Nov 6, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Billy Winn (90) sacks Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) during the third quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Billy Winn is entering his fourth season with the Cleveland Browns as a member of what has become a crowded defensive line rotation.
In an ongoing attempt to fix a run defense that finished last in the NFL in 2014, the Browns added Randy Starks in free agency, and draft picks Danny Shelton, Nate Orchard and Xavier Cooper. That quartet joins a defensive line position group that already included Desmond Bryant, Phil Taylor, John Hughes, Armonty Bryant, Ishmaa’ily Kitchen and Winn.
While some of those players, most notably Orchard and Armonty Bryant, are expected to play in more of a pass-rushing role, the defensive line rotation is getting exceedingly crowded, with 13 players currently listed at a position where the Browns carried just seven last season.
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Winn has appeared in 40 games for the Browns since being selected in the sixth-round of the 2012 NFL Draft. To stay on top of his game, Winn incorporates functional fitness exercises into his workout program. According to an article from the Mayo Clinic, functional fitness exercises train the muscles to work together and prepare them for daily tasks by simulating common movements you might do at home, at work or in sports. While using various muscles in the upper and lower body at the same time, functional fitness exercises also emphasize core stability.
In the following video, courtesy of stack.com, Winn takes the viewer along for a look into his life, including a brief look at one of his daily workouts.
http://stack-a.akamaihd.net/hds/1079349493/201505/1079349493_4262389432001_4262287350001.mp4In one of the exercises used during the workout at ASAP Fitness in Cleveland, Winn and his trainers adjust a sled push drill so that it resembles the movements that Winn uses on Sundays in the fall as he battles opposing offensive linemen. Rather than just pushing the sled 20 yards with his arms extended the whole way, Winn starts the exercise with his arms tucked in and his chest up against the horizontal bar of the sled for 5 yards before “locking out” with his arms extended the rest of the way.
After watching the video, no one can accuse Winn of not working hard to improve his functional strength for game day.