WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV (92.3 The Fan) – Tuesday morning’s practice featured the first real full speed work, and it is starting to look and feel like training camp.
Here’s a look at what went down and our top Brownie Bites for the day.
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D takes day 3 – The defense dominated the full speed red zone 7-on-7 drill as quarterback Deshaun Watson was held to just two touchdown passes – one to David Bell and the other to Donovan Peoples-Jones – in nine snaps inside the 10. Watson overthrew David Njoku on a fade to the right corner of the end zone and Elijah Moore almost made a spectacular catch on the back line for another score, but he couldn’t get both feet down. The two most impressive defensive plays came from Thomas Graham Jr., who broke up a potential touchdown to Peoples-Jones and defensive end Isaiah Thomas got his paws on a ball at the line of scrimmage and sent it back.
Fresh start – Cornerback Greg Newsome II dropped the two on his jersey and is now wearing 0. “I was presented the opportunity [and] I think it was pretty cool to be the first Cleveland Brown ever to wear zero,” Newsome said as he got stung by a bee mid-sentence. “So that was a little behind it. And then going into this next year, I kind of wanted a fresh start with everything and just wanted to just get out there and have a fresh start and I'm super excited.” Newsome has had an eventful offseason from changing agents to a report, which he denied, that he wanted a trade, to his truck being stolen and vandalized then positing about and deleting comments surrounding the hazing scandal at his alma mater Northwestern. As for what prompted thoughts of needing a fresh start, Newsome explained, “I’ve been in the league for two years now, and I think I'm ready to really make that next jump. So that’s kind of what I mean by fresh start is just ready to make that next jump. So I kind of wanted to just change everything and that was one of the things.” Newsome has yet to record an interception in two seasons and he hopes the zero gives opposing quarterbacks something to target. “I hope so,” Newsome said. “I get a little bit more production, so I hope that's what it causes.” Newsome did not want to say much about the hazing scandal other than, “It's definitely troubling. I had a great experience at Northwestern. I have respect for all those guys.” Head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired in the aftermath of the allegations.
Steal of a deal – Newsome has had his hands full trying to slow up receiver Elijah Moore in practice, but he sees a lot of potential in one of the big acquisitions of the offseason. “I’m super excited,” Newsome said. “I’m just going to tell [you], the NFL better watch out for him. He’s one of the best that I’ve honestly been against, and I’m not just saying it because he is on my team, but I have the pleasure of guarding him every single day in OTAs and now, and he’s a great route runner. He has speed. So I’m definitely, definitely super excited for him.” The Browns gave up their second-round pick to get Moore from the Jets along with a third round pick the team used to draft receiver Cedric Tillman. “I was super excited, man,” Newsome said of his reaction to the trade. “I trained out there in Arizona. I’ve seen him train multiple times. I see how fluid he was, him coming out of draft, obviously I’ve seen all the receivers. So for us to get him, I mean, it’s a steal. I feel like you need to give up a first-round [pick] to get a guy like that. But I’m super excited for him and he's going to do a lot of big things for us this season.”
Happy returns – The NFL changes to the kickoff return rules aren’t stopping special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone from working on them. Tuesday’s kickoff returner rotation was Jerome Ford followed by Jakeem Grant and Jaelon Darden. Grant handled most of the punt returns – both on air as well as team. Donovan Peoples-Jones and Darden also took reps.
Early departure – Linebacker Matthew Adams walked off the field with a trainer with about 25 minutes remaining in practice. Adams was signed this offseason to help shore up the special teams unit.
Take a break – There will be no practice Wednesday as the players get the day off. It’ll be the lone opportunity for many of them to fully enjoy the amenities of the area around The Greenbrier. Golf, skeet shooting, the bunker. The resort seems to have something for everyone. “I think the O-line’s going to dinner tonight, so we're going to do a little steakhouse tonight, so we have a day to digest that,” left guard Joel Bitonio, who is leaving the skeet shooting to right guard Wyatt Teller said. “And then tomorrow I’ll probably sleep in. We might try and go to a movie, some of us, so we’ll see… Somewhere I saw an escape room. They have an escape room, a bunker escape room. That might be fun. But I wanted to golf, I'm not going to lie, but then I was like, I'm going to be too tired so I'll leave those at home. Once the season starts, the golf clubs go away.”
Feeling better – Rookie offensive tackle Dawand Jones returned to practice after missing the last two days due to an illness. Jones took a few reps with the third offensive unit at right tackle.
Roll call – WR Marquise Goodwin, WR Anthony Schwartz, WR Amari Cooper and G Colby Gossett worked on the side Tuesday.