Osweiler in demand?
Rookie running BEREA — back Matthew Dayes revealed he thinks about his fall to the seventh round of the NFL draft every day.
“That was probably one of the toughest moments of my life,” said Dayes, whom the Browns selected 252nd overall, the second-to-last pick of the draft.
Off the top of his head, Dayes knew 29 running backs were chosen ahead of him.
“I know for a fact there’s not 29 running backs in that draft that’s better than me,” said Dayes, who expected to be picked in the third or fourth round out of North Carolina State.
Dayes isn’t just talking the talk. He’s caught the attention of coach Hue Jackson with an impressive camp. In Friday’s scrimmage, he had consecutive runs of 4, 2 and 6 yards, converting on thirdand-4. He also caught a few passes from rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer, including one for a 15-yard gain.
He proved to himself he could play in the NFL when he broke loose for an impressive run July 29 during the first practice in pads.
“I really felt my confidence went up then,” Dayes said, “and that’s when I knew I definitely belonged.”
Dayes played for Jackson and his staff in the Senior Bowl, and he admitted he cried “hysterically” when the Browns drafted him.
Now he’s determined to reward the organization for its faith.
“In my eyes, I’m looking as I’m going in as a starter, and I know they’ve got their guys [at running back, Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson], right now,” Dayes said. “But I’m still going to go in there with that mindset and whatever I can do to help the team, that’s what I’m going to do.” Quarterback Brock Osweiler put a touchdown on the board on the second of his two drives in Friday’s scrimmage, going 5 for 5 for 63 yards, including a 40-yarder over Trey Caldwell to the 30. The drive ended with a 7-yard TD run up the middle by Brandon Wilds.
Osweiler has performed well in camp, and said he knows “for a fact” he’s a better QB now than he was in 2015 when he went 5-2 for the Broncos because of all the great coaching he’s gotten from Hue Jackson and running backs coach David Lee.
Osweiler might also be on the radar for the Dolphins, who are in need of a starting quarterback now that Ryan Tannehill is out for a significant amount of time with ACL injury. Osweiler is close with Dolphins coach Adam Gase, who coached him for three seasons in Denver.
If the Dolphins come calling, the Browns will have to decide if they want to trade Osweiler, or keep him around in the event Kizer needs more time.
Need to improve:
The Browns tied for 30th in the NFL last season for most takeaways with 13 (10 interceptions and three fumble recoveries).
The starting defense didn’t earn a takeaway in Friday’s scrimmage, something linebacker Jamie Collins knows must change.
Asked what the No. 1 defense needs to improve, Collins said, “Getting the ball out. I can’t get the ball out enough.”