Ronnie Harrison, Grant Delpit’s return to practice showcase Browns’ safety depth: What we learned at Day 14 o – cleveland.com

BEREA, Ohio — Euphoria took over.

“Holy smokes,” I shouted to myself. “It’s happening.”

I dropped my water in exchange for an outdated iPhone 7. It didn’t matter which electronics I grabbed. Both cameras produce Zapruder-quality film. Feeling a thin case in my pocket signaled my work phone. Perfect.

A passcode, slide and click later, my phone captured history. Browns safeties Grant Delpit, Ronnie Harrison and the newly acquired John Johnson III shared the field for live reps versus the Browns’ first-team offense. A unicorn moment. Then pre-snap artistry unfolded.

Johnson started deep while Delpit patrolled the middle. Harrison motioned across the formation following tight end David Njoku. A half-second before the snap, Johnson shot toward the line of scrimmage and settled eight yards deep. He’s the robber. Delpit sprinted for the deep middle of the field. He’s the free safety.

Harrison stayed underneath, essentially playing nickel corner.

The rep didn’t end well. Corner Robert Jackson allowed Damion Davis a free release and paid for it. Davis burned him down left sideline and made a diving grab. Delpit wasn’t near the play despite having deep responsibility.

The second-year safety came off with the rest of the first team. He removed his helmet in frustration, perhaps angry an Achilles tendon rupture cost him his rookie season. Maybe his recent hamstring injury irritated him. It had limited him to only nine team reps prior to Tuesday. Or he was just upset a deep ball was completed on his watch.

Whatever the reason, show Delpit the same patience the Browns are. A year ago, defensive coordinator Joe Woods envisioned a large role for him prior to camp. As Delpit battles back from another injury, being a small part of the Week 1 game plan should be considered a success.

The Browns’ safety depth becomes apparent when they all practice. Rookie safety Richard LeCounte had an interception, sack and two tackles Saturday in Jacksonville. At Tuesday’s practice, he was the No. 5 safety.

That’s a luxury Woods hopes to enjoy assuming Harrison and Delpit continue progressing and Johnson stays healthy. The four-year Rams safety has played in all 16 games three times, including leading Los Angeles in snaps last season.

Let’s explore a few other safety-related lessons we learned at Day 14 of Browns camp.

Woods wants active pre-snap safety play

Since Woods arrived in Cleveland he’s teased using three safeties as a base defense. With Harrison and Delpit ramping up their reps, Woods’ fantasies are becoming reality. Playing a 4-2-5 defense allows the Browns to be multiple on the back end.

They can rush four and drop seven. Or Woods could blitz a linebacker or box safety to manufacture pressure. The Browns were 25th in EPA (expected points added) when blitzing last season. That should change by deploying more versatile safeties. Their athleticism holds up in man coverage as well. The Browns were 21st in EPA when playing man.

Being “multiple” also implies pre snap activity. Think of how much motion the offense uses. Woods wants to confuse quarterbacks by moving his safeties around. Alternating what a quarterback sees pre-snap versus post-snap makes anticipating coverage more difficult.

Remember the first play I showed above. That was a great example of the Browns staking a safety at all three planes of their defense. Delpit deep. Johnson intermediate and Harrison at the line of scrimmage. On this below rep, Johnson and Delpit gained depth playing deep-halves Cover 2.

This trio must be capable of playing at any level of the defense because Woods will ask them to do so.

Jovante Moffatt must stay ready

Johnson and Harrison will start Week 1. That’s becoming more clear each day. But at Tuesday’s practice, Stefanski welcomed Harrison and Delpit back slowly. Both took part in opening sessions of team and 7-on-7. But after that their day was done.

That’s on brand for how the Browns handle recently injured players. Greedy Williams and Chris Hubbard only played about 18 snaps against Jacksonville despite starting. Expect the same gradual return for the safety room. Which means Jovante Moffatt must be ready for meaningful snaps. He’s No. 4 on the depth chart but took first-team reps after Harrison and Delpit shut it down.

In the above clip, Moffatt is playing press-man coverage against tight end Jordan Frank. Moffatt stays tight throughout the shallow route and breaks up the pass. His solid camp continues.

Richard LeCounte III waiting his turn

The Browns are so deep at safety (when healthy) that there is competition for the No. 5 spot. LeCounte excelled in Jacksonville. Pro Football Focus graded him 90 overall, the highest defensive performance. He finished with two tackles, an interception and a sack.

Here is one of his two pass breakups below. Playing free safety, LeCounte reads the quarterback’s eyes from the snap. They take him to the deep left sideline. LeCounte drives on the ball once it’s released. His closing speed compliments his route recognition.

He knew where he had to be and nearly intercepted it. In the fourth quarter, LeCounte flashed as a downhill tackler. From a Cover 1 robber spot, he crashed into the Jaguars’ third-string quarterback desperate for anything on third-and-11.

I’m confident LeCounte makes the final 53. He’ll keep shining during extended preseason action. Johnson, Harrison, Delpit, Moffatt, LeCounte and Sheldrick Redwine. Unicorns everywhere.