Kitchens says no pressure on OBJ to show up
CLEVELAND — Freddie Kitchens knows exactly what he’s doing when it comes to Odell Beckham Jr. and supporting his decision to participate in the offseason program on a part-time basis.
One of Kitchens’ strengths is getting players on his side and wanting to play hard for him. It’s what he did so well last season with Baker Mayfield, and it’s one of the main reasons he’s head coach of the Browns today.
He’s doing the same thing right now with Beckham. He knows the trade from New York rocked Beckham’s world and that he needs some time to process his move to Cleveland. He knows it was difficult on Beckham emotionally and that he still needs to wrap his brain around his new home and his new team.
Kitchens is treading lightly and not going to war over voluntary workouts. He knows the most important thing right now is to gain Beckham’s trust and confidence, and he knows it’s not an easy thing to do. Giants coach Pat Shurmur went out of his way to the do the same thing last year, but by the end of the season, the two were at odds. By the offseason, Shurmur was 100% on board with shipping his star receiver out.
Kitchens is determined to help ease Beckham’s transition, and he’s not about to alienate him over voluntary workouts, even though he knows as well as anyone that Beckham should be in Cleveland getting acclimated to the scheme and to his new coaches and teammates.
“Listen, I have never disputed the fact that it’s not important for him to be here, but it’s also important for him to be mentally ready to be here,” Kitchens said Wednesday. “I’m not giving him an out by any stretch of imagination, and nobody here knows the conversations that Odell and I have. I’m just saying it’s better for him to be here when he can present his best self — emotionally, physically, everything.”
Here are some other takeaways from the first day of OTAs open to the media:
Olivier Vernon has the right attitude
Asked if he’s capable of double-digit sacks considering all the talent on the D-line, Vernon said, “Listen, I just want double-digit wins to be honest with you. That’s all I want.”
Vernon, an eighth-year pro, didn’t even hesitate with that answer. It was all about the team. He should be great for Myles Garrett, who could use some veteran leadership in the defensive line room.
Vernon will lead by example, and won’t be writing checks he can’t cash. His leadership ability has already been noted by Kitchens.
“Olivier is exactly what we thought he was,” he said. “He takes control on the field, takes control in the locker room and he’s the leader of the team. We just need to continue to mesh people like that and see where we are.”
Callaway poised for a big jump
With OBJ mostly absent and Jarvis Landry nursing a minor injury, second-year wideout Antonio Callaway is getting most of the first-team reps in OTAs. Rashard Higgins was also idle Wednesday, and Damion Ratley started opposite Callaway.
Callaway, who was suspended for his final year at Florida and came into camp rusty last year, is back in top form.
“Callaway has come back and he’s been here most of the time,” said Kitchens. “He’s in good shape relative to what he was in last year during training camp. He’s added some explosiveness. He’s been catching the ball really well. He’s doing a good job.’’
If Callaway, the Browns’ fourth-round pick last year, keeps it up, he won’t be overshadowed by Beckham and Landry.
“We’ve been very happy with how he came back from the offseason ready to go,” said Mayfield. “Just how quick he is and you can tell he’s been working on his craft. That’s very exciting to see that. You bring in a guy like Odell and you re-sign some guys, and he is going to try and compete with them. That is the most important part. Competition brings out the best in them and Callaway is doing that.”
Fights in practice won’t be tolerated
Kitchens wasted no time chewing out receiver Derrick Willies and Lenzy Pipkins after their on-field skirmish during OTAs Wednesday, with Willies head-butting Pipkins, and Pipkins landing a punch.
After the two were separated, Kitchens spent a few minutes chewing them both out, and made it clear that he won’t stand for such shenanigans. In fact, next time, he’ll probably send the parties to the showers.
“We had one out there today that we’re not going to deal with,” Kitchens said. “You guys need to be around the next time that happens.”
New safety Burnett is Kitchens’ kind of guy
Kitchens spent a year working under Bill Parcells in Dallas, and learned to appreciate the trusted longtime veterans. New safety Morgan Burnett, a 10th-year pro, fits the bill.
“He’s the definition of a leader,” said Kitchens. “He kind of gets those guys together. He’s been through the fire. I like guys that have been in the fight. I like guys that have been in the battle or battle-tested. Coach Parcells used to say all the time that he wants to leave training camp and his team be battle-tested. That’s what we want to get to. You just can’t do it right now.”
Burnett, who spent his first eight years in Green Bay and the 2018 season in Pittsburgh, is starting at strong safety opposite Damarious Randall.