Ali a ''new player''

07.29.2008

Last summer, Charles Ali did it the old fashioned way.

He just smacked people.

The only undrafted rookie who made the Browns' 2007 initial regular-season roster did it by throwing his body into harm's way, throwing his shoulder into opposing linebackers and doing just about everything his coaches asked.

He did it without a lot of flash and almost no publicity, and he rarely made a peep. Coming from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, he was making a huge leap to the NFL on and off the field.

Now, a week into his second professional training camp, it appears he's made yet another leap, one that has this underdog on the verge of becoming an NFL success story.

With starting fullback Lawrence Vickers out the last several days due to a hamstring issue, Ali's been given more reps and more responsibility. He's lighter, clearly more confident and doing a solid job handling just about everything that's come his way.

"Charles has made good progress," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "He displays a lot more confidence now. I think the offseason program helped him as far as building his body and his strength.

"He has a much better understanding of the system, and you see that in practice. He has confidence. He makes really good blocks, and he can catch the ball. He's a nice surprise."

Ali played in 13 games last season - exclusively on special teams - while he learned the Browns' offense. He spent the offseason watching film of Vickers and other proven fullbacks from around the league, studying his playbook and preparing for the outset of training camp.

Sure, OTA's and minicamps were important. But those non-contact drills did little for cause in eventually earning a role on the 2008 Browns.

"When the pads come on, that's my time," Ali said. "Fullbacks, we do a lot of dirty work. Without the pads we can't do everything I like to do. I spent the offseason focusing on knowing my playbook and getting ready for this so when the pads came on I could just start hitting people."

Seven days into camp, the hitting business is good.

"That," Crennel said, "is his specialty."

He's putting some polish on the rest of his game, too, and he's embracing each day at camp as a chance to improve. No Vickers has meant more reps with the first-team offense and more reps overall, which has meant not only more chances to take on linebackers and safeties but more opportunities to prove he can grasp the system and play multiple roles.

"I'm moving around faster," he said. "I know everything better. I'm a whole new player.

"I love it. I really love it. I feel great about the offense, much better than last year. I still have a lot to learn, but I feel good about how far I've come."