Tag: Chad Thomas

Chad Thomas, Donovan Olumba among cuts not returning to the Browns practice squad

There were a few surprise omissions from the Browns practice squad list

There are only 16 spots on the practice squad for the Cleveland Browns. As of Monday morning, 14 of those are filled. And the two open spots appear destined for DT Eli Ankou and TE Pharaoh Brown, who were waived on Sunday when the Browns signed Joe Jackson and Vincent Taylor.

The Browns stuck close to home in filling out the practice squad. All but one of the 14 members of the initial practice squad spent training camp in Cleveland. The other, PK Cody Parkey, was the team’s kicker in 2016.

But there are some notable omissions from the practice squad list. Defensive end Chad Thomas is the biggest.

Thomas entered training camp as the No. 3 DE, or at least competing for that role with newcomer Adrian Clayborn. After a promising second season where he bagged four sacks and played well in Myles Garrett’s absence down the stretch, the arrow was pointing up for Thomas. He didn’t fare badly, not by any account from Berea. But he did fall behind Porter Gustin, one of the surprise standouts of training camp.

There didn’t appear to be interest on either side for the relationship to continue,

The same is true for CB Donovan Olumba, another training camp standout. He was cut earlier in the week and still has yet to latch onto another team. Olumba was the most surprising cut from the 53-man roster in my eyes, and it sure seemed a given he would return to the practice squad given the myriad injuries in the Browns secondary. He too remains a street free agent, unsigned as of yet.

It seems the Willie Harvey experience is also done in Cleveland. Harvey made the 53-man roster in 2019 as an undrafted rookie, but he failed to recapture the magic in 2020. He’s another unexpected omission from the list. Safety J.T. Hassell, who played capably as an undrafted rookie late last year, is another.

Maybe the team was looking for something different with these players or those positions. That certainly seems the case with Thomas, a John Dorsey pet pick that doesn’t fit the new Andrew Berry/Kevin Stefanski scheme or structure all that well. Or maybe the player(s) decided to seek out greener pastures elsewhere.

Browns roster cutdowns erase many John Dorsey legacies

The Browns roster cutdowns on Saturday erase many more John Dorsey legacies in Cleveland

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The Cleveland Browns roster turnover under new GM Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski continued in earnest on Saturday. The cutdowns to the initial 53-man roster washed away even more of the legacy of ex-GM John Dorsey on the team.

Dorsey’s first Browns draft class, the 2018 edition, is down to just three of the nine selections: Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward and Nick Chubb. That’s still a heck of a draft, but the failure of guys like Austin Corbett (2nd round), Chad Thomas (3rd) and Genard Avery (5th) led to redundant picks and free agent moves almost immediately.

Cutting Thomas and Damion Ratley on Saturday wiped away all the depth from the 2018 draft class. Dumping WR Taywan Taylor and RB Dontrell Hilliard stripped away two other Dorsey guys from that year, too. Dorsey’s final two picks in 2019, OL Drew Forbes (opt-out) and CB Donnie Lewis (cut) are also off the team, though Forbes will return in 2021.

Earlier moves this offseason removed Dorsey acquisitions like OT Greg Robinson, TE Demetrius Harris, OL Eric Kush, S Damarious Randall, CB T.J. Carrie and more.

Dorsey’s best moves remain vital to the core of the team. Berry and Stefanski didn’t just try to whitewash all traces of Dorsey’s influence from the team. The trio left from that ’18 draft, trade acquisitions Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr. and Olivier Vernon are all critical starters and top-10 presences on the Browns roster.

Acknowledging that Dorsey and his regime did do some great things is an important step from the new Browns management. Too many times a new regime will just try to erase every vestige of its predecessor. Browns fans know all too well the rush to turn everything over in the name of progress, if only to wash away the bad taste left behind from the old regime. Instead of doing that, Berry and Stefanski merely trimmed a lot of Dorsey-era fat from the roster.

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6 Browns in need of a good training camp

6 Browns in need of a good training camp to stick around on the team

Training camp is still scheduled to begin in late July. When the Browns players return to Berea for the annual rite of football passage later this month, some players will be fighting for their right to get one of the (great) new redesigned Browns jerseys with their name on the back.

Regime changes are nothing new for the Browns, and the associated roster turnover with them is a sad reality. There are some current Browns who will not work out in the new schemes with the new coaches, sometimes through little fault of their own.

Here are six Browns who need to show they belong in Cleveland in 2020 by having a strong training camp.

Chris Hubbard

(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The veteran right tackle has already lost his starting spot to free agent Jack Conklin. Hubbard has already taken a pay cut to stick with the team, but that doesn’t ensure his place on the roster.

Hubbard will need to prove he’s worthy of keeping as the backup tackle. Kendall Lamm is younger, cheaper and more athletic than Hubbard and he’s fighting for that same gig. Hubbard has been the better player and has certainly proven more durable, but that will only carry so much weight if he’s not impressive to the new coaching staff right away.

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Way-too-early 53-man roster projection for the Browns: Defense

Way-too-early 53-man roster projection for the Browns: Defense

The 2020 NFL Draft class creates some movement on the roster projection front. With at least five of the Browns’ draftees absolute locks to make the 53-man roster, there are some ripple effects up and down the depth chart.

Here is our early stab at the final 53-man roster when the Browns kick off the 2020 NFL season. To keep it more manageable, the offense and defense will be divided up in different posts. This one covers the defense and the specialists. The 25 members of the offense can be found here:

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Note: undrafted free agents are only included if they’re officially signed their Browns contracts as of press time.

DTs – 4

Starters – Sheldon Richardson, Larry Ogunjobi

Backups – Andrew Billings, Jordan Elliott

Bubble: Daniel Ekuale, Brandin Bryant, Justin Zimmer

This shapes up as a very nice 4-man rotation, with Richardson being the top talent. Expect free agent signee Billings and third-round rookie Elliott to both play extensively.

All of the bubble players here bring some NFL experience and a definite appeal to at least keep on the practice squad (if eligible). It would not be a surprise to see the Browns keep an extra DT in lieu of a 6th WR or 5th TE/FB.

DE/EDGE – 4 

Starters – Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon

Backups – Adrian Clayborn, Chad Thomas

Bubble:  Porter Gustin, Robert McCray, Trevon Young, George Obinna

Garrett and Vernon were very good together in 2019 and return at full health. Clayborn was a smart veteran signing who can bring pressure off the edge. After that, it gets fuzzy here, especially considering Richardson can play on the edge and did so quite effectively last season.

Thomas has flashed at times but has also done nothing to guarantee his roster spot under a new coaching and management regime. Gustin, McCray, Young and Obinna (a UDFA) are probably not the answer but will at least get a chance to prove themselves. The fourth DE/EDGE might not yet be on the roster.

LB – 5 

Starters: Mack Wilson, Sione Takitaki, Jacob Phillips

Bench: B.J. Goodson, Willie Harvey

Bubble: Tae Davis, Jermaine Grace, Montrel Meander, Solomon Ajayi

The Browns will use three LBs significantly more under new coordinator Joe Woods than last year’s base 2-LB set. Wilson and Takitaki both project to start in their second seasons. Third-rounder Phillips and free agent import Goodson will battle for the other spot. Keep an eye on Harvey, who played well last summer and could rock the very established boat.

As with EDGE, this is another position where Berry and the Browns might not yet be done aggressively acquiring talent.

CB – 5

Starters: Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams

Bench: Kevin Johnson, Terrance Mitchell, Tavierre Thomas

Bubble: Donovan Olumba, Donnie Lewis Jr., Robert Jackson

Ward and Williams will start on the outside, with Johnson the presumptive slot corner. Mitchell is not a lock but offers versatility as a veteran. Thomas is a special teams standout and that’s his ticket to making it for a third season Cleveland.

This is another position where the Browns could opt to keep an extra player and trim elsewhere for special teams purposes. Williams, Ward and Johnson have all shown durability issues in their careers thus far.

S – 4

Starters: Karl Joseph, Grant Delpit

Bench: Andrew Sendejo, Sheldrick Redwine

Bubble: J.T. Hassell

The top three are all newcomers in Joseph and Sendejo as free agents and second-rounder Delpit. How the troika sorts out remains to be seen but expect all three to play extensively.

Redwine has a tentative grip on the final spot, but he’ll need to prove it on special teams after an underwhelming rookie season. Hassell might be the hardest hitter pound-for-pound on the entire team.

Specialists – 3

Punter – Jamie Gillan

Kicker – Austin Seibert

Long snapper – Charley Hughlett

No drama here; all three specialists return unchallenged as of press time.

Overall there is more uncertainty on defense than offense.

The 25 defenders and three specialists here add to the 25 on offense to make 53. With the pending expansion to 55 via the new CBA, expect those extra two spots to come on defense.

Chad Thomas was the Browns’ top-graded defender vs. the Dolphins

The Browns needed an EDGE to step up and Thomas delivered

Down Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon at defensive end, Chad Thomas needed to step up his game in their absence. And the second-year DE did just that against his hometown team, posting a great game for the Browns against the Miami Dolphins.

Thomas wound up scoring the highest Pro Football Focus grade of any Browns defensive player in the 41-24 home win. In fact, the only EDGE who socred higher in Sunday’s games in Week 12 was Khalil Mack, as in Chicago’s All-Pro Khalil Mack.

The initial grading from PFF credited Thomas with four QB pressures and three tackles. That’s a decent day. Where he thrived was in coverage. Thomas earned a grade over 90 for his effort against screens and the quick passing game.

Thomas’ overall season grade remains mired well below where would be hoped, but a solid game against Miami could be the catalyst he needed to bring more sweet music to the gridiron.

Olivier Vernon out vs. Dolphins, Browns will be without 3 DL starters

Chad Thomas, Chris Smith and Devaroe Lawrence will be starting vs. the Dolphins

The Cleveland Browns defensive line will look a lot different than a few weeks ago. Starting end Olivier Vernon will miss his third straight game with a knee injury. The Browns ruled out the veteran EDGE on Friday.

With fellow DE Myles Garrett and DT Larry Ogunjobi suspended for their personal fouls and ejections in Week 11, the Browns defensive line will feature just one regular starter, DT Sheldon Richardson.

Vernon has not even practiced since injuring his knee at the end of the team’s Week 9 loss in Denver.

Chad Thomas and Chris Smith will take over as the starting ends, while Devaroe Lawrence will assume Ogunjobi’s spot along the interior. The depth behind the replacement starters is scant, with Eli Ankou inside and recently signed Bryan Cox Jr. on the edge.

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Browns injury update: Olivier Vernon, Eric Murray still not practicing

The Browns could be without 3 starters on the DL vs. Miami

Already down two starters on the defensive line due to suspensions, the Browns could also be without starting DE Olivier Vernon for a third straight week.

Vernon missed Thursday’s practice session in Berea. He has been out since injuring his knee near the end of the loss to Denver in Week 9. It’s hard to envision Vernon playing against Miami on Sunday in FirstEnergy Stadium if he doesn’t return to at least limited duty in Friday’s final practice session.

If Vernon can’t go, the starting EDGEs figure to be Chad Thomas and Chris Smith, with Bryan Cox Jr. as the only healthy reserve currently on the active roster.

Defensive back Eric Murray also remains sidelined with a knee injury of his own. Murray has also missed the last two games.

They were the only two Browns players who did not participate on even a limited basis in Thursday’s practice.

How the Browns will replace Myles Garrett during his suspension

Olivier Vernon, Chad Thomas and others will need to step up

Now that Myles Garrett has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL, the Cleveland Browns will be without their top defensive lineman for the rest of the 2019 season. Replacing the NFL’s current sack leader will not be easy.

Getting Olivier Vernon back into the lineup at full strength will be the biggest help. Vernon has missed the last two games with a knee injury. Prior to that, he was consistently providing pressure off the edge opposite Garrett. In fact, he had more QB pressures on the season than Garrett did through Week 9.

Vernon has not shown the ability to finish his pressures this year, racking up three sacks. That will need to change. He is the best-suited Browns player to become the alpha pass rusher.

Chad Thomas has stepped up nicely in Vernon’s absence, but the pressure is now on the second-year EDGE to be a full-time starter. Thomas has a sack in each of the last two games and also broke up a 4th-down pass attempt (that Mason Rudolph essentially threw into him), so he is making some impact. It will be interesting to see if he can do it more consistently and eliminate the stretches where he’s too easily blocked.

Chris Smith will also need to step up. The veteran reserve has been very quiet in limited duty. Newcomer Bryan Cox Jr. is a bigger, stouter version of Genard Avery, who was traded away earlier this season.

There is still a chance the Browns could look outside the current team. Garrett’s suspension does leave a vacant spot on the 53-man roster. With no defensive linemen on the practice squad, there will probably be a move to at least add someone there.

Snap count notes: Browns primary defense played together a lot vs. Bills

Snap count notes: Browns primary defense played together a lot vs. Bills, and Kareem Hunt makes a splashy debut

The Cleveland Browns defense was on the field for 69 snaps against the Buffalo Bills in the team’s nice 19-16 win in Week 10. The primary 11 played together in those 69 snaps a lot more than usual.

Cornerback T.J. Carrie did not start the game. Juston Burris did instead. But Carrie qualified as one of the primary 11, playing 51 of the 69 reps to Burris’ 11. Every other defensive starter played at least 53 snaps, or at least 75 percent of the game. That includes Chad Thomas, who filled in for the injured Olivier Vernon at defensive end. Thomas played a career-high 54 reps in his first career start.

Also of note on defense: rookie Sione Takitaki took over the No. 3 LB role from Adarius Taylor. The third-rounder played 11 reps, while Taylor was seen exclusively on special teams.

On offense, Kareem Hunt’s return was a prominent one. The running back played 38 of the 74 offensive snaps. Hunt joined Nick Chubb (58 reps) on 28 of those for a 2-back look. To put that into perspective, the Browns did not have more than one RB on the field for a single snap in Week 9.

Rashard Higgins played 33 of the 74 snaps and caught his only passing target for the game-winning TD. KhaDarel Hodge played seven, and the Browns ran on six of those reps.

Backup OL Justin McCray played four snaps as an extra blocker in the short-yardage package. Damion Ratley and D’Ernest Johnson each saw exactly one rep on offense.