Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[osugrad21]

DDN

Browns rookie linebacker turning heads at camp

Seveth-round pick Hall is showing the size and speed that could win him a role chasing the other teams' QB.

By George M. Thomas
Akron Beacon Journal

Sunday, August 03, 2008
CLEVELAND ? Everyone has to go looking for linebacker Alex Hall.
His college football coach found him at a recruiting fair in Hall's home state of Maryland, and the Browns found him in the seventh round of the NFL Draft in April at the tiny Division II school of St. Augustine College in Raleigh, N.C. Ultimately, they might be glad they did.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound prospect has caused a couple of double takes at the Browns' training camp.
Possessing size and speed, he might develop into a pass-rushing specialist. In the Browns' practice in front of more than 26,000 fans at Family Night on Friday, he showcased those skills by getting a sack.
Hall confessed that he was a bit overwhelmed when he arrived in Berea, but that is changing.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Receiver Wilson fulfilling potential Consistent performance impressing his coaches, improving his chances
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Monday, Aug 04, 2008
http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/ BEREA: Every so often, Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel reminds you that he comes from the Bills School of Coaching.
That would be the often-critical Parcells and Belichick.
Take, for instance, the case of wide receiver Travis Wilson.
Selected in the third round of the 2006 draft out of the University of Oklahoma, Wilson arrived with the potential to be a productive pro receiver. Last year, however, he spent every game on the inactive list after some thought he had come on toward the end of his rookie season.
Crennel said Wilson's high draft status might have made him think he could go on cruise control in year two and that Wilson did not understand what it took to succeed in the NFL.
Ouch.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Browns like what little-known rookie linebacker Alex Hall has to offer

Rookie linebacker a pleasant surprise
Monday, August 04, 2008 Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter

Browns General Manager Phil Savage will never forget the moment he became convinced that little-known rookie linebacker Alex Hall was going to become a longtime NFL player.
It was the Wednesday before the NFL draft, when most GMs are watching last-minute film and putting the finishing touches on their draft boards.
But Savage, without any picks in the first three rounds, had extra time on his hands, so he flew to Maryland to work out a lanky defensive end that scout Bobby Vega felt could become a good outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Browns defensive end Corey Williams adjusting to role in 3-4 defense

Monday, August 04, 2008 Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter

Defensive end Corey Williams returned to practice Sunday a wiser man after a week off with a shoulder injury.
"It gave me time enough to learn the defense, get it down pat, and once I get back out there on the field at full-go, I'll know more about what I'm doing than before," said Williams. "I was kind of learning and not moving as fast. Now, I can fly around and do what I do."
Williams, acquired in a trade with Green Bay for a second-round pick, said before he got hurt that he was struggling to absorb the 3-4 scheme. But he spent his downtime boning up on his new role.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Anderson develops touch on rocket arm
Monday, August 4, 2008
BY Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

BEREA A 9-year-old boy with an autograph pad turned whiny as he leaned over a gallery rope halfway through Sunday's sun-baked practice.

"I want this to be over," he moaned.

It was a slow camp Sunday, one of the laziest days of training camp for fans.

One thing that always snaps awake anyone in the vicinity, though, is the thwack of a Derek Anderson fastball into the meat of a receiver's hands.

The slim man whips spirals hard enough to make a grown man cry.

"I mean, Derek's a gunslinger," said Jerome Harrison, one of the team's budding home-run targets.

Running back Jamal Lewis, who caught 30 passes in 2007 to complement his 1,304 rushing yards, raises his eyebrows when asked about Anderson's "fastball."

"For the running backs ... we're the closest ones to him," Lewis said. "He kind of has to take a little zip off it.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns notebook: Buchtel coach keeps tabs on Browns
Monday, August 4, 2008
BY Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

BEREA The face looks familiar. Yep, that's Ricky Powers, Northeast Ohio high school football legend.

Powers showed up Sunday at Browns training camp, mixing business with pleasure.

He played for Bill Belichick's Browns in 1995, and he likes to keep up with the current team.

These days, Powers has his own team, alma mater Akron Buchtel. He enters his second year as head coach two decades after helping Buchtel eliminate Canton South in the latter's first playoff appearance.

Powers brought his Griffins to Berea to help get ready for a season opener at Massillon.

"One big thing is, our kids have to learn how to practice," said Powers, eager to improve on a 2-8 year. "What better place? You've got an NFL team 30 minutes away.

"I have a couple connections up here, which helps out."
Cont...

 

[paddio]

Here is a Browns preview I have been working on

Cleveland Browns Preview

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Cleveland Browns conclude Day 12 morning practice
by Tony Grossi Plain Dealer Reporter
Monday August 04, 2008, 12:34 PM
Marvin Fong/The Plain Dealer
Travis Wilson has looked good so far in camp.Observations after the morning practice on Day 12 ...

? There's nothing more majestic on the Browns' practice field than a Derek Anderson long ball aimed for Braylon Edwards. Anderson launched two perfect spirals for No. 17. On the first, Edwards easily beat cornerback A.J. Davis and tucked it in. On the second, Edwards soared between Davis and safety Nick Sorensen for the grab.

? On the other hand, coaches ought to just instruct the quarterbacks not to aim the ball lower than Edwards' waist. He's simply a different receiver on the low balls. Dropped two of them today. Edwards has talked about wanting to run with the ball too soon and losing his concentration on the easy ones. When he conquers that mentality, Edwards truly will be considered with the elite receivers.

? Line coach Steve Marshall is fourth-quarter hoarse by 9 in the morning. After consecutive false starts by guard Eric Steinbach and tackle Isaac Sowells in a red zone running drill, Marshall hollered, "Next guy who jumps, the whole (expletive) group runs." That put an end to the false starts. Really, it's one thing to suffer false starts in a noisy enironment on the road. But on the practice field?

? Kellen Winslow and Josh Cribbs were still held out with hamstring injuries. They joined tight end Steve Heiden (knee), fullback Lawrence Vickers (hamstring), guard Seth McKinney (ankle) and safety Gary Baxter (knees).

? As the exhibition schedule kicks off on Thursday, Jereme Perry still holds the advantage for the fourth cornerback spot with A.J. Davis running second.

Continued

Until Edwards starts catching everything that is thrown his way, he will not be one of the elite receivers in the league. He has to start catching those low throws.

It is nice to see from the articles above that DA is starting to put some touch on his short throws. That was something that he was lacking last year.

Looks like McGinnis and McMillan will get the first shots until Peek is ready to come back. Would not mind seeing Hall getting a shadow over there but I guess someone has to backup Wimbley.

 

[LitlBuck]

Here is a Browns preview I have been working on

Cleveland Browns Preview

Looks like it might be a worthwhile read but I am having problems reading it with the font color being black on a black background. IMO It probably would be easier on the eyes if the font color was white but maybe that's just me. Orange would not do the trick either because that is one of the difficulties with the Browns web site.

 

[DGADBTWSOM]

Looks like it might be a worthwhile read but I am having problems reading it with the font color being black on a black background. IMO It probably would be easier on the eyes if the font color was white but maybe that's just me. Orange would not do the trick either because that is one of the difficulties with the Browns web site.

Agreed, I had to highlight the text to read it.

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland Browns Preview

While most of the time I think the Browns are going to win every game, I do not think they will win the Dallas game or Indianapolis even though those two games are at home and I will wait to see how the Giants progress before predicting a Brown's victory. However saying that, I do not think they will lose to the Steelers away, at Buffalo, or at Philadelphia. Actually, it is way too early to make predictions on victories and losses in the NFL because so many things can happen. I hope you are aware that Casey Hampton was put on the PUP list last week.

 

[paddio]

thanks for the input guys...I have the background as Brown. Not sure why it is showing up Black? I will try to fix it

 

[paddio]

While most of the time I think the Browns are going to win every game, I do not think they will win the Dallas game or Indianapolis even though those two games are at home and I will wait to see how the Giants progress before predicting a Brown's victory. However saying that, I do not think they will lose to the Steelers away, at Buffalo, or at Philadelphia. Actually, it is way too early to make predictions on victories and losses in the NFL because so many things can happen. I hope you are aware that Casey Hampton was put on the PUP list last week.

I also agree that predicting the whole season is kind of crazy...more for fun than anything. I have gotten alot of feedback about the predictions amazing how we all differ slightly, and you are the first to say we win at Pittsburgh... I hope you are right there!!!

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Quinn to get bulk of playing time vs. Jets
Posted by Mary Kay Cabot August 04, 2008 21:46PM
Categories: Browns
Marvin Fong/The Plain Dealer

Brady Quinn's play has been somewhat erratic so far in training camp.Brady Quinn, who's been somewhat in erratic in camp so far, might get an entire half of Thursday night's game against the Jets to get his rhythm going.

"When we take Derek Anderson out, we'll put Brady in, maybe a half," said coach Romeo Crennel.

Crennel said he'll play the starters for about a quarter, maybe a little more. Quinn will then play in the second and third quarters and Ken Dorsey will play the fourth.

When Quinn plays, most of the first-teamers such as Braylon Edwards and Donte' Stallworth will be on the sidelines. He'll be throwing primarily to Travis Wilson, Syndric Steptoe and Efrem Hill. If Josh Cribbs is recovered enough from a pulled hamstring to play, Quinn might also have him as a target.

But with key players such as tight ends Kellen Winslow (hamstring) and Steve Heiden (knee), and receiver Kevin Kasper (hamstring) limited in practice, Quinn will be down to some of the third-teamers during his stint. Still it will be a good chance to redeem himself from Family Fun Night at the Stadium, where his initial team drill ended in an interception by Eric Wright.

Bell sidelined: Linebacker Beau Bell was idle in Monday's night session with a sore knee, but said he'll be back on today. He wore a sleeve on the knee and stood on the sidelines during practice. . . . Cribbs returned for the night session after missing the morning, but sat out team drills. Steptoe and CB Brandon McDonald might return punts Thursday to spare Cribbs' hamstring.

Obama watch: Senator Barack Obama will speak at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea this afternoon and parking for Browns practice (2:30-4:30 p.m.) will be very limited. Doors for the speech open at noon.
Winslow idle: Winslow has sat out the past four practices with the hamstring pull and might be limited against the Jets -- if he plays at all. "He's still a little sore and we're just resting him," said Crennel.

Heiden returned to practice Monday wearing a knee brace, but with the top two tight ends limited, the other three in camp have been getting plenty of work. In the order they appear on the depth chart, they are seven-year vet Darnell Dinkins, third-year pro Brad Cieslak and rookie Martin Rucker, the Browns' fourth-round pick from Missouri.

Cieslak, who was signed to the Browns' practice squad last December, has been working with the second team and catching a lot of passes from Quinn. So far, the staff has been impressed.

"He's an all-around guy," said Crennel. "We've played him at fullback and we've played him at backup tight end. He's smart and he can kind of do it all. That increases his value because he can do more things."

Nickel man: Safety Mike Adams appears to be holding down the starting nickel-back job and holding off newcomer Terry Cousin. Adams has been lining up with the first team in the pivotal role, one that will be watched closely during the preseason games.

"I'm still competing," said Adams. "Terry's been around a long time. But it's not new to me. I did it my second year in San Francisco and it was my best year. You have to be able to take the heat at that spot, but I like the challenge."

Kasper no ghost: Kasper was off to a fine start in camp, even serving as the No. 2 receiver before suffering a hamstring injury that kept him out more than a week. He's back in uniform, but is skipping team drills and is questionable for Thursday.

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

No more free passes for Browns WR Wilson
Posted by Tony Grossi August 04, 2008 21:03PM
Categories: Browns

You're probably thinking that it's put-up-or-shut-up time for Travis Wilson.
That the free passes for the third-year receiver are used up.

That suiting up for four games in two years caused the third-round pick from Oklahoma to regret saying he was the best receiver in the 2006 draft.

Well, you would be right on the first two but not the third.

"It is put up or shut up for me," Wilson said Monday. "I realize that and I'm not afraid of the challenge.

"They could have brought in 20 new receivers or none, [and] I would say this is my year. I've got to stand up and man up and handle business."
Now, about regretting the comment Wilson made when he was drafted.
"Not at all," he said. "I don't take none of that back. Way I look at it, I haven't had the opportunity to show anyone. When I get out there, hopefully, I'll excel, and those two years will be forgotten."

Wilson's brash talk could be brushed off as bravado if not for the new demeanor he has shown at his third Browns camp. He is relaxed, confident and, so far, productive.

For the first time, Wilson is in a fight for his roster spot. New additions Donte' Stallworth, Kevin Kasper and rookie Paul Hubbard figured to put the squeeze on Wilson's entitlement.

When everyone was healthy, the Browns' receiving corps lined up deeper than any in the past 10 years. Wilson was one of seven receivers competing for probably the last two spots.

But then Joe Jurevicius suffered complications with a staph infection in a knee and was idled at least through two months of the season, creating a new opening. Kasper seized the early lead for the No. 3 role, but he missed a week with a hamstring injury. Wilson took advantage.

"Travis has had a particularly good OTA period [in May and June]," coach Romeo Crennel said. "He began to show up and make some plays, and I think that's carried over to training camp here because when the ball comes his way he's been catching them."

Coaches chart every catch and drop in every drill. Crennel said that Wilson's numbers "prove that he's dropping fewer and catching more."

Wilson said there's more to his good camp than merely catching passes.
"I've matured off the field, as far as learning all my plays, learning the offense inside out," he said. "I can play faster now. I've been playing football since I was little. But now that I'm not second-guessing myself on the plays, I can move around and have fun. That's the biggest difference from last year."