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Davis impresses Mangini on special teams, offense. Lewis provides guidance
By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 08:14 p.m. EDT, Aug 04, 2009
BEREA: Browns rookie running back James Davis doesn't allow draft status to bother him.
Projected to go anywhere from the second to fifth rounds, Davis waited until the sixth round before the Browns chose him out of Clemson, where he gained 3,881 yards on 753 attempts and scored 47 touchdowns.
''I wasn't disappointed; it's just all on what you do when you get here,'' Davis said. ''If you can prove yourself in this league, you'll get paid.''
Before proving himself, however, he has to open the eyes of the team's new regime, including coach Eric Mangini. So far, he's been impressive on special teams.
''James has done a really nice job. What I like about him is that he's done it since the day that he got here,'' Mangini said. ''He understands the importance of special teams. There have been multiple drills where he is the first one down on special teams. That's what gets you noticed.''
Davis also has shown ability on offense. People have noticed the balance of speed and power, including a 25-yard-plus run he broke off in today's practice, but coaches look at the smaller things when determining roster spots.
''I like the way he's competed in the pass protection drills,'' Mangini said. ''I think he's done a nice job with his reads. He's made some really savvy decisions in protection for a young guy, and that takes time. I am happy with him.''
Davis finds himself in an enviable position, with a chance to make a team that lacks depth at running back. Even more important, one of the guys ahead of him, starter Jamal Lewis, is there to lend a hand. He and Davis both played at Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta, though years apart.
According to Davis, Lewis set all the school rushing records and he broke them.
''I started three-and-half-years and Jamal started three,'' Davis said. ''I got a little bit more playing than he did. He's always talking about that other [half] year.''
Lewis said that he knows the type of player Davis is because he's from the same place.
''I see something real special in him. I see a burst out of him and an aggressiveness out of him,'' he said. ''We're from the same neighborhood back home, so he's got some fight to him. I just try to help him out as much as I can because I see the ability there.''
Davis is paying attention to what he hears.
''I feel like I'm improving each day, that's kind of my motivation on what I want to do,'' he said. ''I just want to keep improving. When you got guys like Jamal saying, 'Hey, that's a better job than what you did yesterday.' That's kinda my motto, what I want to do.''
Receiver outlook
If Mohamed Massaquoi continues to flash his skills as he did today, the Browns' second-round draft choice will easily make the adjustment to the NFL and find a lot of footballs thrown his way.
With his speed, he stood out in getting yards after the catch, an element that the Browns lacked last season. A second-round draft pick out of the University of Georgia, Massaquoi caught 158 passes for 2,282 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Bulldogs.
''I'm just going out there practicing, trying to work hard,'' Massaquoi said. ''Every day, you just want to try to get better.''
Fellow rookie wide receiver Brian Robiskie, a player not used to dropping passes at Ohio State, had a rougher outing, dropping a few.
Massaquoi said he's sure the same will happen to him, but he's there for Robiskie to lean on. The two have bonded since being drafted in the same round.
Rogers is back
Defensive lineman Shaun Rogers practiced after being off the previous two days. He didn't look the least bit rusty, wreaking havoc in the backfield.
He did get called for an offside penalty during full-squad workouts. The mistake cost him a lap around the training facility's expansive practice field.
Edwards exercises
Braylon Edwards occupied a familiar spot on an exercise bike, but also did some exercise off the bike as well.
Show time
Former NFL defensive lineman Tim Ryan and former league executive Pat Kirwan will bring their Sirius NFL Radio Show Movin' the Chains to Berea Wednesday.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj
BEREA: Browns rookie running back James Davis doesn't allow draft status to bother him.
Projected to go anywhere from the second to fifth rounds, Davis waited until the sixth round before the Browns chose him out of Clemson, where he gained 3,881 yards on 753 attempts and scored 47 touchdowns.
''I wasn't disappointed; it's just all on what you do when you get here,'' Davis said. ''If you can prove yourself in this league, you'll get paid.''
Before proving himself, however, he has to open the eyes of the team's new regime, including coach Eric Mangini. So far, he's been impressive on special teams.
''James has done a really nice job. What I like about him is that he's done it since the day that he got here,'' Mangini said. ''He understands the importance of special teams. There have been multiple drills where he is the first one down on special teams. That's what gets you noticed.''
Davis also has shown ability on offense. People have noticed the balance of speed and power, including a 25-yard-plus run he broke off in today's practice, but coaches look at the smaller things when determining roster spots.
''I like the way he's competed in the pass protection drills,'' Mangini said. ''I think he's done a nice job with his reads. He's made some really savvy decisions in protection for a young guy, and that takes time. I am happy with him.''
Davis finds himself in an enviable position, with a chance to make a team that lacks depth at running back. Even more important, one of the guys ahead of him, starter Jamal Lewis, is there to lend a hand. He and Davis both played at Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta, though years apart.
According to Davis, Lewis set all the school rushing records and he broke them.
''I started three-and-half-years and Jamal started three,'' Davis said. ''I got a little bit more playing than he did. He's always talking about that other [half] year.''
Lewis said that he knows the type of player Davis is because he's from the same place.
''I see something real special in him. I see a burst out of him and an aggressiveness out of him,'' he said. ''We're from the same neighborhood back home, so he's got some fight to him. I just try to help him out as much as I can because I see the ability there.''
Davis is paying attention to what he hears.
''I feel like I'm improving each day, that's kind of my motivation on what I want to do,'' he said. ''I just want to keep improving. When you got guys like Jamal saying, 'Hey, that's a better job than what you did yesterday.' That's kinda my motto, what I want to do.''
Receiver outlook
If Mohamed Massaquoi continues to flash his skills as he did today, the Browns' second-round draft choice will easily make the adjustment to the NFL and find a lot of footballs thrown his way.
With his speed, he stood out in getting yards after the catch, an element that the Browns lacked last season. A second-round draft pick out of the University of Georgia, Massaquoi caught 158 passes for 2,282 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Bulldogs.
''I'm just going out there practicing, trying to work hard,'' Massaquoi said. ''Every day, you just want to try to get better.''
Fellow rookie wide receiver Brian Robiskie, a player not used to dropping passes at Ohio State, had a rougher outing, dropping a few.
Massaquoi said he's sure the same will happen to him, but he's there for Robiskie to lean on. The two have bonded since being drafted in the same round.
Rogers is back
Defensive lineman Shaun Rogers practiced after being off the previous two days. He didn't look the least bit rusty, wreaking havoc in the backfield.
He did get called for an offside penalty during full-squad workouts. The mistake cost him a lap around the training facility's expansive practice field.
Edwards exercises
Braylon Edwards occupied a familiar spot on an exercise bike, but also did some exercise off the bike as well.
Show time
Former NFL defensive lineman Tim Ryan and former league executive Pat Kirwan will bring their Sirius NFL Radio Show Movin' the Chains to Berea Wednesday.
George M. Thomas can be reached at sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at http://www.ohio.com/thomas. Follow Cavs coverage on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cavsabj
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Canton, OH
Posted 08:28 PM, 08/04/2009
HERE WE GO, BROWNIES, HERE WE GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Akron, , OH
Posted 07:02 AM, 08/05/2009
Goodbye Romeo!!!
Posted 07:21 AM, 08/05/2009
who is this guy again and where did he play... GO STEELERS..........
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:49 AM, 08/05/2009
Can anyone say PRACTICE - lets see what happens when Davis isn't running against the browns defense.
akron, oh
Posted 12:34 PM, 08/05/2009
we have to wait and see if they use players to there strenths,insted of going to same lame plays and players
akron, oh
Posted 04:06 PM, 08/05/2009
@Gary: He went to the same high school as Jamal Lewis, and shattered Jamal's high school records. He played college at Clemson, and would have been a top draft pick if he'd come out his junior year. He stayed at Clemson to finish school, and help his team win. He is a top rookie prospect this year. We will love him for years to come.
GO BROWNS!
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:30 AM, 08/06/2009
Wait till next year.
