BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns knew they were getting a talented wide receiver when they acquired multi-time Pro Bowler Odell Beckham Jr. in a trade with the New York Giants back in March.
Since the beginning of training camp in Berea on July 25, the Browns have utilized Beckham Jr. in a variety of ways in order to take advantage of his skill set and keep opposing defenses off-balance when they are game-planning to play Cleveland.
“His skill set is pretty good from the standpoint that he can play outside and inside,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said. “We like his quickness and his change of direction, his ball skills on the inside and his competitive nature on competing for the ball.
“Sometimes, you just have to compete for the ball. The ball is in the air, and it is your ball. Sometimes, you just have to go get it and you’ve got to take it away from them. That is what I like about him.”
Receivers coach Adam Henry added, “When I was over there with him at the other team, he moved around. He did it in college, so it's just something about him just getting comfortable with what we're doing here, and as we do that and as we go down systematically and shrink to a game week, we'll be able to do some things more.”
Primarily the “X” receiver during his time with the Giants, Beckham Jr. has memorable moments, three trips to the Pro Bowl (2014-2016) and two Second Team All-Pro selections (2015-2016) on his resume for his first five professional seasons.
Over 59 regular-season games, including 56 starts, in five years with the Giants, Beckham Jr. turned 622 targets into 390 receptions for 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns. Beckham Jr. averaged 92.8 yards per game, including a league-best 108.8 during the 2014 season.
Beckham Jr. has put four 1,000-yard and three double-digit touchdown seasons on his resume since being selected with a first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Louisiana State University.
Last season, Beckham Jr. turned in a 77-catch, 1,052-yard, six-touchdown effort for the Giants.
“A lot of guys sometimes that you see, as a receiver, they can catch the ball, but can you put it in the vicinity and how big is his catching radius,” Henry said. “So some guys have small catching radiuses, and some guys have big catching radiuses, so just kind of throw it up there and let him have a chance to make a play. He’s a guy with a big catch radius.”
Beckham Jr. became known for making “The Catch” against the Dallas Cowboys during his rookie season in 2014.
On a downfield pass from Eli Manning, Beckham Jr. was falling backward while facing the line of scrimmage and stuck his right hand into the air to make the grab.
Despite being interfered with, Beckham Jr. secured the catch with the fingertips on his right hand and fell into the end zone for a touchdown, but to Henry, that was one of many amazing moments his talented receiver has had in his career.
“It was in practice,” Henry said of his time together with Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry at LSU.
“It was one of those that was in the air and he kind of just threw his hand up and his eyes were still looking down and he just kind of brought it and flipped it to the ref in one swoop. He kind of caught it, put a foot down and threw it to the ref and kind of jogged off like it was no problem.”
