Browns’ Newsome embracing new role as slot cornerback
BEREA — Greg Newsome II is eager to play with “a little more armor,” even if it’s only two or three pounds.
With the Browns trading nickelback Troy Hill to the Los Angeles Rams last month, they’re hoping Newsome will become their primary slot cornerback after he spent most of his rookie season last year playing on the outside.
“I’m comfortable with it,” Newsome said. “I think it’s a benefit toward me. I’ll be able to be around the ball a lot more, so I’m definitely liking the inside. It’s going to be fun. I think I’ll be able to make some more plays, get some sacks, things like that, so I’m definitely embracing that new role.”
It’s only May, so plans can change before the Browns open the regular season Sept. 11 on the road against the Carolina Panthers. Yet all signs point to Newsome manning the slot. He explained he intends to play at about 194 or 195 pounds after playing at 192 last year. It’s not a big change, but it’s a change made because of the heavy traffic he expects to encounter across the middle of the field as a nickelback. When the Browns deployed two cornerbacks in their first-team base defense in recent practices, Newsome and Denzel Ward were on the field. In nickel, Greedy Williams entered the action, played on the outside and Newsome moved inside.
“You have to be intelligent in order to play that position, so I just think with my body type, a little bit bigger, I’m agile, I’m able to move, I feel like I can guard those smaller receivers,” Newsome said. “So I think I’ll definitely be fine in the nickel.”
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. is an expert on Newsome, a first-round pick in last year’s draft. Walker and Newsome bonded years ago because they hail from Northwestern.