Today, the Cleveland Browns kickoff the 2019 season, and for the first time in four years there are expectations to live up to.
Fans expect this football team to make the playoffs, something the team hasn’t done since 2004. Cleveland went 5-2 to end the season a year ago, and the last loss, in the final game of the season, ended with Baker Mayfield through an interception with the Browns driving for a go ahead score.
That was the last time we saw this team in a game that counts.
While the Browns didn’t beat any winning teams in that seven game stretch, they did give several a battle early in the season when Hue Jackson was at the helm.
They tied the Steelers in the season opener last year.
The tied the Saints with a little over a minute to go in New Orleans in week two, and a missed extra point could’ve given them a 19-18 lead. The Saints kicked the winning field goal with 21 seconds left.
They played four overtime games in 2018, going 1-2-1, beating the Ravens, their only win over a winning team.
This is a very young football team. As we said a week ago, there are only five players on this roster over 29 years of age, and two of them are backup quarterback Drew Stanton and long snapper Charlie Hughlett.
The thing about a young football team is it will get better with experience. Baker Mayfield should be better, Nick Chubb should be better, Denzel Ward should be better, and Myles Garrett should be better.
But that wasn’t good enough for GM John Dorsey. He wanted more help for his two franchise cornerstones, first overall picks Garrett and Mayfield.
He accelerated the progress by trading for Odell Beckham Jr. and Olivier Vernon, an elite wide receiver to help Mayfield and another pass rusher to aid Garrett. He also signed DT Sheldon Richardson as a free agent.
Remember what former Browns GM Ernie Accorsi said were the two most important positions in football. The quarterback and people who can get to the quarterback.
Mayfield and Garrett. Mayfield and Garrett. Mayfield and Garrett.
Dorsey also understands this is a passing league now, and so in addition to the pass rushers, he loves secondary people.
Ward was his first defensive draft pick, and if he can stay healthy (he had two concussions a year ago), he looks like he can be the shutdown cover corner good teams need.
That’s why he took CB Greedy Williams as his first pick (second round) in the 2019 draft. Williams was heralded for his ability to pick off passes in college, and the brass hopes eventually he will team with Ward to have a pair of corners to rival the 80’s duo of Hanford Dixon and Frank Minniefield.
Yes, the Browns have a new coach, and yes, that coach was only a coordinator for seven games last season.
We don’t know how Freddie Kitchens will do in terms of clock management, etc. (the things media and fans focus on), but we do think the players respect him and like playing for him.
He seems like to right guy to lead this football team.
Everyone may be singing a different tune in about a month, but optimism reigns as the Browns take the field this afternoon, and it should.
Barring injuries, the talent is there. Now it’s time to put the talent into use.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 