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July 29, 2015The Cleveland Browns are never short on question marks going into training camp, but at least one of those can be changed to a period. In this case, an exclamation mark may even be warranted: Pro Bowl center Alex Mack has been fully cleared to participate in training camp (!)
Per ESPN’s Pat McManamon, head coach Mike Pettine said that Mack will be good to go when training camp kicks off in Berea on Thursday. Mack missed the last 11 games of the 2014-15 season after going down with a broken ankle in the Browns’ 31-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6.
he Browns were 3-2 when Mack went down, including that win over Pittsburgh. They finished 7-9, and the offense largely went into the doldrums without the 6-foot-4, 311-pound Cal Golden Bear in the middle of the offensive line. The Browns playmakers — especially the running backs — will be happy to have him back. From McManamon:
According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Browns averaged 4.4 yards per carry with Mack on the field and 3.3 without him. They averaged 6.0 yards per play with him and 4.8 without him.
With Mack, Cleveland’s touchdown-to-interception ratio was 7-1; without him it was 5-15. And the Browns’ total QBR with Mack was 75.0; without him it was 24.6.
With Mack set to return, Pettine is high on his offensive line group. All-world left tackle Joe Thomas has long been one of the very best linemen in the league, and left guard Joel Bitonio impressed in his rookie season. The right side of the line, manned primarily by guard John Greco and tackle Mitchell Schwartz, is not as strong.
The Browns chose Florida State center Cameron Erving with their second pick in the first round of the 2015 draft, No. 19 overall. Erving is expected to see training camp snaps at multiple positions, with right guard a likely landing spot. But Pettine isn’t handing anything to the rookie just yet.
“We feel our starting five are pretty good,” Pettine said. “If [Erving] cracks that lineup, he’s earned it.”
Mack has a somewhat unusual contract, and 2015 could be his last season as a Brown — if that’s what he wants. The Browns used the transition tag on him after the 2013 season, making him a restricted free agent. The Jacksonville Jaguars stepped in and offered Mack a five-year, $42 million offer sheet, which the Browns matched. His 2014 and 2015 base salaries are fully guaranteed (at $8 million and $10 million, respectively), but after this season he has the option to void the final three years of his deal.
Whether or not he will is a matter for another day. For now, the Browns have a big part of their offensive foundation back. The big question going into training camp: Can they build on it?
15 Comments
Fooootball, it’s time for foooootball…
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Can’t remember where, but I recently read somebody defending Schwartz. Think it was some national writer.
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Also:
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I’ll defend him. He’s one of the top two Schwartzes among active NFL offensive linemen. Hands down.
As a side note, sadly I think Mack is going to sour puss his way out after the year is up. So they might be inclined to keep Schwartz, Greco, and Bowie around for a while.
Popular belief is that Bowie is an upgrade and will take the RT spot from Schwartz, AND center supposedly is Erving’s best position.
So, in theory, THEORY, we’re in decent shape.
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Just remember when this thing goes south you will be to blame!
I’m not making any allusions as to the quality of football.
Just that it’s time for FOOTBALL!!
And footie kicks off next week, too! 😀
I don’t know the shield is tarnished for me Goodell has been horrible.
Meh.
Their little pillow fight with NE means nothing to me.
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LoL that’s just the latest Goodell’s tenure is littered with mistakes.
Schwartz is perfectly average for a NFL OT as long as you don’t have a super-fast DE/OLB lining up against him. Nothing wrong with that and he gets undue blame because average makes him the weak link on our OL (well, when Mack was healthy last year).
Hope that Bowie is recovered because it could push Schwartz if he does win that position battle.
I actually like Goodell. I think he has been great for the NFL. Whether it is Tom Brady or Josh Gordon, misconduct is not tolerated. Brady is still a first ballot HOFer in my book, but he broke the rule. If he were a Brown, he would have gotten 4 games, and as a Patriot, he got 4 games. If you were a BALTIMORE (uh hem, Indianapolis) Colts fan, despite the thumping, it was still a warranted suspension. The NFL has a right to make sure there is a level playing field. What did Goodell do wrong here? NOTHING. If Goodell said “no games now” there would have been just as much uproar. Period. The NFL is more popular than ever, and the owners LOVE the Commissioner. There is a reason he has their respect. Back to topic, ALEX MACK is BACK! Yeah BABY!!!!
Agreed! Bowie and Erving, if they make the starting line up, Pettine would say they earned it, and that means the OL will even be BETTER than expected. If those two guys are better than Schwarz and Greico, this team can soar if McCown cherishes the football by not turning it over.