BEREA (92.3 The Fan) – Cornerback Buster Skrine has heard the hate the last 2 seasons.
And he’s using it to fuel his rise in the Browns secondary this year after having a much improved 2013 season that not many talk about.
“I always walk around with a chip on my shoulder,” Skrine said. “I was top 4 in passes defended last year and I don’t feel like I got any credit for that, but it’s a job and if I know I am playing well that’s all that matters. If the coaches know that I am playing well that’s all that matters.”
On Monday, with rookie Justin Gilbert sidelined with a groin injury, Skrine had his strongest practice to date. Everywhere you looked, No. 22 could be seen running all over the field.
Skrine broke up at least 3 passes and came away with an over the shoulder interception on a deep ball from quarterback Brian Hoyer to Charles Johnson.
“I feel that if I just keep on learning and becoming a smarter player I will be able to make more plays,” Skrine said.
Hoyer said after practice throwing in Skrine’s direction has become challenging and something that he does not like to do much of.
“It’s got to be a perfect throw or else Buster’s going to close in on it,” Hoyer said. “When you put him with Joe and then you add Justin in there, we have a really good group of talented guys, not to mention the other guys that rotate through, but I really like Buster because I know how hard it is to go against him.”
Haden aside, the secondary was once a weakness but now is a strength for the Browns.
Regardless if Skrine beats out Gilbert for the starting job, he’ll be on the field quite a bit this season.
“I definitely want to start,” Skrine said. “Who wouldn’t want to start? Right now I am just competing to start and just help out defense however I can.”
Singing In The Rain – The Browns remained outside Monday despite on and off rain during practice.
“We’re going to have to play in rain at times,” Pettine said. “I thought it was good work for the quarterbacks and the receivers especially working with a wet ball.”
Pettine is trying to instill toughness in his team and keeping them outdoors in wet weather is part of that.
“These are the types of things that we wants us to be able to endure to be a great football team,” safety Tashaun Gipson said. “Some games it’s going to snow. It’s going to rain. We’re in Cleveland, so any type of weather any given Sunday. So I think that’s a testament to show what coach and his coaching staff are bringing to the table. Our guys embrace it, and we’re excited about it.”
Hoyer admitted that he needed to adjust better to the wet weather better than he did.
“When it’s wet like that you want to change your philosophy on how you throw the ball,” Hoyer said. “You don’t want to grip it as tight. You don’t want to throw it high because it is tough for those receivers when it’s high and they can’t get their hands on it. It slips up.
“You want to come out and have a great practice, but it is good to get work in the rain.”
The team has a lightning monitoring system and had they detected it in the area or the potential for it, then they would have moved practice indoors and closed it to the public.
No Learning Curve For Kirksey – Pettine might not be big on starting a rookie quarterback, but he has no problem plugging them in elsewhere.
Even if Chris Kirksey doesn’t win the starting WILL linebacker spot in the competition with Craig Robertson, he will still see significant playing time a the position this season.
“We have enough variance in the packages,” Pettine said. “Whether we’re dime, whether we’re nickel, whether we’re base, short yardage stuff, our extra DB packages that I think there’s enough work out there for both of them.”
Kirksey, along with outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard were 2 players Pettine mentioned that he intends to mix in the with starters more.
Special Guy – Pettine thinks Browns defensive end Armonty Bryant can be a star.
“I think he has a chance to be a special pass rusher in this league,” Pettine said. “He makes it tough on offensive linemen. He can kind of get through some cracks where maybe some of the bigger guys can’t. He’s very explosive with his hands. He’s real good when a lineman tries to get hands on him. He’s very good releasing off of blocks and I just think he has a knack for getting to the quarterback.”
Bryant, selected in the 7th round of the 2013 draft, was impressive in Saturday’s game at Detroit and has looked as good during practice.
“I feel like I’m ready to make a statement and go out and show my ability,” Bryant said. “I feel I fit this scheme pretty well and they can move me around where they want to and I can execute anything they ask.”
Cameron Returns – Tight end Jordan returned to practice after missing the last 4 practices and Saturday’s preseason opener after sustaining a shoulder injury during the ‘Family Day’ scrimmage Aug. 2 at Akron.
having to miss a week and then sit Saturday in Detroit was tough on the pro bowler.
“It sucks because you’ve been working so long and going against your own team for the last six months,” Cameron said. “We finally get a chance to go against an opponent and really get that game speed down and I was unable to get out there.”
Cameron is being eased back into practice and he participated in the non-contact drills. He is expected to be available against the Redskins next Monday night.
Roll Call – LT Joe Thomas (rest), OL Michael Bowie (shoulder), WR Nate Burleson (hamstring), LB Darius Eubanks (shoulder), DB Justin Gilbert (groin), WR Josh Gordon (abdominal), MarQueis Gray (abdomen), OL Randall Harris (knee), LB Eric Martin (concussion), LB Keith Pough (ankle), DL Billy Winn (abdomen); NFIL: OL Nick McDonald (wrist).
Up Next – Practice Tuesday a 9:30 a.m.; no passes are available.
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