Browns Coaching Staff Emphasizes Full-Speed Approach for Training Camp

Forget ramping up.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski has laid down the law for training camp: it's full throttle from day one. Following the conclusion of mandatory minicamp last month, Stefanski's message to his team was unequivocal: "We're going."

With the ultimate goal of the Super Bowl 201 days away from July 22, Stefanski mapped out the rigorous journey: a relentless stretch of preseason games, regular season battles, and potential playoff runs, all demanding peak performance from the jump. "There is no ramping up" when training camp starts, Stefanski emphasized. The team will operate at maximum speed from day one, whether in meeting rooms or on the practice field.

"We are going when training camp gets started," the head coach reiterated, communicating that players should arrive in camp ready to perform at the highest level.

Stefanski also underscored the importance of players developing relationships during training camp. "I think there's value in being around your teammates," Stefanski said during recent media sessions.

The coaching staff views training camp as a critical foundation-building period. "Building up that foundation one day at a time," Stefanski noted about the incremental progress needed throughout camp, stressing that every practice and every repetition contributes to the overall strength of the team.

When it comes to evaluating players, Stefanski values eagerness. "We love having rookies in the building because they're seated in their chairs 15 minutes prior to the meeting. All the notebooks are opened, pencils in their hands. Very eager learners," Stefanski said, highlighting the approach he values from all players during training camp sessions.

"The emphasis today and certainly this week is on teaching, on learning," Stefanski stated during minicamp, describing his coaching staff's priorities during the preparation period.

Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, promoted from tight ends coach this offseason, articulated his vision for implementing the Browns' offensive system. "You want to build an offense that has flexibility to be able to cater to any quarterback's strengths," Rees said, hinting at a scheme designed to maximize the diverse talents under center.

Stefanski praised his offensive coordinator's qualifications: "Tommy has an incredible football mind. He is extremely bright and has been around the game his entire life. Before joining our staff, he established himself as one of the top assistant coaches in college football."

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, entering his third season and fresh off being named 2023 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year, explained how the defense's deep familiarity with his system opens new possibilities. "Yeah, I mean, we're obviously in a different spot because we have a year in the system," Schwartz noted, adding that this affords them "the ability to work on more changeups like, we're a fastball team right, we do what we do, we try to do it really well. But there were some things that we sort of held back last year, just from a standpoint, that we sort of triaged it and said, 'okay, we'll get to that later.'"

General manager Andrew Berry views training camp as a crucial evaluation period for roster construction and player development. "No matter how the room shapes out, all the players who are on the roster will have the opportunity to compete during the spring and through training camp," Berry said.

The Browns completed three helmet-only practice sessions during mandatory minicamp. Training camp features eight open practices from July 25 - August 4 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea.

The Browns finished the 2024 season with a 3-14 record, and Stefanski is now entering his sixth year as head coach. As the team prepares to kick off training camp, the message from the top is clear: the journey to contention begins with an immediate, all-out effort. As Stefanski succinctly put it, "We're going from day one."