Training camp news and notes: Position battles continue

The Browns practiced in helmets and shoulder pads after being in full pads yesterday. Even so, there were a few decent pops and crashes along the line and even in the secondary.

Before practice began, head coach Rob Chudzinski held a kicker competition between rookie Brandon Bogotay and 14 year veteran Shayne Graham. The winner of the competition would get to kick field goals for the first team in the two minute drills, and the loser the second team. In reality, it was the first round of competition between the powerful but less accurate leg of Bogotay and the solid veteran Graham. Graham won the competition and the right to kick with the ones.

After practice, coach Chudzinski was asked if the Browns were planning to keep two kickers, “We’re really looking for one kicker. I am not saying that there is no way we would keep two. Obviously, one is ideal.” He added, “It’s a really tight competition. They, both, are doing really well. We will continue to work through that and into the preseason games.”

It would seem that Brandon Bogotay would have to more than barely edge out Graham to become the one kicker on the roster. Graham has a proven record of consistency in the NFL, even if he doesn’t have the stronger leg.

The guard positions are apparently both still up for grabs according to coach Chudzinski, even though John Greco seems to have gotten all or almost all of the reps at the left guard. Shaun Lauvao continues to get the majority of the work with the ones on the right side.

Perhaps that will change, as Chudzinski said this after practice when asked about Greco winning the starting job, “We are rotating those guys around. Unlike the spring where we rotated them almost play-to-play, we are letting those guys have a couple days to really work in and now that we have the pads on, we are really moving them around. John’s a real stable guy; solid player, smart, does all the right things and we are really happy to have him.”

The tight end spot also seems to be wide open. Jordan Cameron, Kellen Davis and Gary Barnidge all found the end zone in red zone drills today.

– Wide receiver Josh Gordon complained about patella tendinitis in his knee. He decided to push through it in practice, but the coaching staff shut him down during drills. Chudzinski didn’t sound too concerned about the injury.

– Greg Little was the beneficiary of Gordon sitting out. He had several nice catches on the day including a highlight reel leaping grab in the back of the end zone from Brandon Weeden.

– Trent Richardson showed some burst today. He reversed field on a run designed to go right and cut back to the left. He outran the defense to the edge then made a move in the secondary to find the end zone.

– Yesterday the Browns gave up a number of sacks in which the defender wasn’t even touched, especially from a certain formation. The same formation yielded much better results on Monday.

– Brandon Weeden threw a few more interceptions, including a pick six for Craig Robertson. The inside linebacker spot may have been a question mark among fans heading into camp, but it seems that Robertson has really grabbed hold of that spot and looks tough, smart and fast.

– Rookie defensive back Jamoris Slaughter is day-to-day with a hamstring issue. Defensive end Desmond Bryant was out again with back spasms.

– Johnson Bademosi played with the ones in place of Tashaun Gipson who is nursing the shoulder injury he suffered in the collision with Josh Gordon at practice on Friday.

– Montario Hardesty was unable to practice again with his hamstring issue. Hardesty needs to find himself on the field again. The Browns have several candidates to back up Trent Richardson.

– Phil Taylor was back in action.

– Jabaal Sheard had the quote of camp so far. He was asked if playing the outside linebacker in this defense was more fun than playing a down defensive end, Sheard said “Yeah, yeah definitely. I love it man. Going against tight ends, guys that are my size or a little bit less, it’s a little easier to jack those guys up and try to find the ball.”

– Satruday’s Family Night at FirstEnergy Stadium is free to the public and will be a practice format as opposed to a scrimmage.

Photo: Rick Grayshock/WFNY