Cleveland Browns Training Camp Report: Tuesday 8/18 8:45 AM Practice

This morning's Browns practice started off with a lot of shouting by Special Teams/Assistant Head Coach Brad Seely. The team was practicing its kick offs and onside kick coverages, but the players were not getting the drill right and Seely kept barking at them.

Especially cornerback Brandon Anderson, who could not get in the right place in the pre-kick lineup.

Seely also yelled, "don't you guys have any retention this morning (when it comes to formations)?"

Not a good sign for a team who has had excellent special teams over the last few years.

There was a new player on the field wearing No. 34 and his name is Chris Jennings who is 5'10" and 218 pounds. Jennings is a running back out of Arizona and the few times he touched the ball he showed good explosiveness into the hole and he runs like he is a lot heavier then his actual weight.

With a backfield that is full with Jamal Lewis, Jerome Harrison, James Davis and Noah Herron, is there room for another running back?

During 1-on-1 wide receiver versus defensive back drills, Josh Cribbs kept raising his stock by getting open out of coverage for a 15 yard catch. Gerard Lawson was covering.

Cribbs had another great catch while being blanketed in coverage by Eric Wright, but Brett Ratliff lofted the ball into the air and it came down in the perfect spot for Cribbs to reach out and catch it for a 45 yard touchdown reception.

Wright could not have had tighter coverage without getting called for pass interference, so that play goes to Ratliff's perfectly placed pass.

Rookie Briand Robiskie was able to get out of tight coverage, by Brandon McDonald, too by showing off a nifty double move and getting open for a 32 yard pass from Derek Anderson.

On the stationary bicycle front, the players on them and working out with trainers were: Shaun Rogers, David Bowens, Jerome Harrison, David Patten, Paul Hubbard and Ryan Tucker.

There was one player missing in this morning's practice and that was Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas. No word as to where his was. (UPDATED 8/18 2:03 PM, Joe Thomas was on the sideline not suited up because he got a "Get out of practice free card" that he redeemed. Eric Mangini gave it to Thomas for his offseason conditioning.)

Finally, the ever popular quarterback derby.

The following are stats combined from several 11-on-11 drills that all started from the 35 yard line and switched ends of the field.

Quinn was 5/13 for 44 yards
Anderson was 12/17 for 108 yards

Drill notes: Not too much running game in these series of drills. Steve Heiden and Robaire Smith each jumped offsides and had to run laps. The receivers catching passes were: Cribbs caught three passes for 33 yards, Mohamed Massaquoi caught four passes for 54 yards and Braylon Edwards caught three passes for 16 yards.

Next, the quarterbacks had to run a no huddle offense during the 11-on-11 drills.

Quinn was 6/6 for 51 yards
Anderson was 0/4

Drill notes: Anderson was sacked twice on cornerback blitzes that he did not pick up pre-snap. Both Hank Poteat and Brandon McDonald both registered sacks. Corey Ivy was called for a pass interference and had to run a lap. Edwards made a jumping catch over his defender for a 21 yard catch from Quinn and when he came down with the ball the crowd started cheering because of his reception.

Then, the quarterbacks lined up, the next 11-on-11 drill, with their back to the endzone from the three yard line.

Quinn was 2/3 for 13 yards
Anderson was 3/4 for 22 yards

Drill notes: Tight End Aaron Walker was flagged for a false start and ran a lap. Rucker made a great finger-tip catch going toward the sideline and he needs more plays like that to retain a final spot on the roster.

Finally, the quarterbacks lined up, in 11-on-11, from the 25 yard line, with 50 seconds left and the music blaring at the backs.

Quinn was 0/1 with an interception
Anderson was 1/2 for eight yards

Drill notes: McDonald picked off Quinn on the first play of his drive attempt. Anderson's drive was no better with a false start, a delay of game and then he got pressure from both Titus Brown and Alex Hall and had to throw the ball away.

A very mediocre morning of practice for the team. Not too many things stood out.

If the Browns are faced with a situation in a real game where they need to drive down the field in less than a minute to win, then it doesn't look good right now.

(Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend any other practices this week, but please check web site for news and info. updates.)

Article originally posted on Dawg Scooper: An Unofficial Cleveland Browns News Source