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A.J. Brown looked how he should and other rookie practice observations

AJBrownpodiumNASHVILLE, Tenn. – For starters, Saturday had very little meaning. Rookies vs. rookies with no pads a day or two into the playbook, with on a day when five of six draft picks, 16 undrafted rookies and 31 tryout players were on the field.

Fewer than 10 of these guys are likely to make the 53-man roster at the conclusion of training camp.

But we saw some A.J. Brown route running.

 

And some D’Andre Walker one-on-one work with Mike Vrabel.

Vrabel got a nick on his nose but said he didn’t know who from, that it’s all just a bunch of guys. [Unlocked]

My thoughts out of the bit of the session the media was allowed to view and what we heard in quick group conversations with the five draft picks who were on the field – No. 1 pick Jeffery Simmons was inside rehabbing his knee.

Brown looked like he’s supposed to look, head-and-shoulders better than any pass catcher on the field. He made a great one-handed catch but said he’s not looking to be O’Dell Beckham or anything like that. He’s big and smooth, as you can see in the video above. Vrabel said he’s got the body type and great play strength for the position.

Third-rounder Nate Davis said he has to break out of the low stance he was used in college because he’s gets too high coming out of it and that won’t cut it in the NFL. I got the least of a look at him as the offensive line worked in a corner that we couldn’t get close to.

Fourth-round DB Amani Hooker said playing multiple sports really helped him with anticipation and footwork. Basketball was No. 2 to football for him in high school. He stopped playing soccer after fourth grade.

apple icon 144x144 precomposedFifth-rounder Walker appreciated the great deal of solo attention from Vrabel, but when he was asked about how he faced he said he didn’t think of it as any sort of competition. Vrabel said he popped in on a meeting a day earlier and found Walker to be engaged and answering questions from Shane Bowen, the outside linebackers coach. Walker was, before the individual period of practice was over, running by himself, which Vrabel said was both a rehab (January hernia) and conditioning thing.

Sixth-rounder linebacker David Long said his 5-11, 227 frame said football now is about speed, not size. “I bring as much force as I can,” he said, after acting like he was going to sing Alicia Keys into the microphone.

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