The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Tryout players giving it a shot at WR
Seven wide receivers, all in Berea on a tryout invitation, are flying around catching passes and at the same trying to catch the eye of coaches in the Browns rookie minicamp.
Who knows? Maybe one of them will turn out to be the next Andrew Hawkins and get invited back to organized team activities later this month. Head coach Hue Jackson, however, is not ready to commit to any of them.
“They (caught my attention) because they try hard,” Jackson said after practice May 13. “I have to watch them a little more to find out a little bit more about them to know and see if they have a chance to stick here and really can contribute to our team.”
The Browns, owners of the worst record in the NFL in 2016 at 1-15, had the second-fewest touchdown passes in the league at 15.
Terrelle Pryor, the Browns leading receiver last season with 77 catches for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns, signed with the Redskins in free agency. The Browns responded by signing ninth-year veteran Kenny Britt, who had his first 1,000 yard season (1,002 yards, 68 catches, five touchdowns) last year.
Browns EVP of Football Operations Sashi Brown did not draft a wide receiver, nor did he sign one as an undrafted rookie — 21 new players and none a wide receiver — which leaves the door open a crack for one or more of the tryout receivers to get another look when OTAs begin later this month.
“We drafted four guys a year ago,” Jackson said. “We have to develop them. We have a really good coach (senior offensive assistant Al Saunders) coaching them. There are some guys that need to step up.
“This is rookie minicamp.
The season is a long ways away. A lot of things are going to happen and can happen. I don’t think Sashi has said that this is our ending team.”
Tight end Gary Barnidge caught 55 passes last year. He was cut after the Browns drafted tight end David Njoku in the first round last month.
Corey Coleman, a rookie wide receiver last year, caught 33 passes, as did Hawkins. The rest of the wide receiving corps combined for 31 catches.
Tim Crawley (5-foot-7, 175 pounds), from San Jose State, is one of the less-than-magnificent seven participating in the three-day minicamp that concludes on May 14. He is the same height and five pounds lighter than Hawkins, who in 2008 was in the same minicamp as a tryout player from the University of Toledo. Hawkins played in the CFL in 2009 and 2010, but by 2011 he was playing with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Crawley said a Browns scout saw him at a pro day workout. He described himself as quick more than fast, saying he is quick out of breaks to shake the defender.
Brave can be added to his list of attributes because he knows a safety seven inches taller and 50 pounds heavier is trying to cave his chest in.
“It definitely takes a different mindset, especially if you’re a shorter guy,” Crawley said. “The short guys that succeed in the NFL always have that grit, whether it’s catching the all outside or across the middle for first downs. I try to form my game to matter what the job is, you have to get the job done.”
Mitchell Shegos (6-foot, 203 pounds), of Notre Dame College, is also one of the receivers working to get noticed. NFL Draft Diamonds. com described him as a sleeper in the 2017 draft class.
“He’s a player who plays the game with determination, quickness and sneaky speed,” NFLDraftDiamonds.com analyst Brandon Davis wrote. “He shows the ability to line up outside or in the slot. “Shegos has good hands and has the ability to fight for more yards after the catch. With his good size and production, he’s a very good player on offense
and special teams.”
Shegos caught 258 passes for 3,300 yards and 30 touchdowns over the last three seasons.
Going from playing Division II to the NFL is a huge leap, but Shegos is ready for it.
“Obviously the game speed is a little faster, but it’s like going from high school to college — you adjust through reps,” Shegos said. “After the catch, it’s all effort passion and heart and how you want to gain more yards you want to get for your team in a better situation.
“It’s fun out here playing with some of the big time Division I players and some of the guys I watched after our games were done on Saturday morning.”
Shegos and Crawley are set if football does not work out for them.
Shegos studied comprehensive science and biology. He has applied to physician’s assistant school.
Crawley graduated in 2016 with a degree in business management information systems. He said his field bridges computer talk and business talk.