The experience was exactly as Mike Hall Jr. had imagined. He enjoyed the atmosphere in the tunnel and then played his first preseason game for his hometown team in front of the home fans, which included ten of his family members and friends.
“It was an amazing feeling,” the rookie defensive tackle said Saturday night after the Browns’ 23-10 loss to the Packers. “I’m blessed to be out there. I’m just happy to play in front of thousands of fans and represent my city.”
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Hall grew up in Cleveland and attended Ohio State. He was the Browns’ first draft pick in April as the No. 54 pick in the second round.
He was part of the second team defense on Saturday, playing 29 snaps on defense and three on special teams and was credited with an assist on a tackle.
“I think I did pretty well,” Hall said. “In the first warm-up game, you have to go through everything again and implement a little more. It’s just small, isolated cases. You can add a little here and there or just start a little faster.”
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Hall was drafted for his pass rushing ability and agreed with veteran Quinton Jefferson that quarterbacks in the NFL are getting rid of those skills faster.
“But you can’t use that excuse,” he said. “You still have to play fast and aggressively.”
Perhaps most impressive was how Hall clogged the middle, preventing three consecutive short-yardage runs in the first quarter and giving the ball back to the offense.
“A lot of people think I’m too small, I can’t run and stuff like that,” said Hall, who is listed at 6’3″ and 295 pounds. “I’m just really happy to be able to show people that I can run, too. And I can put pressure on the passer, too.”
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Coach Kevin Stefanski liked what he saw.
“Some good, some bad, that’s what you get with rookies, but he definitely played hard,” Stefanski said Sunday. “With rookies, there are always things where you look at technique. Sometimes you can lose your technique because it’s the game. So that’s going to be a focus for him, but there are some really good plays out there as well.”
Hall said he didn’t see defensive end Za’Darius Smith reminding him of Aaron Donald, but Hall told reporters he was happy with the public praise he was getting from his teammates.
“I’m glad to be around a great group of guys, especially experienced players,” Hall said. “They can teach me a lot and I can learn. So I just have to soak it all up and keep studying the game.”
BACK IN OPERATION
Rookie Zak Zinter, a third-round pick out of Michigan, had not played since breaking his leg against Ohio State in November. He was the second-team right guard against the Packers and played 37 snaps.
“It felt good,” he said. “This is what I worked for, this is what I rehabilitated myself for. This has been my dream since I was a child. It felt good to put the pads back on and put the suit on. It feels like putting on the armor.”
He spent training camp as the second-team right guard and third-team left guard and may play center after backup Luke Wypler broke his ankle against the Packers.
“I’ve played two spring balls at center, so I’m familiar with snaps and all that,” Zinter said. “It’s more about understanding the playbook a little bit better.”
EXTRA POINTS
Stefanski provided no update on safety Ronnie Hickman, receiver David Bell, linebacker Nathaniel Watson and defensive back Vincent Gray, who were injured Saturday and left the game.
** Following a fan vote, the team announced that Brownie the Elf will be the logo at midfield for the third consecutive year.
** The players are still getting used to the new kick-off rules. Before the first kick-off on Saturday, they began running to the old spot on the field.
