First contact energizes Smith

07.24.2008

There may be no truth to the rumor that Shaun Smith came out of the womb talking.

But he's certainly come to training camp talking. And talking, and talking, and talking...

The pace of practice picked up Thursday morning as the Browns, dressed in full pads, participated in their first full-contact drills. Though coach Romeo Crennel said his team was "rusty - you can look at it and tell," Smith was in midseason form.

He was trailing a Jamal Lewis run when Shantee Orr surprised Lewis with a stiff shot. Lewis and Orr exchanged words before retreating to the huddle. Smith interjected himself into the conversation, telling Lewis, "shut up. He's trying to make the team!"

Then Smith jogged back to the huddle and continued talking to Lewis. For at least three minutes.

"I'm just trying to get Jamal ready for the season," Smith joked after practice.

Whether or not Smith is the only player on the Browns' roster who can get away with having such a conversation with Lewis is for another discussion. But whether he can play a significant role in helping the Browns' run defense is a more important issue.

Smith is expected to play a key part in what might be a defensive line rotation. He was at nose tackle with the first-team defensive line for the first inside run drill, and a few minutes later he was working with the third unit at left defensive end.

Corey Williams took the first snap at left end and Robaire Smith took the first snap at right end, with Shaun Rogers replacing Smith at nose after a few plays. In the final practice period of full team work, Rogers started at right end alongside Smith and Williams.

"I told (Rogers and Williams) when they came here they would play two spots, particularly Shaun, and he has learned both of them," Crennel said. "When Shaun Smith came he was a nose tackle and we had to teach him the end (position), so I think that gives us flexibility and more depth. That's better for us."

"My role is to be a team player," Smith said. "It doesn't matter if I'm starting or rotating in. When you're playing on the D-line it's a war in the trenches. You have to have fresh bodies."

The Browns were fresh Thursday and anxious to shake the rust.

"It's the first time we've been in pads since, what, December or January," Eric Steinbach said. "It's good. We went at it a little bit. If you're not careful somebody will knock that rust right off of you."

"When the pads come on you see who's going to be physical, who's going to talk, who's going to have fun out there," Smith said. "I'm keeping guys on their toes."

Travis Wilson's sliding catch in front of Jereme Perry about midway through the morning session drew the day's biggest applause. It also seemed to wake up the rest of the team - at least those who hadn't yet received an earful from Smith - and raise the energy level.

On the very next play Steve Cargile drew a round of oohs and ahhs after sniffing out a screen pass and colliding facemask to facemask with rookie running back Travis Thomas.

Smith's conversation with Lewis came later in practice, after an Andra Davis hit that knocked Jerome Harrison off his feet and before Phil Dawson's practice-ending field goals.

Smith was taking during those, too.

"Shaun wakes up talking," said Steinbach, who was Smith's teammate with the Bengals before both came to the Browns in 2007. "He keeps it interesting out here, that's for sure."

"I'm out here doing something I love to do," Smith said. "I could easily be working at Wal-Mart, so I'm taking advantage of my opportunity. It's fun out here. I love this."