Tag: j.c. tretter

Browns Finish With A Win, Now Need To Start Improvement

So, it’s over. A Browns season filled with so many (perhaps too many) expectations at the beginning, ended with a third place finish and an 8-9 record.

It’s difficult to not think about the games against the last two teams to reach the post-season in the AFC, the Raiders and Steelers, and see how close Kevin Stefanski’s squad to making the playoff again this season.

Both games against Pittsburgh were highly contested, and the game against Las Vegas went down to the last play of the game, one in which Cleveland was missing a ton of players due to COVID.

Again, we agree with the Bill Parcells’ theory on a team’s record, but it should be noted that the Cleveland Browns aren’t that far away from playing next weekend in the Wild Card playoff round.

We are sure there will be plenty of debate on the radio waves about the head coach and the quarterback and we will only say this. Both of those positions have to do a better job in 2022, and we hope both learn from what they did wrong this season. Improvements from both spots are a key to making the post-season next year.

And bringing up Baker Mayfield, we will say this. Andrew Berry should look at improving that position, much the same as he looks at every position on this football team. If he can find someone out there better than Mayfield, he should go out and get him. That’s his job.

As for other areas of the team, there is no question the Browns need an upgrade at wide receiver and maybe tight end. Right now, there is no elite talent at those positions, although we would love to see David Njoku turned loose in the passing game.

Cleveland receivers simply don’t make any spectacular plays, and seem to drop way too many easy completions.

As for Jarvis Landry, we are sure the Browns would like him back at a reduced salary, but think about this, if you were making what he’s making, and the team asks you to take a major pay cut, would you be happy?

Landry is a tough guy and has been a great person in the organization since he arrived. The best thing for all parties might be to just move on elsewhere.

We think there will be changes on the offensive line, although the only difference in the starters is J.C. Tretter may not be back with Nick Harris taking over there.

They need more depth at tackle, and we say that knowing Chris Hubbard missed most of the season. Rookie James Hudson could be that guy, but make no mistake, the offense took a drastic dive when Jack Conklin was lost while Jedrick Wills was already battling through an ankle problem.

Defensively, the Browns need to stop the run better, and if they can, they may turn into a dominant unit. The secondary could be deep, and the emergence of A.J. Green and M.J. Stewart just adds to it.

Special teams isn’t being forgotten either. The Browns need a kicker, punter, and kick returners. We know the draft isn’t used for those positions, but if you are a playoff contender, you simply must have a reliable field goal kicker. He simply has to be automatic from 50 yards and in.

As for the famous winds at First Energy Stadium? Phil Dawson mastered them, so it is possible.

In the return game, it could be worse. For years, the Browns best player was probably Josh Cribbs, primarily a return guy, and an elite one at that. Those were by and large bad football teams.

Now the Browns have talent, but can’t find a decent return man.

We have faith in the current organization to repair the things that need fixing, and bringing in more talent to get this team back to the playoffs. It’s not a giant leap folks, it’s more like a hop.

Right Now, No Big News Out Of Berea. Keep It That Way.

The Cleveland Browns play their first pre-season (it still makes us roll our eyes that the NFL doesn’t like them referred to as “exhibitions”) this Saturday night in Jacksonville against Urban Meyer’s Jaguars.

We haven’t written much about the Browns lately and quite frankly, no news is good news.

It really is easier to write stuff when things are going wrong, the pieces kind of just write themselves. And believe us, over the past few seasons, it was very easy to hammer the Browns for getting it wrong.

We understand the sports talk stations have to come up with topics to fulfill their “all Browns, all the time” mantra, but really, how many times can you talk about how much Baker Mayfield’s next contract will be worth yearly or can Odell Beckham Jr. regain the form of his first three years in the league?

GM Andrew Berry has put together a solid roster and Kevin Stefanski and his staff seem well equipped to get the most out of this group of players. He rebuilt the defense without subtracting from the offense. It would seem that only injuries would stop this group from being playoff contenders and the upside could be, dare we say it, the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance.

Imagine saying or reading something like that five years ago.

However, it’s a legitimate goal for the brown and orange, although Stefanski has the correct approach in taking one game at a time. Really, it’s all a team can do.

We can’t wait for the overreaction to bad things that will happen this Saturday night even though the starters will probably make just token appearances in the first exhibition game.

We are also sure there will be a lot of angst when the cuts start, because the Browns are going to have to cut some good football players. That’s the price for having talent. Remember when Cleveland would add four to six players from other teams prior to the first regular season game? The shoe is now on the other foot.

The only news that can come out about the Browns right now is an injury to someone who figures to be on the field plenty once the games start counting in the standings. New LB Anthony Walker injured a knee early in training camp, but figures to be ready for the Chiefs on September 12th.

There has been good news. A contract extension for Nick Chubb, and apparently the team is working with Denzel Ward on one as well. Keeping very good players is smart, but we remind everyone there will be tough choices as well. For example, our guess is this will be J.C. Tretter’s last season with the Browns, because he is a free agent, and Nick Harris was drafted to be the heir apparent.

So, while it will be great to see the Browns back on the field this weekend, it should be a relaxing and fun pre-season with the only worry being injuries. And likely, that’s only a factor in the one game where the starters will get any substantial playing time.

It is also worth mentioning the Browns have some depth on the roster too. Remember the offensive line issues that cropped up throughout the regular season? Really, only the loss of Wyatt Teller caused an issue in the running game.

The Cleveland Browns should be a solid football team. That’s something we can all get used to.