BEREA — The fight put Spencer Fano over the top.
Coach Todd Monken announced Monday the rookie left tackle will work full time with the first-team offense after previously alternating days with Dawand Jones. The move came after Fano scuffled with defensive end Jared Verse on Saturday.
“We were already leaning that way, and Saturday solidified it,” Monken said.
Verse grabbed Fano’s face mask and ripped off the helmet. Fano fought back, they went to the ground and then Fano was able to go from underneath Verse to on top before they were separated by teammates.
“Don’t you want to see a player, especially on the O-line, not back down?” Monken said. “As your starting left tackle, all your hopes and dreams, the ability to move the football and protect, your left tackle to not back down against a Pro Bowler. If they don’t stand up for themselves, then you’re really concerned.”
Two plays after the fight, Fano, the No. 9 pick, went head-to-head with Verse and stopped him from reaching the quarterback. Verse has won his share of the one-on-ones.
“That was really cool, and hopefully we’ll get that today and Tuesday,” Monken said. “That’s what you want, if it’s all one-sided, that’s a bad deal one way or the other. You don’t want your left tackle dominating every edge rusher, and you sure as hell don’t want him to be a leaky faucet, because it’s a convoy to the quarterback. I thought it was really, really cool.”
Running back Quinshon Judkins appreciated Fano not being bullied.
“As a young guy, that’s how you earn your respect,” he said. “I was a rookie last year and I remember just having to showcase what’s important to the older guys. A lot of these guys that have experience, that’s what they love to see. They love to see the production. They love to see the emotion. So I was just happy for him in that moment, just to see him compete and be the person that he is.”
Monken said Verse wasn’t told to provoke Fano, it happened “organically.”
Jones will compete to be the swing tackle.
“I’ve been awfully proud of Dawand, what he’s done in the offseason to get himself into shape and his body looks like it is,” Monken said. “But at this point, Spencer is playing better. Once that happens, you’re also competing for a roster spot. When you end up rotating with the twos, now you’re fighting to make the team.”
MOVING ON UP
Rookie Denzel Boston was also promoted to the starting offense as the X receiver. The No. 39 pick followed an outstanding offseason program with a great start to training camp.
Mason Graham stronger, more comfortable in Year 2, aims to be cornerstone of defense
“He’s made a bunch of plays,” Monken said. “We want to move Jerry (Jeudy) around (the formation), I think Jerry is at his best when he’s on the move. He’s elite, he can separate.
“And I think Denzel has shown that when he’s in the boundary, and you have contested catches, a lot of our three-by-one stuff may go there. It’s not final, we just want to see where we’re at with that mix. We also want to get KC (Concepcion) more involved because of what we’ve seen.”
BREAK A SWEAT
Monken is still deciding how to divvy up playing time Saturday in the preseason opener in Chicago.
“I’d like to get our starters out there for the first series together,” he said. “That’s all pending, medical, where guys are at because we’re not going to put anybody at risk, so that’s also subject to change. I would like our starters to take the field together for the first time, and then we’ll see.
“If we’re going to evaluate the quarterbacks, we’ve got to make sure we can protect them, we’ve got to play the guys up front. We want to evaluate the quarterbacks as best as we can. Irrespective of who else is in the game, we’ve got to evaluate the quarterbacks on how they’re able to function and score points.”
MORE TO DO
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, an undrafted rookie a year ago, has worked as the No. 2 linebacker with Carson Schwesinger sidelined by an unspecified injury. Mascarenas-Arnold has gotten positive reviews from the coaches.
“The biggest change is just the responsibility,” he said. “Getting a lot more reps this year, which I’m overly thankful for. But just making the most out of my opportunities and making sure that when they do call my name, that I go in there and I perform like they expect of me and as I expect of myself.
“But my process is staying the same, preparing as hard as I possibly can for the sake of my team and for the sake of my coaches.”
He played 16 games last year with one start and nine tackles.
INJURY REPORT
Cornerback Tyson Campbell didn’t practice. He’d taken limited snaps in team drills the previous few days.
** Tight end Jack Stoll and cornerback D’Angelo Ross joined the list of those not practicing, which was 15.
** Rookie linebacker Justin Jefferson, rookie defensive end Logan Fano and cornerback Damarri Mathis returned to practice.
EXTRA POINTS
Practice was moved inside after morning storms.
** Undrafted rookie receiver Aaron Anderson was waived from injured reserve.
