CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns’ coaching and personnel staffs are not the only things within the franchise that underwent changes during the offseason.
As Browns coach Kevin Stefanski built up his staff, the team embarked on an upgrade to the indoor practice facility at Berea headquarters, the Casey Coleman Fieldhouse.
The Browns released a time-lapse video on social media Wednesday showing the old turf being removed and the new synthetic field being installed. The old field was stripped down to the base and replaced with new artificial field turf.
The Browns use the fieldhouse during rained out practices in training camp, much of the offseason program and when they are trying to get an effective day of practice work in during cold and snowy stretches late in the season.
During the 2020 season, the Browns will play teams from the AFC South and NFC East Divisions.
The Browns will use the 70-yard fieldhouse to prepare to host the Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Las Vegas Raiders, Washington football team, Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.
The fieldhouse will also be utilized to prepare for road games, particularly with exposure to loud environments to help players develop effective means of communications to deal with raucous crowds at the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Bengals, Ravens and Steelers.
The 2020 schedule will be released later this spring.
Until then, the Browns will focus their efforts on formulating plans for free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft, including private visits from prospects, the evaluation of on-field metrics at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, and of the players already on the roster during the offseason program, which gets underway in early April.
'SHE IS OUTSTANDING: Kevin Stefanski praises Browns chief of staff Callie Brownson