BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – This has not been an easy training camp for Browns All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin.
But as they say, iron sharpens iron.
“Happy he is on our side now,” Conklin said prior to Saturday’s practice. “Between him and Myles, it is great work for me and Jed [Wills Jr.] every day. By the time camp ends, we will have seen about every possible rush.
“It is going to make us both better players, and it is going to make our team a lot better.”
Conklin has had his hands full, primarily with defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, and on occasion Myles Garrett. After three days in pads, Conklin has quickly learned how happy he is to only have to face Clowney in camp rather than on Sunday’s.
On the other side, left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. has unsuccessfully tried to keep Garrett in check.
The Browns’ dynamic defensive ends have been wreaking havoc in the backfield daily. Every time you look up during team drills it seems as if there’s No. 90 or 95 chasing No. 6 down.
“Those guys are getting an honest day’s work,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “And I think that’s a great testament to how you can practice out here, push each other, compete and try and make each other better.
“Jed and Jack get really good work versus different styles. Myles and Jadeveon are different in how they rush, but certainly the effort is there and they’re going full speed all the time so it’s only going to make both sides better.”
The focus early in camp has been on the dominance of Clowney and Garrett, but Conlkin and Wills are also getting an education.
There have been practices where if it were not for Baker Mayfield being off limits to contact, Clowney would’ve left the field with double digit sacks and Mayfield with sore ribs.
“It is hard,” Conklin said. “Again, you saw last year and in year’s past, a lot of teams just double team Myles. When you get a guy like JD on the other side, you have to pick and choose. Are you going to double team this guy this time or are you going to let them both go one on one? It is just going to help our defense so much being able to have those two there and free guys up on the play.
“I think you are going to see much more pressure on the quarterback. They have been working hard. Every day, you can see me or Jed and JD or Myles talking on what we are working on and what we are seeing with each other and just helping each other out. It is such a great thing to have that camaraderie between the four of us.”
