BEREA: Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III is to Luke Skywalker what throwing guru Tom House is to Yoda.
Griffin confirmed Thursday he has been training under House this offseason in an effort to revive his NFL career and prepare himself to win the Browns’ starting job this summer.
“Tom House has been great,” Griffin said after the third and final practice of voluntary minicamp. “It’s been a really, really beneficial experience.”
House is a former major-league pitcher who received his Ph.D. in sports/performance psychology while becoming a pitching coach. He has since tutored pitchers and NFL quarterbacks, including disciples of Browns coach Hue Jackson such as Andy Dalton, AJ McCarron, Carson Palmer and Terrelle Pryor, plus others such as Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Alex Smith and Tim Tebow.
Griffin’s struggles to develop into a pocket passer and injuries contributed to his decline from the 2012 offensive rookie of the year with Washington to a third-string quarterback who didn’t appear in a game last season.
Now Griffin is determined to prove he can still play at an elite level, and he has turned to House for assistance.
“You want to work with guys that have worked with the greats,” Griffin said. “Me personally and every guy in that locker room, we’re not working to be average or good. We want to be great. So he’s worked with Brady and Brees and a load of other guys, and they’ve seen success. So I wanted to take on that challenge and challenge myself to be great and try to work with a guy that knows how to make that happen.”
House uses 3D-Motions analysis to dissect a throwing motion and then revamps it with proper mechanics at his 3DQB facility in Los Angeles. He’s also an expert in healthy nutrition and muscle development with degrees in nutrition, exercise science and biomechanics.
“Being an NFL quarterback is not easy, but if it was easy everyone would do it,” Griffin said. “So the process of how to take care of your body, how to take care of your arm, how to take care of your mind and set goals each day [is vital]. It sounds simple, but when you have a thousand things that are running through your head, protections, formations, plays, reads, [House] teaches you how to manage that, and then he’s a guru when it comes to arm mechanics and things like that and how to keep your shoulder healthy. So all that stuff’s been really, really helpful.”
Asked if he plans to keep working with House this offseason, Griffin said, “Without a doubt. It’s not just a one-off thing. It’s a lifestyle. I plan on living that lifestyle.”
Free from locks
Browns outside linebacker Paul Kruger no longer looks as if he leaped from the pages of a Thor comic book because he had his long, golden hair chopped off.
“I felt I was a little slower off the ball last year, so I was going to see if that could help me out a little bit,” Kruger said Tuesday. “No, just wanted a fresh start, felt like I needed to just get back to my roots.
“It’s all business this year. [The long hair] got to be a lot of maintenance. I was like, ‘I’m done with that.’ I’ll let the ladies deal with that.”
Kruger, 30, will need to be quick off the ball this season. He expects defensive coordinator Ray Horton and the new coaching staff to use him more as a pass rusher and less as a coverage linebacker. The previous coaching staff frustrated Kruger at times by assigning him to drop into coverage more than he would have liked.
Special number
Browns nose tackle Danny Shelton recently switched his jersey number from 71 to 55.
Shelton’s Polynesian culture and family are of the utmost importance to him, which is why No. 55 has a special meaning. He also donned the number at the University of Washington.
“This number goes back to [hall of fame linebacker] Junior Seau,” Shelton said Tuesday. “Obviously, he impacted our culture and our community, my community. It also impacts my life because my older brother wore this number as well. Just having that alone strengthens me and gives me the confidence I can represent this number the right way.”
The brother who wore No. 55, Shennon, was shot and killed in 2011.
Shelton didn’t wear the number last year because three-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack had it. No. 55 became available when Mack left the Browns in free agency last month.
“Alex had it and I didn’t want to disrespect the man and ask to pay for it off of him,” said Shelton, the 12th overall pick in last year’s draft.
Shelton’s rookie season was disappointing for other reasons, too. He struggled early but improved late in the year. Still, he lamented failing to learn as much as he could from Mack and other centers he encountered.
“I didn’t really feel like I took advantage of those opportunities,” he said. “... That’s something that wasn’t consistent for me, and that’s something that I want to work on.”
He also wants to play more, and Horton has said he has the same desire. Shelton rarely appeared on third down last season.
“I was livid,” Shelton said. “Obviously, I want to be on the field every snap. I want to be able to pass rush, be able to make some sacks, put up the numbers. At the same time, you have to respect the coaches and their authority. I’m excited for this year because Ray Horton and [defensive line] coach [Robert] Nunn, they are both giving me the opportunity.”
Shelton hopes getting into better shape will help him capitalize.
“I want to say I lost 40 pounds, but I think it really is 15 pounds,” Shelton said. “... I’ve been dropping fat and getting some muscles so obviously the training is helping a lot.”
Ready for role
The Browns have made it known they’re counting on Chris Kirksey to start opposite free-agent acquisition and fellow inside linebacker Demario Davis after the franchise cut Karlos Dansby and allowed Craig Robertson to leave in free agency.
Kirksey said Tuesday he’s ready to be an every-down linebacker after spending his first two NFL seasons as a part-time starter.
“With the departure of Karlos Dansby, in my mind, I’m really telling myself to step up,” said Kirksey, a third-round draft pick in 2013. “I know a lot of the coaches are telling me to step up. Nothing is written in stone, so you just always got to keep working. Just keep working like you’re a rookie and you’re trying to earn a spot, and that’s my whole mentality.”
With Kirksey preparing to become a fixture in the starting lineup, he’s focusing on improving as a run defender.
“I need to improve on some stuff in the run, and that’s what I’ve been doing this offseason,” Kirksey said. “I’ve been watching film. I’ve been in the playbook. I still keep in contact with former teammates that helped me along the way from year one to year two. I’m just trying to enhance my game.”