The Cleveland Browns are hoping they struck gold with Greg Newsome, their first-round pick who is wise beyond his years and prepping for stardom
When you coach players at any level, you learn quickly which players are more coachable. Much of that has to do with the type of person and character that player exudes on and off the field. So, when I listened to Cleveland Browns defensive backs coach Jeff Howard recently compliment rookie cornerback sensation Greg Newsome II on being “wise beyond his years” in reference to Newsome’s coachability, I knew I had to know more about Newsome and why he is consistently being praised by his coaches and his current teammates.
After listening from Newsome in his own press conferences and listening to some of his other interviews with various media platforms it’s not hard to figure out why he is quickly becoming so likable and a coachable player.
Beyond the coachability, he’s simply an outstanding athlete and I believe could become pretty quickly one of the Browns starting cornerbacks. He’s listed as No. 2 on the current Browns depth chart behind third-year player Greedy Williams. I believe that is only temporary as Williams is coming off a serious shoulder injury and never saw the field a year ago.
The Browns are working Newsome in practices on the outside but also working him in the inside slot position in anticipation that he will play both spots because he can and has already demonstrated in practices that he’s a diligent, detailed, and quick study of a learner.
Building blocks
Newsome grew up in the Chicago, Illinois area and attended high school at Glenbard North High School for three years. Before he started high school, he played both baseball and basketball.
From all accounts he loved basketball, but his family got him more involved in football as he got into middle school, and he excelled at the game. In high school, he played both offense and defense and had a real knack for the end zone. His high school team made it to the Illinois State Football Playoffs multiple times.
By his senior season, he had committed to playing at Northwestern University, not exactly the hotbed of college football but he loved the coaching staff there and wanted to stay close to home and was going to be a Big Ten athlete — not to mention, one step closer to the NFL. He went down to the IMG Academy in Florida for that last senior season of high school to better prepare him for college training.
At Northwestern he excelled and by his last season as a junior, he made First Team All-Big Ten. His ability for finding the ball defensively was on full display as both his sophomore and junior seasons as Northwestern made it to the Big Ten title game each season.
Though he hasn’t intercepted many passes at the collegiate level his ability to track, recover if needed, and break up pass attempts with his speed (4.38 in the 40-yard dash, at the NFL Draft Combine) and good size (6-1) is what got him drafted No. 26 by the Browns in this past NFL Draft.
Wise beyond his years
When Browns assistant coach Howard mentioned that Newsome was “wise beyond his years” I had that same thought from the day before when I heard Newsome interviewed by the local press at Browns training camp. Newsome is only 21 years old. He just had that birthday back in May, so he’s a very young player but very mature when you start listening to his responses.
When he was chatting to the press, he mentioned several things about learning from veterans like Jarvis Landry, Anthony Walker, and Troy Hill. He used the phrase “Iron sharpening iron” in training with these players.
You could simply hear in his tone both Newsome’s eagerness to learn but also how he is so humble in his approach. He was asked in the presser if he’d experienced humbling moments so far in training camp and he said:
"“Every single day I’m having a humbling moment…every single day I get beat sometimes, so definitely every moment is humbling for me.” — Newsome, via Tom Withers, AP"
That in a nutshell is why this student of the game is going to have a long and productive career with the Browns. He understands the concept of being comfortable in not only making mistakes but also admitting them to others. That’s a challenge for many grown adults.
One doesn’t always hear that type of sentiment from 21-year-olds. There have been numerous players who have come through those doors of that training facility of the Browns in Berea (i.e Johnny Manziel) who don’t comprehend words like “humble” and “mistake.”
So yes, it’s very refreshing to hear from rookies, like Newsome that they do make mistakes and that they understand that becoming a better person and athlete is about being humble, to begin with, and are confident enough in their own skin in sharing that publicly.
Taking advice from his elders
Not that veteran cornerback and Browns free-agent signee, Troy Hill is old (He’s only 29), but he’s likely slated to start in the inside corner position when the season starts rather then Newsome. He had some high praise though for Newsome recently, suggesting he was a “star in the making.”
When Newsome was asked about that token of acknowledgment on his future stardom, he said in his latest presser:
"“To get some of that praise from one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the league is just amazing…I still have a long way to get into that position…that just shows that I came in and that I was ready to work and I’m just trying to develop each and every day.” — Newsome, via Withers"
Newsome hopes to be on the field opposite veteran corner Denzel Ward in due time. Newsome chatted a bit about what he’s learned watching Ward so far in this camp. He emphasized how he has learned”
"“Just how to be a pro. Everything he does is pro like…whether we’re in walk throughs, just doing the techniques all the time, he doesn’t take any reps off… I’m trying to mimic some of those things as well.” – Newsome, via Withers"
All this learning from the veterans and being so studious every day is so important to why Newsome’s future is so bright.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski summed up Newsome’s gathering of information from veterans and his genuine and humble approach in a recent Brown’s presser by saying about him:
"“He’s so diligent about his work, understanding his job, understanding his techniques, constantly working on them to fine tune them…I appreciate Greg, he’s very authentic and I think his teammates are enjoying getting to know him.” — Stefanski on Newsome, via Withers"
I believe all the building blocks in Newsome’s past and his coachability along with his quick study talents all have Newsome primed for a starring role in the Browns defense for many years to come.
Saturday, the Browns will travel to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars in preseason Week 1 matchup and I fully expect to see Newsome all over the field doing great work, because that’s what he’s all about and this team and Newsome are on a course for greatness.