Browns TE coach Greg Seamon: Confident that Njoku’s drops will stop, and DeValve’s improvements

Prior to Day 7 of Cleveland Browns training camp is today, but prior to practice, the team made tight ends coach Greg Seamon and linebackers coach Blake Williams available to the media.

Below is a recap of some of the things that Seamon had to say on Thursday, and then we’ll get to Williams’ comments in a separate post.

Greg Seamon

• After being with the Bengals from 2003-2015, this is now Seamon's second year with the Browns, working again under head coach Hue Jackson. Much of what Seamon talked about boiled to the team’s top two tight ends: rookie David Njoku and second-year mean Seth DeValve.
• Drops have significantly plagued Njoku during training camp. Here’s what Seamon said about the issues of hanging on to the ball:

“I think he is frustrated that he has dropped a couple of balls. He has made some spectacular catches, as well. We are certainly looking for consistency. David is in the rookie mode. This is his first training camp. We have put virtually all of the offense in at this point. We are seeing a lot of different defensive looks from (defensive coordinator) Gregg (Williams), which over the long hall will help us a great deal. It complicates the assignments a bit right now. I think he is in that process. We have only had four padded practice days. He is absorbing the information. He is progressing well. Certainly a lot of things to grow on and a lot of things to clean up but very happy with the way he works and the progress that we are making. He will become more consistent catching the ball, I believe, as he becomes more confident in the system and what he is doing.”

• Long story short, Seamon believes that once Njoku is more comfortable in the system, that the consistency in catching the ball will start to show itself. When asked if Njoku will have trouble adjusting to games with a more physical element to them, Seamon shot that thought down right away:

“Ironically, in this game, it is a little bit easier in game weeks because you deal with less offense to know and you have more film to watch of your opponent. You can anticipate more of what you are going to see. Physically, he has played the position. He is an extraordinary athlete. He is a big, strong guy. I think he will handle the physical part of it fine. He is a very bright young man. He will be fine as we go forward. I am not concerned.”

• How are DeValve and Njoku different? Seamon said that he hopes they’ll both be virtually able to do the same things, but that Njoku is a little taller. We’ve all heard about the improvements that DeValve made this offseason, and since Seamon has been with him both years, he was able to discuss what he’s improved from year one to year two:

“Seth is a stronger, faster version of what he was a year ago. He is very, very bright. He studies the game, is a quick learner, a quick study. He has become an outstanding route runner at this point. Very efficient and very quick out of his breaks, consistent hands and a better athlete than perhaps people think. He can run. He can jump. He can change direction really well. As Hue has said, I am hopeful that he has a big year. He is an emerging player. He has to do it in the games, but to this point in practice and what he did at the end of last season, I thought, showed real progress. I am very excited about Seth and where he is headed.”

• Lastly, Seamon talked about the benefit of having LT Joe Thomas around to bounce ideas off of. Although he’s happy with his tight end group, Seamon reminded everyone that TE Randall Telfer has played 10 games in the NFL, and that represents the most experience they have at the position — so Thomas can be a leader of sorts for that group to lean on.

“Joe [Thomas] can be a good resource because he plays the game not as a mauler -- he's such a good athlete that there are things that he does from a technique standpoint that can apply to the tight ends. If he were a guy who only played with power, then there wouldn't be as much carryover for them. Joe can play both games -- he can power a guy off the ball, and he can play in space and block him well. He's a great resource -- I ask Joe questions. He's been around a long time, he thinks about the game at a high level, so its good to bounce something off him and see what his thoughts are.”