Still even today, wanted to jump out there and take some 11-on-11 reps. We’d like to think that maybe by the June camp he could do it, but that’ll be purely a medical decision at that point.”

On if the Browns will bring in any other quarterbacks before June camp: “I would say it’s a possibility. We’ll probably hold off on thinking about anything like that until after the draft and we see how that plays out.”

On the media attention that follows Manziel: “Again, don’t really want to discuss it. I know that he’s kind of a galvanizing-type guy, but it’s a hypothetical thing. What if he comes here? How would we deal with it? That’s something I’d rather talk about if indeed it happens.”

On if there is a disconnect between LB Barkevious Mingo and the coaching staff regarding his weight: “I wouldn’t say there’s a disconnect. We’re not going to artificially blow him up, but at the same time we want to have him on a program where he is, between lifting and natural intake of the diet that he’s on, that it’ll just happen. It’ll be a gradual thing. It doesn’t have to be overnight. I just think it’s the natural maturation process of his second year of the NFL. I can’t speak for the strength and conditioning program that was here, but we have definite ideas on how we want to handle him. It’s not just him. Every player will be assessed as far as their body weight, their body composition more importantly. We purchased a Bod Pod that measures very exactly their body fat percentage. I think that’s important that they know how much lean muscle mass they have, how much fat that they’re carrying and then have an ideal plan for them moving forward. You actually have some guys, believe it or not, that don’t have enough fat that are too skinny. That affects them in some ways. We have to change them a little bit. Most of the guys are on the other end where they need to decrease it some.”

On if he wants OL John Greco strictly at right guard: “I think now is the time of the year and I’ll get with the offensive staff – we’re getting ready to go through essentially what we did when we first got hired, was to evaluate the roster. We’re basically going to hit the reset button with that. We’re going to evaluate these three days, write up all the players again. We have a grading scale. We’ll go ahead and grade each player now just like we would grade a guy that we were evaluating as a free agent. Then, redo our depth chart and then kind of see where we are moving forward if we want to have a guy that we want to move around. I think it’s important now as a staff, and I think that will help us with Ray moving forward going into the draft to kind of get another snapshot of what does our roster look like at the moment. That’ll be a big discussion for us as far as where we see the offensive line and based on (assistant offensive line) Coach (George) DeLeone and (offensive line) Coach (Andy) Moeller’s evaluations whether those guys are capable of moving and playing some other spots.”

On if the staff will be able to complete the re-evaluation process before the draft: “They’re going to be working on it this afternoon.”

On what he’s seen from Browns WR Josh Gordon during minicamp: “That he’s a special player, that he’s a guy that I think can change a game. Defensively, you’re always going to evaluate the wideouts – is this a guy that we have to double [team]? He’s certainly put it on tape last year and has shown more than a few flashes of it in these three days of that ability. That affects a defense. He could have a very low-production game if teams are just rolling their coverage to him, but the affect that that has on the rest of the defense and the benefit that you have offensively…and that’s tough on those wideouts when teams are ‘taking them away.’ But, the one thing that Kyle’s offense has done for years is they’ve found ways to get the ball to the ‘X’ receiver. Just look at the production over time, it’s been pretty consistently high. That’s something that I know Josh was fired up when he saw the statistics of the wide receivers in Kyle’s offense.”

On Gordon off the field: “He’s been great in the weight room, around the building. He’s been outstanding. I’ve had several really good conversations with him since he’s been here.”

On if he’s seen flashes of playmaking ability in Young throughout minicamp: “Yeah, there were a few. He took off and ran for a first down. We just finished up a rack of third down plays. You can tell he’s very rusty. I was joking with him the other day that it was falling off and rust was falling off in large clumps. He flashed it a couple times, threw a nice long ball the other day. Again, you still don’t realize how big he is until you stand next to him. We talk about all these 6-foot, 5-11 quarterbacks in the draft, when he comes walking out you say, ‘Woah, that’s what they’re supposed to look like.’”

On what he looks for in a quarterback: “I think any quarterback you bring on your roster you have to make the assumption that they will have to play at some point. I thought Hoyer had the perfect answer when he said, ‘Hey, I don’t care whether I’m the third, the fourth. I’m going to prepare as if I’m the guy that’s going to play.’ You look at the history of the league, just look at what happened to us when I was in Buffalo a year ago – that we lost (Bills QB Kevin) Kolb in preseason then (Bills QB) EJ’s (Manuel) playing and we ended up down to our fourth quarterback. With as big and as strong and as hard as defensive guys hit these days, you have to be deep at that position and I think it’s more so than in the pass.”

On Hoyer’s most distinct traits: “You talk about the ‘it’ factor, that’s one, but I think he’s a better passer than people have given him credit for. The one thing that jumped out at me this camp was his accuracy. Having gone and worked the quarterbacks out, and then it was nice to come back here and Kyle and Dowell put the quarterbacks through the exact same drills that we did when we went out and worked the quarterbacks out. It was nice to see that, to be able to compare him to those other quarterbacks, and the one thing that really jumped out to me was how accurate he is with the football

http://www.ohio.com/blogs/cleveland-brow...-today-1.485024

More than once, Pettine mentioned that the coaching staff would like to see Barkevious Mingo bulk up.

Added weight for Mingo, a 6-4, 240-pound linebacker, could help in shedding blockers who often top out at more than 300 pounds.

He doesn’t view his weight as a problem.

“I guess it’s like last year,” Mingo said. “I’m not going to discuss my weight. I’m comfortable where I’m at and the coaches are comfortable where I’m at. We’ll leave it at that. The coaches are happy.”

In that respect, coach and player appear to be at odds.

“I wouldn’t say there’s a disconnect,” Pettine said. “We’re not going to try to artificially blow him up. But at the same time, we want to have him on a program where he is, between lifting and natural intake of the diet that he’s on, that it’ll just happen.

“It’ll just occur; it’ll be a gradual thing. It doesn’t have to be overnight. I just think it’s the natural maturation process of his second year in the NFL.”

Scanning the O-line

Paul McQuistan, a 6-6, 315-pound offensive lineman, spent the minicamp working at left guard between tackle Joe Thomas and center Alex Mack. Last year’s starting left guard, 6-4, 318-pound John Greco, worked at right guard.

They might remain at those spots, but Pettine said this week gives them the opportunity to press the reset button on the roster as the team looks forward.

“We’ll go ahead and grade each player now just like we would grade a guy we were evaluating as a free agent and then redo our depth chart and then kind of see where we are moving forward,” he said.

But it also gives Farmer another tool because resetting the roster will be completed prior to the draft.

“I think that will help us with Ray moving forward going into the draft to kind of get another snapshot of what our roster looks like at the moment,” Pettine said.

Trade talk?

After being asked about the Atlanta Falcons’ reported efforts to move up in the draft, Pettine said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Browns heard from other teams wanting to move up to get the team’s No. 4 pick, especially those in the top 10, but he deferred to Farmer.

“I know the phones have been ringing off the hook. I just think all the teams in the top have really talked,” he said, “and I know that they’ve always been a franchise that’s been, especially recently, active as far as moving up.”

Move it back

Listening to sports talk and reading articles on the Internet, many football fans lament the additional two-week wait to get to the draft. Count Pettine and Browns left tackle Joe Thomas among them.

Because he was the last new coach hired, Pettine initially thought the change helped.

“It’s tough waiting this long because then it kind of pushes everything back towards the summer, your rookie camp’s pushed back, all those things,” he said. “I think the general consensus of coaches I’ve talked to is we’d prefer it to be back in April.”

Thomas said he’d rather have had the rookies in minicamp. “Truth be told, the offseason is about getting rookies ready,” he said.

Extra points

Wide receiver Nate Burleson was not at practice but Pettine said he is OK and discussed his absence with the team. ... Former running back Eric Metcalf will announce the Browns’ second-round draft pick May 9 from Radio City Music Hall, according to the NFL. ... NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock said the Browns could have interest in Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

http://www.ohio.com/sports/browns/browns...r-play-1.485040

According to Pettine, everyone on the team weight, body fat, diet and etc is being criticized. He mentioned it in one of his recent pressers about Mingo not being the only one being asked to eat and etc differently and that everyone on the team knows their body fat % and lean muscle amount.

He said he is not going to ask Mingo to bulk up overnight and to let it gradually, naturally through diet and weight room and yada yada. By the sounds of it, Mingo hasn't added any weight at all.

thought rookie camp opened yesterday? guess no reporter covered it?