Todd Haley Gives his State of the Cleveland Browns Offense

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Scott Piker
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Todd Haley
Source - Scott Piker

Todd Haley addressed the local and national media for the first time during training camp Wednesday afternoon. The new Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator addressed multiple topics about the new offense he is installing in Cleveland.

Haley is a rough and tough coach. He is looking to improve the players mental toughness and discipline.

“Yeah, at this time of year every team, No. 1, you are trying to from your identity and what type of group that you are going to be. That is the type of group that we are looking to be. Any opportunity that you have a chance to do that, we are trying to do it. Guys are making progress. You want a mentally tough group that can overcome adversity. You definitely want a disciplined group that is not going to do things that get you beat in a game.”

During episode one of Hard Knocks ‘Training Camp with the Cleveland Browns’ Haley expressed his concerns about players receiving days off during training camp.

“The great thing about here is Coach (Hue) Jackson gives us assistant coaches the opportunity to speak our opinion. Ultimately, it is his decision of what he wants to do, and I will 100 percent support it. It is not always the case where assistants get to voice and opinion or thoughts. Some of them he is going to take. Some of them he is not. Whatever decision is made, I am 100 percent behind.”

The Browns will workout free agent wide receiver Dez Bryant on Thursday. Is Haley concerned signing the former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver could cause some chemistry issues with players already here?

“Are you assuming that is happening? If? We are going to coach the guys that are here. If Dez Bryant, who obviously has been a good player in this league, is in this mix, then he is going to be coached like everybody else. I tell everybody that shows up here, we do not care by what means you get here, if you are willing to put your hand in the pile and work and be a part of moving forward and having success, I am all for it.”

Staying with the wide receiver position, what about rookie Antonio Callaway. Can his talent prevail over his off the field problems?

“It is a working progress. (Antonio) did some good things. He did some not so good things. He is another one of these young guys with enough potential to have you excited as coaches. Anytime that you are a young receiver coming into this league, having coached this position for a long time, it is a tough, tough transition. We are pushing all of those young guys every day as hard as we can, trying to get a couple of them to come out of the pack.”

During Hard Knocks Haley told Jarvis Landry to take Callaway under his wing. The team has to keep an close eye on the rookie now that he has used his mulligan.

“They showed everything, huh? I forgot about [the show airing], but I got a lot of texts this morning. I love Jarvis and what he brings to this team. He is going to be at the forefront of changing this culture. There is no doubt about that. Tyrod, you could throw in that group. Jarvis is a guy that wants to win. What more could you ask from a guy is that strong, strong desire to have success and win games? For us, the fun is in the winning. It is too much work if you go out there and don’t experience the fun of wining. Jarvis is the type of guy that will do anything necessary to give us the best chance to get that done.”

The starting left tackle position is the big question mark in 2018. Joel Bitonio is currently the number one guy on the depth chart. How is Bitonio doing so far in the transition from left guard to left tackle?

“I think that he is doing a good job. Every minute that him and 63 (OL Austin Corbett) are working together is very important to us. He is making progress, and Corbett is making progress. I feel comfortable with where we are right now from the first five standpoint.”

Of course no press conference with Haley can’t wrap up with out discussing the quarterbacks. Number one pick Baker Mayfield and the opening day starter Tyrod Taylor both shined in the preseason opener. Is a quarterback controversy brewing in 2018? Not at all, but both quarterbacks are doing a good job learning the offense starting with Taylor.

“His understanding of the plays and the concepts that we are running. That takes time. Some are similar to what he has known, and some are not as similar. That process takes time. I just asked them all the other day how the all felt about the verbiage because when it starts to become their real language and when there is no more translation going on.”

“So much of the time in this league when you have guys that come from different systems, different languages, they are translating early on. ‘This means that.’ A lot of it is the same. They all felt really comfortable. That made me feel god about the direction we are going. He is following the pattern of successful players. He is generally the same guy every day, and he is getting a little bit better each day. That is all that we are looking for from everybody.”

And in regards to the rookie?

“He is making progress. (Baker) is much like Tyrod. He is a younger guy that has more to learn, but he has generally been the same guy every day and he has made consistent progress. That is a good sign. For his first game, he had an opportunity to get out there and run around and throw the football. For the most part, he made good decisions and made some real good plays. That was all good stuff.”

Haley also addressed the struggles in the running game in the first preseason game. In addition, Haley also talked about tight end David Njoku and the harsh criticism of now Buffalo Bills wide receiver Corey Coleman.

Scott Piker is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Browns. So follow him on twitter @ScottPikerSport

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