I think we (or maybe just I) really underestimated TJ Ward

[Solon16]

Maybe we will have some forced fumbles...finally

[BernietheKid]

Ward aims for starting job with Browns
By Nate Ulrich
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 08:32 p.m. EDT, Aug 04, 2010




BEREA: As rookie safety T.J. Ward trudged off the Browns' practice field Wednesday morning, he said, ''I'm about to die.''

Drenched in sweat and visibly exhausted, Ward confirmed he had accomplished his mission during the Browns' first practice of the day. His effort was superb.

During an 11-on-11 session, running back Jerome Harrison caught a pass and ran along the sideline for a significant gain. But as Harrison approached the end zone, Ward caught him from behind and knocked the ball loose near the 5-yard line.

Later, Ward's hard work paid off again when he stepped into passing lanes and batted down throws from quarterbacks Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhomme.

''Every day you want to give max effort,'' Ward said. ''I just got the opportunity to make some plays, and I made them. On the one long run, nobody touched [Harrison]. I had got kind of corrected on some effort issues earlier in camp, and I just wanted to put out max effort in anything I did today. I saw an opportunity to stop a touchdown, and that's what I tried to do.''

Ward, 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, said his coaches called him out for a lack of hustle during a play in a previous practice. He vowed to fix the problem.

''We watch film,'' Ward said. ''[If there's] something you're not doing right, then you're gonna get corrected on it. It was just an effort issue on one play. I told myself I wouldn't let that happen again.''

The Browns selected Ward in the second round (38th overall) of this year's draft, hoping he's able to put past knee and ankle injuries behind him and help upgrade their defensive secondary. Thus far, Ward is meeting their expectations. He's the only rookie who has played first string in every practice since training camp opened to the public Saturday.

''He is doing well,'' Browns coach Eric Mangini said of Ward. ''He made a really nice play the other day late in practice where he came up, made the tackle and stripped the ball out. And that was just an awareness play. That's been a point of emphasis. It always is defensively, so to see him finish the play that way, which is what we want, I like that.

''He did a nice job, too, with the information. He's got more and more comfortable as we've gone on. And I think working with the ones [first team] has helped him because it's forced him to accelerate the process.''

After walking on at the University of Oregon, Ward made a name for himself as a punishing hitter. But in practices like the one Wednesday morning (the players wore helmets, shoulder pads and shorts), Ward must separate himself in other ways.

''I'm known for that, but there's more to football than just hitting,'' said Ward, whose father, Terrell, played safety at San Diego State University before being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 1980 draft. ''You have to work on other areas of your game. And coming to the NFL, I'm not gonna be able to thump everybody like I did in college because it's just a whole other game. But at the same time, you have to work on just different technical issues.''

Since Saturday, Ward has been playing opposite Abram Elam, a Kent State University product who started at safety in all of the Browns' games last season. Ward said Elam has taken him under his wing.

''T.J. is a great competitor, and he has the will to learn,'' Elam said. ''With those two things, you can be successful in this league. I'm just admiring each and every day going to work with T.J. because he wants to get better.

''T.J. is making plays every time he's out on the field, and that's a plus. That's one thing [defensive coordinator Rob] Ryan and coach Mangini has expressed [to] the defense, that we want to try to create turnovers and continue to make plays on the defensive side of the ball.''

Ward and Elam are known as strong safeties, but Ward said he thinks he can play free safety, too. At this point, Ward said he has been told to prepare for both spots.

''Me and Abe are just playing safety right now,'' Ward said. ''We'll play sides, and the coaches haven't said anything about where we're going to be. Right now, we're just learning both positions and getting comfortable at both, so that at any time we can play either one.''

Despite his noted progress, Ward said he won't become complacent. He still has a long way to go before he'll declare himself a starter.

''It's only been five days of camp, so I'm just trying to get better and just showcase my talents,'' Ward said. ''That's all I can do. [I need to] just keep working, try to make every play I can and prove myself to my teammates and coaches.''

Ohio.com - Ward aims for starting job with Browns

[mz.]

Originally Posted by mohican

the indication from articles I've read where Browns coaches have commented (vs media speculation) is that unless/until Sheldon Brown has lost a step he will be a starting corner, and that they look for Haden to take Wrights spot. No one the coaching staff, that I've heard of, has been calling for Brown to move to safety.....yet....

Yeah, I haven't read/heard anything about it, either. That being said, with the proliferation of passing in the league, we (and most teams) are going to have to field a nickel corner a ton. Brown/Haden/Wright has potential to be a great triumvirate (Revis/Cromartie/Wilson has the potential to be downright stupid good). But, in base D, I'd rather see Brown in at FS and Haden and Wright at CB than seeing one of them on the bench with Elam out there.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[YtownBacker]

I agree with Brown/Haden/Wright out there in nickle situations but also any time there are 3 WR sets. But, I would like to see Ward over Elam. Elam just seems to be a step slow and gets caught flatfooted . He doesn't attack plays and his pass coverage sucks. Ward attacks and wants to hit people. He has also shown so far that his coverage is way better then anybody gave him credit for.

[mz.]

Originally Posted by YtownBacker

I would like to see Ward over Elam.

I'm with you, and that's what I meant (Haden/Wright/Brown/Ward instead of Haden/Brown/Elam/Ward). I was just assuming Ward would be out there at SS regardless.

[Tobalaz]

Eric Turner and Chuck Ceciel were 2 damn good safeties that would injure themslves from hitting people so violently.
It's the price you pay when you play with wreckless abandon towards your own well being.
Ward seems to slip into that mold.
I can only hope he holds up for us, but so long as he's giving more than taking I'll be happy with him.

[Jax Dawg]

I said it the day we drafted him and I'll say it again now - TJ Ward earns every cent and his draft status with the Browns the first game he knocks the shit out of the likes of Chad Ocho Stinko or Whines Hard coming across the middle....I can't wait!

[Riffer X]

I believe we have a future All Pro caliber player here. This kid plays under control and has a nose for the ball. He is not only a hard hitter but throws receivers around out there. I like his instincts and he seems to never go faster than he should. Even on the TD when he got beat taking Haden's man it was very tight coverage.

Let's pray this kid stays healthy, he may be better than Eric Berry when it's all said and done.

[Shep]

Yeah, I didn't have the feed for long but he just looks like a player out there.

So what was wrong with out pass defense, you think? Seems like Rodgers was having a little too much fun out there.

[nickers]

As PGL noted in his open statement about speed...yes its important but,aggressive,smarts amnd good positioning can make up for speed...Id say those are good tools to have naturally...speed isnt everything when you know your game and your willing to work hard.

[Riffer X]

Originally Posted by Shep

Yeah, I didn't have the feed for long but he just looks like a player out there.

So what was wrong with out pass defense, you think? Seems like Rodgers was having a little too much fun out there.

I think they may have taken a different approach had it been regular season, but they seemed to want to find out who could cover. They blitzed, but I'm not sure with a sense of urgency but more to leave guys on an island and see how it went. Overall, the coverage was tight but Rodgers was just lights out.

Haden looked good and had really tight coverage for the most part. Ward was burned on a TD from a perfect pass but his coverage was excellent (an outside go route when Haden blitzed) and he even got his hands up.

We are talking maybe the best passing offense in football here in GB, so I am not concerned from what I saw. There was one time when Brown let his guy get by but it may have been a miscommunication. My issue was he didn't hustle very much to get to the ball after the catch. I will chalk it up to him being a vet and it being preseason, but overall I am not concerned about the pass D.

The rush D was way better and Gocong had some nice sticks. I did not like Maiava once again, as there were times he got wrapped up with lineman on crossing routes and removed himself from plays. I am certain they are going to do something different than Barton and Maiava for DQJ.

Sorenson got a bad call on an interference in the end zone, Ventrone dropped a pick and Haden had a pick stripped. However, this D seems to be more about creating turnovers than in the past. Bmac had a pick to end the half and a nice return.

[OzDawg]

some new TJ highlites.

YouTube - T.J Ward - NFL Debut