Training Camp 2011 - Put it here

[Vegasdogg]

I thought maybe we could start a TC file and stick it all in one place. Well, here are some photos of the first day:

Training Camp - July 30

Also here is a write up from MKC on Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND -- Browns training camp began with a mild surprise Saturday morning -- the sight of receiver Mohamed Massaquoi hobbling around with a walking cast on his left leg, from foot to knee.


But Browns coach Pat Shurmur said that the injuries to Massaquoi (foot) and guard Eric Steinbach i(knee) are "nothing we feel is serious.'' Both players are on the non-football injury list and still active.


"(Massaquoi's) is a little foot deal,'' said Shurmur. "We'll evaluate it as it goes and make sure it's just right.''


Shurmur said the timeline of Massaquoi's injury is a little fuzzy and didn't specify how it happened. Massaquoi, who caught balls from the JUGS machine after practice, declined to discuss the injury.


But he participated fully in Camp Colt IV in Austin, Texas July 10-12 and seemed just fine running routes and catching passes. He also discussed how hard he worked in the offseason, learning from Pro Bowl receivers such as Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson.


Quarterback Colt McCoy said it's "unfortunate Mohamed will be out a little while'' but was grateful the two worked so hard together during the offseason. Massaquoi attended all four of the offensive skill sessions.


In his absence, the two starting wideouts in practice were Brian Robiskie and Josh Cribbs.


Steinbach was replaced in the lineup by first-year guard Pat Murray, signed last year as a free agent.


The Browns also had one injury that occurred the first day when tight end Ben Watson got kneed in the back of the head and got up slowly. He walked gingerly into the locker room with the trainers and didn't return. The Browns will most likely check Watson for a concussion.


In other news and notes from the first day:


* No. 1 pick Phil Taylor held out the first day while the two sides continue to try work out a deal. Shurmur said he'd love to have him here and that they'll work hard to catch him up.


* Newly-signed defensive end Jayme Mitchell was not in attendance, but Shurmur called his two-year deal "a big signing.'' He'll work at left end.


* Shurmur acknowledged that the Browns will "look in that direction'' for a new cornerback to replace Eric Wright.


* Kicker Phil Dawson admitted that he didn't think he'd be back this season and that he's not looking beyond his one-year franchise contract. "I appreciated the outpouring of support from the fans,'' he said.


* The newly-signed free agents, both unrestricted and exclusive rights, are unable to practice until Aug. 4 when the new league year begins. Dawson admitted that he's frustrated by being here but not being able to kick. The list includes Evan Moore, Usama Young and Brandon Jackson.


* Shurmur said Young will challenge for the starting free safety job. Scott Fujita, who played with him in New Orleans, also praised him and said he's ready for an increased role.


* Running back Montario Hardesty, coming off the torn ACL, looked solid running the ball, catching passes and sometimes being split wide.


* It was evident that the offensive players spent plenty of time working together in the offseason. Although there were a few misfires, it was an incredibly smooth practice for a bunch of players that just met their coach in the past few days. McCoy was right -- all the hard work paid off.


* A number of receivers caught fine passes, including Jordan Norwood, Josh Cribbs, Brian Robiskie, L.J. Castile and Greg Little.

[BernietheKid]

Raw Practice Footage - July 30, 2011

Raw practice footage from the Brown's first practice under Head Coach Pat Shurmur.

Official Site of the Cleveland Browns

[Neo]

This is a welcome site

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by BernietheKid

Raw Practice Footage - July 30, 2011

Official Site of the Cleveland Browns

The Plain Dealer says the offense looked pretty crisp today and that quite possibly the Camp Colt sessions seemed to pay off today, at least.

[Dan in Florida]

TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCES:

SHURMER PRESSER:
Pat Shurmur Press Conference 7/30

COLT PRESSER:
Official Site of the Cleveland Browns

FUJITA PRESSER:
Official Site of the Cleveland Browns

DAWSON PRESSER:
Official Site of the Cleveland Browns

[BernietheKid]

Pat Shurmur embraces his first practice as Cleveland Browns' head coach

Published: Saturday, July 30, 2011, 9:34 PM Updated: Saturday, July 30, 2011, 9:35 PM

By Tony Grossi, The Plain DealerThe Plain Dealer


BEREA, Ohio -- Three days ago, Pat Shurmur was re-scripting each day's schedule for his first training camp as Browns coach in order to abide by new practice rules written into the league labor deal.

Two days ago, he was meeting some of his players for the first time.
One day ago, coaches were installing the base plays on offense and defense that would carry the team through the early stages of camp.

Somehow it all came together for Shurmur and his coaching staff. On Saturday, they finally got to coach their players for the first time -- more than six months after being hired.

Fans weren't allowed in and the players did not wear pads. It was less than a full squad of 90, as some newly signed players weren't eligible to participate because of the legal mumbo-jumbo of the new bargaining agreement. Others, such as receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and guard Eric Steinbach, surprisingly showed up with injuries.

But for more than 21/2 hours, you might never know this abnormal NFL off-season had taken away all those spring practices, minicamps and team meetings that all coaches have come to rely on.

"To come in a first practice like this today, after basically 12 hours of install, and for it to run as smoothly as it did, I was pretty impressed with that," said linebacker Scott Fujita.

Some of the credit for that could go to the players for organizing off-season practices behind the leadership of quarterback Colt McCoy and Fujita. But this was Shurmur's day, his first at any level of football wearing the mantle of head coach.

"For a first day I thought it went fairly well," Shurmur said. "We didn't jump offsides a bunch. We were generally in the right formations. Pretty decent execution on both sides. Plenty of things we've got to clean up, but the tempo, some of the things we were demanding on how to practice, they're getting used to because they're kind of just knocking the rust off, just like we are as coaches."

By necessity, they're learning each other on the run.

It was the first day Shurmur had seen his wide receivers run routes. And it was the first day the players had seen him coach.

The night before, Shurmur addressed his team for the first time and delivered the message he's been waiting to voice since succeeding Eric Mangini as the fifth Browns coach in 13 seasons.

"One of the things is we're moving forward," Shurmur said of his message.
"Respect for what's happened before us. In the NFL, there's always change -- whether there's some change, a little change, a lot of change. I asked the fellas to embrace it and move forward.

"Beyond that, just some of the things we're looking for in how we do business. There was a piece of the meeting where we were getting to know one another. Also, all the people in the organization who are going to work with the players had an opportunity to introduce themselves because there are a lot of new faces and we haven't been together in what has been an abnormal off-season."

McCoy, who figures to be the greatest beneficiary of the coaching change, said, "His message was he wanted to have a passionate, productive football team. I think everybody took that to heart. That was one of the first things I wrote down in my book."

For running back Peyton Hillis, Shurmur is his fifth NFL head coach in five years.

"Great guy. Real fun guy. Cares about his players. A real players coach," Hillis said. "It's the man that comes in that makes a difference as a head coach. The attitude he brings, his personality, the way he can attract guys to his style and guys that want to be around him. I think that's what makes a great coach.

"Different coaches have different ways, different philosophies. I just feel the attitude you bring to the game makes you a great coach."
With the onset of another new era, the trappings of the old one have been erased. Gone is the jet engine-loud rock and rap music roaring from giant speakers used to steel the players against crowd noise. Gone are the one-word core values painted in the end zones to motivate.

Shurmur's methods are simpler and rooted in the lessons learned from being around the sport virtually his whole life.

Will the results be any different? That's all that matters.

Nobody's been through this drill more than Phil Dawson, the only full-time kicker the Browns have known since the franchise was reborn in expansion.

Like the team's followers, he has suffered through 10 losing seasons in 12 years. At year's end, Dawson was convinced he might finally have the chance to join a winning team through free agency. He was tagged as the team's franchise player and restricted from leaving.

After relocating his family to his native Texas, Dawson did a U-turn back for at least one more year.

"You can see it positively. You can see it negatively. I choose to see it positively," Dawson said. "I know the guys are excited about it. That's easy to feel in the locker room. I'm all in.

"I want to win. Having been here for 12 years and going through all the stuff we've talked about, for this team to win and for me to be here and be a part of that, that would be much more meaningful to me than if it happened anywhere else."

And so, Shurmur begins his career as Browns coach, 0-0 after his first day, just like the others.

Pat Shurmur embraces his first practice as Cleveland Browns' head coach | cleveland.com

[Vegasdogg]

I know this sounds really bad, but Seneca Wallace may be the 2011 starter. Just saying do not be surprised if the fans watch preseason and start balking.

Colt is the starter. But -- I am just saying...

[OconRecon]

Man, I should have drove up to camp today. Any one from BH going? Maybe we'll get lucky with a Barking Hard Rapid Reporter.

There will be live tweets from @TonyGrossi ( http://twitter.com/#!/TonyGrossi ) and @Mary Kay Cabot ( http://twitter.com/#!/MaryKayCabot ).

CBS has been good in the past. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/team/CLE

My favorite rapid report from yesteryear: "Derek Anderson throwing with extreme velocity today on the short routes".

[Enigmatic Evil]

I'm sorry Veg I don't buy into it for a second. Colt has worked his ass off this off-season to keep things co-ordinated and for that to crumble apart in the pre-season and Shurmur to go "You know Colt, you got gusto but we're going to start Seneca" I'm sorry. I just don't see it happening.

I don't want to turn this thread into a QB debate thread either, just my two cents. There's no way Seneca "I only see one half of the gridiron" Wallace will be starting over Colt unless Colt hurts himself...

[Dan in Florida]

VIA TWITTER

MaryKayCabot Mary Kay Cabot

#Browns TE Ben Watson (head) is idle and watching from sidelines this morning.
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MaryKayCabot Mary Kay Cabot

#Browns first-round pick Phil Taylor not on field for second day of camp. Still apparently not signed.#nfl
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OfficialBrowns Cleveland Browns

At #Browns Training Camp RT @AaronPikeCPA: Colt McCoy throwing bullets @officialbrowns twitpic.com/5yt8sw
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viccarucci Vic Carucci by OfficialBrowns

Very nice athletic play on a catch by rookie TE Jordan Cameron on a low throw over the middle.
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OfficialBrowns Cleveland Browns

TE Alex Smith playing with the 1s on O replacing Ben Watson who is sitting today at #Browns Training Camp
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MaryKayCabot Mary Kay Cabot

#Browns receiver Josh Cribbs also wearing ice bag on his left knee his morning, but did receiver drills earlier.

[NW Ohio Brownie]

We really, really, really need for Hardesty to stay healthy.

This kid has oodles of talent and could boost this offense considerably. It's important for his sake, but also for Hillis's sake as well. Peyton started to wear out at the end of last year and our productivity on offense went with it.

Plugging in guys like Hardesty and Jackson, who also can catch the ball out of the backfield, will give Hillis the rest that he needs to be running hard downhill when the temperature drops by the lakefront.

[Dan in Florida]

VIA TWITTER

MaryKayCabot Mary Kay Cabot

With #Browns' Cribbs idle the second half of practice (resting left knee) starters are Robiskie and Greg Little.#nfl