It’s officially (almost) that time, Browns fans. On Thursday, our team in orange and brown gathered in Berea for the first official day of training camp. Following the two-hour practice, Head Coach Mike Pettine talked with the media, sharing his take on the day overall—and on some specific members of the team. The high points?
• Wait and see.
• Terrelle Pryor at WR? Definitely maybe.
• Wait and see.
Overall, Pettine told the local horde that he saw many good things from the first day of training camp—mainly the team’s focus, effort and energy:
“I think in a lot of ways it was a typical first day. I saw a lot of good things out there – most importantly, the focus, the effort and the energy. This is a shock to the system. I told them that afterwards. Our recovery from here is very important and to take care of themselves these next couple hours. No matter how hard you train over the summer, there is no way to replicate this. I thought our guys handled it well. We threw a lot at them from a physical standpoint and from a mental standpoint. It was clear to see that our guys were in shape and they got in their books over the summer. I will reserve final judgment until I watch the film as always. My first impression was that it was a good start.”
Speaking of a “shock to the system,” Pettine explained that the first day of training camp was shortened to only two hours in an effort to help players acclimate to the busy practice schedule—and to hopefully prevent injuries down the line.
Also still a bit of a shock to the system for some of us? Imagining former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor playing at wide receiver. Even Pettine admitted he found himself watching Pryor more than he typically might, and had this to say on his first-day performance:
“He is a big, explosive athlete. We all saw that he catches the ball. He has a lot to learn. Getting off of press coverage, that will be a big thing once we get the pads on Saturday. I thought it was a solid first step for him. I think he would have some confidence coming out of today. I think a lot of credit to (wide receivers coach) Joker Phillips, who has taken him as his position coach, getting him schooled up and has been trying to get him caught up to speed. I think he has done a nice job of getting him lined up and knowing what he is supposed to do. We’ll see. It’s certainly going to be a progression. I thought it was a good start for Terrelle.”
And when it comes to those quarterbacks, Pettine said it’s a toss up between league veteran Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel—and that we should all (you guessed it) wait and see:
“It is hard to say. There were some good balls thrown out there (…) I will reserve that judgement again until I watch the tape. I thought both those guys did some good things. What I liked about it, regardless after the ball was snapped, is the command in the huddle and the knowledge of the offense and to be able to take a play and if a guy was lined up wrong and move him and just the way the plays are being called and the cadence. Sometimes that takes some time. We’re further ahead this year than we were a year ago with that for all the quarterbacks.”
Elsewhere in the line-up, Pettine said that the coaching staff and team trainers are keeping a close eye on a handful of players, hoping to cut-down on the risk of re-aggravating old injuries during training camp. When it comes to offensive lineman Alex Mack, Pettine and staff are paying close attention—and noting the importance of open communication:
“If he needs a day, if he needs some reps, if he needs to cut some time back. He knows his body better than anybody else. We will depend on him to let us know when he does need to scale it back. We’ve used the phrase ‘Save him from himself’ before. That might be the case. I think he will be smart about it. He will be smart about it.”
Some players, like veteran defensive lineman Phil Taylor, did not participate in yesterday’s conditioning test for “injury reasons,” but will do extra conditioning with the team’s strength and conditioning staff later. “He is still on very much a limited basis,” Pettine said of Taylor. “His team reps, we will determine those each day just with where he is with it.”
And, looking to new team acquisitions, Pettine told the media he expects big things from wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, who joined the Browns this season after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs:
“A proven veteran who has had solid NFL production. It’s a skillset that we need to have in that room. You look at having some of the other smaller, explosive guys – Hawk (WR Andrew Hawkins) and Gabe (WR Taylor Gabriel); (WR Travis) Benjamin is a little bit bigger but not much – that you need that big receiver that can make a contested catch. He does an excellent job on the back-shoulder throws. He made one today. He does a real nice job getting his feet down. Obviously, he’s shown why we brought him here.”
The Browns take the field for training camp again today in Berea, and the season officially kicks off on September 13 against the New York Jets—less than 44 days away. What happens between now and then? Just wait and see, Cleveland.