The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Van Pelt: Beckham buying in
The coaching and leadership change has been a fresh start all around for the Browns, and that includes a fresh attitude with star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham was a no-show in the offseason program last year in his first season with the Browns. It was also the only season for Freddie Kitchens as head coach. Kitchens was fired after finishing 6-10.
The novel coronavirus has made all NFL teams unable to open their facilities to players, which means there have been no organized team activities or classroom sessions in Berea. Maybe that has something to do with Beckham’s enthusiasm since he can participate in virtual meetings from home, but offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt on a Zoom conference June 3 said Beckham “is all in” on what Van Pelt and head coach Kevin Stefanski are teaching.
“He has bought in,” Van Pelt said. “He’s been there, and it’s awesome. It’s good to have him there. It’s good for him. He obviously needs to learn this system, but to have him involved and everybody involved — everybody’s attendance has been outstanding and that is a tribute to Kevin and the guys that are buying into the program.”
Beckham played all 16 games in 2019, but he had what for him was a subpar season. He caught 74 passes for 1,034 yards and four touchdowns.
A lot went into Beckham’s numbers not being what he expects of himself. The offense was out of sync all season. Quarterback Baker Mayfield regressed. Beckham played all season with a core muscle injury that limited his practice time and required surgery in January.
Not being part of spring practice last year was part of Beckham’s struggles, too. Teams wouldn’t have OTAs if they weren’t important.
“I’ve known of Odell, obviously,” Van Pelt said. “(Former NY Giants Head Coach and Jaguars quarterbacks coach) Ben McAdoo had Odell in New York, and everything that Ben talked to me about him, I’ve seen. He’s a worker. He loves football. He’s smart as hell. He has just been a model guy this offseason. I can’t wait to get him in the building and get him on the field. He has been outstanding.”
No one knows when Van Pelt and his peers around the league will get to do hands-on coaching. In the meantime, Van Pelt said Mayfield is taking a strong leadership role learning the offense Van Pelt and Stefanski are installing.
“I think Baker is keen on it,” Van Pelt said. “He has done everything I would expect from him as a starting quarterback. His work ethic is great.
“He jumps into other meetings that aren’t required, and he will sit in the receiver meetings when they have them and will sit in running back meetings from time to time, as well. He is doing exactly how we expect him to do it.”
Tight end David Njoku needs a fresh start even more than Beckham. Beckham missed 10 games with a broken wrist last season and was disliked by Kitchens.
“He has been really interactive in meetings, and that’s been great,” Van Pelt said. “I’m excited to get to know him. I know obviously he’s a talented guy. He got in the doghouse a little bit last year, it sounds like, from the old staff, but it’s a fresh, clean slate for him. He’s going to add to that tight end room.
“There will be times we’re out there with three tight end sets. That’s part of this system. To have him with the ability he has both athletically to play in line or get him out in space and get some matchup issues with safeties and linebackers covering him, I’m excited to see what he has to offer.”
Njoku caught five passes last season after catching 56 in 2019.