CLEVELAND, Ohio — Scribbles in my notebook as the Browns wrapped up minicamp this week. No more football until training camp later in the summer. This weekend, talking mostly defense:
1. The defense looks different. It’s thinner. It’s faster. That is by design. There were games against Baltimore and Kansas City where the Browns’ lack of speed on defense was glaring. GM Andrew Berry and his staff already favored a leaner, quicker defense heading into 2020. The way the season played out underlined the need for an upgrade.
2. Coming off knee surgery, Jadeveon Clowney looked healthy. He took part in all the drills. He seemed to make sharp cuts, no physical issues. The same was true of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., only he was held out of some of the stuff on the field.
3. In the past, I’ve seen guys in minicamp who had knee surgery months earlier. You could tell. They appeared tentative when running, especially when it came to stops and starts. That’s why the early reviews on Clowney and Beckham are encouraging.
4. That said, no one is hitting anybody. Even by the previous non-physical standards of minicamp, these were mild. That’s why true evaluation is difficult and things can change dramatically once the pads come out and the real hitting begins. The NFL Players Association wants to do away with these offseason practices, and the teams have complied to an extent in terms of doing less on the field that could lead to injuries.
5. OTAs and minicamp do put an accent on speed. The Browns defense is much faster than a year ago. It’s easy to imagine Myles Garrett and a hopefully healthy Clowney bringing a streaking pass rush. Don’t be surprised if defensive coordinator Joe Woods lines up both defensive ends right next to each other at times.
6. Woods on Clowney: “He is very athletic and fast…we will be able to move those guys (Garrett/Clowney) around to create favorable matchups for ourselves.”
7. Coach Kevin Stefanski on Clowney: “He loves this game. You watch how he throws his body around…his teammates have welcomed him to the family.”
8. This setting is made for players who are fast, much like touch football. This week the Browns started Mack Wilson, Anthony Walker and Sione Takitaki at linebacker when they were in a 4-3 defense. Other than Walker, not sure the others will start in regular season. Rookies tend to play with the backups in these settings.
9. Notre Dame rookie Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JOK) and Jacob Phillips fit the long, lean and fast profile the Browns favor at linebacker. They will push hard for playing time, especially if JOK can tackle as well as he did in college. Phillips can tackle. I bet Malcolm Smith plays more than most people expect. The veteran linebacker is excellent in pass coverage.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney appears fully recovered from knee surgery. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
10. Woods mentioned how Smith was the first linebacker “to come out at 225.” He meant almost being built like a safety, but “still having enough size” to play linebacker. Now, most of the Browns linebackers (other than Takitaki) fit that mold.
11. Woods on JOK: “Things are going well with him. A very smart player, very athletic. You can see the speed, quickness and change of direction. He will be able to match up against tight ends.”
12. Grant Delpit was on the field and seems to be moving well after his season-ending Achilles surgery 10 months ago. When the Browns had a starting unit, the two safeties were Ronnie Harrison Jr. and John Johnson III. That doesn’t mean much, because the Browns will often play three safeties. Delpit is an important part of the defense.
13. Greedy Williams is playing and appears over the nerve damage to his shoulder. But like all the previously injured players mentioned here, the asterisk is the lack of physical contact. It does seem like rookie Greg Newsome II is set to start at cornerback along with veteran Denzel Ward.
14. “To me, it felt like we got two first-rounders (Newsome/JOK),” said Woods. “Both JOK and Greg are very smart players, very competitive. They just bring a different element to the team…they just go hard all the time. They are trying to learn as much football as they can.”
Cleveland Browns defensive end Tommy Togiai has had some nice moments in OTAs.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
15. Then there’s Andrew Billings, who is listed at 328 pounds. This is a very big, very wide man – even by defensive tackle standards. He and veteran Malik Jackson were the starters at defensive tackle. Last year’s starters were Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi, who signed elsewhere.
16. Billings sat out 2020 because of COVID concerns. Woods admitted Billings is “not in the ideal football shape that he wants to be in.” Woods believes Billings will get into shape, adding: “He’s definitely part of our plans. Definitely a first-and-second-down run-stuffer.”
17. I heard some good things about Ohio State defensive tackle Tommy Togiai this week. The fourth-rounder looks like the typical Buckeye draft pick – a guy trained to play in the NFL.
RECENT TERRY PLUTO COLUMNS
Remembering Mudcat Grant, my first autograph
Why is it taking so long for Tribe to pick a new game?
What I’m hearing about the Browns OTAs
Kent State basketball to be boosted by transfers
Hey Terry, what about Hunt and Chubb together? How about OBJ?
In the name of Phil Taylor, what did the Browns get for passing on Julio Jones?
You want linebackers? Let’s talk Browns linebackers!
Ozzie Newsome’s strange trip to the Browns
Hey Terry, what about the Tribe adding a bat? Lindor addition by subtraction?
Cavs Scribbles about Koby Altman, Kevin Love
How should we view the Browns in 2021? Legit or will fans be burned again?
A happy night at the ball park, a lost senior year: Faith & You
Tribe Scribbles: Owen Miller, Harold Ramirez, Cal Quantrill
Hey Terry, what about the Browns
The long winding road bringing a worried Kevin Mack to the Browns
Hey Terry, any comparison between the Browns now and in 1981?
–
Browns playoffs shirts, hats for sale: Here’s where Cleveland Browns fans can order shirts and hats celebrating the team qualifying for the 2020 NFL playoffs.
