Hoffman gets fresh start at guard
By Steve King, Staff Writer
August 6, 2006
A young player who was stuck in a logjam at defensive end, Andrew Hoffman has been moved to right guard to bolster a depleted situation there.
Hoffman, a sixth-round pick in 2005 who spent his rookie season on the practice squad, worked at guard for the first time Sunday as the Browns got back onto the field at training camp after a day off and started getting ready for Thursday night's preseason opener at Philadelphia.
The Browns' problems at guard began on the second day of camp back on July 27 when starting center LeCharles Bentley was lost for the season with a knee injury. Bob Hallen, who was signed to be a veteran backup at guard and center, became the No. 1 center. Veteran Todd Washington was picked up to fill Hallen's former role as an interior backup, but he has announced his retirement.
Then on top of that, fourth-round draft choice Isaac Sowells will be out several weeks after injuring his ankle Friday in the Family Night intrasquad scrimmage at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Browns coach Romeo Crennel, who knows all about such position switches after going from defensive line to offensive tackle to help his college team as a senior at Western Kentucky, looked up and down the list of Browns defensive linemen and thought Hoffman was the best candidate to make the move.
"You look at body types, and he has an offensive guard kind of body," Crennel said of the 6-foot-4, 300-pounder. "And he's smart, so he'll be able to pick up the terminology."
Crennel approached Hoffman about making the switch Sunday morning. After thinking about it for several hours and then conferring with his agent, the 24-year-old Hoffman agreed to do it even though he has not played offensive line since his freshman season at Virginia.
"I made a few mistakes out there today, but I thought I did OK," he said.
Continue Reading About Hoffman
ROSTER MOVES: The Browns made several other roster moves in addition to announcing the retirement of Washington, as they
signed defensive back
Ralph Brown and center
Mike Mabry and
waived defensive back
Chris Thompson.
Now in his seventh season, Brown has been with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings, playing in 65 games with nine starts.
Mabry was originally a seventh-round draft choice of the Baltimore Ravens in 2003, when Browns general manager Phil Savage was working for that club. He has spent portions of the 2003 and '04 seasons on the practice squad of the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons, respectively.
PLAYS OF THE DAY: Fullback Terrelle Smith made a nice catch on a high pass on a quick-out route. ... Quarterback Charlie Frye's screen pass to fullback Corey McIntyre was broken up by cornerback Leigh Bodden. ... Safety Brodney Pool almost intercepted a Ken Dorsey pass. ... Cornerback Daven Holly broke up a Derek Anderson pass to wide receiver Brandon Rideau. ... First-round draft pick Kamerion Wimbley looked good as he worked with the No. 1 defense at outside linebacker.
FEW AND FAR BETWEEN: It's no secret that wide receiver Joe Jurevicius has great hands. So that's why it was so odd to see him drop just his
second pass of camp. ...
Ditto for wideout Dennis Northcutt, who dropped a pass from Frye.
