BEREA — New Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz summed up the feelings of a lot of people about how to judge the on-field portion of the offseason program.
“It’s too soon to really get a judge of where we are when you’re not full speed,” Schwartz said after last Wednesday’s OTA. “There’s things that you can do with walkthroughs. There’s things you can do with tempo and things like that. But to really play defense, you need to be physical. That’s the No. 1 thing. You need to be physical, and we can’t do that now.”
The Browns have three more on-field days of work this offseason with minicamp Tuesday through Thursday. For a lot of it, it will simply be a repeat of what’s occurred during the OTAs the previous two weeks.
Cleveland Browns minicamp preview: Myles Garrett-led defensive line highlights things to watch at Cleveland Browns minicamp
While that can limit overall thoughts on what happened on the field, it doesn’t mean there aren’t things that can stand out. Specifically, players who can stand out.
The Browns have nearly 90 players in for minicamp this week. However, here are three players in particular who will be closely watched for one reason or another.
Za’Darius Smith, defensive end
You probably thought this was going to be another high-profile pass rusher on the roster. Yes, Myles Garrett is certainly going to be one to watch, but it’s the newcomer to the group who will be fascinating to see. This will be the first time Za’Darius Smith — acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings last month — has lined up on the same defensive front as Garrett, and how the two are paired up is going to be something to watch. Obviously what’s seen this week is merely a glimpse of what could be, but that it’s the first glimpse adds a little something to it.
Demetric Felton, Jr., running back/wide receiver
You could pick any number of offensive skill players here and wouldn’t be wrong at all. Elijah Moore? Definitely. Deshaun Watson? Of course. Someone else? Absolutely. So why Demetric Felton? Because this is going to be a critical couple of months for the 2021 sixth-round pick, who has spent the last two seasons as a running back being asked to play receiver due to depth issues. That was always part of the plan with him coming out of UCLA, but it went to an extreme at times. This year, though, there’s room in the inn, so to speak, for Felton to be back at the running back spot. Outside of Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford, there’s not a whole lot else settled, and Felton’s ability to catch the football makes him an attractive option to be that pass-catcher out of the backfield.
Another Browns draft pick who looks firmly on the will-he-make-it-or-won’t-he bubble, at least from the outside. Injuries have defined Jacob Phillips’ career since he was a third-round pick out of LSU in 2020. The latest such injury was a torn pectoral muscle last year in Week 7 that cost him the rest of his season. This is Phillips’ final season on his rookie deal, so it’s make-to-break for him. He’s been a participant in the voluntary offseason program, including having an interception off a deflection of Watson last week during a 7-on-7 drill. With Anthony Walker and Sione Takitaki still sidelined from doing anything on the field, the chance to find a way to stay remains there for the likable linebacker.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Za’Darius Smith among Browns players under microscope during minicamp