The Browns hope this will be the season Justin Gilbert shows why he was deserving of his selection in the first round of the 2014 draft.
Thursday's preseason opener wasn't the greatest of indicators. Pressed into a big role due to injuries to Joe Haden and Pierre Desir, Gilbert allowed three catches for 40 yards in a little more than two quarters of work. His day would have been a lot worse if Pierre Garcon didn't drop a would-be 61-yard touchdown pass from Robert Griffin III.
Gilbert raised eyebrows after the game by calling his performance "flawless" with the exception of the Garcon beat. That prompted Browns coach Mike Pettine to say Gilbert must have given his self-assessment prior to watching the game film.
On Friday, Pettine spent part of his conference call with reporters discussing whether he's concerned Gilbert will continue to be a liability for a Browns team that drafted the corner to be a star.
"I wouldn't say I'm concerned at this point," Pettine said, according to The Chronicle-Telegram. "This is why we have training camp. He's got things that he's got to work on and he'll get his grade sheet tomorrow and hopefully the mistakes that he made, be able to lock them in and not make them again.
"But he's a guy that we want to have him be a part of what we're doing and we're coaching him hard. Hopefully he'll respond."
Pettine did see some positive things in studying Gilbert's play against Washington.
"There were some things he needs to work on," Pettine said. "But I thought the two plays in the red zone was good coverage (incompletions on fade routes), when he got up and pressed. But it'll be good teaching film for Justin."
Translation: Justin Gilbert is not flawless. Far from it, in fact.
