The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
New blood sought for defensive backfield
Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson is looking for two starting safeties.
The Browns training facility was under construction for most of the offseason, and now, with training camp about to open, the same thing can be said about the secondary.
Coach Hue Jackson is looking for two starting safeties. Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden is recovering from March ankle surgery. Though he is making steady progress, he will begin training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list, which means he cannot practice until he passes his physical.
Right cornerback Tramon Williams is 35. Third-year nickel back K’Waun Williams has had two concussions in two seasons and no one knows what to expect from third-year cornerback Justin Gilbert, although he did show signs of being attentive in minicamp, which is encouraging.
“It’s new; I guess that’s the least I can say, but I think it’s been for the better,” Tramon Williams said
at the conclusion of minicamp last month before the Browns went on a sevenweek break to decompress before the start of training camp. “We have some young guys in, young hungry guys who have done a good job this offseason of coming in, putting in the work, learning the defense and doing an excellent job just leading the group. Some young guys are going to have to step up for us.”
A year ago, the Browns boasted they had one of the three best secondaries in the NFL. They included themselves in the elite company of the New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks. That was before injuries limited Haden to five games and before they gave up 34 passing touchdowns. The only teams that allowed more were the Saints (45) and Eagles (36).
Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown let free safety Tashaun Gipson walk in free agency and cut strong safety Donte Whitner. Jordan Poyer and Ibraheim Campbell are the leading candidates to replace them, but veteran Rahim Moore will be in the mix, too.
“I have confidence in both of them,” defensive backs coach Louie Cioffi said of Campbell and Poyer. “I was fortunate enough to coach Campbell at the Senior Bowl when he was a rookie, so we have some history together. I’ve also been around Poyer during my last stop here [in 2013]. They’ve both been in our system before. They’ve done everything that we have asked them up to this point. I think it is going to be a very good competition moving into camp.”
Former Dolphins cornerback Jamar Taylor is trying to restart his disappointing career. He was a second round draft pick by Miami in 2013 and, similar to Gilbert, didn’t measure up to expectations with the Dolphins.
“It’s hard for anybody to have a season like we had last year, especially for a young guy,” Tramon Williams said.
“If a young guy can come out of that and grow from it, then that’s what you want out of it. But those guys are doing an excellent job so far. It’s a confident group as I’ve seen since I’ve been playing football and I’ve played with a lot of great players.”
Trey Caldwell, a 5-foot-9 cornerback, adds depth as a fifth-round rookie. Fourthround rookie Derrick Kindred is part of depth at safety.
Charles Gaines, in his second year, and Pierre Desir, in his third season, add depth at cornerback.
Ray Horton is back for his second stint as Browns defensive coordinator. He had the same job in 2013 when the Browns gave up 29 passing touchdowns and 13 on the ground on their way to a 4-12 season.