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July 17, 2015I spent the whole week talking about the rest of the AFC North — the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals. Now it’s time to look in the mirror with our own Cleveland Browns. Here are the top stories (I think) for determining the Browns’ season. And let’s be honest, these probably aren’t the real top five, but they are a top five. With the hometown team, I could probably do 25. Regardless, here are some.
1. How average can Josh McCown be for the Browns?
I don’t have any unrealistic hopes for Josh McCown. I don’t think he’s the next Kurt Warner or any other archetype that you might want to cherry pick from the NFL history books to try and make yourself feel like there’s a winning lottery number out there waiting to be picked for the Browns. Even while maintaining a strict compliance with sanity, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think Josh McCown was supremely important. All he has to do for my money is stay healthy and play well enough to keep Johnny Manziel’s name out of our mouths.
It’s easier said than done, of course, but it could have happened last year with Brian Hoyer. Hoyer yielded to Manziel because of his poor play, but even after Alex Mack got hurt, the Cleveland Browns’ offensive line — while no longer dominant — was able to keep a savvy veteran who knew how to unload the ball relatively upright and healthy. With that, it’s up to Josh McCown to do just enough to keep the Browns from having to do something they clearly don’t want to do this year in turning to Johnny Manziel.
2. The new Browns offensive line depth?
Coming off of the first point with regard to Josh McCown, this is one of the keys. There’s no team that has enough depth on the offensive line to just pick up right where they leave off if someone like Alex Mack gets hurt. Still, the Browns went from being great to being pretty darn bad in terms of running the ball and consistent overall offensive line play once their center went down a year ago. The Browns were 3-2 after beating the Steelers by 21 in the game where Alex Mack went down. Thereafter the Browns struggled mightily with names like Paul McQuistan, Ryan Seymour, and Nick McDonald causing Pro Football Focus analysts to see nothing but red in their ratings systems.
The Browns used their second first round draft pick on the versatile Cameron Erving from Florida State. The Browns signed Eric Olsen, a former sixth round pick by Denver in his fourth NFL season out of Notre Dame. The Browns also signed Michael Bowie, who sat out all last year with injury after surgery on his shoulder and who the Browns think might have the potential to be a starter. It seems the Browns aren’t taking any chances at having one injury — even a major one — completely submarine their entire offensive game plan. This is especially important when you know for a fact that you don’t have a primetime player at the quarterback position.
3. The Browns defense and a bit of continuity…
Most times in recent Browns history at this time of year we’d be hearing about installation from a new coach. One of the benefits of having Mike Pettine entering his second year with the Browns is that the team shouldn’t be learning anything except some new wrinkles to the existing base defense. The idea that most Browns defenders already speak the same language as the coaches from last year is bigger than most realize. Yes, the personnel upgrades — namely first round pick Danny Shelton — are the real keys at the end of the day, but there’s something to be said for hitting the ground running with comfort and familiarity.
The Browns would love to get something out of Barkevious Mingo this season now that he’s healthy and experienced, but this defense no longer feels like it comes down to a bunch of individuals. With Joe Haden and Karlos Dansby and Donte Whitner and Paul Kruger and Tashaun Gipson all returning and having played well last year, it feels like the team has a much higher starting point than they’ve had in most years in the past. Of all the times in my life as a Browns fan where I thought the team could have a dominant defense, this is one of them. Wild cards like Nate Orchard, Billy Winn and 11-year vet Randy Starks are bonuses on top of the base the team established a year ago. This could be really fun.
4. John DeFilippo’s new offense…
After Kyle Shanahan departed, the Browns were left looking to find a replacement who would actually — like for real for real — be a part of the team. It’s easy to forget because of the embarrassment of Shanahan’s departure that it was a bit of an awkward relationship between Pettine and Shanahan anyway. Now Pettine seems to have “his” guy with the hiring of John DeFilippo. That’s great and all, but will he be able to get everything working in relatively quick order?
Coach “Flip” has a new quarterback, new receivers in Brian Hartline and Dwayne Bowe, and a flashy rookie running back in Duke Johnson. It’s good to have new chess pieces, especially when the old ones were subject to checkmate too often in the previous season, but new doesn’t always absolutely mean better. Or at least it doesn’t mean instantly better.
The Browns will try to retain their running attack from a year ago. They’ll try and throw to their backs out of the backfield more. What is concerning is that Flip indicates he’s going to have big group offensive meetings and include pop quizzes. That sounds almost Mangini-esque. We know how that was perceived by players from Alex Mack to short-time tight end Nate Jackson.
5. What really is the Browns’ strength of schedule?
I’ve talked about this a lot. We make such a big deal about which years have easy and strong schedules. Supposedly 2014 was an easy one, and I do feel like maybe it was easier. 2015 is supposed to be a much harder one. The question is how is the ball going to bounce for the Browns? What injuries will take place? Which teams will implode with bad chemistry? Will the Browns implode with bad chemistry?
There’s no telling, but this is where I look to the head coach. I have confidence in Mike Pettine at this point and I’d like to think after an awkward first year with texting penalties to the GM that the Browns would be well-positioned to avoid urinating down their own leg due to any kind of leadership weirdness or uncertainty.
In conclusion…
I truly think the Browns are an improved team and probably a lot deeper than they were a year ago. Even as I say that, I’m not sure how easy it will be for them to score points. It’s all about that quarterback, no matter how well the Browns run the ball. If Josh McCown is put in bad positions or his muscle memory is too strong from Tampa, the Browns might be doomed no matter how good their defense is. You might hear the name Trent Dilfer this year with regard to Josh McCown, but remember this. Trent Dilfer in Baltimore is the exception, not the rule. Dilfer only played 11 regular season games that year and then miraculously survived the playoffs with a 66 QB rating.
If that’s what you’re betting on, let me recommend you visit Dan Gilbert’s casino. There are much better odds and that’s knowing that the house always wins over time.
12 Comments
I’m praying for average QB play.
6. New uniforms.
7. Wiener dog races!
That’s how low a bar we have set for that position these days. I’d like to add one more: how about a screen pass to say a RB?
As long as it’s to The Crow!
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuke!
average quarterbacking would make my Sunday afternoons so above average. Reading a defense, seeing the field, choosing the right receiver more often than not, hitting him in stride more often than not, avoiding big meltdowns under a rush … The shock would probably cause a total loss of equilibrium and make me demand they sign an old QB to a long term.
Vince Young?
/Ducks and runs…
Ducks and runs would be Johnny
Can I look forward to every punt being a “fair catch” in 2015 or what?
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Is a FB a RB?
Who is our PR/KR?