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September 20, 2018Replacing Josh Gordon isn’t easy. When he was on the field for the Cleveland Browns, he used his speed, size, and athleticism to his advantage. With him being sent him to the New England Patriots earlier this week, it’s now time for current Browns to step up. It may be hard for one player to do so, but as a group, they can do their best to try and make up for Gordon’s loss.
Rookie Antonio Callaway seems to be the heir apparent to Gordon and he seems ready to fill the big shoes even if he has only played in two NFL games so far.
“Yes, sir. It is the National Football League so you have to step up,” he said. “All of us can. I was blessed with my ability to use my speed. That will be a help. I’m ready.”
Callaway was able to show off his speed during last Sunday’s disappointing loss to the New Orleans Saints. While it came in a loss, the rookie had the play of the game when quarterback Tyrod Taylor and Callaway connected for a 47-yard touchdown on fourth-and-5, tying the game with just over one minute remaining.
Watching the play, it’s clear that he kicked it into high gear around the 20-yard line, once he saw where the ball was in the air and projected where he had to get to in order to make the game-tying touchdown catch. That second gear is what should give Browns fans plenty of hope when they think of a fast receiver with plenty of potential. Head coach Hue Jackson took notice of it as well.
“I did (rewatch it) about five times because each time it was like he was getting faster at the end. The burst to go get the ball was phenomenal,” said Jackson. “It was good. Obviously, it was a heck of a play. Hell of a throw and a heck of a catch.
“When he threw it, I thought, ‘Oh my.’ I didn’t think we could get to it. All of a sudden, I see this guy go vroom and he runs right under the ball. What a play.”
It was quite a surprise to the Dawg Pound. Not only because Taylor made that throw given the situation, but because Callaway used his speed to catch it and get two feet in bounds as well. Just how fast was the rookie, you ask? His top speed of 21.48 miles per hour was the third-fastest of the season across the NFL, according to NFL’s Next Gen stats. That trails only Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver Tyreek Hill (21.78 and 21.95 miles per hour), who is considered the fastest player in football. Even Callaway was surprised at how fast he was on that play.
“I did not know that I was running that fast,” he said. “That was just out of a burst because I saw the ball.”
Duke Johnson, who was the first to celebrate with Callaway following the fantastic touchdown catch, loved what he saw but knows that those types of plays must happen more often.
“We definitely want Callaway to make more plays like that but do it consistently,” said Johnson of the rookie. “Coach Haley calls it yo-yos. You don’t want to be a yo-yo. You want to be a guy that’s consistent every day. Just push and try to be that.”
Tyrod Taylor, who somehow made that throw for Callaway to catch for a touchdown, is excited for what the rookie has already shown. With more experience, he knows that the rookie can flourish and use his playmaking ability to his advantage. It’s up to Taylor to throw him the ball and allow Callaway the opportunity to do so.
“Of course he realizes his opportunity. Even when Josh was here, he realized he could be playing more, but of course, that role has definitely stepped up and it has gotten bigger for him now,” Taylor said of his receiver. “He welcomes that opportunity. As you see, he’s a natural playmaker, and it’s my job to get him the ball.”
Veteran wide receiver Jarvis Landry didn’t hold back when talking about the speed the 5-foot-11, 200-pound showed on that touchdown catch.
“It does everything,” Landry said. “It does a lot for obviously the guys around him, but it does a lot for the coaches and it does a lot for 5 (QB Tyrod Taylor). That is something that as an offense we need. It is awesome.”
With Gordon now gone, there will be plenty more opportunities to go around for the wide receivers. Landry will likely receive more targets. Duke Johnson will too, at least he should. But don’t sleep on Callaway. After that play last Sunday, all eyes are on him when it comes to finding that one player that could potentially fill the hole that Gordon has left. Landry believes that he can do so.
“Absolutely. He does not have a choice (laughter),” Landry said of the rookie. “He is definitely a guy that we are going to count on and we are going to lean on. Obviously, we know he can make plays. Sunday was just a prime example of that. Given more opportunities, I am sure that he will make more plays.”
When it comes to replacing a talent like Gordon it may take more than just a single receiver, but if there’s one guy that can do it alone, it seems to be Callaway. He may be four inches shorter, but the rookie has the skillset to try and do just that. He’ll get his first opportunity to prove that he can when the Browns host the New York Jets in primetime Thursday night.