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The final phase of the offseason program commences in Berea on Tuesday, as the entire Cleveland Browns roster convenes for three days of mandatory minicamp.
These sessions are likely to go a long way in helping new head coach Todd Monken establish some modicum of a depth chart when training camp kicks off in July. That's especially true on the offensive side of the ball where a quarterback competition has yet to reveal a winner and the offensive line continues to take shape.
With that in mind, here are the five things to expect from mandatory minicamp.
Monken has previously said that in an ideal world, he'd have his quarterback depth chart settled by the end of mandatory minicamp. However, last week, he staunchly stated that he believes he has two starting-caliber QBs.
Those comments seem to set the stage for the QB competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders to likely roll into training camp later this summer. That doesn't mean there won't be some things to learn this week, though.
Some of the Browns most notable veteran players are joining the fold on defense this week, like Denzel Ward, Grant Delpit and Maliek Collins, helping provide an even better picture of where both signal callers are at.
If one of Watson or Sanders can string together a few good days at minicamp, it could really set the tone for how reps are distributed come training camp.
The dust has fully settled on last week's blockbuster Myles Garrett trade that saw the Browns send the face of their franchise to the Los Angeles Rams and brought back Jared Verse.
The third-year pass rusher was in town last week for OTAs, but only went through individual drills. This week could see him start being more involved on defense as he gets more and more acclimated with Mike Rutenberg's system.
Still, the full effect of Verse won't be felt until later this summer when the team is in full pads and he can truly unleash that physically imposing rushing ability that has earned him a Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and two Pro Bowl appearances.
As mentioned, guys like Ward, Delpit and Collins headline a list of veteran players who will join the rest of their Browns teammates this week. With everyone participating, the intensity of practice should ramp up a bit, granted, there are still no full pads or tackling.
It will also provide a first look at how everything and everyone fits together. Certainly, those aforementioned veterans, among others on both sides of the ball already understand what their roles are with the team, but 10 new rookies, along with multiple free agent and trade acquisitions, are also getting acclimated to their new team.
Seeing how the offensive and defensive start to take shape will be worth monitoring.
Along those lines, when the Browns rookie class first joined the fold, Monken made a point of having them run with the second team. During last week's final week of OTAs, though, we saw top pick Spencer Fano run with the first team o-line for the first time.
That trend is expected to continue at minicamp, with Fano building even more chemistry with the guys in the trenches with him.
Meanwhile, the minicamp could also see other rookies rise up the depth chart. Receivers are almost always rotating with different groups throughout practice, but I'd expect new receivers KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston to see increased work with the ones.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren's role alongside Delpit and Ronnie Hickman could start to come into focus. Whether or not fifth-round pick Parker Brailsford can work his way into the starting picture at center will be worth monitoring, as well. O
Other first-year players like Austin Barber, Joe Royer, Justin Jefferson and Carsen Ryan are also looking to pop this week with the whole team together in one place.
Last week, Monken made it clear that he believes four of his five starters up front are settled. That list includes veteran additions Tytus Howard, Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins, who can play guard or center. Obviously, Fano is the fourth as the team's starting left tackle.
Cleveland is looking for either a center or a guard to emerge to round things out so Jenkins can find his permanent home. Monken and company have continually said it's about finding the "best five" to start up front and one of the top goals this week should be getting a general sense of who those five are before training camp.
Brailsford is an interesting case study as an undersized center option. Meanwhile, Teven Jenins seems like the most viable "next man up" at guard. Could KT Leveston get some run at guard too? All these options seem on the table ahead of minicamp.
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Continue reading...
These sessions are likely to go a long way in helping new head coach Todd Monken establish some modicum of a depth chart when training camp kicks off in July. That's especially true on the offensive side of the ball where a quarterback competition has yet to reveal a winner and the offensive line continues to take shape.
With that in mind, here are the five things to expect from mandatory minicamp.
1) Heating Up Under Center
Monken has previously said that in an ideal world, he'd have his quarterback depth chart settled by the end of mandatory minicamp. However, last week, he staunchly stated that he believes he has two starting-caliber QBs.
Those comments seem to set the stage for the QB competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders to likely roll into training camp later this summer. That doesn't mean there won't be some things to learn this week, though.
Some of the Browns most notable veteran players are joining the fold on defense this week, like Denzel Ward, Grant Delpit and Maliek Collins, helping provide an even better picture of where both signal callers are at.
If one of Watson or Sanders can string together a few good days at minicamp, it could really set the tone for how reps are distributed come training camp.
2) Getting Acclimated
The dust has fully settled on last week's blockbuster Myles Garrett trade that saw the Browns send the face of their franchise to the Los Angeles Rams and brought back Jared Verse.
The third-year pass rusher was in town last week for OTAs, but only went through individual drills. This week could see him start being more involved on defense as he gets more and more acclimated with Mike Rutenberg's system.
Still, the full effect of Verse won't be felt until later this summer when the team is in full pads and he can truly unleash that physically imposing rushing ability that has earned him a Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and two Pro Bowl appearances.
3) Return of the Vets
As mentioned, guys like Ward, Delpit and Collins headline a list of veteran players who will join the rest of their Browns teammates this week. With everyone participating, the intensity of practice should ramp up a bit, granted, there are still no full pads or tackling.
It will also provide a first look at how everything and everyone fits together. Certainly, those aforementioned veterans, among others on both sides of the ball already understand what their roles are with the team, but 10 new rookies, along with multiple free agent and trade acquisitions, are also getting acclimated to their new team.
Seeing how the offensive and defensive start to take shape will be worth monitoring.
4) Rookies Rising
Along those lines, when the Browns rookie class first joined the fold, Monken made a point of having them run with the second team. During last week's final week of OTAs, though, we saw top pick Spencer Fano run with the first team o-line for the first time.
That trend is expected to continue at minicamp, with Fano building even more chemistry with the guys in the trenches with him.
Meanwhile, the minicamp could also see other rookies rise up the depth chart. Receivers are almost always rotating with different groups throughout practice, but I'd expect new receivers KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston to see increased work with the ones.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren's role alongside Delpit and Ronnie Hickman could start to come into focus. Whether or not fifth-round pick Parker Brailsford can work his way into the starting picture at center will be worth monitoring, as well. O
Other first-year players like Austin Barber, Joe Royer, Justin Jefferson and Carsen Ryan are also looking to pop this week with the whole team together in one place.
5) O-Line
Last week, Monken made it clear that he believes four of his five starters up front are settled. That list includes veteran additions Tytus Howard, Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins, who can play guard or center. Obviously, Fano is the fourth as the team's starting left tackle.
Cleveland is looking for either a center or a guard to emerge to round things out so Jenkins can find his permanent home. Monken and company have continually said it's about finding the "best five" to start up front and one of the top goals this week should be getting a general sense of who those five are before training camp.
Brailsford is an interesting case study as an undersized center option. Meanwhile, Teven Jenins seems like the most viable "next man up" at guard. Could KT Leveston get some run at guard too? All these options seem on the table ahead of minicamp.
Browns Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Browns. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
Continue reading...
