BEREA — Browns coach Todd Monken faced a multitude of challenges on the first day of the team's training camp, but none as significant as the pressure on quarterback Deshaun Watson to prove himself as the starter.
The much-ballyhooed quarterback competition between Watson and Shedeur Sanders resumed with no clear-cut No. 1 coming into the first practice. It ended with no clear-cut No. 1 as well, not that anyone expected either to claim the title after one practice.
Watson was, as expected, the one up with the No. 1 offensive group. However, Monken did say he expected the two to alternate for as long as it took for one of them to clearly claim the starter's job.
If there was a winner to be declared, it would have to go to Sanders. His performance was clearly better than what Watson did over the course of the day, with Sanders having the best throw of the day, a go route to rookie KC Concepcion down the right sideline during a 7-on-7 period.
Dawand Jones works with No. 1s at left tackle; Spencer Fano with No. 2s
The end of the offseason program in mid-June seemed to indicate that rookie first-round pick Spencer Fano was starting to seize control of the left tackle position. However, on the first day of training camp, it was Dawand Jones working the entire time with the No. 1 offensive line.
The decision follows along the same thinking as was used with the quarterbacks, with the Browns alternating the two tackles during minicamp. The expectation isn't just that Fano will be working with the "No. 1" offense next, but it's likely going to be true also for rookie fifth-round center Parker Brailsford.
Running back Dylan Sampson shows a little giddy-up
The talk around the running back position has centered on Quinshon Judkins, and rightfully so. However, the back who may have stolen the show on day one was another second-year pro, Dylan Sampson.
Sampson was a full participant in the first training camp practice, and looked a lot like the talented running back who was the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year at the University of Tennessee. He showed a lot of burst, especially when he was hitting the corner on a stretch play.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins remains on a track to return to the field at some point, even as he starts training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list. Monken, for one, seemed to indicate it could be sooner rather than later.
Monken may push the limits when it comes to how long the team will be on the field on a given day. However, even he acknowledged that he wasn't going to be stupid when it came to the full-contact drills.
"No, we won’t tackle to the ground," Monken said. "We won’t go to the ground, we’ll thud. We’re not going to bring anybody to the ground.”
The Browns will be back on the field tomorrow for their second training camp practice, with the competition between Watson and Sanders set to continue. The question remains, will Watson be able to prove himself as the starter, or will Sanders continue to impress and put pressure on Monken to make a change?
Source: Yahoo Sports