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Inquisitive rookie Charles Gaines growing within crowded Browns secondary Link 6th-round pick picked up big experience because of injuries If you spot a silent Charles Gaines, take a picture. It’s not a common occurrence.
On the field, Gaines likes to talk to himself, vocally going through his reads, assignments and anything else he spots before the ball is snaps. The Browns rookie cornerback repeats a simple message to himself over and over again: No balls should be caught on you.
In the meeting room, where he’s surrounded by four Pro Bowlers and a bevy of other young, talented players, Gaines isn’t shy. Whether it’s his coaches, the safeties, the corners, whoever, Gaines wants to know what they think about this, that or anything else that might possibly help him improve.
“He’ll just come up to you and ask you the most questions of anybody I’ve ever played with,” veteran cornerback Joe Haden said. “It’s really good because it’s going to get him better.”
Haden and the other recipients of Gaines’ non-stop questions have seen Gaines turn a corner in recent weeks, a period that was highlighted by a surprise start in last week’s preseason game against Buffalo.
There’s no such thing as a smooth transition for rookie defensive backs, particularly within a defense that demands a lot from its final line of defense the way Cleveland’s does, but Gaines is clearly in a better place than he was at the start of training camp. With a handful of injuries still hampering the Browns’ depth in the secondary, he’ll have another opportunity to show off his progress Saturday at Tampa Bay.
“He was having a rough go of it,” Browns coach Mike Pettine said. “To his credit he pushed through it and has put some solid work – I want to say the last 10 days were his best 10 days at camp. He has shown us a lot and he has steadily improved.”
Gaines views it as a reflection of all the studying he’s logged ever since the Browns selected him in the sixth round of the 2015 draft. His speed and athleticism propelled him throughout his career at Louisville, where he began as a wide receiver and ended as one of the team’s most reliable defenders, but he’s back to square one in the NFL.
Once that reality hit him, Gaines attacked the cerebral side of the game. He hasn’t lowered his hand ever since.
“No question is a dumb question, so I try to go out there and ask as many questions as I can,” Gaines said. “Not just the coaches, but the players. I want to get it from those guys that have been out there and put in so many hours and played a lot of games.”
Because of Gaines’ size (5-foot-10, 180 pounds) and skill set, Pettine said in May that he likely projected best at nickel. When the Browns brought three cornerbacks onto the field against Buffalo, Gaines moved from his spot on the outside to the slot.
Second-year pro K’Waun Williams is Cleveland’s primary option at nickel but he’s been sidelined for close to two weeks with an abdominal injury. That, among the other nagging injuries in the secondary, has meant more serious repetitions for Gaines.
The motivation was always there, but the bright lights and excitement of his first NFL start doused kerosene on Gaines’ fire. And the questions aren’t coming to an end anytime soon.
“If coach wants me to go out and be the third-string nickel, the fourth-string nickel, the fifth-string nickel, I just want to go out there and do my job,” Gaines said. “Once I do my job, I believe in the guys in front of me, and the guys behind me and aside of me they’ll do their job, too.”
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Legend
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Honestly I didn't like the pick when it was made ... and I HATED it after watching him a few weeks ago.
If he's truly progressed like Pet says, then I give him credit. I hope that's the case.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
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Legend
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I like his inquisitive nature, but he looked like crap on the field in game one.
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Gaines pick to end the 1st quarter. Sorry, couldn't help myself... 
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers...Socrates
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He's going to be our next Buster Skrine. You heard it here first!!! 
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Better than Skrine ... JMHO 
John 3:16 Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
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Legend
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is he better than mcfadden
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
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is he better than mcfadden McFadden is the nickel corner for the 49ers. It seems like he improved greatly after he left.
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He showed some skills tonight.
Loved the pick, but I was more impressed with that pass defend he did later.... hand on the WR's back, slapped that ball down. Kid looked like a 3-yr vet on that play.
"too many notes, not enough music-"
#GMStong
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is he better than mcfadden McFadden is the nickel corner for the 49ers. It seems like he improved greatly after he left. Or San Fran got absolutely nuked in the talent department.
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This fluff piece looks like it might not be all fluff. 
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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is he better than mcfadden McFadden is the nickel corner for the 49ers. It seems like he improved greatly after he left. So is Gaines better?
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
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is he better than mcfadden McFadden is the nickel corner for the 49ers. It seems like he improved greatly after he left. Have you seen who else is on that CB depth chart?
At DT, context and meaning are a scarecrow kicking at moving goalposts.
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Bottom 10 on our roster is going to be interesting. Yes, he struggled in his start. I believe Pet stated so in the article. If its the article I read from the Browns official site.
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off!
Go Browns!
CHRIST HAS RISEN!
GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
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is he better than mcfadden McFadden is the nickel corner for the 49ers. It seems like he improved greatly after he left. Have you seen who else is on that CB depth chart? No. I just know he plays nickel corner.
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If I had to play Gaines or Gilbert in a real game and make that decision, I'd put Gaines out there.
He looks hungry out there, and articles like this actually seem a bit "real" if you will.
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If I had to play Gaines or Gilbert in a real game and make that decision, I'd put Gaines out there.
He looks hungry out there, and articles like this actually seem a bit "real" if you will. You haven't seen Gaines against the ones.
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Wasn't McFadden more a coverage guy? I thought Browns gave up on him to quick. He wasn't a great fit in Horton's scheme not a great tackler. Remember little guys who can hit.
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Cleveland always gives up on players too quickly.
We never develop anyone.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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I thought Gaines played well in last nights game in TAMPA. He might have made the roster. Kawan has injury woes and Gaines looks to be the next best SLOT CB we got. Made two night breakups against Jackson.
jmho
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off!
Go Browns!
CHRIST HAS RISEN!
GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
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Haden
Williams
Gilbert (unfortunately)
Williams
Gaines
Desir
Is that our 6?
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
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Is there a realistic chance that James could unseat Gilbert? He has played much better. Also Bademosi has been used as a corner, though he has played badly.
Does he finally lose his spot?
I think that James today is the better player between he and Gilbert, but does that warrant a spot? There's so much talk that Pettine runs a Meritocracy.
...Coming Soon
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You can't give up on a first round pick in their second year.
That sucks for guys that are more deserving in this moment. But you draft guys high because they are going to be more deserving over the long haul.
It's a great balancing act for a team that preaches the best players will play. There still has to be a long term vision and that has to factor in.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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Cleveland always gives up on players too quickly.
We never develop anyone. No they blow things up every two years. Hard building/developing like pieces changing. It sucks for these kids too. They need a year or two. Instead they are put in the wrong environment looking bad on film never to be seen. This irritates me more than anything. We are starting to see the fruits of good coaching. In years past, Desire, K'Waun, and Poyer never see the NFL after two. Good teams start with the 53rd player.
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Cleveland also gives upon coaches and GMs too quickly as well.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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McFadden couldn't even make the Niners team out of training camp, he started out on the Practice Squad and didn't get activated until after the 9th game of the season and in the 7 games he played he had 6 tackles and 1 pass defense.
#gmstrong
Live, Love, Laugh
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All Pro
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Loved the pick, but I was more impressed with that pass defend he did later.... hand on the WR's back, slapped that ball down. Kid looked like a 3-yr vet on that play. Good call and he did it twice! What makes it even sweeter is that both times it happened on 3rd down and against Vincent Jackson. Clutch play from a hungry dawg!
---------------------------------------------------------
#gmstrong
We are not called on to be successful. We are called on to be faithful.
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Can he change his number?
I was really confused for a while last night..
Am I the only one that pronounces hyperbole "Hyper-bowl" instead of "hy-per-bo-le"?
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That's where he gets the benefit and will hang around.
But to me, he hasn't shown the willingness to put in the work to want to be around long enough to completely flame out. I just question his work ethic so deeply I don't know if he's worth keeping when we have guys like Pierre and Gaines and K'Wuan that work so hard.
I'd want a guy around that outworks better players every time.
I see Gilbert staying, but he's shown nothing to warrant that belief.
...Coming Soon
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I thought Gaines played well in last nights game in TAMPA. He might have made the roster. Kawan has injury woes and Gaines looks to be the next best SLOT CB we got. Made two night breakups against Jackson.
jmho He was having an awesome game until he got hurt. Hope he makes the team.
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/hfMNC7T.jpg) "I am undeterred and I am undaunted." --Kevin Stefanski "Big hairy American winning machines." --Baker Mayfield #gmstrong
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Well he made the 53, looks good on him.
![[Linked Image from i28.photobucket.com]](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c201/shadedog/mcenroe2.jpg) gmstrong -----------------
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Gaines was able to return to practice this week. Hopefully his return can help our run defense.
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LOL.........did you see him in preseason?
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LOL.........did you see him in preseason? I have no clue what you are talking about. Gaines was valuable enough to use our IR-DtR on that he is probably the best defensive player in the league. I bet he even gets time at the nose tackle.
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Gaines was able to return to practice this week. Hopefully his return can help our run defense. good. going to need him. what with K'Waun Williams getting a concussion every other game.
being a browns fan is like taking your dog to vet every week to be put down...
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I think that Gaines is going to help.
We have been without Haden, Williams, and Gipson in the secondary. Gaines showed a great deal of promise in the preseason, so I hope that he is ready to go week 8, and is able to help.
Who knows? Maybe by then the team will decide to make fans dreams come true and cut Bowe to make room for him.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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I think that Gaines is going to help.
Do you have stats to back-up that opinion?
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