Browns News and Notes for 7/23

Jun 4, 2013; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns linebacker Jabaal Sheard (97) goes through drills during minicamp at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

Today, the local media had access to the coordinators of the Browns and here are a few of the tidbits they mentioned

Norv Turner, offensive coordinator

Turner expects Brandon Weeden to play at a high level this year as well as saying this system is quarterback friendly.  He also said he likes the quarterback situation.  Turner believes that Weeden has made progress.  Translation: Weeden has 16 games to prove it or he is going to be replaced.  To Weeden’s credit, he has never asked for excuses or expected any.  He handles himself like a professional in that respect.  However, the precedent has been set.  The expectation is high.  They need good quarterback play immediately from him.

He mentioned the Browns will likely use a traditional fullback in their offense.  This should not be a terribly big surprise given the lack of options they have at tight end.  Even though they like Jordan Cameron and have been touting Gary Barnidge as a potential surprise, putting a legitimate fullback in front of Trent Richardson is easy and effective.  It is unclear who that will be, but Turner mentioned that Chris Ogbannaya could handle some of those duties.

Speaking of Richardson, they mentioned that they have tweaked Richardson’s regimen to keep him healthy and make sure he gets enough work.  It probably resembles much of what he was doing during his time at Alabama, which also pared back some of his workload in practice and the offseason to save him for the regular season.

Turner basically said that Jordan Cameron can be as good as he wants to be.  He is going to get plenty of opportunities but he has to capitalize on them.  In other words, they like him, but it is time to make it happen.

When asked about Josh Gordon, he said that it would not alter their preparation in camp as there are enough reps to go around and they would treat it like an injury when the season starts.  Basically, the question the media had to ask and the answer Turner had to give.

Ray Horton, defensive coordinator

The local media’s continued obsession with Barkevious Mingo continues.  Horton does not care; is worried about his ability to get to the quarterback.  Stay tuned as this will be discussed later.

Horton said Jabaal Sheard has been “fantastic”, one of the biggest surprises of OTAs.  And if people remember, he came in thinking Sheard was a good player.  While people will still insist on speculating Sheard is going to be moved elsewhere, there is no reason to move him.  He is a good player and the Browns can use all of the good players they can get.

In regards to the free safety position, Horton said Johnson Bademosi’s transition has been “good progress, not great progress”.  He also said the position is fluid.  This not only suggests that the position is up for grabs, which is hardly a surprise, but also suggests that unless someone really steps up this year, this is probably going to be a position that is addressed in the offseason.  When asked about Kerry Rhodes, Horton predictably said he is only worrying about the players they have here.

Horton said he likes what he has seen from Craig Robertson.  He said he hopes that Robertson can be his ace in the hole.

Horton does not look at positions that strictly.  If he has good players, he will find spots for them.  This is more reason to expect to see Sheard, Mingo, and Paul Kruger on the field at the same time.

He emphasized the fact they teach their players legal ways to punish the quarterback.