Bademosi emerged during his 2012 rookie season as a special teams standout and could challenge Tashaun Gipson for the starting free safety job. Supplemental draft -- the process by which Browns acquired Josh Gordon last year -- will be held on Thursday. More Browns and NFL story links.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns' special teams unit has undergone drastic changes this offseason. Kicker Phil Dawson has gone to San Francisco. Return man and special teams ace Josh Cribbs has gone to Oakland. Punter Reggie Hodges is still looking for work after being released by the team.
Cribbs will be missed not only for his skills as a returner but also for his work as a “gunner” on kickoff and punt coverage teams. He routinely led the team in special teams tackles. Last year, however, Cribbs wasn’t at the top of the team in special teams tackles. That title belonged to fan favorite Johnson Bademosi.
Bademosi was signed last offseason by the Browns as an undrafted free agent cornerback out of Stanford University. He recorded 18 special teams tackles and missed only one tackle all year. He received acclaim for his hustle on kickoff and punt coverage. ProFootballFocus named him a second team all-pro last year as a special teamer.
This season, Bademosi is expected to not only contribute on special teams, but to challenge Tashaun Gipson for the starting free safety job. While Bademosi only played 24 snaps on the defensive side of the ball last year, there is reason to believe he can emerge out of training camp as the team’s starting free safety.
Brendan Leister broke down Bademosi’s contributions on special teams last year for DraftBrowns.com.
The big question for Browns fans remains, can Bademosi’s exceptional ability as a special teams player translate to the defensive side of the ball? Leister continues, this time looking at his prospects for this coming season.To be an excellent special teamer, a player must be able to make tackles in space. Johnson Bademosi is incredibly adept at this. He consistently does a good job of taking proper pursuit angles, breaking down, adjusting to the ball carrier, and wrapping up while keeping his legs moving on contact.
Bademosi and Gipson have both flashed potential. The competition for the free safety job figures to be among the most heated position battles during training camp.All in all, Johnson Bademosi is a very gifted football player with extremely high upside. It is evident when watching Bademosi’s special teams contributions that he has lots of talent and he could certainly bring some value at the free safety position in the Browns’ new defense.
NFL Story Links
Will the Browns consider picking someone in this year’s supplemental draft? (By Jon Stinchcomb, Dawgs By Nature)
Mary Kay Cabot answers questions in the latest edition of Hey, Mary Kay! (Plain Dealer and cleveland.com)
Paul Warfield comes in at No. 19 on the list of the 100 best Browns players of all time. (cleveland.com)
Can the Browns’ receivers finally start to produce? (By Peter Smith, Dawg Pound Daily)
Anita Brody has ordered the NFL concussion case to mediation. (By Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk)
In the wake of the Aaron Hernandez scandal, can NFL teams do more to prevent similar situations from happening? (By Gary Hoenig, ESPN.com)
The Denver Broncos’ director of player personnel, Matt Russell is facing legal trouble. (By Ryan Wilson, CBSSports.com)
The Seattle Seahawks Fans, known as the 12th man, hope to break a Guinness World Record. (By Jay Busbee, Yahoo! Sports)
Ravens first round pick Matt Elam will not hire an agent before the start of the season. (By Michael David Smith, ProFootballTalk)
Fans at FirstEnergy Stadium this year will have a whole new game day experience. (By Will Burge, ESPNCleveland.com)
The Browns can’t send six pallbearers but they are sending a personalized jersey to Scott Entsminger’s memorial service. (By Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk)
A preview of the AFC North. (By Chris Burke, Sports Illustrated)
Matthew Stafford is nearing a three year contract extension with the Lions. (By John Breech, CBSSports.com)