Browns rookies making impact

“It’s very easy to get out of a gap,” Shurmur said. “There’s gap control, there’s defeating blocks and feeling schemes. A lot of guys will come into this league having played just, ‘Go get the quarterback.’ Now, there’s so much happening there that I think there’s a lot to learn, not to mention you’re amongst 300 pound-plus men hitting you from all different angles.

“There’s a lot going on there.”

Sheard, who benefited from facing Browns Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas during training camp, said there are times when his brain is in information overload. And, there’s a big difference between battling a well-traveled 30-year-old and a 19-year-old sophomore.

Asked about the major difference between college ball and the pros, Sheard shook his head.

“Whew,” Sheard said, exhaling. “Offensive linemen are a lot smarter and a little bit bigger. Their arms are a lot longer and it’s the smaller things they do to you. They know how to use their bodies. I used to be able to flip my body in there, and in college it would work. Now it doesn’t.”

Taylor, too, has had to adjust his game. The days of throwing around 270-pound centers are over. He’s had to develop new ways of beating linemen by getting off the ball quicker or using his hands to gain leverage. Against Indianapolis, he faced complex blocking schemes _ the Colts like to double-team and use zones _ and Taylor more than held his own.

He gave himself a “B to B-plus” for his performance.

“I grade myself hard,” Taylor said. “Coach might think I did something well and I might say I did something OK. I’m just trying to get better every week.”

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano has noticed Taylor’s improvement.

“Phil has been really physical,” Sparano said. “I started to notice him during preseason games, getting better and better. In the first two games, he did an outstanding job. He’s a physical, tough player that really runs well for a big guy. He’s pretty active in there.”

Browns safety T.J. Ward praised Sheard and Taylor. He believes the pair can have the type of impact he and second-year cornerback Joe Haden had last season.

“They’re going to have good careers,” he said. “They’re focused and work really hard. They’ll be two future Hall of Famers and All-Pros.”

For now, they’re just rookies _ maybe special ones.

Notes: RT Tony Pashos, who has missed Cleveland’s first two games with an injured left ankle, practiced and hopes to play Sunday. “There’s always a chance, but we’re still gonna do it day-by-day,” he said. “There is no ‘yes’ or ‘no’ right now. It’s not a switch. It’s flesh, and anybody who’s ever had an injury knows that.” … KR Josh Cribbs was named AFC special teams player of the week after returning two kicks for 80 yards and two punts for 52 vs. the Colts. … WR Mohamed Massaquoi was limited in practice because of an ankle injury.

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