NFL Preseason Blitz: Terrelle Pryor trying to beat huge odds
It is very, very rare for a player to fail at quarterback in the NFL, then become an effective receiver.
But Terrelle Pryor of the Cleveland Browns is a special athlete, and he might be in the process of pulling it off.
Pryor made a nice statement on his first play this preseason, in a 17-11 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Pryor ran a go route, got separation from cornerback Damarious Randall (a 2015 first-round pick coming off a nice rookie season) and grabbed a 49-yard pass from Robert Griffin III. Pryor also converted a third down later in the drive.
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Marlin Briscoe might be the closest comparison for what Pryor is trying to do. Briscoe broke in as a quarterback with the Denver Broncos in 1968, starting five games, then moved to receiver his second season and played there for eight more years. Briscoe made a Pro Bowl as a receiver in 1970. And it’s not that Briscoe failed at quarterback; he was given only five starts as a rookie. Other fine college quarterbacks, like Antwaan Randle El, made the immediate transition to receiver or another position upon entering the NFL. Not many have tried quarterback in the NFL, then had a successful second chapter at another position after quarterback didn’t work.
Pryor, who started 10 games at quarterback over three seasons for the Oakland Raiders, is an incredible athlete. That has never been doubted. He was an elite basketball recruit coming out of high school, but that didn’t matter because he was one of the biggest football recruits ever. But there’s more to being an NFL receiver than being a great athlete. It’s not an easy transition.
Pryor had a nice 42-yard catch late last season, has had some positive reviews in camp and he looked like a viable NFL receiver on Friday night in a very, very, very small sample size. We’ll see if he can build on that over the next three games.
And when you look at Pryor — 6-foot-4, 223 pounds, once ran the 40-yard dash in less than 4.4 seconds, just 27 years old — you can understand why the Browns would be interested in finding out if he can play receiver.
The Browns are building from the ground up, and part of that was drafting four receivers this year. That didn’t indicate they felt Pryor was a good bet to stick at receiver, but he might end up being an unexpected surprise in their rebuilding efforts.
Adam Gase, the offensive guru hired to turn the Miami Dolphins around, might want to throw the film from his first preseason game in the trash, even though the Dolphins beat the New York Giants 27-10.
Here’s how the Dolphins’ offense looked to start the game:
First drive: Three-and-out.
Second drive: Three-and-out (with a holding penalty on tackle Ja’Wuan James nullifying a first down)
Third drive: Interception from backup quarterback Matt Moore on the second play
Fourth drive: Three-and-out
Fifth drive: Three-and-out
It got better after that, and there’s not much to be taken from any first preseason games. Also, the starting offense was responsible for only the first two of those drives. But given a choice, you’d rather see your new head coach’s offense do something in its debut.
There’s a lot of time to work out the issues and for the Dolphins to get more comfortable with Gase’s offense. A nearly hour-long delay due to a thunderstorm couldn’t have helped. It should get better over the next three preseason weeks. But Gase’s first (unofficial) game as a head coach wasn’t one to remember.
James Harrison might play forever.
The 38-year-old cranky Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker was given the option to take the preseason opener off, the Steelers television announcers said. Harrison would have none of it. He played, and made an impact in a 30-17 loss to the Detroit Lions.
Harrison had a huge hit on running back Theo Riddick as Riddick tried to haul in a pass, and the ball fell incomplete. Then he beat Lions tackle and first-round pick Taylor Decker for a sack, causing a fumble that the Steelers recovered.
The Steelers have four first-round picks at linebacker and they’re all much younger than Harrison. But then you see Harrison play like he did on Friday night, when almost any veteran would have taken the night off, and you understand why Harrison still gets on the field.
Minnesota Vikings 17, Cincinnati Bengals 16: Teddy Bridgewater made a nice play on a 49-yard touchdown to Charles Johnson. The reaction on social media made it sound like that play — in which Bridgewater had no pressure, stepped right up in the pocket and threw to a wide-open receiver 50 yards downfield — nullified every single question about his arm strength.
Ummm, no. But it was a nice play by a quarterback who faces questions after a relatively quiet second season. The Vikings don’t need Bridgewater to be a high-volume passer, but it will be interesting if they ask him to do more this season.
Oakland Raiders 31, Arizona Cardinals 10: Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards was helped off with a lower-body injury, and that’s a concern. Last year’s second-round pick, who suffered a scary neck injury late in his rookie season, was carted to the locker room on Friday night. Edwards, if healthy, is expected to be a big part of an intriguing front seven in Oakland.
• The Lions drafted Taylor Decker in the first round with hopes of solidifying their line. Decker was to step in at left tackle, allowing Riley Reiff to move to right tackle. But the potential issue with that plan is having a rookie start at left tackle.
Decker was beaten badly to the outside by James Harrison on the Lions’ first drive, as the veteran overpowered him and was able to knock the ball loose from Matthew Stafford. Any rookie’s first preseason game isn’t a barometer of what’s to come, good or bad, but it couldn’t have been a calming moment for the Lions.
• The Giants-Dolphins game was delayed almost an hour, as fans took cover in the concourses during a thunderstorm. The delay might have factored in Odell Beckham sitting out, but rookie Sterling Shepard had a highlight that was well worth it for the fans who showed up.
Shepard, lining up in the slot, ran a corner route and then made a diving catch on a slightly underthrown ball. Saints rookie receiver Michael Thomas was impressive on Thursday, and Shepard took his turn on Friday. Shepard, a second-round pick, had a great career at Oklahoma. With defenses focusing on Beckham and the Giants not having too much else at receiver (unless Victor Cruz makes it all the way back), Shepard could be in line for a nice rookie season.
• Most of the Packers’ starters didn’t play long, but tight end Jared Cook got an extra series or two. It was nice for the Packers to see their rare free-agent addition on the field after he dealt with a foot injury early in camp. He had two catches for 10 yards.
• Alejandro Villanueva is expected to be the Steelers’ left tackle this season, a big spot on a pass-heavy team. Villanueva, a former Army Ranger, has only one year of NFL experience and he had a tough preseason debut. Villanueva’s illegal use of the hands penalty on Pittsburgh’s first drive nullified a first down. On the Steelers’ second drive, Villanueva was beaten easily to the inside for a sack by Lions end Devin Taylor. Villanueva has an important role on the Steelers this season, and it’s not off to the best start.
• Running back Dwayne Washington was an interesting seventh-round pick for the Lions. He’s big and fast, and was a versatile threat out of the backfield in the passing game at the University of Washington. On Friday night he showed off his speed. Washington took a kickoff at his own 4-yard line, waited for an opening and then exploded through the hole and went for a 96-yard touchdown. He’s worth keeping an eye on the rest of this month.
• Sammie Coates was a darling early in camp for Pittsburgh, but he had an awful night Friday. Coates fumbled twice on four touches, losing one. For a while it seemed like he could help replace Martavis Bryant, who is suspended for the year, but the second-year receiver will have to be a lot better going forward.
• Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander was a great value pick by the Vikings in the second round of this year’s draft. He has reportedly had a good camp, and against the Bengals he got an interception. The young, strong Vikings defense is full of future stars, but it never hurts to add another.
• ICYMI from Shutdown Corner on Friday: A review of Robert Griffin’s Cleveland Browns debut.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
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