AFC North Notes: Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Browns

• Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. said in a response on Instagram that he will attend the team’s mandatory minicamp on June 3: “I’ll be there on the 3rd, u coming?”
• Browns QB Baker Mayfield said he is “actively” trying to recruit DT Gerald McCoy. (Mary Kay Cabot)

Ravens

Ravens HC John Harbaugh said the offense is a bit “behind” the defense, given that they are in the process of installing a new system under OC Greg Roman. 

“It’s been better,” Harbaugh said, via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. “The offense is always going to be behind the defense this time of year, especially when the defense has had the system in place for a year. We put a whole new defense in last year. We changed all the terminology, we changed the way it’s structured, we changed the rules, we changed the format, we changed everything. This is the second time through, and our defense is showing that with (their) understanding. Offensively, we’re doing the same thing this year.”

Harbaugh added that the Ravens have changed “every word” and “concept” of their system to modernize the offense.  

“We spent 10 weeks on the offense, and Greg Roman coordinated that, and the offensive coaches built it from the ground up,” Harbaugh said. “Every word has been organized in a way, every concept has been organized in a way, that we want to build for the long haul, and we want to make it as modern and as applicable as we can, so it can be executed. You have to think through that stuff. The terminology is a lot different, and that’s for all the guys to learn, especially the quarterbacks, because they have to operate. They have to make the calls. You saw a lot of cadences out there today. We’re working on that. All those things are part of the execution of the offense.”

Steelers

According to Steelers OC Randy Fichtner, WR James Washington was not “in shape” for the NFL level in his rookie season. 

“You see it all the time,” said Fichtner, via Mark Kaboly of The Athletic. “They think they are in shape and then realize they aren’t in shape for what we do.”

Washington admitted that he did not do well maintaining his body last year.

“You have to take care of your body (to be in the NFL), and I wasn’t doing as much of that last year,” Washington said. “Before this, you feel in shape. Then you get to run up and down the field, and then you feel that you aren’t in shape as much as I thought I was.”