Cleveland Browns training camp takes its next step with an intrasquad scrimmage in The Horseshoe at Ohio State Friday from 6-8 p.m.
The move is about football, but it's also about marketing -- as the Browns are in serious talks about moving at least part of training camp to Columbus, perhaps as early as next year.
The fact that up to 70,000 will be in attendance probably says all the team wants to say about interest in the Browns in the capitol city, which is in the middle of the state.
The scrimmage will feature starters against starters, backups against backups and down the line. There will be live tackling, but quarterbacks will be protected. Let’s run down some interesting elements of the scrimmage:
Johnny Manziel will get reps with the first team
A push for the starter’s job by Manziel coming off two good days of practice? Not yet, said coach Mike Pettine. First, Pettine does not want to risk Josh McCown, so he will probably limit McCown to one series. McCown will not go with the backups. This is starter’s treatment. If there were a competition, the reps would be equal. Pettine echoed this reality when he said he’s giving Manziel time with the starters in case of injury, not in case of competition. “You don't want the first time that [the backup is] out there with that group of guys to be in a game,” Pettine said. “I wouldn't read too much into it that [Manziel’s] going with the ones. Josh, right now is firmly the one, but don't be surprised at some point during camp if you see maybe Thad [Lewis], maybe even Connor [Shaw] with that group as well.”
Manziel hoopla is starting to simmer
Manziel expressed near joy that the hype about him has decreased and he can just come to work and play football. He may wish to take a breath. In Cleveland at least, the buzz grew the past two days, which is premature. Manziel has yet to play against a live rush and against a live defense trying to confuse him. His last two practices were good ones, but prior to those two there were some not-so-good-ones. As I wrote, there’s a long way to go for Manziel to either seize or lose the opportunity.
The hype will grow because he's behind McCown
Were Manziel behind an established quarterback this would simply be a backup playing well. Were Manziel behind Brian Hoyer after Hoyer spent an entire season as a starter, there might not be as much chatter. Manziel is behind a 36-year-old who may be playing out his final seasons in Cleveland. That lends to the narrative that Manziel can steal the job to start the season. The Browns coaches, though, want to go with McCown because they believe they can win with him. Their opinion matters more than the chatter or hype. Manziel can win the job, yes. But he’s not there yet.
Terrelle Pryor will not take part in the scrimmage
This is unfortunate for Pryor, not because he’s going to be in The Shoe for the first time since he unceremoniously left Ohio State. It’s more unfortunate for Pryor that he won’t play. He needs all the live reps he can get as he tries to prove he can make the move from quarterback to receiver. After initially thinking he had very little chance, I've come around on the possibility that Pryor can make the team as a receiver. He's worked diligently and handled himself well. But he needs to be on the field to prove it.
The nagging injury list continues to grow
Linebacker Barkevious Mingo will miss a month after needing to be scoped to fix a meniscus issue. Running back Glenn Winston also had a scope on a knee issue he had when he arrived in camp. Cornerback Pierre Desir, who was off to such a strong start, was added to the injury list when he left Thursday’s practice with a hamstring. That a player like Dwayne Bowe also has a hamstring, that Duke Johnson has missed time, that all the other Browns are out (including Terrance West) is annoying and disappointing. It’s hard to put a finger on why it’s happening but it sure seems to be happening a lot. As the old saying goes, "You can't make the club from the tub."
Careful about leaving the huddle
That’s the advice Bill Parcells once gave Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin. In a story Martin told at his induction, Parcells told him he had to take care of himself, but he should be careful about leaving the huddle because you never knew who would go in the huddle. In other words, one person’s injury is another’s opportunity. For the Browns, that has meant young receivers like Shane Wynn and Travis Benjamin, who have taken advantage of chances. Isaiah Crowell could take firm hold of the starting running back spot. And defensively Justin Gilbert could get plenty of time as he tries to show he was worth that eighth overall spot last season.
If you can’t be there you can watch
The NFL Network will provide live coverage of the scrimmage at 6 p.m. ET.
