Five Days Later: What’s New and What’s Happening at Browns Training Camp

No stripes on the helmets, cameras at every glance, national media members coming and going, dropped passes, and already a starter at quarterback? Yes, this year is different. Different for a few reasons. The Cleveland Browns are different.

Different can be bad, but different can also be good. The Browns were perceived as “different” for retaining a head coach that compiled a 1-31 record in two seasons but were also taking a “different approach” when they drafted a crotch-grabbing, hardly over six-foot, but also Heisman trophy winning quarterback with the first overall pick.

It was different when the Browns added Mychal Kendricks and Genard Avery, two linebackers to an already talented linebacking corps. Trading for a third-round pick for Tyrod Taylor, a possible one-year rental at quarterback was different. Signing three cornerbacks in free agency (Travis Carrie, Terrance Mitchell, and E.J Gaines) and drafting a cornerback at fourth overall (Denzel Ward) and then bringing in Bashaud Breeland and Adam “Pac Man” Jones for workouts is certainly… different.

Joe Thomas having a veteran’s day off every other three days for practice and refusing to cause any alarm by doing so is now different. And as a result, the “Sleeping Giant Browns” have a mess on their hands with replacing him. So let’s start there.

General Manager John Dorsey added four offensive linemen (now essentially five) in the off-season to replace Thomas. Not one of Dorsey’s additions has even scratched the surface of receiving real consideration at taking over the position. Free agent signee Donald Stephenson was absent from the entire spring session and now resides on the reserve/retired list. Former second overall pick Greg Robinson is now sidelined after sustaining a concussion while working with the second team at left tackle. 33rd overall pick Austin Corbett, a former Joel Bitonio replacement at the University of Nevada, will not be replacing him or Thomas either anytime soon. Corbett has floated back-and-forth between tackle and guard and is not close to reaching an NFL field in the near future. Another rookie (an undrafted free agent) Desmond Harris who was projected to be a dark horse to win this battle, has not practiced.  Lastly, former Steeler Chris Hubbard a versatile lineman while in Pittsburgh is taking Shon Coleman’s place at right tackle.

Shon Coleman is entering year three in the NFL after being redshirted his rookie season. The former Auburn Tiger, Coleman, was coined by former Texas A&M Aggie Myles Garrett as the “toughest tackle he faced” at the collegiate level. Coleman is now tasked with replacing the toughest tackle Garrett faced as a professional (in practice). After starting an entire season on the right side and underperforming, Coleman is the current heir to Thomas unless something drastic happens. Despite one-on-0ne mentoring with Thomas for the last three years, the former SEC star is not flourishing in a role on the left side.

Did I mention the guy that replaced Thomas mid-season, Spencer Drango, has not even sniffed the competition (likely for the better)? Oh, and do not forget, 2017 fifth round pick Roderick Johnson, a former offensive tackle from Florida State, is not even on the roster.

Do not worry, the interior of the Browns offensive line is being held down by Joel Bitonio, J.C. Tretter, and Kevin Zeitler at a price that comes as the most expensive in the NFL. Do not become too creative and suggest sliding Bitonio over one spot at left tackle, as offensive line coach Bob Wylie calls Bitonio “plan Z”. The four-year starter at left guard finds the idea iffy himself, as well.

So, we have just covered the most underrated storyline throughout camp — Now is asked: What is going on behind the foundation up-front?

Surprisingly, there is not much happening at the previous biggest storyline each and every year for the last two decades during training camp which was at the quarterback position. Other than a future first-ballot Hall-Of-Famer himself Joe Thomas, calling Tyrod Taylor a future inductee into Canton. Seriously though, Taylor has had a few misses here and there but has backed up head coach Hue Jackson’s every word and firmly held down the position as the team’s starting quarterback. As a bonus, Taylor has also had a few days where he has looked much more than a “bridge quarterback” and has flashed his exciting play-making potential.

On the other hand, Baker Mayfield remains working behind Taylor, and *gasp* looking like a rookie quarterback. The good, the bad, and the ugly have all been shown by Mayfield, and that is just fine. Let’s focus on the good for a moment. Mayfield has also displayed his sound accuracy, pocket poise, and chemistry with his fellow receivers five days into camp. He has even made some eye-opening throws that have the Dawg Pound braking for what is in store for the future.

Mayfield’s previous enemy and spring roommate former Georgia Bulldog running back Nick Chubb has not yet moved Carlos Hyde out of the bell-cow running back role. Premium pass-catching and underrated ball carrier Duke Johnson continues to have a prominent role in the 2018 offense. As long as there is no Josh Gordon, Johnson will continue to receive opportunities outside of the backfield and occasionally in the slot on Sundays. Second-year back Matthew Dayes has also received his fair share of looks at earning a few carries during the regular season.

Back to the whole different thing — Something that is not so different: Gordon not being with the team for the start of training camp. Gordon has reportedly sought treatment for anxiety, which seems to be brewing due to the high expectations in place for him this season. However, videos have surfaced of Gordon training and catching passes, which have raised speculation that the former pro bowl wide receiver is dodging the hard knock cameras, which are not expected to leave until early September. Better than not training at all, I guess?

Gordon’s absence has caused former first-round pick Corey Coleman’s name to resurface so far in camp, which before Coleman’s name was nearly an afterthought. Coleman has been working with the starting unit, with an attempt at saving his career in Cleveland. The shot at earning a spot on the 53-man roster does not appear easy, as dropped passes, lack-of-effort, and a colorful conversation with offensive coordinator Todd Haley have all been a part of the former Baylor product’s camp.

Jarvis Landry is a stud and has been breaking dudes ankles left and right. He is an obvious feature of the Browns offense. Landry declined a veteran’s day off and has continued to build rapport with his new teammates while throwing shade at his former Miami Dolphin pals. Rashard Higgins, like Coleman, has received extra opportunities with no Gordon and is earning a spot on the active roster daily. Earlier last week, Ricardo Louis was ruled out for the 2018 season with a neck injury, so the opportunities at receiver continue to present themselves. Veteran Jeff Janis has been limited with a knee injury.

Wrapping up the offensive summary is the tight ends. Much like last season, David Njoku has struggled with catching passes which raises caution about the potential he has as a true offensive threat. Seth DeValve remained out of Monday’s practice with a quad injury which is potentially serious, and the team added Orson Charles to the roster. Spring free agent Darren Fells has earned the majority of reps with the first team unit, as he provides additional solid blocking in the run game.

On the flip side, the Browns’ other former first overall pick Myles Garrett is healthy and dominating — And that is all that can really be asked of him. On the flip side of Garrett, Emmanuel Ogbah is healthy as well, after last season was cut short with a foot injury. Because of the quick whistles in camp on the quarterbacks, it is difficult to get a true feel for the improvement among the young duo until the games start. Free-agent addition Chris Smith has received reps with the first team defense and rookie Chad Thomas made his training camp debut after being removed from PUP while recovering from sports hernia surgery after passing his physical. Roster spots are slim and Nate Orchard has been one guy making the most of every opportunity

On the inside, there has been a little bit of surprise with who the first team defense is trotting out. Trevon Coley and Jamie Meder have received opportunities as the “starting” defensive tackles, leaving second-year potential stars Larry Ogunjobi and Caleb Brantley fighting to receive the go-too nod eventually on Sundays. Sometimes, this is usually how these sorta things go. In other news, the team waived Trenton Thompson.

2017’s leader in tackles Joe Schobert has not lost his spot at linebacker quite yet and does not seem to have a lesser role even with two off-season additions. Jamie Collins is still being eased into competition but is floating in and out of 11 versus 11 full contact sessions. Mychal Kendricks has spent time working on the side, as he is coming back from an ankle injury last season. That has not affected his impact on the field, as Kendricks has had a few thumping plays in live tackling sessions. Rookie Genard Avery has continued to turn heads with an intriguing wrinkle to this year’s defense, with the versatility of providing a strong pass rushing ability at the inside linebacker position.

We started with one of the biggest storyline’s of training camp and we are going to end with the second biggest one: The secondary — which seems to be a full-blown competition with a plethora of defensive backs battling to earn spots. Rookie Denzel Ward seems to have secured the number one cornerback role but it is quite wide open from there. EJ Gaines, Terrance Mitchell, T.J. Carrie, Briean Boddy-Calhoun, and Simeon Thomas have all made arguments for themselves and against themselves for earning the second and third cornerback roles on the team. Cleveland also added defensive backs Christian Boutte and Jeremiah McKinnon to the mix.

Former Packer Damarious Randall remains the team’s free safety, and as for the “strong” safety, it is Derrick Kindred for now. Former first-round pick Jabrill Peppers returned on Monday from a groin injury and is expected to be a full participant for the second phase of training camp which will resume on Wednesday, August 1st.

Among the guest list at Browns training camp has been Ron Wolf, Jim Tressel, Mike Mularkey, Tim Couch, and Bernie Kosar. At this point in time, I have not made the cut among the media list so coverage will be on-and-off for the remainder of this year’s training camp practice sessions.

Head Coach Hue Jackson told his team to “be safe” as the team has their first day off on July 31st. Practice will resume on Wednesday.