BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – It’s the week of the preseason opener, and frankly, about time the Browns started hitting someone.
Tuesday’s practice was arguably the most physical of camp to date and it saw some pads cracking, plenty of trash talking and some helmet bumping too, but no fights.
Adding to the intensity – the heat and humidity which topped out at 85 degrees but felt like it was 110.
By the end of practice, everyone was ready to call it a day.
Considering the season opener – for the Browns and most of the league – still isn’t until September 12th, the NFL really went overboard by starting training camps on July 24 with rookies. Who needs seven weeks of this?
Play of the day – There weren’t many highlight-worthy plays Tuesday as it was another workmanlike afternoon on the field, but safety John Johnson III continues to make an impact.
Johnson, who was signed in March as a free agent from the Rams for three years and $33.75 million, scooped up a Kareem Hunt fumble and returned it 25 yards or so for a touchdown late in the session.
With all due respect to Jadeveon Clowney, who got the day off to rest and has been a consistent wrecking ball up front, Johnson appears to be EVP/GM Andrew Berry’s most impactful signing this offseason.
Vanilla plan – Don’t look for Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski to go too deep into the playbook or plan much for their preseason opponents, starting this week with Jacksonville.
“We will spend a little bit of time on our next two opponents,” Stefanski said. “We will treat Atlanta like a game week in terms of schedule, but it is not like we are going to be doing everything in our power to game plan like crazy. Just want the guys to acclimated back to that regular season’s schedule.”
Beefing up – Tight end Harrison Bryant added 13 pounds this offseason to allow him to compete better with the league’s best defenders.
“I feel like that's in every game, no matter what your weight is against some of these guys, as a tight end you're outmatched, I wouldn't say all the time, but in a lot of instances,” Bryant said. “I think for everyone in the tight end room it's always get bigger and stronger just to help us out.”
Bryant worked with trainers and nutritionists to amend his diet and workout routine to add the extra pounds and make sure it was productive weight.
“You notice it right when you see him for the first time,” Stefanski said. “You want to put the right weight on and still be able to move around. I think he has done that. He looks good.”
Bryant also watched some film of other big name tight ends, including Travis Kelce and George Kittle, to help him improve his game and compliment fellow tight ends Austin Hooper and David Njoku better.
“Obviously watching them, they’re the best in the game right now,” Bryant said. “As players, we always think we can compete and do those things. But it always takes a lot of work to get to that level. There are guys in our room that can do some of those things, but I think having us all in the room, we can piece and put together what we’re good at to kind of get the job done they’re doing.”
Iron sharpens iron – Rookie cornerback Greg Newsome II credits the receivers with making him a better player.
How much better?
“Oh, 10 times better,” Newsome said. “I think we’re all making each other better. Like they say, iron sharpens iron so going against these guys every single day is not only going to make me a better player but make them better as well.”
Newsome has been getting a workout daily battling Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones, KhaDarel Hodge among others during drills.
“Going against some of the best receivers in the NFL on this team is just going to grow my confidence every single day,” Newsome said. “So getting to guard those guys and just getting feedback from coaches and other players is definitely helping.”
Newsome hasn’t been perfect, but he’s certainly held his own and shown he belongs.
“When you are playing defensive back, it is and occupational hazard to get beat and there are those humbling moments,” Stefanski said. “He is doing a nice job. He is so diligent about his work, understanding his job, understanding his techniques and constantly working on them to fine tune them. That is part of being a rookie, and particularly at that position where you are going up against some really good players. Some vets have some really crafty moves that you are going to see. It is only going to make him better.”
The 26th overall pick in the 2021 Draft figures to be the clubhouse leader for the second starting corner job opposite of Denzel Ward.
“Whether it’s starting or whatever, I really don’t care,” Newsome said. “I’m just trying to get as best as I can and help the team in any way I can, so I‘ll let coach come out with the depth chart, whatever he needs me to be. Like I said in previous interviews, that’s what I’d be willing to do.”
Developing assistants – Stefanski plans to have some assistant coaches call plays during the preseason. Before anyone gets carried away or reads too much into this, Stefanski is just using it as an opportunity to help his assistants develop.
“There are certain guys where I want them to know what it is like to call plays,” Stefanski said. “It may be the second-to-last series of the fourth quarter that somebody get some reps of doing that.”
Stefanski, who admitted he was nervous the first time he called a play – which came in a regular season game, heard of other head coaches doing it and thought it would be a good idea.
“I tell the story of my first time calling plays was my first time calling plays,” Stefanski said. “I am worried about how to press the button and send the play in, when if I could not figure that out, we had bigger problems than previously thought. I just want those guys to go through that experience.”
Kickin’ it – Cody Parkey’s shaky camp continues.
Parkey missed from 30 yards on the right hashmark Tuesday and went 3-4 overall in a team kicking period. Parkey did make his kicks from 34 (right hash), 39 (left hash) and 42 (left hash).
Chase McLaughlin was perfect on all four of his kicks, from the same locations.
Injury report – S Grant Delpit (hamstring), Tony Fields II (foot), DE Myles Garrett (hamstring), G Blake Hance (ankle), S Ronnie Harrison Jr. (hamstring), WR Alexander Hollins (hamstring), DT Malik McDowell (rib), LB Montrel Meander (hamstring), TE David Njoku (shoulder), S Sheldrick Redwine (ankle), WR Anthony Schwartz (hamstring), CB Denzel Ward (soreness) did not practice due to injury.
Puppy pound counter – Five more puppies were adopted Saturday bringing the 2021 camp total to 43. Since the program’s launch in 2015, 615 puppies from the Northeast Ohio Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) have been adopted by Browns fans at training camp.
Up next – Practice Wednesday afternoon at 2:25.