BEREA, Ohio — Day 14 of Browns training camp in Berea, and it was finally — and I say finally — a good day for the Browns' offense.
Through the early weeks of camp, as it has gone along, the defense has mostly been able to say, "Well, we won that day." Today, I think it's a different story. The offense moved very, very well.
It was a big day for Anthony Schwartz, the second-year wide receiver out of Auburn. The former third-round draft choice had a horrible game on Friday night in the preseason opener down in Jacksonville, with two big drops early on. He's had that problem even in training camp before we went down to Florida, and it happened again earlier today when he dropped an early pass thrown his way.
But after that, it all sorted itself out. He made some great catches, some explosive plays, and he does have that great speed, and you can see it all come together.
Now before practice, Schwartz openly talked with the media about the rough night on Friday and what's happened before that. Remember, he missed a lot of time during training camp last year with an injury, and then during the season he got hit with a nasty concussion in New England. He caught a touchdown pass on Christmas Day against Green Bay, and the Browns thought, "Okay, here we go. He'll be fine." But it's been very patchy play from him.
Schwartz admitted, though, that he's trying to make every play too much of a big play, that he really has to go back to the fundamentals. You have to catch the ball first, secure it, and then make the run after the catch a big play.
Until that becomes the catch first and then the run second, then these drops are going to continue. He's looking to progress now against the Eagles in practices coming up on Thursday and Friday, and then hopes to get back in there in game two of the preseason Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy.
We also heard today from the leader of the Browns' secondary, Denzel Ward. The Nordonia alum was out on the field and practicing, and it was good to see him after he had that foot injury stemming back from June in minicamp. All systems are go for him to be ready for the opening game of the year against Carolina and Baker Mayfield.
Ward talked about individual goals — he wants to continue to progress and works very hard at it — but more so about the team aspect, not just the defense (which he thinks could be great), but his secondary. He thinks they could be the best in the NFL.
Ja'Marr Chase, the great young receiver of the Cincinnati Bengals, came out publicly and said Denzel Ward was the best cornerback he went up against last year, and on that Sunday down at Paul Brown Stadium, remember, Ward got the better of Chase in that game.
His 99-yard interception return on the opening drive that he took all the way back for a touchdown turned the game totally towards the Browns, their best and most complete game of the season. Now, he's ready to claim that the secondary as a group is going to be right up at the top of the league, and I would agree with that.
Congratulations have to go out to the new phenom kicker Cade York, the fourth-round draft choice out of LSU. He had another big day today — 6 for 6 on field goals, nailing a 55-yarder, and I'm not exaggerating, it probably would've been good from 65 yards away. That's how good he was, and really how good he's been since arriving.
And he gets an honor today — the Maurice Bassett Award as the outstanding rookie in training camp, voted on by the media who cover the Browns day in and day out. Historic, as he is the first and only kicker to ever win that award.
The Browns are going to be off on Wednesday, and then get set for the Philadelphia Eagles coming in Thursday and Friday here in Berea before the game Sunday at the stadium. One closing note: The Browns, needing a kick returner with the loss of Jakeem Grant last week, will give Easop Winston a look in camp. He's a wide receiver out of Washington State who has return abilities, initially going to the Rams but ending up with the Saints last year and returning 10 punts in three games. He'll get a look here in Cleveland ASAP.