After a rough start to camp, WR Paul Hubbard got things going during the evening session of Day 3. Photo via photos.theobr.com
If you missed the morning report on Day 3 of Cleveland Browns training camp, then click here. In the evening session of Day 3, things turned around for one player in particular -- wide receiver Paul Hubbard. After looking like camp fodder over the first several practices, something set him on fire for the PM practice.
TRAINING CAMP REPORT - DAY 3 [EVENING] (8/3/09)
- The Paul Hubbard Show: In total, Hubbard recorded five catches and two touchdowns. One of those touchdowns was a deep ball from QB Richard Bartel, a play in which Hubbard dodged the double coverage of S Nick Sorensen and CB Gerard Lawson. You might be thinking, "hey, does one good practice really garner that much attention for a player?" Well, in almost all of the media outlet reports for the evening, Hubbard was praised like you wouldn't believe.
Maria Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal went so far as to say that Hubbard might be looking to contend for the No. 2 receiver role. I wouldn't go that far, but if Hubbard can string together a few more practices like this, it raises the question of whether Mangini would choose a more consistent player like Lance Leggett, or a potential big-playmaker in Hubbard for a surprise roster spot. I'd still prefer the likes of Leggett.
- Steptoe Your Way Down: To contrast Hubbard's great practice was WR Syndric Steptoe, who reportedly dropped four passes in the evening session, with three of them occurring within close proximity of each other. According to the OBR Twitter feed, one of those drops was a perfect 35-yard corner pass from QB Brady Quinn.
- Extra Note on Hubbard: One thing to consider about Hubbard's excellent practice -- for the evening session, the team was not in pads. Just something to ponder about.
- Safety Updates At Last! This morning I begged for some updates on our starting safeties, and coincidentally, the positive reports came in for S Abram Elam. Elam had two interceptions; one on a failed trick play, and the other when he jumped in front of a Quinn pass intended for TE Aaron Walker.
- Rough Evening for Quinn: Besides getting picked off by Elam, Quinn was also intercepted by LB Eric Barton. The early portion of the practice saw the quarterbacks working on fade routes to the corner of the end zone.
- Wait...What? This one stood out from Steve Doerschuk's report regarding OG Eric Steinbach. I'll quote it entirely to best serve its purpose:
Something Joe Thomas said today caught me off guard. Big Joe said it would be strange playing without Eric Steinbach after they spent two seasons side by side, but he added, "Whoever ends up at left guard I’m sure will do very well." I had begun to think Steinbach was locking down the position. Maybe he is, but …
- Injury Updates: I'm pleased to report that CB Eric Wright returned to practice after leaving this morning's session. LB David Bowens was on the stationary bike for the night though. All other injured players reportedly retained their same status.
- Take a Seat: Doerschuk also reports that LB Leon Williams lit up RB James Davis big time during a live blocking drill.
- Not as Unpleasant as We Thought: The news regarding DL Shaun Smith seemed a little more upbeat today. He has lost some weight and is down to a reported 315 pounds and was having fun with his teammates earlier. On the OBR's Twitter feed, it was stated that he was giving C Hank Fraley a difficult time in blocking drills.
Tomorrow's practice is closed to the public. However, the media should be able to attend, so there should still be manageable report to put together here. Be sure to check out Abram Elam's blog post (check the links below) for his thoughts on which players are standing out in training camp thus far.
Sunday's Evening Link Collection / Camp Sources
Great Report
Thanks for the great report! Keep them coming. First pre-season game is right around the corner!
Overlord1976 - August 3, 2009
What the heck is that Thomas quote?
Roger Dorn - August 3, 2009
Really odd. If he isn’t playing with us this year, I hope we get good draft picks for him. He still seems like one of our better linemen to me, though.
rufio - August 4, 2009
On the Thomas quote, maybe Mangini is moving Steinbach to the right side to spread the talent across the line? I sure hope so at least, I’d hate to see him not with the team.
North Coast Flea - August 4, 2009
Whatever we do with him, I hope he stays in a Browns uniform.
tjk_doc - August 4, 2009
The PD reported that Corey Williams lost 15-20 lbs. Music to my ears. I think it will help him be more successful for us. If his shoulder is healed as well, I am looking forward to seeing him play for us.
rufio - August 4, 2009
Woohoo!!
BradyQuinnisBeast - August 4, 2009
Lance Leggett looks like the real deal so far in camp. He has been more consistent than Hubbard throughout the entire camp, whereas Hubbard had one good practice.
theW0LF - August 4, 2009
Yeah , and LL has been guarded by DBs like B-mac, Wright, and Ivy, while Hubbard is going against Lawson and Sorenson. And also Hubbard’s practice was without pads. Anyway, I hope we keep Hub or LL over Steptoe
BradyQuinnisBeast - August 4, 2009
i will agree 100% on the hubbard comment, but as for steptoe, he stepped in last year and took plenty of reps and really stepped up, i think he could be a very valuable asset to the team, can you say a wes welker type player, Steptoe and Patten sharing reps, keeping eachother fresh. and steptoe looks like he put on some weight during the offseason which now, he can probably sustain blocks longer, not much longer, but long enough. LL, is still very young and not as talented or tested like steptoe, edwards, cribbs, patten, even Brian Robiske and M&M are more adapted, as they have played against high level talent, i believe the starting WR will be the following, Edwards, Robiske, Patten, Steptoe, M&M, Cribbs, Call me crazy, but hey, my opinion right, lol
brownsfanbehindenemylines - August 4, 2009
Steptoe was horrible last year. He is a far cry from Wes Welker.
rufio - August 5, 2009
You think we will cut Furrey for Steptoe. Steptoe is bad. LL is more talented than SS
BradyQuinnisBeast - August 5, 2009
you know, i dont know a lot about Furrey, but how many teams has he played for, and didnt he just come from the lions???
brownsfanbehindenemylines - August 5, 2009
Yes, but one year when he played for the Lions he had 98 receptions for over 1000 yards—despite having Jon Kitna throw him the ball with no running game and virtually no line.
I’m not saying he will repeat that 1000 yard season, but the dude can get open and catch the ball.
rufio - August 5, 2009
Thank you DBN for the props on the Monday morning practice!
I have reciprocated and linked your site from mine for this Monday evening summary article.
Check it out!
theW0LF - August 4, 2009
I think anyone could have given Fraley a hard time
BradyQuinnisBeast - August 4, 2009
I feel compelled to apologize for a few things.
Upon reviewing some photographs, I have changed my mind on a few things.
Foster, Steinbach, Tucker and Thomas caught together in a photograph are all the same size, they have offensive tackle proportions. Tucker and Thomas are clear cut favorites in my book. Foster is Tucker´s eventual replacement. Steinbach looks skinny as heck, what´s up with that? I would give Foster a few tries at center for now, but he is not a guard.
I saw Fraley and Mack standing next to each other, they look like twiddle dee and twiddle dums, they are definately the guards, but they also need to eat more.
Fry is too big, was also wrong about him. If Hadnot can snap he is the center for now.
Lawrence Vickers can do what I ask of a fullback, namely block and rush. Ali seems to be the blocking and catching variation of fullback. I sure wish we could get some guys who aren´t even starting from other franchises, such as Owen Schmitt and Kyle Eckel.
I´m glad James Davis is doing good. He has the prerequisite skills for a punt and kick returner, doesn´t hesitate, knows how to place his cuts, and patience and burst.
I remind you of my monster flanker proposition. That would be Joshua Cribbs, if he owns up to it. Furrey is my clear cut favorite at wide out, and should keep Massaquoi under his wing. Legget seems to have some speed and desire downfield. And you´ll laugh, but guys who you don´t know whether they´ll catch it, such as Hubbard, make exciting possession receivers.
I´ve come away with the conviction that Wimbley and Hall and Titus are college 4-3 defensive ends. They neither have the strength to outside contain on the line, nor the speed to cover from the line to the side line, much less drop back and cover the flats.
For my requirements, up until now, also hoping for reinforcements, it´s Barton and Maiava inside linebackers and Constanza and Ruud outside linebackers.
Is Eric Wright my Ryan Clark at free safety, or are they steadfast in insisting they are cornerbacks? Since I expect run support there should be an assist quota. Please someone have the gumption to see if Hamza, Sorensen and Pool have what it takes to play that type of cornerback.
Powerfull end around plays with blocking and quick sweeps extending to the side-line should offer insight as to who should be playing on both sides of the ball.
As you can see I am wrong a lot, but I keep chipping away at it.
mooncamping - August 4, 2009
Please, please, please start podcasting. Maybe a channel on Youtube. I really think you could have a career in this. Kinda like Will Ferrell’s impression of Harry Caray, only all football.
kwoog - August 4, 2009
Yea I’m waiting for mooncamping to ask us if we should bring the predator on our team to play Fullback if he promises he wont hurt the other players
BradyQuinnisBeast - August 4, 2009
I would volunteer to come on as a guest
Roger Dorn - August 4, 2009
This guy could totally replace Madden when he retires, but only if he constantly reminds us that you need to score points to win a game of football.
North Coast Flea - August 4, 2009
Mooncamping 2010 with new feature “The all fullback set”. Set to released with all participaing video game systems.
tjk_doc - August 4, 2009
I’d buy it
BradyQuinnisBeast - August 4, 2009
The things Madden used to say were all at least more or less correct.
rufio - August 4, 2009
Funny, I was just thinking that we should contemplate moving Foster to Guard to showcase his strengths: in-line blocking, mauling defenders, getting “knockback”. Now that you are against it, I am certain it would be a good idea.
rufio - August 4, 2009
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