Since the start of the Cleveland Browns' training camp, a common theme has been that the defense has looked mostly impressive and the offense hasn't.
Big plays in the passing game and the running game have been minimal. There hasn't been a whole lot of rhythm or consistency in the Browns' ability to move the ball.
When will that trend, at least from an offensive standpoint, begin to change?
This would be a good time to start.
The Browns will have their ninth practice of camp today, and it would make sense for progress to begin to show on offense as the players continue to gain more knowledge about the new offensive scheme.
The defense is new as well, but the learning curve has clearly been more difficult on offense, where the Browns are implementing an entirely different way of running the ball via an outside-zone-blocking scheme. That takes time to learn, and until all of the offensive linemen and running backs thoroughly soak it in, there will be struggles through the whole offense because everything begins with the running game.
"I thought they're still finding their way with it," coach Mike Pettine said of the Browns' sluggish running attack during Saturday's Family Day practice at Akron. "For a lot of guys, it's a very different transition. … I think the offensive guys came out of it knowing that they need to get better."
ELSEWHERE AROUND THE NFL …
THE NEW YORK JETShave sent a message to all of their players in the form of the passcode that they use to access their iPads that serve as their playbooks, according to the New York Post. The code is 1969, which is the last and only time the Jets won the Super Bowl. "It's just something to remember – 1969 is the last time this team was perfect," defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson was quoted as saying. "That's a long time ago." Added coach Rex Ryan, "If you don't want to be a champion, you're not going to be. It's safe to say no one's going to be a champion if they're going to be like, 'Eh, maybe I'd like to' or whatever. That has to be why you play the game because you do want to be the best. Certainly I want to be the best and I know everybody in this organization feels the same way I do."
TRENT RICHARDSON isn't limiting himself to having his first 1,000-yard rushing season as the former Brown begins his first full season with the Indianapolis Colts. "A thousand is not the goal," Richardson was quoted as saying in the Indianapolis Star. "For me, it's personal. I'm going to keep it to myself. But a thousand is not it for me. It's higher. I can't wait to be involved in the passing game, even if it's just pass blocking. I'm trying to be a three-down back. It would be four if they let me play special teams."
AT LEAST ONE MEMBERof the Seattle Seahawks' defense isn't the least bit concerned about the NFL's stricter enforcement of contact by defensive backs on receivers – a change driven largely by the highly physical play of the Seahawks' secondary. "It will have very minimal impact on our game and how we play it," Sherman told reporters. >>Be sure to tune in Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET, for "Cleveland Browns Daily, Driven by Liberty Ford" on ESPN 850 WKNR or catch the live stream right here on ClevelandBrowns.com. We take your questions at 216-578-0850 and via Twitter @Browns_Daily.
