Drew Petzing, Browns TE coach, talking about Harrison Bryant. I mean, that's some high praise and as Z said, goes beyond the coach-speak.
Catches everything, big kid, moves well, looks like a WR in a TE body. As we all know, and ex-OL, converted to TE, so safe to say he's comfortable blocking.
The Chief better start catching everything too..
We've seen camp-heros before, but this feels different. This isn't a Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi camp star situation.
"There's a Brett Jones / Jay Novacek feel to him", is being said about Harrison.
I agree Ocon. Jay Novacek is a hell of a name to toss around, especially with a HC that LOVES to utiliize his TEs.
Mr. Njoku - honeymoon is officially OV-AH. Step it up or step outta the way.
You know I've been all-in since before we picked him. I remember reading someone I like, might've been Jake, saying he was the real crown jewel, fuck the measurables, etc.
He's just fluid and natural in his movements, like he's born to it. Also read that he's a guy you can put on the outside as a WR and he's definitely up to it. Plenty of guys with faster 40s are not. Game speed is about so much more than a sprint.
He gets open and he catches the ball. Yes, please.
I've wanted a playmaking TE since Kellen Winslow, fuck him but he was one of my first "favourite" Browns even if he's a fucking piece of garbage. Njoku is in a position to put-up-or-shut-up. This kind of stuff, well we see it every camp that is what my gut says this kid could easily supplant Chief if he proves to be a consistent playmaker.
I think it's already happening, Bryant easing ahead of Njoku. I think the only reason the Browns aren't more openly crowing over it is the possibility of moving the Chief. Just a gut.
With Hooper, Bryant, Carlson, and Cooper (for blocking, but can catch if you let him), Njoku is on really, really thin ice.
Anyone else see a recurring theme from yesterday's practice?
Back to my tea leaves!!
- The language used to praise Higgins felt pretty clear: He's the #3 WR. Natson's high profile seems more about finding him a roll on offense because he's locked in at both kick return spots.
- Bryant is a really perfect bookend to Hooper, and they're actually very similar. Hooper isn't a plus athlete or burner but both guys look like naturals running routes, creating separation and catching the ball.
- I think these are the truest 3/4 "WRs" in this offense, but I've been reading that we're seeing more 3-WR sets than expected. So far, and that's key... I'll be curious if Bryant's showing pushes Stefanski back to that formation.
- TEs in the red zone feels like a definite theme. Baker loves, loves, loves his TEs, so this could go extremely well.
- I know I've said this, but the names have changed: If you aren't OBJ, Landry, Hooper, Bryant, Higgins, Chubb, or Hunt, you're a special teamer or injury insurance. Hard truth.
That's why Natson makes so much sense. Same for Hodge. And this brass drafted DPJ. Feels locked in.
- Chief's value is not gonna go up this year if he gets passed by Harrison Bryant... and as of today, that's pretty damn clear. So there's no big downside to moving him, Carlson and Cooper and great as the 3/4s.
But he's not in demand. Jacksonville didn't want him. I'd add him in with a pick if it sweetened a deal for a player.
I’d consider Njoku for a depth guard & a 5th.
The trade partner would be getting a young elite athlete TE, who was a first rounder. I think that’d be fair.
Hell at this point I'd take a 4th and a cup of coffee hahaha but we shouldn't just give Njoku away.
I could see that. Like one of those trades that helps both teams. Njoku has ridiculous upside but I do not think he's gonna get many looks in this offense with all the skill position talent.
We can spare him. Need someone with his equivalent at IOL or safety.
The Colts are in need of a TE.
They are VERY comfortable with their starting O-line.
Just a thought I've seen bantered about.
I'd be upset if we traded Njoku for a back-up guard and a 5th. It's just such a low value. The kid is an injured season from a 640 yard, 4 TD season. He's only 24 and a few weeks removed from Andrew Berry refusing to trade him because we viewed him as a long-term asset.
The only reason that has changed is because Bryant is playing out of his mind and Hooper is a star. Njoku hasn't done anything wrong. We just finally got it right.
Despite what we've got at the position, Njoku is much too talented just to be handed away for free. He's one of the best athletes at the position, is young and has shown flashes of high level play.
A back-up and a 5th shouldn't hit our radar. We're not a good enough team to just be bending over and letting other teams take our talent.
I'm okay if Berry can get a decent mid-round pick, or uses Njoku in an aggressive package for a player, but I want our mentality to be a refusal to give away talent for free.
Despite the 'writing on the wall' guys...sorry, but I really don't see Njoku going anywhere. He is the guy that can take it the distance. Bryant is getting looks because he NEEDS looks. He is not passing Njoku...yet.
@Dawgfan64 kind of agree, trade Njoku, 1 injury and blamo, we’re thin in that room.
I like Bryant...and think he is likely the future for the Browns...but this year especially it is all about having players you know and trust surrounding the QB. That is why Higgins and Njoku will be keys to this season. Next season...or even later this season...all bets are off. But early on, Njoku isn't likely to be behind Bryant...and not going anywhere (unless there is an unexpected value trade offer).
I disagree on Njoku. Bryant is more and more consistently being featured in this offense, and the chemistry he's building with Mayfield while Njoku continues to be out for various reasons has extended far beyond just gauging his talent. He's emerging as Mayfield's go-to target even with Beckham, Landry and Hooper in the mix.
What Bryant has going for him is football IQ. When Stefanski recently praised him, the first comment he made was that Bryant is on top of his assignments. Van Pelt said this;
“He’s a smart guy,” Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said Monday. “I remember sitting in on the combine interview with him explaining his system [at FAU]. I don’t know if I would have been able to learn his system as well as he knew it. He definitely puts the hours into the study.
“Much like anybody else, the receivers in this system, if you’re where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there, there’s a good chance you’re going to get the ball thrown to you. That’s what he has done. He has just been consistent every time of being where he’s supposed to be at the proper time, and he’s making the plays.”
That's the difference between rookies who play and rookies who sit. Are you going to fuck up and run the wrong route, miss an assignment, line up incorrectly, etc. If Bryant is where they say on the mental side of things, he'll probably get the nod.
Above all, Mayfield's comfort is the key. He just said this:
"The more plays we run in this camp to see what the identity is, we're starting to see what's working for us," Mayfield said after practice Friday, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "I'm starting to feel way more comfortable. It's been great to go through installs for the first time and put everything under our belt for the first time. We're really starting to make progress, which needs to happen. We know the sense of urgency is at an all-time high."
That comfort is largely coming with Bryant out there rather than Njoku. I'd be surprised if they undo that by trying to force Mayfield to find something with Njoku again. One guy is making plays, one guy isn't.
I get it...but let's not forget that Njoku hauled in 56/88 for 639 yards and 4 TD's in 2018. He also has worked out privately with Baker every year they have been together, including this year before COVID down in Austin (Hooper too). Something that Bryant didn't get a chance to do. That is one of the reasons I believe they are feeding Bryant. They Mayfield to be comfortable with all 3...not just the top 2.
I hope Bryant ends up being that good this year...I just look at how they handled the WR's and how little we heard of Higgins...until we did. He was the defacto #3, so he didn't need the reps.
I keep feeling like Njoku is toast, coach was talking like he's way up in his head. Trade value isn't going to go up this season, unlikely to get many looks.
Remember JJ, very scout-ey, and he'd talk about WR/TE as "learned positions?" So much of it is between the ears, routing, setting up DBs, body position, instinct for open spaces... getting open where you're supposed to be and catching the ball.
Higgins recreated himself. Harrison Bryant is already that guy.
I agree, Dawgfan, but I'm more skeptical of how much of that chemistry lingers from 2018. I feel like Mayfield and Higgins have had something since day one, a connection they've had to work at and rekindle following last season. But they've been linking up for three consecutive camps. With Mayfield and Njoku, it hasn't felt as strong with the exception of that 2018 season.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love for Njoku to be that guy. There isn't a tight end on the roster who can touch him athletically, and having that vertical threat makes our offense even more dynamic.
As I once quoted someone smarter than me; The idea of Njoku has always been better than the reality of Njoku. This year, I'm not flirting with the idea until I see the reality. And frankly, his name just doesn't pop up enough right now for me to be blown away.
I've been a Chief backer for a long while, and well put, BDU: It's the idea of him that's so engrossing, visualizing him blurring away from LBs and driving defenses crazy on seam routes.
The skillet hands have driven me bonkers, I admit. But I'd love to be lured back around, no doubt. A catch of a softball with a 10 yard cushion didn't flip my ovaries all that much. Looked like an obvious mistake by the D.