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Browns training camp Day 4: Debut of the camouflage jerseys

By Thomas Moore

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Jul 30, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Jim Dray (81) runs after a catch during training camp at the Cleveland Browns practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns returned to the practice field Sunday morning with the defense sporting a new look: camouflage jerseys.

Head coach Mike Pettine came up with the idea to reward the winners from the previous day’s practice. According to the team’s website, Pettine originally wanted to go with a traditional camouflage look, but was “encouraged” by the NFL to make sure the uniforms consisted of the team’s traditional colors of orange, seal brown and white.

The winners are chosen during the final drill of practice and, on Sunday, it was the offense that came through thanks to quarterback Josh McCown and tight end Gary Barnidge.

“That’s what that period’s for,” Pettine told the team’s website. “I told them afterwards, our season will hinge on those plays – third-and-5 at the end of the game, you get a first down and you can run out the clock; if you get a stop on defense, you get a chance to win it or you can win it right there. Those are the things that we want to simulate in practice and I was glad it came down to the last play.”

More importantly than yet another new jersey was news on three players injured during Saturday’s practice:

Even though the team is off on Monday, Pettine said he will get together with general manager Ray Farmer to discuss the possibility of bringing in another running back to pick up the slack while West and Johnson recover.

“Always when we have these breaks,” Pettine said, “we evaluate where we are from an injury standpoint and timetables of who is coming back and if we need to, add that certainly is the position that will probably be the first one discussed.”

In other news from the day (all quotes courtesy of clevelandbrowns.com):

Pettine on Johnny Manziel’s comfort in the shotgun:

"“I just think that is part of the install. There are times based on the defensive look – we were getting a lot of pressure looks, defensively – when you want to give the running back a little bit of space for his pick-up. If there is traffic in the A gap right near the center, a lot of times the quarterback has the option to get into the gun. Some of those instances came up and other ones were called plays. Obviously, he is very comfortable there.”"

Secondary coach Jeff Hafley on the cornerback spot opposite Joe Haden:

"“I think if you look right now, Tramon (Williams) is with the ones. He has done a great job. He has really bought in. He came in in great shape and he has really had a good couple of days. It’s still early. As far as the next, it is still competition. Why was Pierre (Desir) out there first today? Because he earned it. That is how we are going to be in the room. Whoever earns it is going to be who goes out, whether it is with the twos or if Tramon takes the day off and it’s with the ones. That could change tomorrow. It could have changed halfway through practice. When you create competition, you have to be fair and whoever earns it is going to be the next guy in. Pierre earned it today so today he got the nod.”"


Haley on the secondary’s role in run support:

"“We’re a key in stopping the run, whether they are creating extra gaps or forcing the ball to bounce to the perimeter to the corners or forcing us to get us our safeties down in the box. A lot of teams are going to make your corners tackle. We have to tackle better. I think we have done a better job working that. Our safeties have to read their keys better so they get down on the run faster. That is part of their job. It is not just about playing the pass. If we are going to be really good on defense, our safeties have to get involved, we have to tackle great, we have to read our keys and we have to show up. I want those two safeties – and I told them this – I want it to look like a race to the football with those two, and I want it to end violently. When you start doing that, what happens is the ball carriers, instead of trying to go for two or three more yards – what do they do? They go down. We have the safeties to do that. That is what I want it to look like – a race to who is going to get to the ball faster to clean it up. That is going to send a message, hopefully, and that is how we want to play on defense.”"

More from Dawg Pound Daily

Wide receivers coach Joker Phillips on Terrelle Pryor’s transition:

"“We do some extra work after practice and we do some before practice. One thing is, this group tries to help everybody and I really enjoy that, I enjoy seeing that as a coach. That’s what you want to do. Sometimes you see a guy and they say, ‘Man, I appreciate what you’ve done.’ No, I don’t need any appreciation; I need you to pass it down to someone else. That’s what these players are doing. The defensive backs are doing it with Terrelle, grabbing him before practice. All we want is a guy that can help us win games here and that’s the main goal.”"

Linebacker Nate Orchard on working to improve:

"“Yeah, I think I’m doing well, but at the end of the day there are always things to improve on technique-wise, pass rushing, even if it’s run stopping. There’s so much on the table so every day you just have to keep building and building. (I can improve) little things like footwork, hand placement are the biggest thing. Not getting reached on run blocks and things like that. Those little things can make a huge difference, getting around the edge, things like that. Everyday just have to keep looking at those notes and fixing those mistakes going into the next practice.”"

The Browns will be off on Monday. Practice will resume on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in Berea.

Next: Cleveland Browns bucking trend to combat losing

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