CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Kevin Stefanski wasn’t joking when he said the team would practice their pregame routine Friday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Aside from giving some guys reps during a two-minute drill, that was the extent of the excitement during Friday night’s dress rehearsal at the stadium.
The Browns simulated pregame stretching and warmups, the starting defense was introduced, and practice began with plays run on air – literally with no defense on the field or with no contact when it was – and substitution patterns worked on for about 20 minutes.
After Friday night’s practice, Stefanski explained why he took the foot off the gas this week.
“You have to be so mindful of getting ready for the regular season, and we also have to think about we have a Thursday night game right after Sunday,” Stefanski said. “We have two games in five days there. As we put this plan together, we wanted to make sure that we would have a very crisp football team Week 1.”
Before the short practice began, Stefanski thanked the small number of fans invited to FirstEnergy Stadium and spread out in pods in the lower bowl of the north side of the stadium.
“We missed you in Berea,” Stefanski said. “It’s not been the same without you….I know what a passionate fan base this is...It’s great having you in our building.”
Tight end Pharaoh Brown capped a simulated 5-play drive with a touchdown catch from Baker Mayfield against no defense. That pretty much ended Mayfield’s night.
Running back Dontrell Hilliard took a bunch of handoffs from quarterback Kevin Davidson against the first team defense. Hilliard is competing with D’Ernest Johnson for a roster spot.
The most intense work came during the two-minute drill, which featured QBs three and four on the depth chart – Garrett Gilbert and Kevin Davidson.
Backup quarterback Case Keenum engineered a nine-play drive that ended in a 24-yard Austin Seibert field goal.
Gilbert got two tries at the two-minute drill.
His first drive ended with safety Jovante Moffatt intercepting him looking for JoJo Natson. Moffatt ended Sunday’s practice at the stadium by intercepting Mayfield. Gilbert’s second try ended with an incompletion to tight end Stephen Carlson with safety Sheldrick Redwine providing the coverage.
After practice Stefanski gathered the team at midfield and thanked them for their hard work throughout the offseason and camp.
“From the moment we got started in April on the iPads to finally getting them in the building there in July, every step along the way, they have worked,” Stefanski said. “We have changed schedules on them, we have thrown curveballs at them and they have not blinked. Real appreciative of the men in that group. As you know, the cut downs loom, and they are tough decisions and that is never the fun part of this business.”
Roster cuts to 53 come Saturday afternoon at 4.
Starting defense – If the Browns had played a game Friday night, here’s what the starting defense would look like: linebackers Jacob Phillips, Tae Davis and Sione Takitaki; Sheldrick Redwine and Karl Joseph at safety; corners Terrance Mitchell and Denzel Ward; defensive ends Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon as well as Eli Ankou (subbing for Larry Ogunjobi) and Sheldon Richardson.
Perfect fit – Stefanski isn’t sure if newly acquired safety Ronnie Harrison will be able to play Week 1 at Baltimore but will be a perfect fit in Cleveland.
“There is a schematic fit with Ronnie,” Stefanski said. “Just like the makeup of him, and we just were excited to add a player that we think will help us, but I think it is way too early to determine what that looks like, especially in Week 1.”
The Browns sent Jacksonville a 2021 fifth-round pick Thursday for Harrison.
Who makes the calls – Stefanski called in the scripted plays into the quarterbacks Friday night but still won’t say who will do it on game day.
“We will announce that later,” Stefanski said. “I promise you, you will know before the game.”
Kick me – Kicker Austin Seibert made his first six field goals – 33 right hash, 37 left hash, 41 left hash, 43 left hash, 48 right hash and 51 right hash – before missing his final two tries – 53 left hash and 48 left hash. Both kicks had plenty of distance but were wide right and wide left respectively into the west end zone.
Good hands – Stefanski enjoys having offensive and defensive linemen compete by catching punts. Jon Toth and Sheldon Richardson were Friday night’s contestants.
Toth fell on his face trying to run up and under a punt from Jamie Gillan while Richardson moved to his right and hauled in the kick, with a bobble, but he secured the football.
Night off – Stefanski gave left guard Joel Bitonio, Ogunjobi, fullback Andy Janovich and safety Andrew Sendejo the night off.
“They are fine,” Stefanski said.
Good to see you – Center JC Tretter and linebacker Mack Wilson attended Friday night’s practice and were on the sideline observing.
It was the first time seeing either player since their knee injuries.
Tretter underwent knee surgery in mid-August and Mack, who wore a brace, was able to avoid surgery after hyper-extending his knee on August 18.
