BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Cleveland Browns kicked off training camp Wednesday in a unique position, at least for them, as Super Bowl contenders.
That’s not a typo or overblown preseason hype.
The optimistic vibe that hovered over the official opening of camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus with the first full team practice isn’t manufactured. It’s very much legitimate.
“I am not very good at measuring vibes,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said with a laugh. “I think the guys are excited. I think they are excited to be back around each other. We are excited to get to work.”
Stefanski is old school in his approach when it comes to those two rarely spoken words in Cleveland – Super Bowl.
“I promise you all 32 clubs talk about the Super Bowl,” Stefanski said. “It is really easy to talk about it; it is hard to do. We are just going to focus on the work.”
W.O.R.K.
In meetings and on the practice field Stefanski has driven home the importance of those four, simple letters.
“The message has been pretty simple, it’s the same one that it’s been since the first day he got here: work,” receiver Jarvis Landry said. “It’s in the work.”
The Browns know they have the talent on both sides of the ball, but talent on paper doesn’t always win championships on the field.
“We've got expectations just like everybody else,” defensive end Myles Garrett said. “Everybody goes into the season wanting to win every game they play. Everybody goes into the season wanting to win the [Super Bowl].
That's everybody's expectation of themselves. What you do day by day from training camp till the last day of the regular season is what defines you.
We're just going to work every day as if it's our last and let the chips fall where they may.”
After winning 11 games in the regular season, curb stomping the Steelers on Wild Card weekend and nearly taking down the AFC champion Chiefs in the divisional round, much is expected of this year’s Browns team.
The expectation is they’ll pick up right where they left off.
Stefanski knows that is easier said than done.
“We certainly established an identity on offense, defense and special teams, but I truly do go back to that every year stands on its own merits,” Stefanski said. “Just because you did it last year does not mean you are going to do it this year. We are going to start back at square one.
“We are going to make sure that we reinforce this foundation and not get too far ahead of ourselves.”
Last year the Browns learned what it takes to make the playoffs and win in January, but they’ve yet to learn what it takes to reach the ultimate prize.
Their top defender has a pretty good idea what it will take.
“Consistency and leadership,” Garrett said. “We’ve had the talent and now we just got to put it together. Leadership, it helps to be the glue for all of that and just being consistent with the effort, with your preparation, and with your leadership. But that’s the difference. You see that with the Bucs and the Patriots, they’re always consistent. They don’t beat themselves a lot and they have leadership on all levels. That’s proven with [Tom] Brady. He’s one of the best leaders of any sport.”
With the entire offense returning and a rebuilt defense, the only question to be answered this season is, ‘Can they go from playoff team to championship contender?’
Stefanski points out once again, that's an easier conversation to have than do.
“I just think this league is really competitive. There are some great teams. There are great coaches. Year in and year out, it is hard, and we get that,” Stefanski said. “That is where our guys are up to the challenge. We are not going to think too much or think too far ahead of ourselves. Totally recognize that this league is difficult. You will get reminded every once in a while of how difficult it is. The guys understand this is a long season, and part of getting ready for that long season is putting some really good work in early as we get started.”
So while the Browns hype train takes on passengers leading up to the opener September 12 in Kansas City, Stefanski and his team will tune it out.
“We really – with all due respect – ignore what is going on on the outside. I am really concerned with what is going on with the guys inside the building,” Stefanski said. “We will just keep our focus on what we have to do and the work that we have to put into this. Anything else that is going on on the outside, I will let you guys worry about that.”
It’s time for the Browns to go to work.
