DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Thomas, Wright earn praise

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/article.php?id=7094

Thomas, Wright earn praise
Jeff Walcoff, Staff Writer
08.13.2007
While all eyes might be on the young quarterback, two other rookies not named Brady Quinn earned passing grades after starting in the Browns' preseason opener against the Chiefs Saturday.

For the most part Saturday at Cleveland Browns Stadium, tackle Joe Thomas looked like the No. 3 overall pick he is.

"I thought Joe did a pretty good job for his first preseason game," head coach Romeo Crennel said Monday. "He learned a few things in the game, but Joe competes and he has athletic ability."

In nearly a full half of play, Thomas held his ground against the Chiefs defensive ends including veteran Jared Allen. Allen has marked 27.5 sacks during the past three seasons and notched 11 in 2005.

Thomas said competing against the Browns defense in practice, especially outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley who earned 11 sacks of his own as a rookie in '06, has been preparing him for players like Allen.

"He's one of the top pass rushers in the NFL and to go against him every day is tremendously helpful," Thomas said of Wimbley. "Our defense plays very fast and they've given me a very good preparation for what I'm going to see in the preseason and the regular season."

Thomas wasn't perfect, however.

On Monday, Crennel listed three criticisms of Thomas' performance during the game. Crennel said Thomas got beat once inside and also, at one point, allowed a player to push him too far into the pocket. He also said Thomas needs to "shore up" his run blocking.

But Thomas knows he has a ways to go and understands the mistakes he needs to correct if he's going to be protecting the Browns quarterback's blind side come Sept. 9.

"It's a learning process and I got a lot of room to go, but I still have three (preseason) games before there are live bullets," he said. "I'm going in the right direction and making good steps towards being ready."

On the other side of the ball, cornerback Eric Wright got the starting nod at left cornerback and also garnered positive feedback.

The second-round pick was challenged on the third offensive play of the game for the Chiefs when quarterback Brodie Croyle threw a deep pass down the right sideline to receiver Samie Parker.

Wright ran step-for-step with Parker and forced an incompletion.

"We warned him that they were going to try and test him especially early in the season, but he has a good swagger about himself," safety Sean Jones said of Wright. "They tried a couple times (Saturday) and he held up. That's all we can ask from him."

Overall, Wright and Jones were part of a first-half defense that allowed 3 first downs, no points, and 83 total yards. Wright finished the game with 2 tackles.

"He looked very good," Jones said. "He looked comfortable and relaxed like he's done it before. And that's what we need in a cornerback. We need someone out there on an island by himself who's going to hold it down out there while we try to force pressure.

"He's doing a great job so far. He's got to do a little more learning, but I think he's going to be one of the NFL's best rookie cornerbacks this year."

But, like Thomas, Wright knows despite any praise his work preparing for the regular season is far from over.

"I think I played fairly solid, but I still have things to clean up," Wright said. "I'm going to watch the film and get those things squared away. I'm just looking forward to the next game to keep progressing."

This will go down in Browns history as one of the greatest drafts ever. It's a real possibility we got a shut down corner, a franchise LT, and a franshise QB all in one draft.

Thank you Savage, the Browns are officially back.

Good read.

Both guys, especially Wright, play positions you can come in day 1 and play. That isn't to say they can't be coached or they won't learn from experience as new things are thrown at them, but in the end, either you can play the position or you can't.

It looks like both of those guys can play their positions.

Go Browns!

I certainly thought those two played very well, despite a few mishaps. They always say that you get better by practicing against people who are better than you. Imagine practicing against someone who is as slippery and quick as Wimbley. Just about anything another team would throw at you would seem slow in comparison!

Also, imagine Wright covering someone like Edwards, who is big and fast, or Jurevicius, who may not be the fastest guy, but uses his body extremely well to get in position and runs good crisp routes. What we have to worry about there is the QB and whether he looks off safeties, etc.

But, needless to say, I thought those two really held their own, for no other reason than you really didn't hear much about them.

Detroit will be a good test for them, especially Wright, because of the Lions' 38 first round receivers they have on their team.

I think Detroit threw for 500 yards last week.....or some crazy number

It's really nice that we have Joe Thomas. Really really nice...

A friend of mine in broadcasting was at Radio City Music Hall on draft day, and called me on his cell when we picked Joe T. Said a guy was there wearing a Browns jersey, and when they called Joe's name, stood up and said "Thank You!" over and over.

On Monday, Crennel listed three criticisms of Thomas' performance during the game. Crennel said Thomas got beat once inside and also, at one point, allowed a player to push him too far into the pocket. He also said Thomas needs to "shore up" his run blocking.

Once he gets used to the speed and power of different players other than Wimbley , he'll be alright.


"We warned him that they were going to try and test him especially early in the season, but he has a good swagger about himself," safety Sean Jones said of Wright. "They tried a couple times (Saturday) and he held up. That's all we can ask from him."


Everyone will test him early..as a rookie he'll get beat, but he has the skill set to do some damage himself..he's a better prospect than what we've had in a while.

Oh I wanted Joe badly, but would have been happy with Quinn at #3.
I was in another room on draft day when the wife yelled out "The Browns are up!" and I thought "WTF? It can't be the second round of the draft already..." cuz after the Browns pick I only monitor the draft here and there.

I run out and look at the TV and there's Brady walking across the stage with a Browns cap....

Ahh the memories...

I've been very pleased with the talent Savage has put together so far, both in FA & via the draft. Of course you can argue that there are those who didn't work out or were merely stop-gap measures, but considering where we started three years ago and where we are now; it is night and day. We actually are able to field a team now, (with viable depth,) and while we may not be totally in sync and do have many questions yet unanswered, this is a team with some serious talent. Makes me salivate just thinking about who gets added and drafted next year.

Joe competes and he has athletic ability

This is something we are not used to...Oline with talent. I saw the game highlights but did see several plays where Thomas seemed to move the DE wide around Frye and was actually blocking downfield...was I seeing things?

His first game was very good. I heard there was some holding but that may be just inexperience. How many players have we had that started right away...especially Oline?

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I heard there was some holding but that may be just inexperience.

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Regarding the holding penalties, I read where Doug Deiken said to Thomas something along the lines of: "I see you picked up where I left off"

He also said it wasn't the player it was the jersey.

nordawg

Thomas needs a bit more instruction on hand placement after his first punch out. When he learns to keep them inside and tight and the refs know how good he is...he'll not get as many holding calls.

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I heard there was some holding but that may be just inexperience.

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They were legit calls.. and yea, it was inexperience. Once he got beat on a good inside move and dragged the guy to the ground, on the other he was outside blocking for the run and he held...

No big deal really.

He got caught plenty, so so has every other lineman that ever played.

Linemen are going to hold, qb's are going to throw picks, backs are going to fumble, receivers are going to drop balls, backers are going to miss tackles, d-linemen are going to get stonewalled, dbs are going to get beat, and kickers are going to shank kicks.

It is just the way it is.

LOL I forget what lineman was on TV a couple of years ago when the subject of holding came up,,, But he said that on every play,, EVERY SINGLE PLAY, there is holding going on... I got a kick out of that..

Don't know if it's an accurate statement, but thought it was funny

Yes but not many got away with holding like Diek, without getting called for it very often.

BTW Dieken's lisc. plate use to read "MEHELD" I don't know if it still does or not.

I really don't think Thomas has to hold as long as he stays in front of the DE and moves his feet. Thomas may be big but he is quick enough to stay with the defense. He seems more balanced and quicker than Shaffer...no leaning or grabbing. I also think his downfield blocking will be a big help.