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http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/article.php?id=8533


Strong spring energizes Wilson
Zac Jackson, Staff Writer
06.23.2008
So, you think you're excited for the start of training camp?

Travis Wilson knows the feeling.

And it's not just that the Browns sit on the brink of a season of high expectations, or that any receiver would light up at the thought of the possibilities this Browns offense may, well, light up the scoreboard this fall.

It's that Wilson believes it's time for him to prove he belongs in a talented receiving corps and become a productive player in this, his third NFL season.

A third-round pick in 2006, he played in just four games and caught 2 passes as a rookie. Last year, he was a gameday inactive on all 16 Sundays.

"Obviously it didn't go according to plan, but everything happens for a reason," Wilson said. "Tough times always make you stronger. I've taken the last two years as motivation and coming out here this past offseason I had the biggest chip on my shoulder as anyone.

"I feel like I owe it to Mr. (Randy) Lerner and Mr. Savage and Coach Romeo. I've got to produce and give them a reason why they picked me on the first day."

The offseason additions of Donte' Stallworth and sixth-round rookie Paul Hubbard to the receiving corps served as further motivation for Wilson to step up his game. He was praised and challenged by Romeo Crennel this spring for standing out on the practice field, who said it was "time for him to take a step forward."

"This spring he's taken a step forward," Crennel said at the close of minicamp. "He's helped himself considerably."

Now, it's time to carry that over into training camp and the regular season.

"At the end of the day, I have to look myself in the mirror as far as maturing and becoming the player I need to become," Wilson said. "Just taking care of business as far as my playbook, that's the biggest difference from last year.

"I'm doing everything in my power. I'm not giving them anything to hold against or (a reason) why they can't put me out there. I'm doing everything as far as special teams, offense, anything so that when Sunday comes in the regular season I'll be out there."

Wilson said he's "night and day" a better player than he was a year ago, when he struggled to grasp Rob Chudzinski's new offense and found himself watching from the sidelines as the Browns' offense thrived.

It's an experience he doesn't want to go through again.

"I think I showed the coaches this spring...I gave them a little more confidence in me as far as knowing the plays and making the plays more consistently," he said. "It's good to be out there running full-speed and not second-guessing myself as far as knowing the plays.

"I strive for perfection. Coming out here with these great receivers, one mistake might put you at the bottom. Maybe I did let (mistakes) affect me in the past. I think I'm at the point now where I can come back the next play and make everybody forget about the play before."

Or the two years before. And next month, his move forward really begins.

I think the question is, is Wilson's "strong spring" energizing Chud?

I want to believe this but I'll believe it when I see it. I remember Wilson talking up a storm on draft day saying he was the best receiver in the draft, over Santonio Holmes. It sounded nice at the time but he didn't even put in the time to study the play book, so I'm not falling for this again.

This reminds me of every summer Gerard Warren had here, all talk.

I hope I'm wrong though because we could use him!

Yeah, I'd much rather see Wilson step up than give up a 6th or 7th for another WR.

Spring practices, OTA and minicamp don't mean much to me. I'll watch him in a month and see if he lives up to his words.

JMHO.....

I think that it's finally sunk into to Wilson's head that if he doesn't know the playbook cold and doesn't run precise patterns that he's not going to play....and guess what that means.....that SECOND CONTRACT is never going to materialize.

When you put superior athleticism together with rote playbook memory and precise attention to detail you end up with a great starting caliber NFL receiver. So many of these rookie WRs flame out because they get a contract that's more money than they've seen in their lives, they sense entitlement then get lazy.

Hopefully the NFL will institute a rookie salary structure that's fair and equitable that also rewards draft status, but in a more limited, flat manner.

It's put up or shut up time for him. I was wondering what the hell happened to him last year b/c I read zero about him till this spring. it seems like he is really looking good out there b/c I have read a lot about him as of late.

so who we gonna get in return for mr wilson? he sure wont be playing here.....

I wonder what this will all mean in the end,,, I guess we'll see soon.

Personally, I'd love for him to make the decision tough..

I think the question is this...

If Braylon and Stallworth were out of the game...

Would Wilson be able to get on the field and produce??

If not... he's a goner..

Man, please, let's hope we never have to find out what life without Braylon would be like.... I mean, I know someday he'll retire, but please,,NOT NOW

I can't help but feel somewhat optomistic about our Offense in general and our WR's in particular.

We've seen what Edwards can do now, and no question, we know what JJ brings to the table. But adding Stallworth could/should be a big deal.

Then you have KW2, Wright and Lewis out of the backfield, potentially Martin Rucker and Steve Heiden as TE's and then theres always Cribbs.

Cribbs is a neat wildcard kinda thing I think. He's really a triple threat in my eyes..

He can catch, run and pass.

Now, add to the mix someone like Wilson (if he really has learned and earned a shot), and instantly, we are so deep, it's gotta be scary for our opponents... But a helluva lotta fun for us to watch..

I'm really excited about this offense this year... I hope I'm not being overly optomistic....

Quote:

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When you put superior athleticism together with rote playbook memory and precise attention to detail you end up with a great starting caliber NFL receiver. So many of these rookie WRs flame out because they get a contract that's more money than they've seen in their lives, they sense entitlement then get lazy.

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You had it right at the beginning. Too many rookie recievers did it on just pure athleticism while in college. They were just usually better athletes than the guys that were covering them, bigger, faster, maybe stronger.

It's not like that in the NFL, you can't JUST be a better athlete. precise route running, knowing how to read defenses, and knowing that your QB is reading the same thing, are what make the GREAT recievers.

You put two EQUAL athletes out there, one at WR and one covering him, and all things being equal , the reciever will win the battle 80-90% of the time. That is the nature of the position and the game.

Now the last thing is, the reciever has to catch the ball once he does all the other stuff , apperently Wilson had that problem as well.

JMHO

"I remember Wilson talking up a storm on draft day saying he was the best receiver in the draft, over Santonio Holmes. It sounded nice at the time but he didn't even put in the time to study the play book, so I'm not falling for this again."

There is nothing to fall for AGAIN...this isn't talk from him...mostly been praise coming from the coaches, specifically from RAC who does not give out praise easily. Its different from a rookie declaring he's the best catch of the draft. Now there is substance to those claims.

What we do know is we will be seeing more of Wilson in Pre-Season. He's BQ's number one WR who will be out there for most of the QB reps. If any of the two Outside WRs BE n Stallworth get a hangnail we won't use them much in Pre-season so Wilson will get some reps with the first unit.

I've professed all along that Wilson has some excellent talent...WR isn't an easy transition from college to NFL. We could be in for a treat.

JMHO

And Savage selected him early when the general feeling was a receiver was about the last thing we needed. Something had to make Savage feel he was clearly a great value pick at that slot.
He had to have been the highest rated player on the board...and probably not close since as was said, receiver wasn't very high when you took needs in to account.

As you said, it sometimes takes guys a while to adjust, and receiver is a position that takes some adjusting from college to pro...maybe he is ready to be the player the team hoped for when they drafted him.

I am reading this not with a grain of salt, but with a shaker in each hand. Geez, imagine a receiver long on jaw and short on production. Did we need him to get it last year? could we have used some motivated help? Just what does it take for somebody to want to see the field on gameday and get it on? suddenly he is talking like a world beater?! I do NOT care who wins us games. This one is squarely in the disappointment column. I want him to succeed, but this is wrong place for a project player, especially a third year one. Dead wood floats away or is burned on the beach. Just win, baby. Catch fire or move on.