Cleveland Browns’ OTAs Day 1: Alex Mack nearing “full go”
By Thomas Moore
Sep 14, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack (55) against the New Orleans Saints at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns defeated the Saints 26-24. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns opened the first of 10 Organized Team Activities today, and while center Alex Mack was limited, he did reportedly participate with the first-team offense in several walk-through drills.
Which is great news for everyone associated with the team.
“Alex (Mack) is ready to go,” head coach Mike Pettine told the team’s website. “I’m sure he’ll tell you that, but that’s just something where we just want to probably be a lot more conservative with it. He’ll be able to do anything where there’s no risk of a collision or getting tripped up.
“(Alex Mack has) kind of shattered expectations. As you would expect.” – John Greco, Offensive Guard
“He approached it as you would have expected him to. We talk to our guys about being relentless in everything they do – not just on the field, but carry that over in the classroom, the weight room, anybody that has an injury approach their rehab that way, and that’s what he’s done. It’s to no one’s surprise that he’s back, and he’ll be full go for training camp.”
It was the first time that Mack has been on the field since breaking his leg last October against Pittsburgh. While the Browns would eventually reach a record of 7-4, there is little doubt that Mack’s injury was the turning point of the 2014 season.
Prior to losing Mack for the season, the Browns were the seventh-best rushing team in the NFL at 146.4 yards per game. Post-injury, the Browns turned into one of the worst running teams in the league (a little more than 88 yards a game) and brought quarterback Brian Hoyer down with them.
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With Pettine and offensive coordinator John DeFilippo fully committed to running the ball in 2015, the return of a healthy Mack, along with the addition of rookie offensive lineman Cameron Erving, means the Browns should once again have one of the top offensive lines in the league.
While things are moving along nicely with his injury rehab, with the next meaningful game not on the docket until September, the veteran Mack is in no rush.
“I want to be out there healthy. I’m not used to being injured, I’m not used to being on the sidelines,” Mack said. “I wanted to be in there, I wanted to be healthy, I wanted to be with my friends, my teammates, so that was very tough. There’s no game coming up this week so just to be smart about it and let things develop is a good move.”
The biggest question surrounding Mack, after the one about his injury, concerns his upcoming contract status. Mack can opt out of his current deal after the 2015 season, and was asked about it (not for the last time, either) on Tuesday.
“Let’s play the games,” Mack said, according to The Beacon Journal. “Let’s see how the season goes. I’m really not interested in talking about that until after the season.”
The contract situation will take care of itself. For now, the fact that Mack is back on the offensive line is all that matters.
In other news from Day 1 of OTAs:
- Running back Duke Johnson and linebacker Craig Robertson were absent because of travel problems, while linebacker Barkevious Mingo only participated in walkthrough drills.
- Nose tackle Danny Shelton was also absent as he is finishing his college degree. “There’s just no substitute for being in the meetings and being around your teammates and just kind of learning the ropes of the NFL early on,” Pettine said. “You just can’t substitute that. I wouldn’t say it’s going to put him behind tremendously. He’ll have access to all the stuff that we’re doing, from a playbook standpoint. It’s one of those rules.”
- To the surprise of no one who has been paying attention, Josh McCown was QB1 and Johnny Manziel was QB2.
- Erving worked at right guard while John Greco took over at center during drills. “You’ll see Cameron will play all over the place” Pettine said. “He’ll get some left tackle work, as well. John will get his work at right guard and at center, as well.”
The Browns will return to the practice field on Wednesday for Day 2 of OTAs.
How much of an impact will Alex Mack’s return have on the offense?