BEREA, Ohio -- Three of the Browns top draft picks from the 2014 NFL Draft are struggling to finish the season on a positive note.
Johnny Manziel's (first round-22nd overall) season is over after suffering a hamstring injury against the Carolina Panthers last week.
However, top pick Justin Gilbert (first round-8th overall) and third-round pick Terrance West (third round-94th overall) are hoping to just get on the field.
Gilbert played just 17 plays on defense (22 percent) as the fourth cornerback against the Panthers with Joe Haden being inactive.
Rookie Pierre Desir, who had played in just one game, started opposite of Buster Skrine in Haden's absence against Carolina over Gilbert.
Meanwhile, West was a healthy scratch.
Mike Pettine wouldn't elaborate on why Gilbert and West didn't play, but indicated he isn't happy with either of them.
"Some of it was on the practice field," he said on Monday. "Some of it was not. There was no violation of team rules, but that's just something that I consider family business I'm not going to elaborate on."
Pettine was asked if the duo would get a clean slate going into the final week of the season.
"It is (a clean slate), but it's also a situation where they need to respond," Pettine said. "It is very serious to us on how we approach our work and how we handle our business week-to-week. It is a tough love circumstance for both of those guys.
"We expect them to uphold their end of the bargain and that nothing is given, whether it's playing time or being active or inactive and both of those guys are very well aware of their situations and we're hopeful they both have a good week and can be productive for us on Sunday."
The Browns made two trades in the top 10 of the draft to pick Gilbert eighth overall. However, his production has been anything but top eight worthy to date.
Gilbert has started just two games and has 29 tackles with one interception that was returned for a touchdown. He also has seven pass break ups.
After playing most of the first two games, Gilbert's production has fallen off considerably and saw most of his playing time evaporate until injuries to K'Waun Williams, Haden and Robert Nelson opened up time for him.
West--who the Browns traded up in the third round to draft-- has 579 yards on 153 carries (3.8 avg.) with three touchdowns. After starting the season with 100 yards in his NFL debut against the Steelers his production has dropped off, as well.
West was inactive in the fifth game of the season on Oct. 12 at home against the Steelers due to a coach's decision. West did have 94 yards on 26 carries in the Browns 24-3 win over the Bengals on Nov. 6.
Pettine pointed out a couple of rookies that have been able to handle the transition to the NFL better.
"With guys like (Joel Bitonio), (Christian) Kirksey and Desir, I think it's a maturity thing," Pettine said.
Pettine said it's hard to know if rookies are going to be able to handle the transition to the NFL.
"I think that it's rare that you sense that with a player, the maturity of the player," Pettine said. "I think it's impossible to predict. What will the transition to the NFL be like? You go from guys that are on scholarship and maybe don't have a lot of money and how can you predict how they will react--I'm not saying that's his problem. In general, that's one of the reasons there are hits and misses.
"NFL teams invest lots of money in trying to predict and for some guys it's a process. Some guys don't handle it well early and then get settled in."
Pettine used the example of Ravens Pro Bowl linebacker Terrell Suggs and talked about his rookie season.
"It's funny, I had Terrell Suggs when he was a rookie," Pettine said. "We called him 'Clifford, the big red dog', he was just like a puppy. He was all over the place. I think once some of the vets got around him and got him dialed in. He had a tough go of it at first but once he got settled in, there are examples it just takes other guys longer."
Pettine said part of the reason the Browns signed veterans such as Karlos Dansby and Donte Whitner in the off-season to be an example to the young players.
"We want all of our rookies to be able to...That's one of the reasons we have a Whitner here or Dansby or Hawkins or Joe Thomas -- the veteran guys that we think are great role models," he said. "That's important to have those guys there and develop those relationships. It's also important for those rookies to realize. Some guys realize it sooner than others that those guys are a resource.
"Coaches can only take guys so far, but when they have a guy that's in their locker room that's been in this league that's made it a long time they do need to use them as sources of information," he said. "Sometimes, it just takes guys a little bit longer."
Dansby was asked if he thinks Gilbert can turn things around in his young career.
"What makes me think he can?" Dansby said on Monday. "Hey man, it's hard to say that. I can't say that. I don't know if he's going to make the transition. It has to be within him. He has to look in the mirror and do that himself.
"I can only give him the keys; I can't make him drive," he said. "I can only tell him, 'Hey man, you need to do this. You need to do that. You need to look out for this, look out for that.' It's up to him to make the decision. I can't make the decision for him. He's a grown man. I have faith in him that he'll be able to get an understanding and make progress. That's all you want to see is a young guy like him make progress."
