I do wish OBJ was here for more than one token OTA, but the majority of legit experts on NFL point out that he's always avoided voluntary practices, and has always showed up and had record-breaking performances.
Tony Grossi isn't alone, however, in pointing out that this time Beckham is coming to a new team with a new offensive system and new quarterbacks, and you'd think he'd want to get some reps in with his new teammates.
There is, as the coaches and I have pointed out, a genuine bright side to this, as Baker Mayfield is getting to work with the backups, and each individual receiver is a little different.
There really is plenty of time for Mayfield to "mesh" with his top receivers during Training Camp, while the backups get far fewer reps with him.
I must also point out here that Baker Mayfield isn't one of those quarterbacks who needs a ton of reps with each of his receivers. He gets used to each one quickly, and (more impressively) somehow keeps "separate files" on each of them in his head, so he rarely forgets this is receiver B instead of receiver A, and throw behind him or whatever.
In general, you need to forget that Mayfield is a second-year player. He doesn't need "mentoring" like Sam Darnold or whoever does, and he doesn't need to throw 300 passes to OBJ to develop chemistry with him.
The Coaches are also getting a much better look at the many Wide Receivers who are fighting for the last couple roster spots, so they're less likely to kick the wrong guy to the curb.
As Dan Labbe reports, Freddie Kitchens says they're experimenting a lot in this mini-camp.
I see Paul DePodesta's influence, or at least concurrence with this. Between this voluntary camp and Training Camp, the players get a 30-day vacation. Then the REAL work begins.
During this time off, the Coaches will digest what they've seen out of these players, and fine-tune their systems to make the most of them.
They don't need more data on Landry, OBJ, etc; these guys are known commodities. The Coaches already know their basic schemes, which are built around these veterans.
The fine-tuning here is about sustainability: They'll bring their Playbooks to Training Camp filled out with plays that the backups can run as well (and oh yeah: they'll have a better idea of who those backups will be, thanks to the veteran "no-shows".
Austin Corbett has been the second team center, while Kyle Kalis has dominated the First Team reps at Right Guard.
Withhold your "spin" comments for a few seconds please, but Freddie Kitchens says he's testing different players at different positions, and implies that this does not neccessarily represent the final pecking order anywhere.
JC Tretter has a history of injuries, and it makes sense that they want to see how their second round draft pick looks at that position now.
For that matter, Tretter is very expensive, so...
It looks and sounds to me that when the rubber meets the road, Corbett is still getting his shot at Right Guard.
If he wins the job, they'll probably back him up with Kalis, and have the option to move him over if Tretter goes down. If he loses, he may well be the inside utility depth guy.
Yeah, WTNY, that would be a "miss" for a top second round pick, but not quite a "bust" yet. We need to wait til after 2020 before we can judge that.
No I'm not rationalizing, B! Who was Corbett supposed to bench as a rookie-Bitonio, Tretter, or Zeitler?
Yeah he should win the RG job this offseason, but what if Kalis is just plain one of those sleepers?
Anyway, since the new contract and the rookie cap, things are different now. That draft pick was actually pretty cheap cap-wise, and he's locked into it for three more seasons.
Oh I hear you. You probably have a bunch of other players Dorsey could have drafted instead of Corbett.
...well I concur...no I don't...well ok Wil Hernandez was there, but not much else, and Hernandez was strictly a G-power guard...I admit that Hernandez would have come in real handy right now, but John Dorsey forgot to polish his crystal ball that day or something.
At the time, he thought Corbett had a chance to play left or right tackle in the NFL, but just in general was a nice mix of power and athleticism who could fit any scheme and play anywhere on the Oline.
And I'll wait a couple more years to see if Dorsey was wrong.
Shortly after Corbett, Dorsey took Nick Chubb. We can agree on that pick.
NFL Total Access just discussed whether or not Baker Mayfield should stay off Twitter, as he's escalated his war with Colon Cowturd.
I wish I could have heard it, but the sound was turned down.
Anyway yeah, I think Baker should just "go black", as Colon is trolling him, and it's a waste of Baker's time and mental energy.
But I do "grok" where Mayfield is coming from. His first instinct is always to fight, and he can't tolerate dumbassitude (sound familiar?)
It's really entertaining, and in my opinion Baker is kinda kicking Cowturd's ass, but it's already outta hand.
I hope Mayfield shuts this superficial crap down once Training Camp starts (and thereafter).
But I'll tell you people one thing: Baker Mayfield won't get distracted. He'll be fine on the field.
Actually, he might be drawing a bullseye on his own chest now deliberately to keep his teammates "out of it". I hadn't thought of that before, but...maybe this kid is smarter than we thunk he was?
After all, it's Baker vs Colon now, and that blots everything else negative about the Browns out.
Just today, Freddie Kitchens said that OBJ was missing "the offense" (he's irked by his absence himself), and (so far) Cowturd was too preoccupied with Mayfield to pounce on that and bash Beckham again...or point out that "the inmates are running the assylum" and "Dorsey's puppet has already lost control of the team" or whatever
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