BEREA, Ohio — Now, the real work begins for the Cleveland Browns as preparations continue for the 2019 regular season.
After months of work during the offseason program and two acclimation days when training camp opened, the shell pads and shorts are going away and the full pads go on for the first time when the players take the field for today’s practice.
“I am very excited about getting the pads on because the game of football is played with pads,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said following Friday’s practice. “We have not had the pads on in a long time. I am looking forward to it and all the things it brings with it.”
While Kitchens and the coaching staff are excited to see what the team will look like in full pads, wide receiver Jarvis Landry joked about not being as enthused about increase in difficulty to the on-field portion of training camp.
“I’m not,” said with a laugh
“Obviously, it’s football and it’s an opportunity for us to really get some contact after the break we had, so it’s gonna be a good day I’m sure.”
The full-pads practices will provide the coaches with the first extended look at the battles along the line of scrimmage.
Whether the players like the fully-padded practices or not, especially as the temperatures continue to approach the 90-degree mark at team headquarters in Berea, Browns center JC Tretter believes the offensive linemen have an advantage over their defensive counterparts.
“I think it actually makes our job easier,” Tretter said. “I think you get these d-linemen in tight jerseys sweating and you can’t grab them, you can’t do anything.
“The d-linemen I don’t think have become aware it only makes our job easier when we get the pads on. They think they’re going to get an advantage when the pads come on, but I think we equally think that we have the advantage once the pads come on.”
