How the Browns’ older Dawgs like Troy Hill have taught pup Greg Newsome II new tricks for Patrick Mahomes, Ty – cleveland.com

Kansas City, Mo. — Browns nickel cornerback Troy Hill, a seventh-year pro and native of Youngstown, Ohio, noticed how hard first-round cornerback Greg Newsome II was working in meetings on the field, and sent him a direct message to let him know.

“I DM’ed him back and I was like ‘I would love for you to just just help me out,’’’ Newsome told cleveland.com on Friday. “Ever since then, he’s just been helping me out with film and just life in the league in general.’’

On any given day in practice, Newsome, who will make his starting debut at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday against Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and Co., could be seen standing next to Hill between series, asking questions and picking his brains.

“I didn’t really have anybody that did for me, so I kind of just wanted to give him the knowledge that I learned through the years through my trials and tribulations that he can use or not use it in his game,’’ Hill, 30, told cleveland.com.

One of the biggest things Hill has tried to teach Newsome, who turned 21 in May, is how to watch film.

“When I was younger, I watched it just to watch it,’’ Hill said. “I watched players but I didn’t have any idea how to watch film until I saw (his former Rams teammate and current Lions cornerback) Nickell Roby-Coleman. I called him the screen-killer. He always seemed to know what was coming. He showed me little tips on the iPad on how you could categorize certain things.’’

Noticing how fast Newsome processed information, Hill felt he could handle the film study techniques.

“I’m impressed because a lot of rookies don’t grasp things that fast,’’ he said. “He’s going to be a smart player. That’s really slowing the game down for him and helping him understand some things.’’

Newsome has applied the Hill film breakdown method, which helped him grab three interceptions last season and score on two of them, to studying another important Hill in this game — the lightning fast Tyreek Hill, whom Newsome will likely be covering a lot.

“Yeah, watching a bunch,’’ Newsome said. “He’s a do-it-all-guy who can get out the backfield, run some sweeps, catch the ball deep, catch it short, make it guys miss, so he’s definitely a great receiver.’’

Troy Hill just discovered last week that Newsome, the No. 26 overall pick out of Northwestern, has some wheels of his own that will come in handy Sunday. At his Pro Day, he clocked a 4.38, which should stack up pretty well against Tyreek Hill’s 4.29.

“I told him, don’t let the speed get you out of whack,’’ Hill said. “Let the game come to you. Don’t force things. He’s fast and you’re fast. Just play your technique. You’ve been training for this for so long. It’s just football at the end of the day.’’

Newsome, who beat out Greedy Williams for the starting job opposite Denzel Ward, knows what he’s up against.

“I know, he’s one of the fastest guys in the league, so I’ve got to play true to my technique and just try to just stick with him as much as I can,’’ Newsome said. “And just in our game plan, keep my eyes the right way and just stick to my technique.’’

Hill also taught Newsome to see the game through a wide lens.

“It’s being able to see more than just what I’m supposed to do,’’ Newsome said. “It’s seeing routes developing and different things happening.’’

Hill, who played in a Super Bowl with the Rams and was a key part of their No. 1 defense last season, also impressed upon him the importance of having fun and not getting freaked out by facing Hill or Mahomes in his first NFL start.

“He says practice should always be harder than the game,’’ Newsome said. “So when you get out there, trust yourself and play fast. You’ll probably make some mistakes out there. But at the end of the day, as long as you overcome it and you rebound from them, then you’ll be fine. I don’t think I’d be where I am right now without Troy Hill, putting myself in position to go out at Arrowhead and make plays.’’

Hill isn’t the only old Dawg teaching Newsome new tricks. Fellow starter Ward, who also started as first-round rookie, has helped him considerably too, urging him to focus on one specific thing to improve upon in practice instead of the avalanche of information coming at him.

“Denzel is an amazing player, one of the best corners in the league,’’ Newsome said. “I’ve been watching him since he was in college, so he definitely set the bar high. If I can even come close to what he did, I’d be satisfied.’’

In Ward’s first start as a rookie after being selected No. 4 overall in 2018 out of Ohio State, he lit it up in a 21-21 tie with the Steelers, making six tackles, grabbing two interceptions and breaking up three passes. It was the only multiple interception game of his career, and kicked off a Pro Bowl season.

“Honestly I’m really just aiming on trying to perform as best as I can every single week,’’ Newsome said. “If those things happen, then those things happen. But at the end of the day, as long as we’re winning as a team, and I’m helping the team, then I’ll be satisfied with whatever happens.’’

Newsome has also developed a close bond with Williams, beginning on draft day when Williams was one of the first players to reach out to him. During the second joint practice against the Giants last month, Williams challenged Newsome to pick off Daniel Jones in the two-minute drill to end practice early — and Newsome happily obliged. Williams ran downfield with him to celebrate in the end zone, and no one was happier than the guy who’s starting job he was taking away.

“It was a crazy moment,’’ Newsome said. “Me and Greedy, obviously have been in a competitive role all camp. We’re still in a competitive role right now. And that’s like my brother out there as well. He wants the best for me, and I want the best for him. And it’s just amazing to have somebody like that on the team. And I think that’s just how the whole DB room is as a whole. We all want to be out there playing but at the end of the day we’re all there for each other and we just want each other all to succeed.’’

Newsome has also learned a boatload from starting safety John Johnson III, who’s like another coach on the field. In camp, Johnson often schooled Newsome up after plays on his technique and

“Oh, It’s gonna, it’s gonna help a ton,’’ Newsome said of having Johnson nearby. “Sometime maybe if I’m confused, he’s the guy that willl get me right in the right place and get me in the right coverage. He’s talking pre-snap, post-snap, and things like that. So just having a leader out there who trusts me to go out there and make plays, it’s a real benefit.’’

Newsome and Johnson have also become fast friends because of their similar personalities.

“We’re just outgoing, very kind, generous people,’’ Newsome said. “He’s definitely fun to be around all the time, one of those people who’s always joking. He keeps the team never too serious. As I progress, and as I get older in the league, I’ll definitely be just like John, kind of in that same frame.’’

Newsome, voted the Maurice Bassett award winner for the most outstanding rookie in camp by the local media, was lucky to land in a tight-knit DB room full of players who are pumping him up for his debut, including safeties Grant Delpit and Ronnie Harrison Jr.

“They definitely help me to be confident because they’re going to be confident out there,’’ he said. “I’ve got to be able to stick to the standard that they set.’’

What’s more, Newsome has practiced against the likes of Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr., Anthony Schwartz, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Rashard Higgins all camp, and Baker Mayfield who fits it into tight windows.

“To have go against one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Baker Mayfield has really helped me,’’ he said. “To go up against the lineup of Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Ben Roethlisberger, I love going against great competition.’’

But Mahomes in his first time up? With the dizzying arm angles, escapability and rocket arm?

“It is crazy,’’ Newsome said. “When I got drafted here, seeing the schedule, seeing it was against the Chiefs first game, that’s just unbelievable. It’s a great opportunity as a rookie to go up against arguably one of the best teams in the league and one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

“I’m nervous before every single game, just a little. I feel like nerves is a way to show you care. I’ll definitely be nervous, but I’ll definitely be ready to play, too.”

Newsome, who played only 20 games at Northwestern including six in the pandemic-shortened season of 2020, brings the requisite short memory to the pros and knows that Mahomes will test him early on. In addition to Tyreek Hill, he’ll have to contend with 4.25 speedster Mecole Hardman.

“You never plan on getting beat, but it’s gonna happen sometimes,’’ he said. “If you do get beat, you’ve just got to have that ‘don’t get beat again’ mentality and come back and compete as best you can

Hill is confident that his mentee will rock his NFL debut.

“Coming from college, we dream about these type of things, going against Patrick Mahomes,’’ he said. “Greg’s been on an island his whole life, but he’s not an island in a way with all of us around him. I’m excited to see him play. I’m excited for myself and for all of us. I feel like a rookie myself.’’