The Cleveland Browns start their first training camp under head coach Hue Jackson this July. Here are 4 storyline to expect this summer in Berea.
The Cleveland Browns start their first training camp under head coach Hue Jackson this July at team headquarters in Berea.
With the hiring of executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, the Browns have moved to an analytics driven model for building the team. Now that there is a new sheriff in town (or sheriffs as the case may be), anything can happen.
Just for the fun of it, here are four things to expect from the Cleveland Browns at training camp.
Next: Expect training camp to be intense
For the first time in a long time, Browns fans will see what a truly competitive camp will look like. If the reported atmosphere at OTAs is any indication, this camp will be high energy and fast paced, with a lot of coaching occurring on the field. Wide receivers coach Al Saunders might even run more routes than the receivers themselves.
Needless to say this camp will not be run country club style. No more walking. No more unearned veteran “days off.” The message will be sent loud and clear, come here to work or go home.
Expect the players to respond positively to this environment. Football players are competitors. They thrive in situations where they are challenged to get better and be better than anyone else in the room. In the classroom, veterans and rookies alike will be expected to show up to meetings on time, to learn their plays and take what they have learned to the field. On the field, expect practice to be fast paced, drills to be competitive and intense.
By creating these standards the coaches are creating an environment of success. Expect the Browns to be more competitive on the field because of the environment present at training camp.
Next: Expect Barkevious Mingo to be traded
There will be an odd man out in the outside linebacker room, which currently consists of Paul Kruger, Barkevious Mingo, Nate Orchard, and Armonty Bryant (suspended for four games to start 2016). Throw in draft picks Emmanuel Ogbah and Joe Schobert and there are six serious contenders for four spots.
Drafting Ogbah in the second round means the Browns will want to start getting him reps. He plays the same position as Kruger, so expect both of those players to make the team as rush linebackers – Ogbah to learn, Kruger to start now and mentor.
Related: Is a bigger Barkevious Mingo better for the Browns?
Both Orchard and Mingo play the drop linebacker position, and Orchard came on strong at the end of last season. Then it comes down to Schobert, Mingo and Bryant. With Bryant’s suspension, the question reduces to Mingo or Schobert. Schobert is primed to be a special teams contributor, is younger and cheaper than Mingo, and was drafted by this regime. Mingo is the odd man out.
The Browns must either play it out and let him leave via free agency, trade or release him. Letting him leave after the season would land a fourth- or fifth-round compensatory pick. But why not be like the New England Patriots and trade him before the season? If someone is willing to give a fourth- or fifth-round pick, expect Mingo to be gone. The Buffalo Bills are potential trade partners with the recent injury to Shaq Lawson.
Next: Expect less soft tissue injuries
Last season there were an abundant of soft tissue injuries, which is any injury to the body that is not a bone injury and includes the infamous hamstring pull.
When the Browns practiced against the Buffalo Bills last August, there were 20 of 90 players on the sideline. Of those twenty, 10 were sidelined with soft tissue injuries – six hamstrings, two calf strains, one hip flexor and one abdominal injury. Expect this to change.
These are preventable injuries with proper conditioning and diet. After the mandatory veteran minicamp the second week of June, the players will be off until training camp begins and they must stay in shape during that time. There will probably be some soft tissue injuries but not to the extent of last season.
The reason? The Browns brought in Adam Beard to direct and overhaul the strength and conditioning program. Beard and his staff have created programs specifically designed to have each player in proper condition for their position. Also, Hue Jackson expects his players to be in shape and recently called out the rookies for not being in playing shape.
Players who are in shape coming into camp have less soft tissue injuries. Adam Beard and Hue Jackson will have these guys ready to go come camp time.
Next: Expect Justin Gilbert to be a breakout performer
Yes, Justin Gilbert will be a breakout performer this season. Ok, that statement is going way out on a limb here. However, Gilbert worked with the first team during last week’s OTAs, which is a great sign for the eighth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
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Gilbert, who has all the measurable a scout could ask for, has yet to live up to his potential. The best thing that could have happened to Gilbert was the hiring of Jackson and defensive coordinator Ray Horton, whose 3-4 scheme will ask Gilbert to play a lot of man coverage behind exotic blitzes. This is what Gilbert was drafted to do, and Horton will also bring clear expectations and defined assignments on defense. This will help Gilbert as he has looked lost the past few years.
Jackson will bring discipline and accountability. There were reports of Gilbert missing meetings and oversleeping last season, he often missed assignments on the field, and his technique looked bad. Yes, he never seemed to progress during the season, but this will not happen in the Hue Jackson era.
Gilbert has a chance to respond positively to defined responsibilities, clear expectations and accountability. Gilbert will rise to the occasion and, if not, this will be the end of the Justin Gilbert era in Cleveland.
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What do you think Browns fans? What storylines are you most looking forward to during training camp this summer?