Dawson: I'll Be Ready For Seattle
By Zac Jackson
This report filed August 15, 2001

Score one for the home team.

WR JaJuan Dawson said Wednesday he fully intends to be 100 percent healthy and ready to play in the Browns season opener September 9 against Seattle.

Dawson, who’s recovering from a broken left hand suffered in the first week of training camp, has begun conditioning with the team.

“Everything’s fine and going along, it just takes time with a broken bone,” Dawson said. “We don’t want to take any chances, so right now I’m just trying to stay in running shape and mentally prepare.

“It should be another 2-3 weeks. I don’t know if we’ll risk playing in the last preseason game but I’ll definitely be ready for Seattle.”

QUICK HITS: Head Coach Butch Davis called DT Mark Smith a “holy terror” on the defensive line…H-back Rod Monroe is now playing some tight end due to the injury to Mark Campbell…Three highlights from Wednesday morning’s practice: A big hit by Jamir Miller on Travis Prentice after Prentice made a reception…Kelly Holcomb connecting with Rickey Dudley on a deep ball down the middle of the field…Wali Rainer made a one-handed interception of a Couch pass…Wednesday’s short PM session is closed to the public. Thursday is the final day of training camp.

MOVING ON--Davis said Tuesday’s trade that sent OL Everett Lindsay to Minnesota was a positive one.

“As guys started to get healthy, obviously, we were carrying excess numbers of offensive linemen,” Browns Head Coach Butch Davis said. “It’s one of those rare situations where you get a chance to help two situations. You can help Everett from the standpoint that he gets to go back somewhere where he’s familiar with the people. And it helps us by getting future considerations.”

It also left one less candidate in the battle among the offensive linemen for roster spots.

“It’s an opportunity for us to get better,” Davis said. “You just can’t have that many people (in camp) and get people an opportunity to show who the best eight, ten 12 guys are going to be.”

BEAT THE CLOCK—The Browns concluded Tuesday’s afternoon practice with a pair of successful situational drills.

“We put our team in a situation with four plays left to go in the game, 25 seconds left on the clock, no timeout, and you have to put the ball in the endzone,” Davis said. “I think it shows growth by the offense that they scored touchdowns in both opportunities.”

The first ended with a Tim Couch TD pass to Bobby Brown. Ty Detmer threw a TD to Andre King the second time around.  

“Guys made plays,” Davis said. “Andre King made just a phenomenal, great catch.”

MAKING COMPARISONS—Davis was asked about Tim Couch’s arm strength in comparison with ex-Dallas QB Troy Aikman, whom Davis saw up close and personal as a Cowboys assistant from 1989-94.

“I think Tim has every bit as good an arm as Troy,” Davis said. “They throw the ball very similar. There’s not a throw in this offense or anybody else’s offense that Tim can’t make.

“He can put as much power on it as he has to. He can throw with touch. He can pinpoint things, throw the ball on the outside shoulder and hit receivers coming in and out of breaks. He’s got a terrific arm.”

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