Browns defensive tackle Taven Bryan is surrounded by talent.
On one side, he’ll see Myles Garrett‘s fierce frame pounding down the edge.
On the other, Jadaveon Clowney can be found, looking to get to the opposing quarterback.
And that should make Bryan’s job easy in Cleveland: stuff the run, get after the quarterback when he scrambles, and make tackles.
And from the looks of things, Bryan is enjoying himself out on the practice field so far.
Production Priority
The Browns will need every ounce of production from Bryan.
While there are those stars on the edge, the center of the defensive line is a bit of a question mark.
In fact, the team’s defensive line earned a low grade from PFF, precisely because of the weak interior options.
One of those options is Bryan, who joined the Browns this offseason by way of Jacksonville.
In four seasons with the Jags, Bryan mustered 51 tackles.
Not ideal from a player who, well, plays tackle.
Nonetheless, Bryan seems to be enjoying his move from the Sunshine State to Cleveland.
He spoke with the Akron Beacon Journal about his admiration for Browns fans, including one notary who showed up at his house ready to talk game:
“He started talking about the D-line, gaps, scheme, all kinds of stuff — like he’s a 30-year coach or something — but that’s like everybody here. It’s pretty cool how in depth they are with the Browns,” Bryan told the Beacon Journal on Wednesday before the first full-squad practice of training camp.
“You meet the fans every day, and you’ve got to love them because they’re definitely fanatics. You just hear the story of the Cleveland Browns and their fans and all the stuff they do. They’re crazy, but like a good crazy.”
It’s true, the Browns fans are one special breed.
And welcoming a player like that has to leave them feeling good about their new digs.
The fans are loyal, but hold players accountable.
Call it a sort of tough love.
Cooler Climate
How has Bryan adjusted to the prospect of a warmer winter?
After all, it’s one thing to play in Jacksonville in November.
But another thing entirely to feel the crushing cold of a Cleveland December.
Fortunately, Bryan again had only positive things to say:
“It’s obviously nice to go to a place that’s kind of cooler. I’m from the cold, so this was pretty nice. I like the team. I did my research on them. I asked about them. Everybody has friends on every team — nothing but good reviews, so I thought it would be a good place to go.”
As he mentioned, Bryan is “from the cold.”
And by that, he means Casper, Wyoming.
The average temperature in Casper in November?
37 degrees.
Bryan will have no trouble fitting right in.
And his positive attitude should carry over well into the locker room.
As it stands, the locker room needs any bright and positive contributors, considering the cloud of scandal and unknown that currently hangs over it.
More must-reads: