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offensive line, return game and mini-camp -- Terry Pluto (photos)


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By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
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on May 23, 2015 at 9:18 AM, updated May 23, 2015 at 2:27 PM

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In the first round of the NFL Draft, Browns General Manager Ray Farmer took Cameron Erving at No. 19. Erving is capable of playing anywhere on the offensive line. He has a chance to win the starting right tackle job from Mitchell Schwartz.

Or he could be the right guard, making John Greco the top substitute on the offensive line.

At the very least, there should be no repeat of the Browns using three different centers trying to replace injured center Alex Mack -- as happened last season.

Farmer also believes tackle/guard Michael Bowie could be a major factor.

Here's what ESPN's Terry Blount wrote when Bowie was cut during the 2014 training camp by Seattle:

"Bowie started eight games (in 2013) as a rookie, forced to step in when right tackle Breno Giacomini was injured. It was a bit of a baptism by fire for Bowie, taking his lumps against some of the best defensive ends in the NFL.

"But Giacomini signed with the New York Jets and Bowie was expected to compete with rookie Justin Britt for the starting job at right tackle. That didn't happen. Bowie wasn't in shape and reinjured his shoulder on the first day of camp. The Seahawks signed veteran tackle Eric Winston last week, who came in ready to play, in great shape and able to show what he could do immediately. That meant the end for Bowie."

The Browns picked up Bowie, who spent all of 2014 recovering from his shoulder injury.

In 2014, the same Seahawks decided not to sign Paul McQuistan. The Browns signed him to a one-year deal. He started one game at guard when Greco moved to center for the injured Mack. McQuistan played only 121 snaps.

The Browns had four linemen who played all 1,078 snaps: Joe Thomas, Joel Bitonio, Schwartz and Greco.

But when Mack was injured, they couldn't find another lineman to do at least an acceptable job. They went through Ryan Seymour, Nick McDonald and McQuistan.

McQuistan started 40 games for Seattle between 2011-13, but it's obvious the Seahawks thought the veteran was done -- and that's why they let him go. They were right.

Bowie is different because he's only 23. The question is if he will stay in shape and realize the opportunity to revive his career.

The Browns also believe practice squad player Vinston Painter has potential.

So the addition of Erving (a prime prospect), Bowie (who started eight games for Seattle) and Painter will bolster the line -- along with the return of a healthy of Mack. Remember at the end of season, Mack has the option to become a free agent. Schwartz also will be a free agent. So the Browns need depth for 2016.

ABOUT TRAVIS BENJAMIN

Special teams coach Chris Tabor certainly knows how to deliver a vote of confidence. Asked about the Browns dismal punt return situation in 2014 -- and the struggles of Travis Benjamin -- Tabor said: "I expect him to be great."

If this press conference had occurred before the 2014 season, then it would be easier to take Tabor's comments seriously. In 2013, Benjamin had an 11.7 punt return average, including one for a touchdown. In 2012, he had only three chances to return punts -- and ran one back for a 93-yard touchdown.

Yes, Benjamin had "great" moments.

But not last year.

His 8.5 average return was respectable. But he became timid, often letting punts sail over his head or bounce in front of him -- not even wanting to risk a fair catch. The Browns pulled him in favor of veteran safety Jim Leonard, who basically was a fair-catch machine.

Benjamin also had a hard time judging those punts in the cold Lake Erie winds of Browns Stadium.

The Browns ranked No. 28 in punt returns.

Tabor believes Benjamin coming back from ACL knee surgery (October, 2013) was a factor. The man they call "Rabbit" wasn't fully healthy but had a few good games as a receiver. Tabor also suggested that Benjamin being more a part of the passing game may have negatively impacted his punt returns.

Benjamin caught 18 passes for a 17.4 yards per catch average. He played only 36 percent of the snaps, so I'm not buying that reasoning.

Tabor believes the 25-year-old Benjamin can have a bounce-back season, which is possible.

OTHER OPTIONS

Tabor mentioned rookie running back Duke Johnson, who was also an elite kick returner at Miami. He averaged 33.0 yards and ran two for touchdowns in 27 attempts. Johnson never returned punts. Tabor thinks he can so Johnson is an intriguing option.

I've wondered about Justin Gilbert as a punt returner, but Tabor simply said, "He's a kick returner. Some people think he's a punt returner. He is not a punt returner. He is a kick returner."

Last year, the Browns didn't allow Gilbert to return anything. At Oklahoma State, he returned eight punts in 2010 for a 6.9 average -- not much to be excited about.

As a kick returner, Gilbert ran back six for touchdowns and had a 26.3 average in 102 attempts.

ABOUT THE BROWNS:

1. I understand the fascination with Johnny Manziel making his first appearance with the veterans when mini-camp opens Tuesday. The media can watch practice. Remember, no one is tackled. It's mostly guys in helmets and shorts playing the NFL's version of flag football. Unless Manziel looks totally overwhelmed, it's hard to tell much of anything at this time of year.

2. The good news is Manziel appears to have done everything the Browns would want in terms of his off-season rehabilitation program. The coaches are raving about his attitude. But it will take months to figure out where Manziel is as a player in the NFL. That won't become clear until training camp in the summer and the preseason games.

3. It will be interesting to see how veteran receiver Dwayne Bowe looks. Does he still have some speed to get away from defensive backs? The Browns believe so. The Chiefs seemed to think Bowe was close to being finished as a football player.

4. Watching Duke Johnson run the ball and catch passes out of the backfield should be fun. The Browns definitely need a running back who can help in the passing game. Last year, Browns backs combined for only 29 receptions: Terrance West (11), Isaiah Crowell (9), Ben Tate (9). Fullback Ray Agnew caught three passes. Johnson had 38 catches for Miami last season, including three for touchdowns.

5. I'm not very worried that top pick Danny Shelton will miss the first mandatory mini-camp. The academic All-American is finishing up his anthropology degree at Washington. He's smart. He will be able to catch up when it comes to learning the different defensive schemes.

6. I heard good things about how Connor Shaw played in rookie camp. I've always thought Thad Lewis could be a capable backup. Both of those guys could push Manziel to be the top backup behind Josh McCown. But if Manziel looks good, the job will be his. You can be sure the Browns would love it if Manziel really knows the new playbook and can run the offense with confidence.

7. I expect Armonty Bryant to easily make the switch from defensive end to outside linebacker with the goal of rushing the passer. That adjustment begins now. Bryant had ACL knee surgery last October. Does he still have the speed that made the 2013 seventh-round pick so attractive to the coaches last season? He has 3.0 sacks in 17 pro games.

3. Center Alex Mack
The two-time Pro Bowler is attempting to rebound from the broken left fibula he suffered Oct. 12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns are confident he’ll be full go by training camp. They desperately need him to stay on track because their offense will be predicated on the run game. In the five games Mack started last season, they had 165 carries for 732 yards (4.4 average) and eight touchdowns. In the 11 games Mack was sidelined, they had 312 carries for 996 yards (3.2 average) and nine touchdowns.

http://www.ohio.com/sports/browns/nate-u...uesday-1.594463

Browns look to further solidify offense’s identity at OTAs


Andrew Gribble
Senior Staff Writer


Cleveland holds 1st of 10 on Tuesday

The Browns’ offense and defense enter OTAs at different stages of development, but Mike Pettine likes where both units are at in their progression toward the 2015 season.

The identity of Cleveland’s defense, he said, came together throughout his debut season as the team’s coach. With minimal turnover among coaches and more additions than subtractions to the roster, the focus has shifted to fine-tuning and taking the players to a “graduate-level” understanding of the schemes, blitzes and formations Jim O’Neil plans to implement in his second season as defensive coordinator.

The offense, meanwhile, is in a state of transition, but it’s far less extreme than what was necessary during Pettine’s first season. The zone-run scheme installed by former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan will remain largely intact, as offensive coordinator John DeFilippo works with retained assistants Brian Angelichio (tight ends), George DeLeone (assistant offensive line), Andy Moeller (offensive line) and Wilbert Montgomery (running backs) to maintain a “greatest hits” of last year’s run attack.

Pettine, in a recent interview on Cleveland Browns Daily, said there were some complementary pieces missing from last year’s running game he hopes to add to the Browns’ arsenal. He listed gap-scheme runs and misdirection runs as some of potential wrinkles.

The installation has been of the “high volume” variety, Pettine said, and it will continue throughout the next few weeks of OTAs leading into the team’s mandatory veteran mini-camp (June 16-18).

“The big thing for us now is we’ll finish the spring with a very large inventory,” Pettine said. “We have to determine at some point to start to trim that down to what we are. What do we do best? And then, what do we not do well? That’s something than can kind of fall by the wayside. But we need to come up with what our identity is on offense and I feel we are right on pace to do that.”

Contact is still prohibited, and OTAs remain voluntary, but the next three weeks will allow the team to roll through 11-on-11 drills for the first time since DeFilippo was hired. That’s pivotal, especially for the more visual learners, Pettine said.

Finding a “middle ground” on offense will be among the goals Cleveland carries into this vital stretch of the offseason.

“We don’t want to be all just one thing – where if a team takes your fastball away, you have no complement,” Pettine said. “But at the same time that you still have to have something you go to that’s your core. That’s really what we are finding out now: What are our core plays going to be? We might dress them up, in different personnel groupings, different formations and different shifts … and get to those looks in different ways, but still have those core plays be what they are.

“The guys are all here, they’ve been great in the meetings I’ve sat in on. It’s carried over to the field.”

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Gipson not expected at OTAs

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Mack is participating.

Terrence West and Andrew Hawkins fielding kick returns.

I don't know if I want Hawkins returning kicks. He is probably our best receiver.

I could care less about West, he is our third back. Hopefully he can make himself useful on special teams. He doesn't have the speed I would like in a kick returner.

First team O-Line:

Thomas, Bitonio, Mack, Greco, Schwartz.

Edit:

Mack is limited. When he is not on the field, Greco moves to center and Irving to right guard.

My first reaction too.

Mack's comeback sounds a bit ominous.

Gipson should watch how he acts, If he comes across as to much of a diva, then that might affect how the FO will view him as a Team Player. Plus coming off injury nobody knows how he will play this yr.

Possibly, but it's best to sit out now to express your discontent than during the season.....you know, like Peyton Hillis did. Not only did it blow up in his face, but doing what he did DURING the season and all his baggage (faked being sick, kicking field goals in warms up when he was "injured", etc) made him the diva.

Players understand this process. The guy is "trying to get paid". They (and I'd assume the FO as well) know that one injury can end it all.

Would love to see Duke Johnson returning kickoffs and punts. Honestly, I thought that was the main reason he was drafted. I'm also looking forward to seeing how Bowie and Erving push to become starters. I don't care much for Mitchell Schwartz, so I'm hoping he can be beat out.

HAHAHAHAHA!!! Peyton Hillis, I forgot how much of a moron he was.

The right side of the line will be interesting to watch as the summer carries on. I think Greco's competition is Irving and Schwartz's is Bowie, and Farmer has raved about Bowie before.

I like Schwartz, but if someone is better than him, the upgrade him-- that's the way it goes, obviously.

But I know nothing about Bowie so not sure how much of a competition it will be.

I just don't get this. Leave Hawkins as WR, he goes all out you almost need to save him from himself. Let him focus and take the hits as a WR.

And West? I like nothing about that. I question his hands because after last year, I'm sick of seeing people who can't even carry out a fair catch successfully. Plus, no elite speed there.

Chris Tabor just what are you thinking? I'd rather see Gilbert, or even that new kid Duke, take reps there.

Dude, it's Day One.

Day whatever, just don't even see why they'd entertain the thought of West at returner. JMO though!

...

Cleveland Browns twitter account already has some video up guys! Go watch Taylor Gabriel smoke Joe Haden hehe!

With the kick rules its not like you actually get to return anything anyway. Plus our best returners have never been pure speed guys but patient returners like Cribbs.

Bowie is this years McQuistan who Farmer hypes and we all pray he never sees the field. The competition will be between Grecco and Erving.

Interesting, why do you think that? Do you know anything about Bowie? How did he do with the Seahawks?

I read a few articles earlier this year that said that the Browns did not expect to start Mack back to actively practicing until training camp.

On 6-15-15 his restricted FA offer will be rescinded. The offer will be reduced to under 1 mil. The budding cancer Gipson and company trying to hold the course. ...for now.

OTA News: Barkevious Mingo still not cleared for contact

With the Cleveland Browns kicking off Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this week, one surprising element is outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo donning a red no-contact jersey for Day 1. In February, it was revealed that Mingo underwent surgery to repair a labrum issue which had plagued the 24-year-old pass-rusher for much of the 2014 season.

In March, two months removed from surgery, Mingo told reporters that he would be 100 percent by Training Camp. Earlier this month, it was reported that he would be “pretty close to all-go” for OTAs, but the Browns appear to be taking things slowly with the former first-round draft pick.

Despite his issues with injuries and tallying just seven sacks in two seasons with the Browns, Mingo still graded out as a top-15 3-4 outside linebacker (via Pro Football Focus) as a part-time player across 681 snaps in 2014 thanks to solid run defense. It’s safe to say that the Browns would love to get more pass-rushing production out the LSU product, but a rotation could once again be in order with the team using a second-round pick on linebacker Nate Orchard. With Jabaal Sheard out of the picture, one would assume that Mingo will be dropping into coverage a lot less, but he’ll have to get fully healthy for this to even materialize into a decision on the part of the Browns’ coaching staff.

Other items of note:

Rookie wide receiver Vince Mayle is on the sidelines sporting a cast for his broken thumb. Tight end Randall Telfer (foot) and cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (knee) are also not participating.
First-round draft pick Danny Shelton is not present for Day 1 as he is finishing school.
Rookie running back Duke Johnson is not participating in OTAs at this point as he remains as the only unsigned draftee of the Browns. Isaiah Crowell is getting reps with the first team.
Quarterback Johnny Manziel is taking second-team repetitions behind Josh McCown.
Safety Tashaun Gipson is still absent from Berea as he remains unsigned. Gipson has until June 15 to sign his second-round tender. Jordan Poyer will play with the first team in his place.
With the team easing Alex Mack back into the fold, John Greco has taken snaps center with rookie Cameron Erving playing right guard.

http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2015/05/cleveland-browns-otas-barkevious-mingo/

Browns OTA notes: Johnny Manziel leads off his second season with the No. 2 offense
May 26, 2015 -- 3:59pm

* Somebody had to take the first snap from center with the first-team offense and that was quarterback Josh McCown. That was expected. And somebody had to take the first snap from center with the second-team offense and that was quarterback Johnny Manziel. It’s not that that was unexpected, given the plaudits Manziel has earned from teammates and coaches since his return from a 73-day stay in a substance abuse rehab center. It’s just that it was not specified that Manziel would be No. 2 on the unofficial, springtime depth chart until they took the field. “Just coaches decision based on how those guys came out of Phase 2 (of the offseason program),” explained coach Mike Pettine with a shrug. More Pettine on Manziel’s demeanor as his recovery unfolds: “I wouldn’t say it’s anything dramatic. I just think he’s probably a little bit more focused now. But as he knows, as he’s said, he’ll have to prove it every day.”

* The Browns are letting Manziel choose when he addresses the media for the first time since his offseason rehab stay. It may come spur of the moment walking off the practice field any time during the sessions with media present over the next two Tuesdays. Meantime, teammates say there hasn’t been a lot of talk with Manziel about his rehab stay. Everyone is embracing his return, supporting him, while also giving him his space.

* Veteran quarterbacks with 12 years NFL experience should look good in this touch football portion of a new season, and that is certainly true of McCown. Pettine said that McCown’s preparation in the new Browns’ playbook was evident on the first day on the field. “Just knowing the play call and where everybody’s supposed to be, if somebody was misaligned, and getting it corrected,” Pettine said. “Defensively, we threw a lot of looks at him. Your quarterbacks have tools in the tool box as far as changing protection and re-identifying and there’s things he can get in and get out of based on the defensive look and he handled that very well.” One other observation about McCown, who turns 36 on July 4: He can still spin the ball really well.

* McCown isn’t superstitious. This is his 13th NFL season and for the first time he’s wearing jersey No. 13. McCown has worn No. 12 with seven previous teams but that is the number of suspended receiver Josh Gordon and the Browns have not reassigned it.

* Missing from practice were rookie running back Duke Johnson (travel issue), linebacker Craig Robertson (stuck in flood-ravaged Houston), rookie nose tackle Danny Shelton (finishing classes at University of Washington) and free safety Tashaun Gipson (unsigned and boycotting the offseason program). Some players who finished the 2014 season on injury lists or had offseason surgery were on the field for limited portions of practice, such as center Alex Mack, defensive tackle Phil Taylor, nose tackle Ishmaa’ily Kitchen and linebacker Armonty Bryant. Linebacker Barkevious Mingo wore a red “no contact” jersey to avoid re-injury to his surgically repaired shoulder.

* With Mack being held out of team drills as a precaution to insure he is full go for the start of training camp and with backup center Nick McDonald with an unspecified leg injury, John Greco took the majority of snaps at center. Rookie Cam Erving lined up at right guard, but Pettine said Ervin “will play all over the place … he’ll get some left tackle work, as well.” The coaches aren’t concerned, at this point, with over-loading the versatile Erving and don’t seem inclined to focus his attention on, say, just guard and center. “There’s no reason to think – knowing the kid and his skill set – that he won’t be able to do it,” Pettine said of spreading Erving over as many positions as possible in his first NFL season.

* As expected, Mack wouldn’t talk much about his option to become a free agent after the season. He answered one question by saying, “I defer.” When pressed about his plans after this season, he said, “Let’s play the games, let’s see how the season goes. I’m really not interested in talking about that until after the season.” What would have to happen to make him feel good about returning? “What you always (want). Come out, play games, play well and win games,” Mack said. The Browns are 30-66 in Mack’s six seasons and the losing definitely takes a toll. “It’s tough … without a doubt,” he said.

* One difference in John DeFilippo’s offense was evident on the first day. Extended work on swing passes and outlets to the running backs … Rob Housler not only is assuming the role of downfield receiver among the tight ends, he’s also wearing the No. 84 of departed free agent Jordan Cameron … The Browns are counting on a bounce-back year from punt returner Travis Benjamin. The only other player to take punt return reps was receiver Taylor Gabriel … Rookie tackle Xavier Cooper looked disruptive in the interior of the defensive line. He pried two balls from the backs … The team has two more practices this week. Next practice open to media is Tuesday.

http://espncleveland.com/common/more.php?m=49&post_id=45051

i don't even know why McCown learned the playbook, or is at OTAs..

He was only signed so we could get the #1 pick right?

Why would he need to practice for that?

"I am so FREAKING LUCKY to have this job."

The guy wants a longer term deal while his stock is high, that doesn't make him a budding cancer.

Good point I concur. He doesn't need to practice to be bad he has that nailed down and has for 12 years now what are the Browns thinking indeed.

Browns OTAs: Here's what coach Mike Pettine is saying about the team

Browns coach Mike Pettine met with reporters Tuesday after the first practice of organized team activities. Below is a transcript provided by the team.
On how the first day of OTAs went: “I think it’s a typical first day, some sloppiness. There are rookies integrating with the vets, just kind of learning how to practice. Then, the one thing that from a scheme standpoint, we’ve put a lot in both sides of the ball and we’re going to do some things to test each other and some of it tests ourselves – guys getting lined up. It was, like I said, a typical first day – a lot of good teaching moments on tape. The key is that we can go in and get it graded and go through it with them and the mistakes are getting corrected and not repeated.”


On the players that weren’t at practice, specifically RB Duke Johnson and if his absence was excused: “Travel issues, we had a couple guys. (LB) Craig Robertson was down in Houston, got caught in the flash flooding there. We had some guys with…Some of the injury guys didn’t…I don’t think (DB) Ifo (Ekpre-Olomu)…I don’t think we’ll see much of him. He’ll stay inside. The injured guys, (OL) Nick McDonald is not practicing. (WR) Vince (Mayle) is still recovering from his thumb. He likely won’t take any reps in the spring…(TE Randall) Telfer with the foot, as we know. (OL) Karim Barton should be ready for camp. He’ll be able to do just walkthrough stuff now. (DL) Armonty (Bryant) is doing just individual stuff now. He can do the walkthroughs. (OL) Alex (Mack) is ready to go. I’m sure he’ll tell you that, but that’s just something where we just want to probably be a lot more conservative with it. He’ll be able to do anything where there’s no risk of a collision or getting tripped up. (LB Barkevious) Mingo can do some individual walkthrough stuff. We had him in a red shirt. I think he did some of the 7-on-7 work. (DL) Phil (Taylor), gradual progression with him – he’s on pace to be good to go for camp. (DL) Jamie Meder has got a hamstring, should be able to get him up to speed pretty quickly.”


On how much DL Danny Shelton has missed by not being at practice because of finishing school at Washington: “There’s just no substitute for being in the meetings and being around your teammates and just kind of learning the ropes of the NFL early on. You just can’t substitute that. I wouldn’t say it’s going to put him behind tremendously. He’ll have access to all the stuff that we’re doing, from a playbook standpoint. It’s one of those rules. It’s tough, those guys that are really at a disadvantage that are at those quarter-system schools.”


On knowing that Shelton would miss OTAs because of school when the Browns drafted him: “Sure, you would never let that be a determining factor. Maybe if you were bringing in a guy for a tryout or something like that, and all of a sudden you realize, ‘Hey, we might not have this guy all spring. That’s a different story. It’s just a problem you work around. By the time we get to a little bit into training camp, it’ll be an afterthought.”


On OL John Greco playing center with the first string: “He’s mixing those lineups. You’ll see (OL) Cameron (Erving) will play all over the place. He’ll get some left tackle work, as well. John will get his work at right guard and at center, as well.”


On what he’s seen out of Mack throughout the rehab process: “He approached as you would have expected him to. We talk to our guys about being relentless in everything they do – not just on the field, but carry that over in the classroom, the weight room, anybody that has an injury approach their rehab that way, and that’s what he’s done. It’s to no one’s surprise that he’s back, and he’ll be full go for training camp.”


On the differences in QB Johnny Manziel that he’s noticed so far: “I don’t want to get into grading specific plays today. I have a little better feel for it now, having been in a lot of those meetings. He’s been very engaged in the meetings. It’s good to see a lot of stuff carried over from the meetings out onto the field, and not just for him but for all the quarterbacks. I just feel much better…from that room a better sense of urgency and much more attention to detail.”


On why he chose to have Manziel take second-team reps instead of QB Connor Shaw: “It’s just a coach’s decision based on how those guys came out of Phase Two.”


On if Manziel’s personality is any different this season: “I wouldn’t say it’s anything dramatic. I just think he’s probably a little bit more focused now, but it’s something that – as he knows and as he’s said – he’ll have to prove it every day.”


On if there is hope that LB Scott Solomon will be in the defensive rotation as a pass rusher: “I think Scott showed us towards the end of the year what he’s capable of, and now that he’ll have been here through a full offseason and been in through all the installs…That’s tough when you come to a team midstream and the reps that you’re getting for the most part, for him, were off of a scout card. That’s when we really took notice of him and got him in there without a lot of prep work just because of the circumstances. We’re looking for some big things from Scott.”


On if he’s spoken to RB Terrance West at all about addressing possible maturity issues: “Yeah, I was very curious to see how he would be coming back. Other than what he did to his hair, he’s been great (laughs).


On what he likes about WR Rodney Smith: “He showed flashes when he was out there on the scout team. Again, he wasn’t a guy that got a lot of reps with the starting units. Here’s a guy that is big, that’s got a big catch radius, that can run. We were very curious to get him out here and get him through the offseason and give him a chance to compete. He’s been so far so good with Rodney.”


On how much he knew about QB Josh McCown before free agency and what McCown has been like when he’s been sitting in on the offensive meetings: “To be honest, I did not know very much about him, but researched him heading into free agency. Then, talked to a lot of people that had worked with him or knew him, then just the experience when he was in here – you could tell this guy loves football. He’s all about team. All he wants to do is win, ultra-competitive. He’s been rock solid in the meetings, very on point with his preparation. We didn’t bring him here to be a mentor, but that’s just who he is. He doesn’t know any different. He’s been as advertised.”


On if saying that the offense wants to take pressure off of the quarterback by running the ball bothers McCown or if that is motivation for him: “I think he sees that as potentially a way to win football games. I think virtually any quarterback in the league, if we said, ‘Hey, we want to get you in second-and-5 and not second-and-11. We want to get you in third-and-2 and not third-and-8,’ I think they’d all be appreciative of that.”


On some of the first impressions he has of McCown on the field: “Just how his preparation helped him on the field, just knowing the play call and where everybody is supposed to be and if somebody was misaligned that he could get it corrected. Defensively, threw a lot of looks at him that he was able to kind of use…Quarterbacks have tools in the tool box, as far as changing protection and re-identifying. There are different things we can get in and get out of based on the defensive look, and he handled that very well.”


On the changes he sees in DB Justin Gilbert: “Justin, I feel like he’s having a good spring. I thought he looked very energetic out there today. We’ll see. I think with all the guys that we’re talking about – like you go back to Terrance or even Justin – it’s a consistency thing. If you prove you can do it one day that means you can do it another and you can do it another and just keep stacking up good days. That’s what being a professional is all about.”


On how he would describe Gilbert’s rookie year: “Inconsistent.”


On WR Andrew Hawkins being in pre-snap motion during practice and if that will be a staple to the offense: “I think that the pre-snap movement stuff is good. We’re not going to overdo it. I know we want to get a lot of it in, but you kind of have a feel for what defenses, ‘Who does this affect? Who does this not affect?’ We don’t want to just shift and motion just to tire our guys out and not have an effect. We’re going to install a lot. We’re going to throw a lot at our guys and see what we can retain. Then, sit back as coaches and look at, ‘Here’s what we do well,’ and go ahead and highlight that.”
On if there is a danger of overloading Erving with all the things he can do and at what point the team will zero in on specific positions for the offensive linemen: “I could see the potential danger, but I think that’s a risk worth taking. In our evaluation of him coming out, he certainly proved that he was able to do it in college. Just knowing the kid and his skill set and his ability to learn, there’s no reason to think that he won’t be able to do it. There will be signs when it’s getting to be too much, and hopefully as coaches we can pick those up. I think anytime you have versatile guys that can play multiple positions that always puts you in a position to put your best 11 out there.”


On what the differences are that he’s noticing now that he’s engaged with the offense more this offseason: “It’s like back to school for me. You kind of see plays from the defensive side, and now you kind of learn the structure of them and what specifically…just the details of it. It’s good to kind of sit in the meeting almost like a player and learn it. That way you get a better appreciation for what these guys have to go through. We tell them, ‘Hey, go home. Get in your playbook. Do this, do that.’ I’m realizing that, ‘Hey, we’re asking a lot of these guys.’ To me, you have to be mature and have to be professional to be able to handle the volume of an NFL offense.”


On if the players seem to sit up more in meetings because the head coach is in the room: “I doubt that (laughs). I’m behind them anyway. I sit in the back. I’m not a very good student. I sit in the furthest seat from the front.”

http://www.ohio.com/blogs/cleveland-brow...e-team-1.594846

In addition to that, I really believe the staff wants to give him that long term deal, just dancing around with the number game.

Nor does it exclude the possibility. Seems already some wariness from Jim O'Neil:

"The guys that are here are getting a lot better. We have great coaches in that room. Great coaches. And those guys are growing. Jordan Poyer's growing, Whitner's growing, the corners are growing, so Gip's going to have some catching up to do when he does come back."

Yeah.. I mean.. theyre going with a veteran journeyman QB who's only had one few game stretch of success as the starter..

Thats unheard of..

This is either very good, or very bad.

Cleveland Browns veteran QBs have been bridge to nowhere

http://dawgpounddaily.com/2015/05/19/cleveland-browns-veteran-qbs-have-been-bridge-to-nowhere/

I just see another St. Claire type OL. Looks the part but effort and ability are lacking. I may be wrong and i hope i am but he isnt much.

Tom Reed @treed1919 · 28m 28 minutes ago
Terrance West confirms he was in coach's dog house sometimes last year and that he deserved to be. He looks foward to Duke Johnson challenge

Mary Kay Cabot @MaryKayCabot · 2h 2 hours ago
#Browns waived LB Keith Pough with an injury designation (hamstring) and waived DL Calvin Barnett.

Mary Kay Cabot @MaryKayCabot · 45m 45 minutes ago
#Browns have signed offensive lineman Eric Olsen (in 4th season out of Notre Dame) and LB Mike Reilly, a tryout in rookie camp (Wm and Mary)

i think nhe is staying away over injury concerns. he is going to play the year on the tender betting on himself for a better contract and he doesnt want to take the chance of getting hurt in ota. jmo.