On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns will open perhaps their most anticipated season opener since they returned to the NFL in 1999 when they take on the Tennessee Titans.
Normally, we would analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each team, but that goes out the window because of the new way teams view the pre-season.
Baker Mayfield played two quarters in the third game vs. Tampa and one series in the first game against Washington. That’s it.
Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry haven’t even taken the field yet, and to our recollection Nick Chubb played in only the first game too.
If the offensive line can hold up, and without question it is a weaker unit without Kevin Zeitler, because Austin Corbett couldn’t grab a hold of the job, the offense should be dynamic with playmakers all over the place.
You can tell coach Freddie Kitchens and GM John Dorsey are concerned about the line because Dorsey swung two trades since Friday, getting Wyatt Teller from Buffalo and Justin McCray from Green Bay. Both play guard, the same spot Zeitler played.
Probably the biggest question will be how much Kitchens wants to run the football. We feel he will continue to use Chubb and try to balance the run and the pass, despite the presence of Beckham, Landry, Hollywood Higgins, and David Njoku.
The running game will help the offensive line, and if successful, will keep teams from pressuring the guy who orchestrates the offense, second year quarterback Baker Mayfield.
If it is true the biggest jump for a player comes in his second year, Cleveland football fans will be in for a treat. Mayfield will be the best passer the Browns have had since Bernie Kosar was at the helm in the mid 80’s.
The defensive front could be dominated, and if the Browns can get leads and teams will be forced to play catch up, the sack totals could be astronomical.
We have watched the Browns since the mid 1960’s, and never have they had a dominating pass rush. Myles Garrett has a chance to be the franchise’s all time sack leader within five years.
That tells you something about Garrett’s ability, and also the lack of an elite pass rusher for the Browns since sacks were kept as a statistic.
The most controversial cut by Kitchens and Dorsey turned out to be the punter. Britton Colquitt was let go in favor of the “Scottish Hammer”, Jamie Gillen.
We weren’t surprised by the move, because it will save the Browns dollars on the salary cap next season, when they will probably need the space.
Think about it, how many times have you ever heard of a punt costing a team a game? You might hear how punt coverage was a factor, but not the kick itself.
The Browns hired a very successful special teams coach in Mike Prieffer, and if he thinks Gillen can handle the job, we will side with him.
This is still a very young football team. The only players over 30 years old are S Morgan Burnett and back up QB Drew Stanton.
The only guys at 29 are G Eric Kush, CB T. J. Carrie, and long snapper Charlie Hughlett. That’s it.
It has the potential to be a very interesting fall for football fans in Cleveland. And since it has been a long time waiting, the anticipation is real.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 