WR Cedric Tillman made a move, blew by his defender and sprinted towards the end zone, catching his second touchdown of Tuesday's practice on a 50-yard-deep pass from QB Deshaun Watson.
The second-year receiver looks to be a In his rookie season, Tillman recorded 224 yards on 21 receptions, most of which came after the Browns traded Donovan Peoples-Jones late in the season.
The former Tennessee Volunteer has had a strong camp, with head coach Kevin Stefanski calling the young player "a pro, now, not a rookie.' Tillman's other coaches have also taken note of his increased effort going into Year 2.
"Cedric's really attacked the offseason," wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea said Tuesday. "He's done the same here in training camp. He's really worked so hard to, again, learn the offense, to be better fundamentally. He's improved because of how he's approached it, and I can't say enough about his work ethic and what he's done to try to improve every day."
One factor Tillman has been focused on as he prepares for his second season is bettering his communication with his quarterbacks. The best WR-QB duos know what the other is thinking when faced with a particular coverage without having to communicate.
With a potential increase in featuring choice routes as a part of the offense under offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, it will be vital for the Tillman and the other receivers to gain experience being on the same page as the quarterbacks over the offseason.
"You've got to be on the same page, and you have to base your decision and your choices off of various factors," O'Shea said. "So, the quarterback and the receivers have to be on the same page, and it doesn't happen just overnight, it's a work in progress. That's why it's been great – not only on choice routes – but routes in general to see our group work so hard at The Greenbrier and then come back here to Berea and work so hard on the field to be on the same page on our route running."
Tillman said that communicating with those around him in the receiver room has been important to him as well this offseason. Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy have been valuable resources as he observes and questions how the veteran receivers approach practice, meetings and game day.
However, Tillman also has the luxury to step across the line of scrimmage after the whistle and talk to those covering him in practice – the defensive backs. With three-time Pro Bowl CB Denzel Ward, and young but proven talent in Greg Newsome II and Martin Emerson Jr., the Browns secondary could be one of the best in the league this season. Pro Football Focus has the group ranked sixth going into the year.
While the defensive backs might seek to make Tillman and the other wideouts' lives difficult during a rep, they are a resource to the young receiver.
"I feel like we have some of the best DBs in the game, so just talking to those guys, getting tips, obviously doing those real live reps with them definitely helps," Tillman said.
Whether it's during one-on-one drills or intense full team periods, O'Shea has witnessed the Browns' iron sharpens iron mindset as the wideouts battle the defensive backs in practice.
"This is awesome for us as receivers to be able to face the competition we are on a daily basis," O'Shea said. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for our defensive guys and our secondary and really, what an opportunity that is for us to work against those guys. Not only are they great players, but more importantly than that, our defensive guys are great teammates to the receivers."
As a receiver, O'Shea implied, being a great teammate is about much more than catching the ball. Whether it's run blocking or taking snaps on special teams, O'Shea wants his receivers to be as versatile as possible.
"We ask the receivers to do so much, whether it's in the run game, it's in the pass game, even in some protection that we've asked them to do," O'Shea said.
With highlight plays coming from both receivers and defensive backs during practice, it is clear that the two opposing groups are pushing each other to get better throughout camp.
