Training Camp Report Aug 4
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Rookie TJ Ward Drawing Rave Reviews From Teammates
Written By: Scott
The Browns have only completed three-plus days of full-team drills, but rookie safety TJ Ward has already been turning a few heads in Berea. Whether he is playing in the passing lanes or forcing and recovering fumbles, Ward has stepped in with the first team defense right out of the gate and has not looked back.
Ward’s teammate and fellow starting stafety Abram Elam has taken note of the rookie’s progress since being drafted this past April and was quick to acknowledge how far his new colleague has come in such a short time.
“T.J.’s a great competitor and he has the will to learn,” said Elam. ”With those two things, you can be successful in this league. I’m just admiring going to work with T.J. each and every day because he wants to get better.”
Drafted with the sixth pick in the second round, many questioned the Browns’ decision as Ward not only had little name recognition, but was also the victim of an injury that hampered a significant portion of his collegiate career. The big knock against Ward coming out of Oregon was his size and lack of “big play” ability – mostly due to his low interception total.
However, now a member of the Orange and Brown, Ward has become quite familiar with the big plays.
During Wednesday’s morning session, quarterback Jake Delhomme hit Jerome Harrison with a pass to the sidelines which appeared to be destined for pay dirt. Ward instinctively played Harrison with a pursuit angle where the two players met at the five-yard line. The rookie safety not only jarred the football loose, but managed to recover the fumble as well.
A fumble recovery two days prior resulted in running back Chris Jennings running a lap. And while he has had his fair share of mishaps in the passing game, Ward continues to show his teammates and coaches that he is ready to step into a starting, contributing role come Week 1 of the regular season.
“[As a starter], you have to be a leader and you have to be vocal and sometimes,” said Elam. “As a young guy, you are fresh in so you really don’t know your role. T.J.’s really progressing and that’s something that he’s been assertive in and he’s doing a good job.”
Other tidbits from this morning’s training camp:
- Lane Adkins from The OBR noted this morning that cornerback Joe Haden continues to impress. He broke up multiple passes and showed stout abilities in run defense.
- Gerard Lawson had an excellent session, intercepting a pass from Seneca Wallace and then busting out a pick-six against Colt McCoy. He celebrated the touchdown by taking pictures of his abs for his Twitter avatar*.
- While he’s had a few passes broken up or intercepted, quarterback Jake Delhomme continues to be categorized as “accurate.” As I mentioned yesterday as well as this morning, the approach in grading Delhomme has been humorous at times. When the quarterback is successful, some want to peg it on a week defense. When he isn’t as lucky, it is allegedly a giant red flag. I understand that he isn’t the quarterback of the future, but fans really should at least give the guy a chance.
- And finally, an interesting development today had the first-team right side of the offensive line featuring rookie Shaun Lauvao at guard and newly acquired Tony Pashos at tackle. Last season’s starters Floyd Womack and John St. Clair spent a lot of Wednesday morning with the second team. Coincidentally, it was the right side of the line that cost the Browns many plays last season. Lauvao has also been spending some time at center with the second team giving the kid a ton of opportunity to succeed.
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Yeah, they have Lauvao everywhere. Today on the way into work, I seen him supervising the road construction around Berea.
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Im really loving that T.J. is lighting it up he was the pick i had the most worries as well as felt the best about he reminds of someone who just wants to wreck you if you come across the middle or can defentily stop the run which are safties havent been known to do....Thanks for the updates
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every time i hear the name TJ Ward all i can think about is that hit he put on that QB from USO? dude flys in every time with baaaad intentions. Something thats been missing in the browns secondary for some time
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Does anyone know the status of Coye Francies?
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Does anyone know the status of Coye Francies?
Does anyone know the status of Coye Francies?
He's been training for the Tour De France
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Does anyone know the status of Coye Francies?
Does anyone know the status of Coye Francies?
as far as i can tell from nfl.com and clevelands official site he's still on the active roster
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Oh because i seen him out at camp today and was wondering his status? Because I remember some had high hopes for him..
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Oh because i seen him out at camp today and was wondering his status? Because I remember some had high hopes for him..
Oh because i seen him out at camp today and was wondering his status? Because I remember some had high hopes for him..
high hopes for a 6th round pick from a year ago? maybe 2-3 years down the line
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Yeah I suppose your right. Well people on here were fussing about why they haven't seen more of him last year.
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Oh because i seen him out at camp today and was wondering his status? Because I remember some had high hopes for him..
high hopes for a 6th round pick from a year ago? maybe 2-3 years down the line
high hopes for a 6th round pick from a year ago? maybe 2-3 years down the line
Honestly I would have no idea who the guy was if it wasn't for playing Madden haha. He was always on my special teams by default and getting freaking holding flags every time I would run one back with Cribbs! Pissed me off
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Yeah, they have Lauvao everywhere. Today on the way into work, I seen him supervising the road construction around Berea.
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As I mentioned yesterday as well as this morning, the approach in grading Delhomme has been humorous at times. When the quarterback is successful, some want to peg it on a week defense. When he isn’t as lucky, it is allegedly a giant red flag. I understand that he isn’t the quarterback of the future, but fans really should at least give the guy a chance.
you could substitute wknr for the word fans in that quote. i've never seen one station that is filled with so many haters who don't have the ability to be rational.
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Francies played really well with some big hits last preseason then dissappeared once the regular season began...
If they're not playing regulary, 6th rounders don't usually last 2-3 years....
If I remember correctly this kid had a lot of people talking.
Peace
T.Dawg
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every time i hear the name TJ Ward all i can think about is that hit he put on that QB from USO? dude flys in every time with baaaad intentions. Something thats been missing in the browns secondary for some time
every time i hear the name TJ Ward all i can think about is that hit he put on that QB from USO? dude flys in every time with baaaad intentions. Something thats been missing in the browns secondary for some time
its things like this that need to strike fear into the hearts of any opposing team.
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Exciting news on TJ Ward. I was one of the folks who was jazzed when we picked him and didn't frown on it at all because you could see the kid has the physical tools to be a good safety. Of course, this is all just practice...but still, nice to see him already applying himself.
Onto the Francies question....he was amongst those still recovering on the PUP list per an article i read somewhere along with Rogers and another older defesive linemen we got from the Jets. I liked Francies aggresiveness last year during preseason but he's going to have a struggle making this team. Quality depth is a GOOD thing though...
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Exciting news on TJ Ward. I was one of the folks who was jazzed when we picked him and didn't frown on it at all because you could see the kid has the physical tools to be a good safety. Of course, this is all just practice...but still, nice to see him already applying himself.
Onto the Francies question....he was amongst those still recovering on the PUP list per an article i read somewhere along with Rogers and another older defesive linemen we got from the Jets. I liked Francies aggresiveness last year during preseason but he's going to have a struggle making this team. Quality depth is a GOOD thing though...
Exciting news on TJ Ward. I was one of the folks who was jazzed when we picked him and didn't frown on it at all because you could see the kid has the physical tools to be a good safety. Of course, this is all just practice...but still, nice to see him already applying himself.
Onto the Francies question....he was amongst those still recovering on the PUP list per an article i read somewhere along with Rogers and another older defesive linemen we got from the Jets. I liked Francies aggresiveness last year during preseason but he's going to have a struggle making this team. Quality depth is a GOOD thing though...
something we've been lacking at most positions for too many years
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Exciting news on TJ Ward. I was one of the folks who was jazzed when we picked him and didn't frown on it at all because you could see the kid has the physical tools to be a good safety. Of course, this is all just practice...but still, nice to see him already applying himself.
Onto the Francies question....he was amongst those still recovering on the PUP list per an article i read somewhere along with Rogers and another older defesive linemen we got from the Jets. I liked Francies aggresiveness last year during preseason but he's going to have a struggle making this team. Quality depth is a GOOD thing though...
something we've been lacking at most positions for too many years
something we've been lacking at most positions for too many years
Too true! This is one of the fantastic benefits of having Holmgren and Heckert on board. They know how to build a team and then maintain it after they've added some pieces. I LOVE the fact we have Brandon MacDonald as our 4th cb because while he isn't awesome, he's a hell of a 4th CB.
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something we've been lacking at most positions for too many years
Too true! This is one of the fantastic benefits of having Holmgren and Heckert on board. They know how to build a team and then maintain it after they've added some pieces. I LOVE the fact we have Brandon MacDonald as our 4th cb because while he isn't awesome, he's a hell of a 4th CB.
Too true! This is one of the fantastic benefits of having Holmgren and Heckert on board. They know how to build a team and then maintain it after they've added some pieces. I LOVE the fact we have Brandon MacDonald as our 4th cb because while he isn't awesome, he's a hell of a 4th CB.
id be fine with him playing inside against 3 wide sets.... but i guess joe or shelly will do just fine haha. add one more young cb next year that can step in when brown desides to hang em up and we've got incredible depth at cb, lb, dl, rb, and qb. not doing bad at OL either but i think we're a couple of pieces short
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