Browns Training Camp: Defense wins first day in pads

The 2015 Cleveland Browns are expected to rely on their defense and running game throughout the season. The first day in pads demonstrated that the defense is ahead of the offense at least early in camp.

Mike Pettine carried over his tradition of having a competition at the end of each practice. On Saturday, coach Pettine noted that the competition was “Third downs. It was third-and-8, third-and-5 and third-and-3.” And, he also noted that the winner was “The defense.”

In particular, a certain Probowl cornerback came to Browns Training Camp ready to lead the defense by example. “That’s Joe (Haden). He certainly didn’t wait long to get into camp. He made some plays the other day in shorts, as well.” Pettine noted.

Josh McCown was similarly impressed. “My first reaction is that’s our defense. It’s a good defense. To me, the mark of a well-rounded team is that there will be some give and take. We went out there and had a really good day yesterday, everybody threw the ball well. Today there were some really good things, but you’re right, it was not as clean as it was yesterday. (DB) Joe (Haden) made two or three plays on the ball today that guys didn’t make yesterday.”

The Browns might expect such plays by the secondary to continue as it is not only a structure of the defense, but interal competition attempting to keep pace with Joe Haden. Mike Pettine stated “It’s good to see those guys out there competing. I know that’s a big theme in the secondary room this year is making plays but doing it within the structure of the defense, holding each other accountable. When Joe makes plays like that, it can’t help but be contagious.”

McCown gave the defense their credit as he noted it is customary for them to have the initial upper hand, but he was keen on coming back strong as the offense makes adjustments from the tape sessions. He said of the defense being ahead initially, “Yeah, that has usually been my case throughout my career. They are flying around and that is the nature of that side of the ball. We fight to not make it that way. There are things that we will look at the tape and see and make our corrections and hopefully come out better tomorrow.”

The day was not without losses for the defense though as DL Billy Winn was carted off the field with an apparent knee injury. Mike Pettine noted the severity of the injury was still unknown. “I believe it is a knee. With that, obviously, whatever (head athletic trainer) Joe (Sheehan) is going to have done, whether it is MRI or X-rays, we will know a lot more this afternoon.

And, the day was not all defense. Johnny Manziel even had a nice pass play to FB Malcolm Johnson that might have caught the defense off-guard. Josh McCown demonstrated his leadership by being fired up for his teammates. As he himself said “It was just a good throw. It was a good play. It was a play we talked about. It is a unique play when you use the fullback in that manner. It was just a good quarterback play. I want him to do so well and continue to grow as a player, and he is doing a lot of good things. It is not just Johnny. It is (QB) Connor (Shaw) and (QB) Thad (Lewis) and our offense.”

Johnson noted that fans should not be surprised to see him out making plays. “I had some type of aspect of what they expected out of me, being that I could play fullback and have some route running ability with H-back as well.” Additionally, given offensive co-ordinator’s Oakland Raider background, the comparisons to Marcel Reese come with the territory. Johnson said “I heard that comparison a lot. I am just trying to get better day by day and work on my technique and craft and do (some things) different, not the traditional fullback, but more finesse.”

Of course, the beginning of Training Camp tends to have some sloppiness on both sides of the ball. It was especially evident during the run portion of the practice. As coach Pettine said of the run portions “A little sloppy, a little sloppy for the first one. Too many guys on the ground. I think both sides flashed what we’re capable of, but I think overall, it was just not very consistent.”

And, with players on the ground and fighting for roster positioning, tempers sometimes flare and Training Camp fights are somewhat inevitable. Mike Pettine was not happy about the scuffle that took place on Saturday “It’s disappointing because we talk about it all the time – we want to be good teammates and that certainly falls outside of that. To me that’s very quickly forgetting that you’re a part of a team when you’re looking to settle an individual score.”

At the same time, coach Pettine understands as he noted “There’s also a fine line. We talk about being physical, being tough and being hard-nosed, and that’s both sides of the ball. It’s part of it. I’m not a fan of it, but it happens.”

So, for at least the first day, the defense had the upper hand. Of course, the defense also had an easier time than they normally would against the full strength offense. Saturday was a scheduled off day for the eventually Hall of Fame bound OT Joe Thomas.