The Browns have shown their flexibility and adaptability in seemingly endless ways in this once in a lifetime, and Sunday served as yet another example.
With storms in the forecast and an indoor facility that currently holds most of the team’s training equipment, the Browns moved their practice to 10 hours – four hours earlier than planned. By the time Cleveland ran his last plays of the exercise, an unholy air hung over the fields of Berea.
The decision turned out to be the right one, and the Browns came away feeling good about the work they were doing in their second OTA-like session.
“Thought these storms would make us inside and we apparently didn’t want to do that. It was good to get on the grass early, get our work in,” said Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. “It was a much, much better practice from an effort point of view from both sides. I was happy with that. There are still a lot of tricky things that we need to correct, but I think the effort was very good and probably to be expected with the cooler temperatures. Long way to go. “
Here’s what you need to know differently.
One year ago, Odell Beckham Jr. was hampered throughout training camp with an injury that would eventually plague him in his first season with the Browns. In turn, that budgeted the snaps he got and limited the chances of him making a ton of plays on the practice field.
Sunday was further a proof that last year is far in the past. Beckham was active early and often during practice, making a number of traditional catches and some of his trademarks, one-handed grips, which he is able to make much easier and smoother than they actually are.
Beckham, who underwent nuclear muscle surgery shortly after the 2019 season, was considered 100 percent at the end of the virtual offseason program, and he missed the first two days of practice.
“I think the unique thing about him would be the ball skills,” Stefanski said. “I just think he’s special in that regard. When the ball’s in the air, he’s having a hard time getting it in any way he can: with one hand, with two hands, along the boundary. He just does a fun job from a ball skills standpoint. “
