CLEVELAND -- When the Cleveland Browns prepared their plans for the 2017 NFL Draft, coaches and front-office staff alike wanted to improve the team in all three facets of the game, and in order to address the return and coverage games, they selected versatile safety Jabrill Peppers and kicker Zane Gonzalez.
Despite the faith of the organization, both Peppers and Gonzalez had up-and-down moments during their rookie seasons, but that is what made the opportunity to join the coaching staff exciting for new special-teams coordinator Amos Jones.
“I look at youth as excitement because you know they probably have great enthusiasm, somewhat of a clean slate,” Jones said after being introduced back in January. “What you teach them is the exciting part of it. You know they are going to play hard, hopefully, and all of those things. I don’t look at youth as a negative. I look at it as a positive.”
PHOTOS: Cleveland Browns special teams ready to make impact in 2018
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Four
After enduring several missed field goals from former Pro Bowl kicker Cody Parkey in 2016, the Browns selected Gonzalez, a former Arizona State University kicker, with the 224th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
In four years with the Sun Devils, Gonzalez converted an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision record 96 of his 116 career field goal attempts (82.75 percent) and 204 of his 209 extra-point tries (97.6 percent) on the way to 492 points.
However, in his first season with the Browns, Gonzalez missed two field goals between 30 and 39 yards, another two between 40 and 49 and one from over 50. Additionally, Gonzalez missed a point-after-touchdown.
For the season, Gonzalez converted 15 of his 20 field goal tries and 25 of his 26 PAT attempts.
“I see a lot of growth that he can do,” Jones said. “Kickoff situations, things where we have to help him. Studying him, left hash was an issue. Missed the ball by a little bit, so those are three misses right there. Those are things and just the overall mindset that guys have to go through to be prepared.
“Hopefully, we can get this guy to go into that way. I know he will work hard because coach (Hue Jackson) has already told me about that. I feel good about that part of it. If you have a guy that is going to work hard and is willing to learn, shoot, we can go.”
PLAYER TO WATCH
Peppers
In 13 games with the Browns, Peppers made 57 total tackles, including 44 solo stops and 13 assists, with three passes defended and one interception in the season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. On special teams, Peppers gained 318 yards on 14 kickoff returns and averaged 6.0 yards over 30 punt runbacks.
And Jones is confident Peppers can be an even more impactful player this fall.
“I think he has a chance to be a really special returner,” Jones said. “I thought he did when I worked him out. His college tape was obviously good. The other thing is he is a downhill runner. If you get the ball in his hands, he can be elusive enough to make people miss.
“I look forward to working with him because that little bit of relationship I had with him last year at that Pro Day was really a special moment for me because he is a great kid. I look forward to that part of it.”
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