Observations from the first Browns OTA session open to the media

Getting to see the team on the field allows you to contrast players from where they left off last season

The Cleveland Browns held their first OTA session in front of the media this week, and while much of the focus was on the quarterbacks, there were other noteworthy things to get a glimpse of. It is best to adopt a practice of trying to stay neutral based on what we see on the field during this time of year.

You can form some misguided takes on how things will play out once the pads come on in August by putting too much stock into clips posted on social media. These sessions are good, however, for certain things to get confirmation on.

Most importantly, you are seeing the players side by side for the first time in months for the returning players and the initial time for the draft picks. You can usually see who has been working during the offseason, especially with younger players, and at times notice the occasional veteran who comes in looking a little softer.

The following are some things that I took notice of during my first impression:

• Jerry Jeudy looks even more explosive than he did last year. It also looks like he has added five to ten pounds of lean muscle to his wiry frame. The added strength could help him break more tackles in the open field, resulting in more yards after the catch.
• Dawand Jones is not only healthy but looks like he is lighter and more agile. Usually, losing weight for an offensive tackle isn’t ideal, but for Jones, being close to 400 pounds was a detriment last season. Playing at a lighter weight should reduce the strain on his lower body and therefore increase his chances of staying healthy.
• Second-year guard Zak Zinter looks to have benefited from having an entire offseason to transform his body. Last year was tough for him after suffering a season-ending ankle injury during his final year of college. Although he was healthy at the start of last camp, he felt the effects of having to stay off the ankle in his training.
• The Browns might have enough pass rush help to rival what the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles have flexed over the past few years. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka looked explosive in his get-off and may be in for a big season playing in the wide-9, and Cam Thomas looks capable of setting the edge and beating opposing tackles with speed to power.

Thomas played well in his limited time at the end of last season, and I fully expect him to push for a spot on the final 53-man roster. We will get another look at the team next week when the media is allowed to attend once again.

Did anything specific stand out to you? Were you able to notice any of these things above? Let us know in the comments below.