Tag: Browns OTAs

Browns have a major weakness on offense heading into the season

The Cleveland Browns have a major weakness behind David Njoku heading into the 2024 NFL season

The Cleveland Browns have one major weakness heading out of the second OTA session.

After re-inventing the offense this offseason, the Browns are fragile at the tight end position. The team failed to grow their passing offense since acquiring Deshaun Watson and needed to shake their system up.
The organization addressed their problems in the passing game with every offensive coaching hire, trade, free agent signing, and draft pick. The team is embracing a modern offensive approach, they’ll rely on three wide receiver sets out of shotgun this season.

Shedding their offensive identity of heavier personnel packages has exposed a weakness in the tight end room. Former Browns’ tight end Harrison Bryant joined the Raiders on a 1-year $3.25 million contract. The Cleveland Browns have five tight ends on the roster; David Njoku, Jordan Akins, Zaire Mitchell-Paden, newcomers Giovanni Ricci, and Treyton Welch.

Njoku is one of the best tight ends in the league. He is a good blocker and a threat in the receiving game. He proved his toughness last season after playing through multiple injuries, including serious burns. The Browns are relying heavily on him playing the entire season. None of the tight ends on the roster can echo his skill set. The room is composed of specialists, who play their roles very well. However, they lack the comprehensive skills to play on the line of scrimmage for all three downs.

Akins is a 6-foot-4-inch receiving threat as he uses his large frame to box out smaller defenders. After six years in the league, he hasn’t become a capable blocker. The Browns brought in Ricci, on a 1 year $1.1 million deal, to be their blocking specialist. The Ohio native was primarily used as a fullback or blocking tight end during his time with the Carolina Panthers. He has shown limited upside as a receiver.

Mitchell-Paden hasn’t played a snap for the Browns during the regular season in the two years he’s been around the team. Hopefully, the former undrafted free agent makes the 53-man roster this season. Welch is an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming and will be battling for a position on the practice squad this summer. The room lacks the adaptability needed to back up Njoku.

Njoku is a versatile weapon and a special tool for Kevin Stefanski. Njoku can line up on the line of scrimmage as a blocker or be flexed out into the slot as a receiver. The Browns cannot find a player to mimic Njoku. The problem is, if Njoku misses time, the Browns lack a complete tight end that can fill in for him in an emergency. Akins cannot play inline as he’s a vulnerability in the running game. Ricci cannot operate as a receiver on the line of scrimmage. The two are talented players who excel in their specific roles. However, the Browns are missing an adequate tight end that can contribute to the passing and the run game. The Browns must find a competent backup for Njoku before the season begins.

Look: Top photos from Browns OTAs including first looks at many new players

Look: Top photos from Cleveland Browns OTAs including first looks in uniform at many new players

The Cleveland Browns are in the midst of the first full team gathering of the 2022 NFL season. Browns OTAs are in session in Berea and with nearly full attendance at the voluntary workouts, it’s a great chance to get a look at what the Browns look like entering the critical season.

Many newcomers to Cleveland were captured by the professional photographers inside the training facility, including Deshaun Watson, Amari Cooper and the entire rookie class. Here are some of the best shots from the session open to the media.

John Johnson knows Browns defense must put the work in to achieve sky-high potential

Johnson is ready to be a leader on the Browns defense

John Johnson knows a good defense when he sees one. The new Browns safety comes to Cleveland after four years with the Los Angeles Rams, who have consistently ranked at or near the top in defense in recent seasons.

Johnson sees the potential for that level of accomplishment in Cleveland. Speaking to the media after an OTA session in Berea this week, Johnson stressed the need for everyone to work hard to make it come to fruition. It’s why he was at the voluntary OTAs and was glad to see so many defensive teammates there, too.

“It’s really just going out there, practicing, becoming great at what we do and being technicians,” Johnson said. “I’ve seen some things ranking and projecting that we will be a great defense, but we are going to put the work in and keep building. I think the sky’s the limit for us.”

As for his early impression of his new team? Johnson likes what he sees. And despite being a newcomer, he’s not going to hold his tongue.

“It’s coming around,’’ he said. “The first day, I kind of was surveying, scanning and just feeling guys out. I feel more comfortable now just talking and making my presence felt. It will come as we move along. It’s just natural and my personality. I love talking, talking trash and competing. I’m just out there having fun, and it has paid off.”

[lawrence-related id=62043]

Watch: Breaking down OTAs and press conferences with Sports 4 CLE

Watch: Breaking down OTAs and press conferences with Sports 4 CLE and Browns Wire’s Jeff Risdon

Browns Wire’s Jeff Risdon joined the Sports 4 CLE program at cleveland.com on Wednesday to discuss a variety of Browns issues.

Among the topics:

  • John Johnson’s press conference and his importance to the team as a prominent safety addition
  • Greedy Williams and Grant Delpit both back on the field and pushing one another to thrive
  • Odell Beckham Jr. looks good cutting in his workouts wth Baker Mayfield in Texas
  • The Browns are a hot ticket and why that’s the price of having a good team

The show streams daily at 4 p.m. ET and is available for watching on YouTube afterward.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZRCKPqsg-Q

Grant Delpit, Greedy Williams ‘both on pace’ in injury rehab progress, participating in OTAs

Delpit and Williams are working back from injuries suffered on the same day last summer

Grant Delpit and Greedy Williams each suffered what would prove to be season-ending injuries in the same training camp practice last summer. The duo was expected to play significant roles in the Cleveland Browns secondary, and they were sorely missed.

Both were back on the practice field on Wednesday in the OTA session open to the media. According to head coach Kevin Stefanski, they’re progressing just fine and should be ready to roll when the regular season starts.

“They’re working through it. I think they’re both on pace. They’re doing a great job,” Stefanski said of the DBs. “We’re going to be smart about it as we ramp them up through the next couple of weeks. And into training camp, we’re going to be smart about it. They’re hitting all of their benchmarks.”

Williams weighed in on Delpit, his former LSU teammate, after Wednesday’s practice.

“(Delpit) looked good. He looks like he’s ready to go,” Williams said via Zoom. “He has gotten bigger, faster. I ask him every day how his leg is feeling. How’s the injury feeling? He’s giving me positive feedback, which I want to hear.”

Delpit projects as one of the team’s starting safeties. He was on track to start right away as a rookie before tearing his Achilles in August. Williams started as a rookie in 2019 but never saw the field in 2020 with a nerve injury in his shoulder. He will compete with first-rounder Greg Newsome and free agent Troy Hill for playing time opposite Pro Bowler Denzel Ward.

[lawrence-related id=62005]

Browns players, team working on OTA resolution

Cleveland Browns players and the team are working towards a deal on attending OTAs

The first week of Cleveland Browns post-draft organized team activities, or OTAs, took place virtually. No players attended the team facilities in Berea at the behest of the NFLPA, which has recommended that players not participate due to long-term injury concerns.

It’s a tricky issue for both the players and the team. Cleveland could have as many as nine new starters on defense, with a mix of free agent veterans and rookies who haven’t even met yet. But the union’s advice keeps them from working out together under the watchful eye of the team. Even though it would be heavily restricted in terms of contact and activity level, it’s still done together and with coaches and trainers present.

The situation takes extra imperative with the Browns because center JC Tretter is the NFLPA president and one of the most outspoken advocates for veterans not participating in the OTAs. But the Browns players are still getting work in and some are doing it together on their own.

Witness a tidbit from Albert Breer’s latest edition of the Monday Morning Quarterback at Sports Illustrated,

The Browns’ players were working toward a deal with their coaches over the weekend after staying away—and part of the reason they were O.K. with being absent until now is that quarterback Baker Mayfield had held a passing camp in Austin already.

Many groups of players around the league are convening to work out together this offseason. And it is nice to see the Browns players and the team are trying to work out a deal to possibly get the full team together before training camp begins in late July.

J.C. Tretter defends players skipping voluntary offseason activities

J.C. Tretter wrote on the NFLPA’s website today defending players who decide to skip OTAs. Some have put the NFLPA under scrutiny for it.

J.C. Tretter holds two roles in the NFL: Starting offensive lineman and NFL Players Association president. For the Cleveland Browns, those roles rarely overlap but current issues around offseason activities could cause some conflict.

The NFLPA has begun to push for less and less offseason activities following the COVID-19 adjusted offseason of 2020.

The Browns just completed their rookie minicamp and, according to the team’s website, Phase 2 opening up today through the 21st with limited on-field practice activities. Phase 3 includes up to 10 offseason training activities and mandatory veteran minicamp.

As the Browns site noted, at one point Browns players were unlikely to participate:

In a statement released last week through the NFL Players Association, Browns players, like many others across the league, indicated they would not participate in any of this year’s voluntary, in-person workouts.

Tretter came out strong via the NFLPA’s site attempting to give the players’ side:

Meanwhile, the intensity of OTAs has continued to be ratcheted up. What used to be seen as a time for teaching has turned into full-speed, non-padded practices that are injuring players unnecessarily. There is no reason a player should get injured, beat up or have a concussion during the offseason. The offseason should be a time of recovery and individual preparation so that players can show up for training camp physically and mentally eager to get to work with their teammates.

Tretter also noted the media’s role in how players are viewed who do not attend these voluntary activities:

For the small number of players who choose not to volunteer their time, the media write articles questioning whether they are a team player or some kind of locker room problem. It’s easy to see why many players feel like they have no choice but to attend.

The NFLPA’s stance and push for players to skip these voluntary activities came under scrutiny when two Denver Broncos players were hurt while working out outside of the team’s facilities. Ja’Wuan James was cut, losing out on millions of dollars, while DaeSean Hamilton will likely miss the entire season and could also be waived by the team.

Tretter has made his stance, and the stance of the NFLPA, very clear today.

NFLPA, league at odds over offseason workouts

The NFLPA is pushing for players to not attend voluntary workouts in person

NFL teams are scheduled to begin the first wave of voluntary offseason workouts next week, but the NFLPA is pushing to keep those sessions virtual. Led by Browns center JC Tretter, the NFL player’s association is fighting to keep those workouts, as well as the mandatory minicamp after the NFL draft, on a virtual attendance basis.

Tretter and the players believe the sessions can be completed effectively via remote instruction, as they were last year. In a statement to players, Tretter and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith recommended that players not attend the workouts in person due to concerns over travel, COVID-19 restrictions and the ability to capably work out on their own that they demonstrated last year.

The letter stressed the voluntary status of the workouts. NFL teams strongly encourage all players to participate but the league has no recourse against players who choose to not attend, either in person or virtually.

The Denver Broncos players have already made it known they will not attend. Other teams are expected to follow suit. No word yet on the Browns, but with Tretter as the NFLPA president and a strong presence in the Cleveland locker room, expect something soon.

Browns will continue to work remotely, won’t reopen immediately

NFL teams can open up facilities as soon as Tuesday but the Browns will continue to have everyone work remotely

Even though the NFL has given clearance to teams to open the doors for limited activities at team facilities as soon as Tuesday, the Cleveland Browns will not throw open the doors at 76 Lou Groza Blvd. just yet. The team will continue to work remotely for at least a few more days.

It’s not a surprising move given how much effort the Browns have put into making the remote learning and instruction work. The team has not been able to gather since the middle of March.

From Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan,

The NFL sent a memo to all 32 teams on Friday outlining requirements to be able to open facilities to some employees beginning Tuesday, however Browns employees will continue to work remotely “for now’ a team spokesman told 92.3 The fan Monday.

NFL teams will be able to open up facilities for players rehabbing injuries and working with trainers and nutritionists. Coaches and coach/player interactions are still not permitted.

[lawrence-related id=46298]

Browns virtual offseason activities extended to the end of May

The Cleveland Browns will only be able to conduct virtual training and workouts until at least May 29th

The Cleveland Browns were poised to be able to gather in person as a team in the next phase of the offseason activities as soon as the end of this week, but it will have to wait. The NFL extended the virtual workout period must extend to May 29th, an extension of two weeks beyond the former scheduled end of this Friday.

As a result, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski will not be able to work with the team in person just yet. Stefanski and the players will continue to meet via teleconferencing apps, with the players scattered all over the country.

Normally the Browns would be entering Phase 2 of the offseason plan. Those activities include positional drills and work with coaches. Phase 3, which includes full team drills and supervised contact and the mandatory minicamp, is also delayed until at least June.

In a memo to all 32 NFL clubs, the league stipulated that “all offseason workout programs must conclude by June 26.” The Browns are in the fourth week of their virtual offseason program, which included a rookie minicamp conducted remotely.