Cleveland Browns are buying into Freddie Kitchens’ physical training camp
By Dan Justik
The Cleveland Browns have brought a different level of physicality to training camp this season, but the players are buying into the mindset.
With rookie head coach Freddie Kitchens leading the way, the Cleveland Browns have had a training camp full of intensity and tough practices.
For most teams, their training camps are not filled with as much hitting as the Browns have had. The Browns have spent most of their training camp in pads, which does not happen as often in today’s NFL.
Although it requires more from the players early on in the season, the Browns locker room does not seem to mind the physical nature of their training camp. In fact, quarterback Baker Mayfield believes the camp is just another sign of the organization’s culture change.
#Browns QB Baker Mayfield on physical camp: "I think part of the culture change is definitely beating some of that out. Being the tougher team, that mentality of coming out and realizing we're going to be the tougher people everyday and work for it."
— Keith Britton (@KeithBritton86) August 14, 2019
#Browns QB Baker Mayfield on if locker room is behind this physical camp: "Absolutely. I think we've got guys that are bought in right now and that's the best part about it."
— Keith Britton (@KeithBritton86) August 14, 2019
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Mayfield’s view of the camp may be different from other players considering Mayfield is off-limits for any defender to hit him. However, if the Browns want to be the tougher team during the regular season, it all starts before the season opener.
The Browns are no longer considered the laughing-stock of the NFL, so teams are not going to take their games against Cleveland lightly. No matter the opponent, the Browns are going to get the best from each team, so they need to be prepared for physical games. But the extra physicality should help cure some of the issues the Browns dealt with last season.
Based on the team’s tackling from 2018, they should use every chance they can to improve at finishing tackles. The Browns defense was among the league’s worst in missed tackles last season, so spending extra time cleaning up those problems during training camp should not be an issue.
Cleveland may have dealt with some extra injuries during this year’s camp than in previous years, potentially because of the physical camp. But there have not been any major injuries so far, so the risk should be worth the reward.
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Because Mayfield is clearly the leader of the Cleveland Browns locker room, it is a good sign he has no issues with the extra physicality during training camp. If the results of the camp make the Browns one of the toughest and most physical teams during the season, then the extra hitting will be worth it for Cleveland.