Mini-Camp reports

? Aloysius

According to theOBR, OG Marlon Davis and WR Jordan Norwood were the two UDFA's that stood out. Both were described as being explosive off the snap, with Norwood receiving additional praise for his soft hands and big league athleticism. Sounds like both of those guys were great pickups.

damajuki

It's impossible to know what these reports mean and though it's a bit silly to get excited about the first day of rookie mini-camp, it's hard not to feel like there's been a real paradigm shift in the Browns universe.

I get the feel from the reports that even this first practice was high energy, guys seem to feel good.

Real or not, it's nice to feel like there's something HAPPENING in Berea right now.

Man, I hate summer. Is it fall yet?

Riffer X

I was thinking last night that Mo Mas must have impressed the hell out of Mancock when they brought him in for the last minute workout. I loved his interview on the radio and they must have thought highly of him to take him right after Robiskie like that, like too good to pass up type stuff. Who wants to bet both he and Robo are better pros than Heyward-Bey?

After watching this little Norwood on video man I gotta say I'm quite intrigued by him. To me, he looks like a much more explosive slot guy than Steptoe.

Best believe Harrell is there for real. If he looks decent enough as a project that could help trigger a Dexter trade and make him our number three.

hoorta

Article in the Dayton Daily News today about Harrell. Threw a ton of TD passes, played in a spread offense, needs to add bulk to make it in the NFL, not the strongest arm in town.

Harrell Article

Gips

Ive seen enough footage of davis to know he was a draft steal if there is a hole to hit he will hit it with authority and cut for extra yards he is going to be a fantastic ball control piece and short yardage back...

crikes

Do you think he will be like a Lee Suggs and disappear quickly?

We need Tom Tupa

from pft:

CLEVELAND BROWNS SATURDAY MINICAMP REPORT

Posted by Aaron Wilson on May 2, 2009, 12:55 p.m. EDT

Here’s a look at the Cleveland Browns’ rookie minicamp, in One-Liner style.

Rookie WR Brian Robiskie had to run a lap after dropping a punt, a sign of the changing atmosphere under new coach Eric Mangini.

The Browns will have officials at every practice to emphasize avoiding penalties and will track penalties for the entire season.

Former Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell, who’s trying out for the Browns this weekend, didn’t have as much zip on his throws as Richard Bartel.

Second-round OLB David Veikune drew praise from Eric Mangini for his agility and aggressiveness in practice drills as he transitions from defensive end.

First-round C Alex Mack said he’s ready to roll up his sleeves and get to work after being drafted 18th overall.

(click through for the links in each line)

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/05/02/...inicamp-report/

YtownBrownsBacker

@crikes said:
Do you think he will be like a Lee Suggs and disappear quickly?

Lee Suggs disappeared because of injury problems,not because of talent problems. He couldn't stay healthy.

Then again, they got Suggs because he was coming off an injury and fell in the draft. That isn't the case here.

ballpeen

I will add this report from Doerschuk here......

By Steve Doerschuk

CantonRep.com staff report

Posted May 02, 2009 @ 05:24 PM

Last update May 02, 2009 @ 09:22 PM

BEREA —

Joshua Cribbs was one of two Browns veterans selected to address about 40 rookies at an evening function Head Coach Eric Mangini called “one of my favorite days of the year.”

Cribbs has made the same strong impression on the new regime as he did on the previous one. Mangini is openly entertaining the question: What can Cribbs be given to do that the previous regime did not explore?

Cribbs hasn’t played a down of defense in his four seasons with the Browns, but he has been digesting the system being installed by Mangini.

“I owe him a quiz,” Mangini said with a provocative smile. “He says he’s got a couple of the defenses down cold. ... We’ll see.”

Cribbs chose Kent State University because its head coach, Dean Pees, told him he could play his favorite position — quarterback. By 2005, when Cribbs was fighting to make the Browns as an undrafted rookie, Pees was a defensive assistant with the New England Patriots. The Patriots’ defensive coordinator was Mangini.

Pees believed Cribbs could have been an elite corner or safety in college. He said so during last year’s Super Bowl after he had taken over as New England’s defensive coordinator.

Now, a month short of his 26th birthday, Cribbs is getting his most extensive audition as a defensive player.

“We’re not sure whether he’ll be exclusively on offense or exclusively on defense or a little bit of both,” Mangini said.

The other current player who spoke to the rookies Saturday was Kamerion Wimbley. That was the first indication Mangini sees Wimbley, a 2006 Round 1 pick, as a vital part of the roster.

What did Mangini ask Cribbs and Wimbley to say?

“It’s more about the spirit of football,” Mangini said. “Why we play football, appreciating all the people who have come before them.”

A few bottom-of-the-roster players who finished 2008 affiliated with Romeo Crennel’s Browns practiced Saturday. They included Lance Leggett, Melila Purcell and Kurt Quarterman.

Otherwise, the weekend practice were for rookies, including a large group that treated it like a Super Bowl. They were players invited in for a three-day tryout.

Two of them, Jerry Major of Wake Forest and Michael Waddell of North Carolina, were crammed into a single locker, under laminated paper name tags, between the unoccupied stalls of veterans Shaun Rogers and Robaire Smith.

The most notable change in the locker room, perhaps, is Brady Quinn’s new stall. In the previous two seasons, Quinn’s perch was just inside the locker room entrance, a few feet from Derek Anderson’s.

Now, Quinn’s stall has moved to a place where he and Anderson can’t see each other unless they peek around a corner.

From his new digs, Quinn can look across the isle and look straight into Braylon Edwards’ eyes.

--------------

Earl34 · Posted May 02, 2009 @ 05:24 PM

@ballpeen said:
Cribbs has made the same strong impression on the new regime as he did on the previous one. Mangini is openly entertaining the question: What can Cribbs be given to do that the previous regime did not explore?
Pees believed Cribbs could have been an elite corner or safety in college. He said so during last year’s Super Bowl after he had taken over as New England’s defensive coordinator.

Do you know who had the idea of making Troy Brown the Patriots nickel back when their secondary was decimated by injuries (and made it happen)? Yep. It was the current HC of the Browns. I like it.

ballpeen

I know that Ed and myself have felt Cribbs could be a terrific safety for some time.

I am anxious to see how that works out.

Riffer X

@ballpeen said:
I know that Ed and myself have felt Cribbs could be a terrific safety for some time.
I am anxious to see how that works out.

My question regarding this has always been how exactly do you use him there?

This guy is a great return man and could be a huge addition to the offense if this staff figures out how to utilize him correctly. He's the best we have at covering kicks and one of the best if not the best overall special teamers in the league.

He is not a straight up wide out or slot guy, it's just not natural for him and doesn't fully utilize his unique abilities. I want to see him lined up in the backfield and as a wingback type or in two back sets. This guy can drive defenses nuts if used correctly and players like Harrison could truly prosper.

Are we going to lose him at ST's or offense by converting him to safety? He certainly can't be expected to do it all because ST's take a lot out of a player's stamina. Would he be a situational guy on defense? If so, what situations is he used in, dime sets?

I just don't see how he can be used on defense without taking away from the rest of his game, and I'm not just talking about hail mary sets.

ballpeen

First, most guys don't stay kick returners for the duration of their career if you want them to be around more than 4-5 years. Sooner or later Cribbs needs to get away from that.

I know Cribbs has been a guy we want on offense, but the bottom line is something is keeping him for doing that. I suspect his hands just aren't up to NFL standard. If catching the ball is a issue with the guy, then he isn't going to be a viable offensive option.

How do we use him on D?? Call him a safety, work him as a safety, and make him play that position if he wants to be more than a kick retirner.

Cribbs has more than enough speed for the position. You don't have to have the same cover skills as a corner(which he doesn't, though I bet he is pretty good) and he is a proven, sure tackler who isn't afraid to lay a lick and stick his body in to the scrum.

You just see him as a offensive player. If you forget all of that and start thinking of him as a defensive player, I think you will warm up to the idea as well.

Let me ask you this...what about him makes you think he can't be a solid defensive player??

I don't want to hear about how you think he would be better on O...tell me why he can't play D??

Riffer X

@ballpeen said:
First, most guys don't stay kick returners for the duration of their career if you want them to be around more than 4-5 years. Sooner or later Cribbs needs to get away from that.
I know Cribbs has been a guy we want on offense, but the bottom line is something is keeping him for doing that. I suspect his hands just aren't up to NFL standard. If catching the ball is a issue with the guy, then he isn't going to be a viable offensive option.

How do we use him on D?? Call him a safety, work him as a safety, and make him play that position if he wants to be more than a kick retirner.

Cribbs has more than enough speed for the position. You don't have to have the same cover skills as a corner(which he doesn't, though I bet he is pretty good) and he is a proven, sure tackler who isn't afraid to lay a lick and stick his body in to the scrum.

You just see him as a offensive player. If you forget all of that and start thinking of him as a defensive player, I think you will warm up to the idea as well.

Let me ask you this...what about him makes you think he can't be a solid defensive player??

I don't want to hear about how you think he would be better on O...tell me why he can't play D??

I have no doubts he can play defense effectively and my buddy who coached against him at Akron thinks he can also. My point is this: Is he going to be that much better than the next guy to justify playing him fulltime at safety? Say he were to become a starter there, do you think he would play anywhere else at that point? If he doesn't, he better be Pro Bowl caliber or better to take him away from everything else he does.

As I said, he hasn't been used correctly on offense yet. He does have suspect hands and is not the best route runner. I want him used where he gets the ball in space and on misdirections etc. Just having him lined up in the backfield or wingback creates all kinds of havoc on a defense. In my mind his impact on an offense and ST's is potentially much greater than on defense over the long haul.

His abilities have turned fans into expecting him to be superman and there is only so much one guy can do, this isn't high school. Right now, his talents are on ST's and offense, especially if this staff uses him more effectively than RAC 'n ROLLS did.

I love thinking about offensive sets with the following:

QB Quinn

RB Harrison

Hybrid Wingback/Tailback Cribbs

WR Edwards, Robiskie

TE Royal and or Rucker

LT Thomas

LG Steinbach

C Mack

RG Tucker

RT camp winner

That's explosive with all kinds of possibilities. Edwards and Robo could stretch the field and let Harrison and Cribbs get turned loose in the intermediate or the TE is sitting free in the middle of the field. For whatever reason the talk has died regarding Cribbs on offense over the offseason but Mangini is not stupid, he has to have major plans for Harrison and Cribbs. You could also substitute the TE with a slot guy like Patten or Norwood to wreak more havoc on defenses with that set. Plus, Quinn is not an immobile imbecile that throws the ball immediately to his first progression without letting a play develop like a certain Oregonite. They can be great relief valves as Quinn creates time with his escapability.

This can potentially be a dynamic offense this year and Cribbs could be a huge part of it. I understand that the kick return thing is not forever, but he certainly isn't ready to relinquish that yet.

ballpeen

If he becomes a good but not all-pro safety...that is better than being a all-pro special teamer.

JMO

Plus...just because he played D doesn't mean he couldn't return a kick or cover a punt.

If he was on the starting D, I would rather him not covering kicks...why sprint him 60 yards, then line him up on D the next play.

ballpeen

Good stuff.

Davis really shouldn't be a surprise...he has been quick to the hole for a while...we really haven't had a back like him since possibly Byner back in the day.

I don't usually get gaga over rookies, especially late round picks, but this guy could gain 1200 yards for us this year if given the carries.

I will be shocked if Davis isn't by year end our #1 back.

ballpeen

I know we have seen vids before, but this was was pretty good IMO. It gives a good idea of Davis' burst to the hole and his ability to make a quick cut to break it loose.

ballpeen

That one is pretty sweet. You can look at the helmets, and if you let the imagination wander just a bit, you can see that in a Browns uniform.

Those navy blue stripes aren't hard to imagine in brown.

calfoxwc

Shep said what I thought. "How is this kid there for the Browns to draft the second day?"

You have to smile at his instincts as a rb, an Ernest Byner comparison doesn't seem far-fetched at all.

He looks far more elusive in the open field than most would imagine a rb drafted so late could do, I think.

Brilliant choice, and lucky he was there. Seems like a kid who will be labeled a huge steal for the Browns.

Gotta love it.

Canton Mike

@shepwrite said:
With all the science, it still happens. Kids still get drafted way later than their talent suggests and it always confuses me. There's a Who's Not list of backs drafted ahead of this guys and, again... I don't get it. Right size, right speed, explosive, natural cutback runner... how is that available in round 6?
But it happens every damn year.

It does indeed happen....nice to see it happen to the Browns this time..or so it seems.

Mike