BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Odell Beckham Jr. hasn’t complained about his targets or touches this season, and he’s not going to start now.
Those hoping after a two catch for 20-yard day in Los Angeles in a 47-42 loss to the Chargers that Beckham would come out this week and beg for the ball were sorely disappointed on Thursday.
Beckham continues to preach a team-first approach when it comes to his role.
“I can’t sit here and lie and like I don’t want the ball,” Beckham said Thursday. “Like I tell you every time I get up here, they don’t pay James Harden for defense. He’s a shooter, and I feel like I’m a shooter. But as I get down in the red zone and I run a corner route and three people come with me and Higgy is wide open, I know that that happens.
“I know that I bring a lot of attention on the other end and other people are going to be open and you just got live with that.”
Beckham was targeted just three times this past week and he has been targeted 19 times in three games since making his return from ACL surgery last November.
His third target in the loss to the Chargers was a fourth down drop over the middle in the second quarter, a rarity for him.
“I wish we could have it back,” Beckham said. “Is it the end all be all in the game? Probably not, but definitely for me, from a pride standpoint my goal was to not drop anything this year and then you got that little blemish.
“I always joke all the time, I probably can’t say the joke right here, but my hands are like Purell. 99.9% [effective].”
Beckham, who has made the one-handed highlight reel catch his trademark, has remained patient and consistent in his team-first approach this season.
“The ultimate goal is a championship and I feel like I’m in a great situation to do that,” Beckham said. “There’s gonna be games where it will be my day.”
What Beckham made clear Thursday is that he doesn’t feel his lack of touches are a result of a lack of inclusion within the offensive game plan.
“I don’t think there’s any lack of effort for coach and anybody to try and get the ball into my hands,” Beckham said. “It just kind of works out that way, defenses are paying more attention and it was one of those games where I got the ball less than other game where I’ve been … where we’ve tried to get me the ball.”
Beckham’s touches and fit within the offense, which is centered around running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt as well as head coach Kevin Stefanski’s affinity for tight ends, have been a focal point for speculation among fans and some media.
Getting Beckham the ball is not something offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt needs to be encouraged to do.
“He needs to touch the ball, he’s a good player,” Van Pelt said. “Finding ways to get him the ball is important to all of us. He does so much for us.”
The cold hard math for some shows nine catches for 124 yards for the three time Pro Bowler through three games, which helps fan the flames about his fit, but Beckham continues to do the little things without the ball in his hands by blocking downfield or commanding enough attention to get teammates open.
“I know the production hasn’t been there for him, and I’m not worried about that, I do think it will come,” Van Pelt said. “It’s still early in the process of him getting back on the field… I know it’s not sexy, but he was really effective, really came down and really put the wood to a couple of them safeties in the run game. He does a lot of great things other than catching the ball.”
Rashard Higgins can thank Beckham for his touchdown catch that tied the game at 35. The attention Beckham got caused the Chargers to forget 82 was on the field.
As Van Pelt noted, while the catches, yards and touchdowns aren’t there, Beckham is still affecting the game in a way that still benefits the Browns and the receiver isn’t going to complain because his focus remains on the bigger picture.
“Any competitor wants to be a champion, so that’s the goal,” Beckham said. “Keep working to it, stick with it and there’s a process. Everyone says trust the process, it gets hard at times, I’ll be the first to admit that it gets bumpy and it’s tough, but gotta stick with it. hopefully everything turns out the right way and put those games together, we win those games.”
