National Football League

Justin Gilbert reacted to Browns' Manziel pick like many fans

Published May. 9, 2014 2:47 p.m. ET

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BEREA, Ohio -- In the introductory press conference of the Browns' two first-round draft choices, Justin Gilbert was the secondary figure.

Even though the Browns made two trades and selected Gilbert No. 8 overall, the presence of Johnny Manziel overshadowed Gilbert.

Gilbert was asked if it was different to be in that situation in his introductory press conference.

"I told (Manziel) coming over (to Berea), it was a good thing."

Gilbert was asked if he followed Manziel's career path.

"Who didn't follow him?"

Gilbert said he was riding in a car when he heard the Browns drafted Manziel and he said he was "yelling" out the window.

However, the Browns don't feel there is anything secondary about Gilbert, other than he plays in the secondary. They feel they acquired the top cornerback in this year's draft class and they expect him to compete right away for the cornerback spot opposite of Joe Haden.

Gilbert said playing in the Big 12 prepared him for the NFL.

"I think that helped prepare me a lot," Gilbert said. "I think that's something most Big 12 corners get overlooked because we play a lot of balls, a lot of pass game, and a lot of guys in the SEC or the Pac-€‘12 may be ranked higher than us because we maybe don't have as much talent or something. That's just something that Big 12 corners are used to."

Mike Pettine thinks a cornerback can step into his defense quicker than some of the other positions, for example a quarterback.

"I think so just because of the degree of learning, the complexity of learning an entire offense, what all 11 (players) have to do (on offense). I think for a corner you can really simplify it for him, but it is a lot to throw at a rookie to do that, but he's going to come in and compete just like Johnny (Manziel) will compete on the other side.

"I think they can be if you handle it right," he said. "There will be some situations . . . That's why it's nice to have Joe on the other side to help Justin out some, but we're very confident in his ability and I've seen rookies that have been able to come in [and make an impact]. I'm confident in that group whether it's Buster (Skrine) or Isiah Trufant that we don't have to bring Justin in right away and hey, you're out there every snap."

Pettine isn't concerned that Gilbert isn't known as a great tackler.

"He's an exceptional athlete," Pettine said. "He has elite man-cover skills. The shortcomings of the things we feel are there are easily corrected through coaching so we were thrilled to be able to turn the card in.

"In our system, we are not [using] a lot of a hard corner very often, where the corner is primary in run support so when a ball is going around the perimeter, the corner is the first line of defense," he said. "That's very rare in our system. Our premium, when we look at and list the attributes of and say, 'Here's what we we're looking for in a corner,' the press-man coverage ability, the ability to eliminate a wide receiver and allow us to play 10 against 10 and do that with two guys and play nine against nine, that is a much higher premium than to be more of an outside-linebacker type. Since it's further down the list, he was clearly our top corner because he fits our scheme. He might not have been the top corner for some other teams schematically that are more Cover 2."

Gilbert said his skills are well suited for what the Browns are trying to do.

"I played a lot of press coverage," he said. "We were in press, pretty much, 70 percent of the game."

Gilbert looks forward to playing a lot of man to man.

"It's going to be a lot of man and (they) wanted a guy who can stay with the receivers down the field and I think that suits me best."

Gilbert said at his position you have to not dwell on mistakes.

"It's all about confidence at this position and having a short term memory at this position."

At the combine in February, Gilbert said Haden is one of the guys he admires along with Patrick Peterson and Richard Sherman.

Gilbert (6-0, 202) is excited to play alongside Haden.

"I plan to learn from the older guys," he said. "Joe is a Pro Bowl cornerback. I will learn from him.

"I met Joe Haden a couple of months ago, and I finally get to play alongside of him," Gilbert said. "Never expected it all the way up through this whole process until the day before I flew up here. "

Gilbert has been timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.33, which makes him a threat on interceptions and in the return game. He returned a record six kickoffs for touchdowns in college.

"I think I'm a dangerous return man with the ball in my hands and on an interception there is always a possibility for me to take it back to house."

Gilbert thinks he can use his size to his advantage.

"You have to be able to use great technique," he said. "Because a guy like me, I have long legs, short torso. So it's kind of hard for me to get my hips down and turn around and all that. But the more you work at it, the better you get at it."

Despite being drafted as highly as he was by the Browns, Gilbert said at the combine he had little contact with the Browns.

"I filled out a questionnaire."

At the combine, Gilbert was asked to describe his game.

"Solid," he said. "My game is solid."

The reporter followed up with saying 'solid' cornerbacks aren't drafted very high.

"We'll see."

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