Even With Injuries, We Are Still Optimistic About Browns

Apparently, Browns’ fans were optimistic about the 2021 edition of the brown and orange until they had one bad game. Some of the stuff we read and heard following last Sunday’s loss to Arizona made us chuckle.

First of all, it is not as though the Browns are playing horribly on a weekly basis. Their three losses are to the defending AFC Champion Chiefs (currently 3-3), the Chargers (4-2), and the NFL’s lone undefeated team, the 6-0 Arizona Cardinals.

They held fourth quarter leagues against the first two teams listed.

Now, we understand you are what your record says you are and Kevin Stefanski’s team is 3-3. We also understand this team is pretty beat up right now. Still, we think this is still a solid team and right now, we aren’t very worried about the immediate future.

Yes, that could change with a loss tonight to the Denver Broncos, who have beaten the Giants, Jets, and Jaguars, three teams with one win each, but have lost to Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Las Vegas. So, even with the key players out for Cleveland, it’s a reasonable thing to think that the Browns can win.

They then have some extra time off to get ready for Pittsburgh on Halloween. Perhaps some of the injured players can return for the Steelers.

The defense needs to get better and quickly, like tonight. Joe Woods’ unit has allowed 84 points the last two times it has taken the field. That’s completely unacceptable, and despite fans trying to twist it, giving up 42 points in an NFL games usually puts that contest in the loss column.

We thought the reason GM Andrew Berry brought in players like Ronnie Harrison, Grant Delpit, Greg Newsome, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koamoah was to defend mobile quarterbacks, yet it seems like the defense plays those type of QBs tentatively.

And they are paying a price for that.

We felt at the beginning of the season it would take time for the defense to gel, and was fooled by the performances against the Bears and Vikings, particularly the latter. Now, with key pieces on offense missing, would be a good time for the unit to come together.

Part of that would be getting some turnovers. The Cleveland defense has come up with just four takeaways on the season, ranking 29th to date. By contrast, the unbeaten Cardinals have produced 13 turnovers. Playing complementary football is always a good thing.

One thing the Browns have going for them under this regime is organization. Last Sunday, was the first time there was a little breakdown in that, but we think no matter what, the game plan will be to try establish the running game. Even with Case Keenum calling the signals, we would guess the plan won’t change.

Our concern is Keenum’s arm strength. It isn’t the same as Baker Mayfield’s, so the offensive coaches will no doubt take that into account. Look for a more quick hitting passing game.

Stefanski doesn’t like to make excuses and we won’t either. The Browns should win the football game tonight, and if they don’t then they have a problem.

If they can get a win and then comeback and win at home against the Steelers, we are sure the doomsayers will dissipate.

The Cleveland Browns have a solid roster and have built some depth the past few years. It’s time to show that off.

Don’t Be Disappointed In Browns’ Lack Of Activity

At times, we think fans of the Cleveland Browns are so used to losing, they don’t know how to react now that the organization has a sense of order to it.

We were reminded of it against this week when the legal tampering phase of NFL free agency started and GM Andrew Berry signed only two players: S John Johnson III, formerly of the Los Angeles Rams, and DE Takk McKinley, a former first round pick of the Atlanta Falcons, who forced his way out last season.

Johnson is a stud, just 25 years old, ranked among the top 20 free agents by several publications who rank these things. He has eight career interceptions and has two seasons where he had over 100 tackles. His defensive pass rating was 71.9 for the 2020 season.

Defensive coordinator Joe Woods likes to run a 4-2-5 alignment, and having three safeties in Ronnie Harrison, Johnson, and hopefully a healthy Grant Delpit will allow him to have the correct personnel to do it. Remember, the way to combat the Chiefs’ offense, and a Lamar Jackson offense, is with speed.

Berry continued his pattern of signing free agents coming off their rookie deal, meaning he is interested in getting players just entering their primes, which seems logical, but many teams chase the big names, getting players who may have one good year left. In Browns’ history, those would be guys like Donte Whitner or Karlos Dansby.

McKinley is a wild card, and we doubt the front office considers him the sole solution to getting help for Myles Garrett in getting to the quarterback. He did have at least 10 QB hits in his first three seasons with the Falcons, and added seven more in the four games he played in 2020.

Because Berry made a splash early in the process a year ago, inking Jack Conklin and Austin Hooper, the anticipation was he was going to do it again, and when the Browns didn’t get Carl Lawson, Romeo Okwara, Bud Dupree, or Trey Hendrickson, fans were questioning the organization.

First of all, we are sure that among the people who think the Browns need another pass rusher is Andrew Berry. We also know training camp doesn’t start until late July or early August, so he has plenty of time to upgrade the position.

Remember, Cleveland also has nine draft picks in next month’s NFL Draft (to be held right here in Cleveland). He could be working on a deal for a edge rusher, or he could wait to see who becomes available if and when other teams release players due to salary cap considerations.

Or he may go off script and do a one year deal for a player he thinks might have one good year left, especially if used on passing downs.

We understand Berry has really been a GM for one season, but under his watch the Browns did make their first playoff appearance since 2004 and won their first playoff game since 1994. So, while he apparently hasn’t earned the benefit of the doubt from everyone, he has from us.

We also trust ownership to spend money when the time is right, and with Baker Mayfield still under his rookie contract, that time might be now. We don’t think Cleveland will enter the 2021 campaign with a ton of cap space.

It’s sexy to make a big splash early in the free agency process, particularly in northeast Ohio, where the Indians don’t spend, and the city isn’t a destination point for NBA free agents since LeBron James no longer wears the wine and gold.

This front office will get it done. Don’t lose faith.

Even With Sunday’s Loss, It’s A New Normal For Browns

The Cleveland Browns said all the right things about Sunday’s divisional playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. That is to say, no one talked about what a great season they had.

To our knowledge, from coach Kevin Stefanski on down, everyone talked about being angry and/or disappointed in the loss. And that’s exactly what you want to hear from a team. They won’t be happy until they are hoisting the Lombardi Trophy above their collective heads.

We aren’t saying the organization shouldn’t feel good about the strides made in the 2020 season. They won 11 games in the regular season, the most since 1994. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2002, and won a post-season game for the first time since that ’94 season.

All of those things are great, and they should be a step in the right direction. However, this organization and the players should feel like this is just foot forward in a process that will result in the franchise’s first Super Bowl berth.

Still, the game came down to the Browns having their weaker unit on the field at the end of the game and the defense couldn’t come through. Kansas City had a 3rd and 14 in their own territory with their All Pro quarterback in the locker room, and they were still able to convert a first down to run out the clock.

That is not meant as a disparaging comment against defensive coordinator Joe Woods. The Cleveland defense has two great players in Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, a solid player in Sheldon Richardson, and perhaps a potential difference maker in Ronnie Harrison.

Injuries happen to every NFL team, but you can’t forget half of the projected secondary for the brown and orange, CB Greedy Williams and S Grant Delpit, missed the entire season.

The defense forced turnovers, yes, but if they weren’t doing that, they didn’t really have an answer for the real good offenses in the league.

As for criticism of Stefanski for punting in the fourth quarter, he had to be thinking with Chad Henne in at QB for Kansas City instead of Patrick Mahomes, his defense could get a stop and the Browns would have a chance for a game winning drive.

He got a sack from Myles Garrett on second down, but the unit has to get off the field on the 3rd and 14. They couldn’t.

The good news for Cleveland football fans is this is young football team. On offense, the oldest starters are WR Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., both 28 years old.

Even on defense, the oldest starters are Richardson (30), DE Olivier Vernon (30), and S Andrew Sendejo (33), and he only started because Delpit was out this season.

And even better news is GM Andrew Berry has nine draft picks and a lot of cap space available to make improvements. Expect a defensive heavy draft, but you could see a wide receiver picked in the early rounds as well.

Also, here’s what we won’t be talking about until the draft comes to Cleveland this spring. No search for a head coach, no looking for a quarterback, no need for a new left tackle.

That’s the new normal for this football team and their fans.

We realize every season is different and injuries always raise their ugly head in the NFL. But it seems like the Browns have the right leadership and a foundation of some very good players.

And as he probably likes it, we didn’t even mention perhaps the best running back in the league in Nick Chubb.