NFL News: Browns issue statement regarding Bernie Kosar’s comments
August 11, 2013While We’re Waiting… Bernie, Bernie…
August 12, 2013The Browns held practice Sunday night in helmets and shoulder pads getting a little bit of contact in. T.J. Ward was back in team drills and Montario Hardesty participated in individual drills for the first time in a while, but it would be two “rookie” kickers stole the show.
Before practice, the Browns picked a couple of fans out of the crowd to participate in a unique field goal contest.
“We grabbed a couple guys from the group of fans that were here today,” coach Chudzinski explained. “For individual meetings that we had planned tonight, I told the guys if Anthony (Kinney, the first fan) made the field goal, the offense wouldn’t have their individual meetings tonight, and D.J. (Rapposelli) kicked for the defense, and if he made it, the defense wouldn’t have their meetings tonight. Both of the guys made it, of course, and the guys were pretty happy about that.”
WFNY spoke with the lucky fans after practice and found out that Anthony had some experience kicking field goals in high school. D.J. on the other hand had never kicked field goals before Sunday night’s practice. Under pressure, both fans made their kicks to the delight of the players who jumped around and cheered for their group’s representative. The defense chanted D.J.’s name and surrounded him after the kick went through the uprights.
Both the offense and defense had good moments during practice. Josh Gordon made a beautiful one handed catch in stride from Brandon Weeden. He also scored on a deep pass over the middle with Buster Skrine in coverage. Earlier in practice Gordon had a step on Skrine on another deep pass, but Gordon couldn’t track the pass over his shoulder and he bobbled it incomplete.
It wasn’t all negative for Buster Skrine on the night. He did have a couple of pass break-ups in coverage of Gordon as well. The player who may have had the best night for the defense was defensive back Abdul Kanneh, who you may have read had the clinching interception on Saturday night giving the defense a win over the offense and forcing them to eat peanut butter sandwiches for dinner.
He was back at it again Sunday night picking off a Brian Hoyer pass and breaking up two more in coverage of Josh Cooper.
Travis Benjamin beat Trevin Wade for a 50+ yard bomb from Brandon Weeden for a touchdown, and Jordan Cameron caught a touchdown pass over Josh Aubrey.
After practice, coach Chudzinski talked about an improving Jordan Cameron. “He’s improved quite a bit. I think he is getting a better understanding and more comfortable with the offense. He’s a guy that has potential that you see. He has playmaking ability and he’s improved as a run blocker. He’ll continue to develop and I think Jon Embree has done a really nice job with him.”
Rookie Barkevious Mingo went high in the air to deflect a Jason Campbell pass at the line of scrimmage.
There were a couple of position drills that were interesting. In one drill, the tight ends and running backs took turns trying to block rushers off the edge. Let’s just say the offense should be glad that there was no dinner wager on that drill. On one repetition Kellen Davis got the best of Jabaal Sheard. That’s about the end of the positives for the offensive players. Linebacker Tommy Smith put a move on Dion Lewis that had Lewis blocking air. Jabaal Sheard and Paul Kruger both blew past Jordan Cameron.
The second drill was an offensive line versus defensive line drill. Paul Kruger showed some speed getting around big Joe Thomas on one repetition. Ahtyba Rubin executed a perfect swim move to get past Jason Pinkston on another. On consecutive plays rookie Garrett Gilkey went against Brian Sanford. On the first rep, Gilkey used Sanford’s momentum to push him to the ground. On the next, Sanford got around the Chadron State product quickly.
Oh and in case you were wondering, Braxton Cave got shoved into the quarterback on bull rushes by John Hughes every time.
– Chris Ownes did not practice again Sunday. Neither did Jordan Norwood, Oniel Cousins, Alex Hall, David Nelson or Leon McFadden. Jamoris Slaughter was back on the field practicing.
(Photo: Rick Grayshock/WFNY)
7 Comments
It seems to me like chud is going to be a good coach. The team seems like it has high morale at least from what I can tell from the stories I read on here.
Getting the fans and players involved like that is something that Shurmur never would have thought of.
Coach talked about being a big believer in competition to build players up.
I wonderhow many peanut butter sandwiches that some of the lineman have to eat for dinner. They probably eat them in 1.5 bites
what a great touch to get the fans involved, finding another way in a free admission training camp to bond players and fans. If I knew it was Chud’s idea, I’d say something about a homegrown who totally gets how to connect, versus the marketing department that spitballs ideas until it comes up with White Flag Day.
You mean Chud is a good “training camp” coach. We haven’t seen anything on the field during a real game yet. Hopefully one translates into another.
One has to start somewhere. I hope he “gets it,” as it were, but I like the idea of him (and the team, for that matter) actually interacting with the fans on a personal level at camp. A lot of other coaches/teams feel like they’re too cool for that sort of thing.
Forget this “feel good” story what I like is Chudzinski brought in a pair of actual NFL coordinators and instead of trying to tell them what to do he’s letting them run their respective units. Instead he’s being more of an overseer, a manager, in other words a real head coach. It’s a great change from the types of head coaches the Browns have had for awhile now. It gives me some hope.