Cleveland Browns getting busy putting words into action

Jul 30, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive back Robert Nelson (27) works against Cleveland Browns wide receiver Taylor Gabriel (18) during training camp at the Cleveland Browns practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

It has only been four practices, but it is evident that the coaching staff of the Cleveland Browns is working hard to ensure that the team follows Mike Pettine‘s mantra of “words into action.”

Pettine laid down the challenge prior to the first practice of training camp.

“For us, training camp signifies something, an opportunity to get back to get tunnel vision on football and continue the process of building and improving the team. That’s really going to be our theme this year is it’s concentrated football,” the second-year coach said prior to the opening of training camp. “With all the talk that surrounds it, whether that’s talk coming from us to external, the theme for this year is going to be ‘words into action.’

“A lot of stuff gets put out there and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves when we talk about it, but the theme this year is to have that continue on to the field. We have a lot of work to do and we have a plan for how we’re going to implement it and for how can hit our peak when we go down in September to play the Jets.”

“Words into Action.” As sayings go, it’s not a bad one. It is certainly much better than “The Name on the Door is Cleveland.”

But just like Johnny Manziel standing in front of the media and saying that he is going to change his ways (and this time he means it), it rings hollow unless everyone in the organization buys in.

“When you create competition, you’ve got to be fair, and whoever earns it is going to be the next guy in.” – Secondary Coach Jeff Hafley

And, at least so far, it seems like everyone is working hard to turn their words into action.

Taking a big-picture view, owner Jimmy Haslam bought in with his response last week to a question about the futures of Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer.

“We’re not going to blow things up. I think we’re on the right track so we’re not going to blow things up,” Haslam said. “I think we’re putting a good foundation in place. think we have the right people in place to over a period of time be successful. We’re clearly focused on doing that.”

As much as people want to portray Haslam as the type of owner who wants to make headlines for all the wrong reasons, the reality is far different. We’re going on 18 months since Farmer corrected his biggest mistake and, since then, he’s been in the background, allowing Farmer and Pettine to do there jobs.

We won’t know until after the season if Haslam really will put his words into action and not “blow things up,” but based on what we’ve seen from him over the past year-and-a-half, we’re willing to bet he’s speaking the truth.

The coaching staff is also reflecting Pettine’s vision, which can be seen in their choice of which players receive first-team reps in certain situations.

On Saturday, when left tackle Joe Thomas had a veteran’s day off, it was Andrew McDonald who was called on, not first-round draft pick Cameron Erving.

“(Andrew’s) another guy, very quiet, doesn’t say a lot but he just goes out and works,” Pettine said. “He’s had a really productive offseason for us, and we were very quietly optimistic about him coming into camp and very anxious to see how he’ll be with pads on.”

On Sunday, when it was cornerback Tramon Williams‘ turn for a day off, it was Pierre Desir, rather than first-round pick Justin Gilbert, who stepped into the spot with the first team.

“Why was Pierre out there first? Because he earned it,” secondary coach Jeff Hafley told Northeast Ohio Media Group. “And that’s how we’re going to be in the room. Whoever earns it is going to be who goes out, whether it’s with the twos, (or) if Tramon takes a day off, it’s with the ones. That could change tomorrow. It could’ve changed halfway through practice.

“But when you create competition, you’ve got to be fair, and whoever earns it is going to be the next guy in. And Pierre earned it today, so today he got the nod.”

We’ve also seen it with linebacker Scott Solomon, who is doing what he can to force the coaches to find playing time for him, even if it comes at the expense of high draft picks Barkevious Mingo and Nate Orchard.

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“We talked about the ‘Play Like a Brown’ attributes, and he fits them all,” Pettine said of the fifth-year linebacker. “What separates him this year where we feel like he’s even better is that he’s gone through a spring in our system. He’s going through a training camp in our system. His knowledge base and experience in what we do is so much more this year. That’s why we’re very optimistic about Scott.”

While Pettine didn’t put his philosophy into words until just recently, his approach to the game was obvious last season: he’s going to put the players that give the team the best chance to win on the field, regardless of who they are or where they were drafted.

That’s bad news to the pro-Manziel crowd, who want to see the second-year quarterback on the field irregardless of whether or not he is prepared. Luckily for the Browns, Pettine does not subscribe to the notion that you should play someone simply to “see what you have.”

That doesn’t mean that Manziel does not have a role (or a future) with the Browns, just that he needs to earn his opportunities along with everyone else.

“Words into Action.” It’s a nice soundbite on a warm August afternoon.

And if the Browns can stay committed, from the owner all the way down to the players, we may be seeing the start of something special.

Do you think the Browns can turn their words into action this season?

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