Browns OTAS primer: A new offense
The Cleveland Browns will shift their voluntary offseason workout program into a higher gear this week when organized team activity practices begin, marking the first time quarterback Deshaun Watson will participate in on-field work with the vast majority of his new teammates.
Yes, Watson and other Browns players have been on the field for drills in recent weeks, and he hosted the majority of the offense for workouts over the weekend in the Bahamas.
But the upcoming OTA sessions will be the first practices for the Browns since they traded with the Houston Texans for Watson on March 18, a move team brass believes will propel it from a disappointing 8-9 record last season to Super Bowl contention.
The collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFL Players Association stipulates players may wear helmets but not pads during OTA practices. There are other rules, but the most important one is seven-on-seven, nine-onseven and 11-on-11 drills are permitted in OTA practices, provided no live contact occurs.
Teams may conduct a maximum of 10 OTA practices. The Browns’ first one will be held Tuesday. They’ll wrap up their first week of OTAS Thursday.
OTAS are voluntary. Last year, almost all of the starters on offense refrained from participating because former Browns center JC Tretter led a movement as the NFL Players Association president against attending the voluntary offseason workout program, citing injury data and COVID-19 concerns.
OTAS this year are expected to have the highest attendance in the coach Kevin Stefanski era.
Watson’s uncertainty
When Watson’s first Browns game will be is a mystery because he could be suspended under the NFL’S personal conduct policy. Two dozen women have accused Watson of sexual misconduct or sexual assault during massage appointments, and 22 have active civil lawsuits filed against him.
While the Browns wait to find out whether Watson will be available for their regular-season opener, they’ll be preparing him to get on the same page with a receiving corps led by another offseason trade acquisition, four-time Pro Bowl selection Amari Cooper.
But because a Watson suspension appears to be more likely than not, it would also be wise for Stefanski to ensure quarterback Jacoby Brissett is developing adequate chemistry with Cooper and other projected starting pass catchers, including receivers Donovan Peoples-jones and David Bell, a rookie third-round draft pick, and franchise-tagged tight end David Njoku.
Different offense?
With Watson, Stefanski figures to spread the offense out with more threereceiver sets and implement run-pass options.
It’s hard to fathom Stefanski completely forsaking the system he has used the past two seasons, but changes will be made, some of which should be evident in OTAS.
A look at rookies
The Browns held rookie minicamp from May 13-15, but those incoming firstyear players have yet to practice with their veteran teammates. They will during OTAS.
The day after General Manager Andrew Berry made Martin Emerson Jr. the Browns’ first draft pick this year, taking the cornerback from Mississippi State University in the third round (No. 68 overall), the franchise traded nickelback Troy Hill to the Los Angeles Rams. The Browns view Emerson primarily as an outside corner, and although 2021 firstround selection Greg Newsome II has shown he can move from the outside to slot corner, the defense appears to be thin at nickelback with Hill gone.
During the recent rookie minicamp, Stefanski downplayed the notion that the Browns were in the market for a new nickelback because of Hill’s departure.
“I think we have multiple guys who can fill that role and have filled that role in there,” Stefanski said. “I think that’s why we talk about versatility. If you’re playing corner or if you’re playing safety, you’re going to be trained to play in the slot and play our nickel position. I think we have multiple guys who can do that.”
OTAS ought to provide the first peek of how the Browns plan to address nickel back and to what extent they’ll experiment with Emerson there.
The slot on the other side of the ball is a position of interest, too. All signs point to Bell being the top candidate there.