BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Head coach Kevin Stefanski has a plan for preparing for the season in the wake of whatever happens with Deshaun Watson and Sue L. Robinson’s ruling, whenever that comes.
Part of that plan includes rotating first team reps at quarterback with backup Jacoby Brissett but as practice got dialed up Friday afternoon with the first competitive periods – 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 – of camp, Watson worked with the ones and Brissett the twos.
As of now Watson isn’t suspended and Stefanski seems to be proceeding accordingly.
“With all of that, you control the controllables,” Stefanski said. “Really as you know, I control what goes on on this field so I continue to do that.
“I am pretty comfortable with how we are handling that right now.”
Although the work was done without contact, and at times at half speed, Watson showed little problems finding receivers downfield to make plays, including throwing three touchdowns – to David Njoku, Nick Chubb and Harrison Bryant – during a red zone drill.
Cornerback A.J. Green made the defensive play of the day with an interception of Brissett after jumping in front of fullback Johnny Stanton which sent his defensive teammates into a frenzy as Green ran it the other way.
The Browns added 20 more minutes to their practice Friday, giving them an 1:20 on the fields after starting Wednesday at 40 minutes.
They’re expected to add another 20 minutes or so for Saturday afternoon’s practice.
“We have spent a lot of time, believe it or not, talking about how to do walkthroughs correctly because I think you can lighten the physical load and accelerate the mental load,” Stefanski said. “What we have tried to do in those walkthroughs is make sure that they are organized, that they are efficient and that guys are taking their proper steps so when you are not going ‘live’, you can really work on your alignment, you can work on your assignment and can still work on your technique, but those techniques are really being driven home in their individual periods.”
My guy – Peoples-Jones was a big fan of Amari Cooper growing up. Now they’re teammates following the March trade.
“I was excited,” Peoples-Jones said of his reaction when hearing the news. “Growing up, he was one of my favorite players, was actually the reason I wore No. 9 in high school and in college, so it's dope.”
Peoples-Jones, who is entering his third season, has been paying close attention to the four-time Pro Bowler during practice and in meeting rooms.
“I'm definitely learning from him,” Peoples-Jones said. “He has a lot of experience, very smart guy, to see his success, he's Amari Cooper, there's always things to learn from him.”
With 48 catches for 901 yards and five touchdowns combined over 26 games, expectations are high for Peoples-Jones to become a weapon offensively this season, but he isn’t getting caught up in that and keeping his focus narrow.
“Really I'm just focused on my job, what I've got to do every day, how can I get better, how can I make myself and my teammates better,” Peoples-Jones said.
Eye on the prize – Fans can expect to see a bit more intensity during camp from the defense. Bothered by the lack of takeaways last year, defensive coordinator Joe Woods has started an ‘Alpha Dawg’ challenge in which four teams defensively are rated on creating turnovers and getting to the ball.
“That is what we live and breathe,” Woods said. “That is in our DNA is we want to take away the football. We have not done as good of a job the previous two years. I think we were right in 19th or 20th in the NFL. We greatly have to improve that because that is one of the major categories that you have to note, if not the most important category, when it comes to winning games.”
Safety John Johnson III mentioned the competition Thursday and Friday morning Woods was asked about it.
“That is a secret,” Woods joked. “I will not get into all of the details, but basically we try to make our practices like games. We try to churn all of the information and then we keep track of the guys leading each category and teams leading each category and then there may be a reward at the end.”
Johnson said there would be a prize involved for the winners, but Woods played coy and said, “maybe.”
Not feeling it – Multiple players have talked about feeling a different “vibe” this offseason and early in camp, but Stefanski wasn’t taking the bait Friday when asked about it.
“That is so hard for me to describe,” Stefanski said. “Whoever said it, that is their opinion. I am not real big on vibes.”
Is there something, anything different Stefanski has noticed this year?
“I notice the guys are working,” Stefanski said. “[But] the one thing I would say is I think having a spring and having a nine-week program where the guys were in the building physically together and taking trips together, that is the type of thing that you can do to grow as a team that we were not able to previously. In terms of vibes – today is July 29 – I do not think it is time yet to say that there is a different vibe.”
Welcome back – Safety Jovante Moffatt is back with the Browns after being claimed off waivers from the Jets Friday.
Moffatt spent the last two seasons in Cleveland after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He has appeared in 14 games and registered 10 tackles in his career.
Roll call – WR Anthony Schwartz (knee) did not practice. WR David Bell (PUP-foot), RT Jack Conklin (PUP-knee), CB Denzel Ward (PUP-foot), LB Anthony Walker (NFI-groin), DT Sheldon Day (NFI-back) observed on the side. WR Javon Wims (non-football illness) was not on the field for the session.
Up next – The first practice of camp open to the public Saturday afternoon at 2. Gates open at 1.
