The Browns practiced in front of media Thursday during organized team activities in Berea. Here's a sampling of the notes I took during practice:
- This time of year, players are wearing helmets and shorts, no pads, during practices, so it's difficult to really identify who's standing out. With that in mind, running back Jerome Harrison looked good in his first practice in front of media. Harrison, the Browns' only restricted free agent practicing this offseason, caught several passes in the flat. Harrison did not grant a formal interview with the media, but in passing he said, "I'm just happy to be back."
- The Browns' tight ends stole the show Thursday. Ben Watson and Robert Royal caught several passes from quarterbacks Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace. After catching a touchdown pass from Delhomme, Watson threw the ball at a defender following the play, prompting an official to throw a flag.
- After struggling to catch anything in last week's OTAs open to media, tight end Evan Moore seemingly caught everything this week.
- Don't fill out your depth chart at this point in the offseason, but here's the first-team offensive line the Browns used Thursday: Joe Thomas (left tackle), Eric Steinbach (left guard), Alex Mack (center), Scott Kooistra (right guard) and John St. Clair (right tackle). Here's Thursday's second-team O-line: Jason Capizzi (LT), Shawn Lauvao (LG), Eric Ghiaciuc (C), Floyd Womack (RG), Tony Pashos (RT).
- After practice, Steinbach told me the different O-line rotations usually are pretty insignificant. Last year, he practiced with the second team during OTAs but started every game during the regular season and didn't miss an offensive snap. "There's a different rotation every day we come out here," Steinbach said. "(The coaching staff does it) for injury reasons. You've got to learn how to play together with different groups, different people to the left and right of you." Steinbach added he had never seen such unpredictable O-line rotations until last season when Mangini took control.
- As he's done before this offseason, Browns president Mike Holmgren watched practice from the sidelines.
- The following players were among those sidelined with injuries Thursday: DTs Shaun Rogers, Keith Grennan and Cliff Geathers, plus DBs Benjamin Burney and John Bowie. I saw Geathers, Burney and Bowie work out on stationery bikes. Clad in shorts and his No. 92 jersey, Rogers walked into the indoor facility shortly after practice opened to the media. A Browns staff member asked him how he was doing, to which Rogers replied, "I'll make it."
- With Phil Dawson absent from OTAs, Shaun Suisham continued to serve as the team's place kicker.
- After practice, the Browns announced they signed WR James Robinson and waived WR Dion Morton. Robinson spent time on the practice squads of the Miami Dolphins, the Browns and the Washington Redskins last season. He's also played in the Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League.
PLEASE tell me, what's going on with tight-end Evan Moore? The guy is 6'6", 250 and caught everything thrown his way when he finally got playing time late last season. He was amazing, and I figured he'd be a vital cog in the offense. Seemed like the only legit receiver on the field!
I made it out to a practice this past week. Evan Moore will be a big part of the offense all season long just as he was the last few games of last season. He, as usual, snagged everything that was in his area code. Yes, we have Ben Watson now, but that does not means Evan's skills won't still be showcased. I noticed that he while he is inside at TE for alot of snaps, he still splits out a lot to utilize the mismatches with smaller cornerbacks. He torched Joe Haden on a deep route earlier this week. He and Watson should be fun to watch this year!
And, from what i saw, the battle for the third TE spot is between Rob Royal and Alex Smith. Watson and Moore are clearly the top 2 tight ends, with Moore taking some of the first team reps as well. That last spot should be an interesting battle come August.