Big Ten Network to debut “Scarlet and Gray Training Days”
August 13, 2015Browns trade playbooks for pins at team bowling outing
August 13, 2015It is finally game day for the Cleveland Browns! Before the Browns take the field at First Energy Stadium against the Washington Redskins, let’s take a gander at the new look offense. Over the last month or so, I have previewed each of the Browns defensive and offensive positions, along with the defense as a whole. So, to continue the preview of the Browns for the 2015 NFL season, we will take a glance at what the Browns will be fielding on offense this season.
2015 Browns Position Previews: Safeties | Cornerbacks | Inside Linebackers | Outside Linebackers | Defensive Line | Tight Ends/Fullbacks | Running Backs | Offensive Line | Wide Receivers | Quarterbacks
2015 Browns Unit Previews: Defense | Offense
The Offense
Key Additions
QB Josh McCown (Free Agency – Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
WR Dwayne Bowe (Free Agency – Kansas City Chiefs)
WR Brian Hartline (Free Agency – Miami Dolphins)
WR Terrelle Pryor (Waivers – Cincinnati Bengals)
WR Vince Mayle (Draft – Fourth Round from Washington State)
RB Duke Johnson (Draft, Third round from Miami (FL))
OL Cameron Erving (Draft – First Round from Florida State)
TE Rob Housler (Free Agency – Arizona Cardinals)
TE/FB Malcolm Johnson (Draft – Sixth round from Mississippi State)
TE E.J. Bibbs (UDFA – Iowa State)
Key Losses
QB Brian Hoyer (Free Agency – Houston Texans)
TE Jordan Cameron (Free Agency – Miami Dolphins)
WR Miles Austin (Free Agency – Philadelphia Eagles)
WR Josh Gordon (Season Long Suspension)
Projected Offensive Starting Lineup
Quarterback: Josh McCown
Running Backs: Isaiah Crowell/Terrance West (Split Time)
Fullback: Malcolm Johnson
Tight End: Gary Barnidge
Left Tackle: Joe Thomas
Left Guard: Joel Bitonio
Center: Alex Mack
Right Guard: John Greco
Right Tackle: Mitchell Schwartz
Wide Receivers: Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline, and Andrew Hawkins
Key Backups
Quarterbacks: Johnny Manziel
Running Back: Duke Johnson
Tight Ends: Rob Housler, Jim Dray, and E.J. Bibbs
Offensive Tackles: Michael Bowie and Cameron Erving (T/G/C)
Offensive Guard: Cameron Erving (T/G/C)
Center: Cameron Erving (T/G/C)
Wide Receivers: Taylor Gabriel, Travis Benjamin, Vince Mayle, and Terrelle Pryor
Breakout Player: Taylor Gabriel
Taylor Gabriel emerged in his rookie season last year after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft from Abilene Christian. In his first campaign, he had 36 receptions for 621 yards and one touchdown. I believe this season we will see Gabriel take the next step and become a big play threat for the Browns offense. He has enough top-end speed to take the top off the defense. His speed and short-end quickness also help him make plays after the catch by making defenders miss. He had opportunities last year to have an even bigger year, but mistakes by both he and the quarterback caused him to miss out on these situations. Gabriel in his rookie season did very well, but I think he will be even better with a year under his belt and (hopefully) a more accurate quarterback. He will be one of the most interesting players to watch this season.
Biggest Improvement: Wide Receivers
I believe wide receiver is the most improved position on the Browns offense this season. The team lost Miles Austin, but replaced him with better talent in Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline. The loss of Josh Gordon is not as big a difference as one might think. Last season, Gordon did not play to the level he showed in 2013, and he may have hurt the rest of the offense by running inaccurate routes. The losses, I believe, were addressed with the additions of Bowe, Hartline, Vince Mayle, and Terrelle Pryor. These four complement the talents of Andrew Hawkins, Taylor Gabriel, and Travis Benjamin very well.
Dwayne Bowe is a big target (6-2/220) who plays physically and can make plays over the middle of the field. He also has good after-the-catch ability to extend plays. Brian Hartline is a another fairly big receiver (6-2/180) added to the receiving corps. Hartline has good speed to separate from defenders and reliable hands to make the tough catches. Vince Mayle and Terrelle Pryor are two of the more interesting additions to the receiver group. Both players are big, raw, athletic receivers. It will be interesting to see if the team will keep both of them and if they will make a difference on the field this year. Overall, the Browns receivers are an improved group with more experience and reliability than last year.
Biggest Strength: Offensive Line
The Browns offensive line could be one the best in the entire league this season. It boasts two Pro Bowlers in Joe Thomas and Alex Mack, a future Pro Bowler in Joel Bitonio and one of the more underrated linemen in the league, John Greco. Thomas, Bitonio, and Mack could well be the best left side in the league. Greco is a good run blocker who is also solid at pass protection. Mitchell Schwartz is probably the weakest link of the line, but he is still a solid player. The unit is improved from last season with the addition of Cameron Erving, who adds depth to the line and can play virtually any position. The players on the line are great fits in the zone-blocking scheme because of their athleticism and ability to move in space. The offensive line will be the backbone of the offense and will be a huge factor in the success of the offense this season.
Biggest Weakness: Quarterbacks
Once again, the Browns quarterback position is the weakest part of the entire offense, if not the entire team. This season the Browns are relying on Josh McCown to be their starting quarterback. I believe McCown is a better player than Brian Hoyer, but he is still not a top level quarterback who can lead a team to a championship. He is a bridge quarterback. The Browns had high hopes for Johnny Manziel when they drafted him last year, but a horrific rookie season has really lowered the expectations and hope that he can be a starter, let alone franchise quarterback.
Connor Shaw and Thaddeus Lewis are behind these two on the depth chart and so they will have a hard time making the roster. McCown will be an okay option at quarterback, but I believe the team is quietly hoping that Manziel really impresses and takes the job away from McCown. That is the best case scenario for the quarterback position going forward. But, for right now, it’s a spot that leaves much to be desired.
Grade: C
The Browns offense is far behind the defense. With the most important position, quarterback, unsettled, the offense will not be a truly dangerous group. Last season, the Browns ranked 27th in points per game with just 18.7. The offense had a rollercoaster season with more lows than highs, even after a 6-3 start. But, this offseason, the Browns front office made a multiple changes that I believe will improve the offense this season.
The offensive line will anchor the team yet again. The offense will rely on these guys to dominate opposing defensive fronts and provide opportunities for the playmakers to, well, make plays. The focus of the offense will most likely be toward the run game with a stable of three running backs carrying the load (if healthy): Duke Johnson, Isaiah Crowell, and Terrance West. The Browns will try to run down the defense’s throat behind their talented line and stable of backs.
To complement the running game, the Browns have a good combination of fast and big receivers on the outside for McCown to throw to in Bowe, Hartline, Hawkins and Gabriel. But again, it all starts and ends with the quarterback. Can McCown be a game manager who limits mistakes and puts his skill players in position to succeed — or will he be the player who threw 14 interceptions and fumbled 10 times en route to a 1-10 record with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? That question is up in the air and is the reason why the offense’s grade is lowered to a C.
All stats (unless noted otherwise) are from ESPN.com
5 Comments
I haven’t read or heard much about Vince Mayle or Travis Benjamin this off-season. Are they even there?
I also don’t see Mayle listed above as a backup or starter
“Will the offensive line allow McCown to be a game manager who limits mistakes and puts his skill players in position to succeed —or will they turn him into the player who threw 14 interceptions and fumbled 10 times en route to a 1-10 record with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?”I think the fixed question is the real question to ask concerning McCown. With a strong offensive line, I got a feeling that he’s going to turn some heads around.
The picture suggests that McCown might have just received a visit from Jimmy Kupchek.
. . . from Jimmy Kupchek.