Aug 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Justin Gilbert (21) runs back a kickoff during the first half against the Washington Redskins in a preseason NFL football game at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns mixed it up with the Buffalo Bills on Monday in the first of two days of join practices at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, N.Y.
And by numerous accounts, embattled cornerback Justin Gilbert had less than a flawless day as he gave up three touchdown passes, including one to Andre Davis, an undrafted rookie, and one to Robert Woods. If you have to look those guys up to see who they are, you’re not alone.
Facts are facts: Justin Gilbert has been beaten for two long touchdowns today. Bills throwing his way a ton
— Kevin Jones (@Mr_KevinJones) August 17, 2015
It’s one thing if fans or media members question Gilbert’s development, it is quite another when one of the Browns’ in-house reporters publicly points it out.
Gilbert is getting considerable practice time this week with Pierre Desir, Robert Nelson and Joe Haden out, which is a very good thing as he needs all the practice time he can get. But we have to wonder just what the heck is going on when our Twitter timeline looks like this:
I didn't see #Browns CB Justin Gilbert break up a pass. I think he gave up a catch every time he was targeted. Never seen such a rough day.
— Nate Ulrich (@ByNateUlrich) August 17, 2015
Not looking good for #Browns 2nd-year CB Justin Gilbert. Getting worked by #Bills undrafted rookies: http://t.co/8V2AMbAKPK
— Evan Silva (@evansilva) August 17, 2015
Well, you get the point.
Head coach Mike Pettine addressed the situation following practice, saying the while team has Gilbert’s back, it’s up to Gilbert to get this worked out.
“You have to have that short term memory and be able to bounce back from a play,” Pettine told the team’s website. “The best corners are confident corners and that’s something that comes from having success and if he’s in a little bit of a slump it’s on him. We have to help him but he has to play his way out of it.
“We have to help him but (Justin) has to play his way out of it.” – Head coach Mike Pettine
“You get them to stay true to their technique. When guys get in trouble it’s when their technique starts to slip. They start to do things out of structure to overcompensate. To me it’s a trust thing. Trust his own athletic ability, trust what we’re telling him and just go out and take it play-to-play.
“He understands his mistakes. He wants to learn. He wants to get better.”
Echoing Pettine’s comments was veteran cornerback Tramon Williams, who believes that Gilbert’s current struggles will make him a better play in the long run.
“It is just another opportunity for (Justin),” Williams said. “At this positon, you always want to get as many reps as you can. It is good for him to go through some of those trials right now. He will be better, no doubt about it. Trust me, he’ll be good.
It is just about coming in and believing and competing, pay attention to details. Once you get through that, you will find yourself doing some good things. In his case, some of the things I see. He is in good positon a lot of the times. He just has to figure out what it is and he will be better.”
Gilbert will have another chance to show that he is finally starting to put things together when the Browns and Bills hold another joint practice Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Next: Ray Farmer owns his mistake
Jul 30, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer, Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine and owner Jimmy Haslam during training camp at the Cleveland Browns practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sports Illustrated’s Peter King had a item on general manager Ray Farmer in today’s Monday Morning Quarterback after spending time with Farmer last week in Berea.
King briefly goes over the detail’s of Farmer’s four-game suspension for texting during games last season – he can have no contact or activity with the team once the preseason ends until Oct. 5 – and came away impressed that Farmer is being an adult over the entire situation (unlike a certain quarterback from a team in the Northeast).
“My mom and dad taught me a long time ago to take responsibility for my actions,” Farmer told King. “That’s what I have done. As the time gets closer, I continue to reflect on what I did, and the cost of it. I made a mistake, and this is my penalty, and I am going to serve it.
“It’s not my job to make up the punishment, or to issue the punishment. My job is the general manager of the Cleveland Browns. And I made a mistake, and I have to live with it.
“I look at it this way: If I’m speeding, and I get caught, depending where it happens, maybe I get a $300 fine, or maybe I get a $1,000 dollar fine. That’s not my job, to decide what the fine is. If I speed and get caught, well, I shouldn’t have been speeding. Someone else determines what the penalty for it is.”
Much has been made about this situation since word came out about the text, with much hand-wringing over how it created an unfixable break between Farmer and Pettine.
Both men have said they’ve worked things out and have moved on. If Farmer was as candid with Pettine as he was with King in talking about what occurred, there’s little reason to believe that they have truly moved on and are focusing on more important matters.
Next: Pettine embracing the challenge
Jul 30, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine during training camp at the Cleveland Browns practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sticking with the national spotlight, Marc Sessler from NFL.com was recently in Berea and was singed by Pettine’s enthusiasm to get the Browns turned around.
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“Let people think this is a dumpster fire,” Pettine told Around The NFL about the outside perception of the team. “Let them think this is completely dysfunctional. Let them drive by to see if the building is on fire every day, whereas internally, it could not be a more different reality.
“Ray and I talk every day, have great conversations. Do we agree on everything? No. But the batting average is pretty damn high. I think our shared vision of this football team — I think we’ve made great strides.
“I think over 65 or 67 players are different from the 90 we started with a year ago and it’s been all about changing the culture. The quickest way to change the culture is to change the people.”
What’s not to love about Pettine?