Month: August 2023

Who will make up the final roster? Here’s my predictions barring injuries.

Quarterback (2). Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Running Back (2). Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, Free Agent.

Wide Receiver (7). Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, Donovan Peoples-Jones, David Bell, Cedric Tillman, Jakeem Grant, Jr., Austin Watkins.

Tight End (3). David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Jordan Akins.

Offensive Line (10). Jedrick Wills, Wyatt Teller, Ethan Pocic, Joel Bitonio, Jack Conklin, James Hudson, III, Luke Wypler, Nick Harris, Michael Dunn, Dawand Jones.

Defensive Line (9). Myles Garrett, Za’Darius Smith, Dalvin Tomlinson, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Shelby Harris, Jordan Elliott, Sika Ika, Isaiah McGuire, Maurice Hurst.

Linebacker (6). Anthony Walker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jordan Kunaszyk, Matthew Adams, Tony Fields, II, Mohamoud Diabate.

Cornerback (6) Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, Martin Emerson, Jr., Cameron Mitchell, A.J. Green, Mike Ford.

Safety (4). Juan Thornhill, Grant Delpit, Rodney McLeod, D’Anthony Bell.

Special Teams (3). Cade York, Corey Bojorquez, Charlie Hughlett.

In a shocking move, the Browns traded QB Josh Dobbs, making Dorian Thompson-Robinson the number two QB. At running back, a veteran free agent will be signed. WR Marquise Goodwin will be place on the non-Football injury list to start the season, allowing Austin Watkins to be the seventh wide receiver. WR Jakeem Grant, Jr. will be the kick returner. Luke Wypler slides into a backup guard position. On defense, DE Alex Wright will be placed on injured reserve after the cutdown, so as to return in six weeks and Maurice Hurst take his place. At linebacker, Sione Takitaki will be placed on the PUP list and Mohamoud Diabate will take his place. The cornerbacks and safeties are set and have been for a while. Stay safe and Go Browns.

I know that sounds like a crazy statement, but after playing the reining NFC champions to a draw for two scrimmages and a preseason game, it feels like a win to me. Monday’s scrimmage was won by the Browns by virtue of their defense. Tuesday’s scrimmage was won by the Eagles, again by virtue of their defense. In the game, the Browns number two offense beat an Eagles defense with some starters and the Browns number two defense manhandled the Eagles number two offense. Another safety, I can’t even remember the last time the Browns had a safety in the regular season. In the second half, it was pretty much even. The only difference was the kicker. The fate or non-fate of Cade York is now front and center on the minds of Browns nation.

On offense, the Browns have a future starter in Dorian Thompson-Robinson. I’ll repeat this again, the Browns will have carry three quarterbacks on their final 53-man roster. Josh Dobbs is still the number two quarterback because he has NFL experience. There is a problem at the wide receiver position. A good problem. If Marguise Goodwin can’t make the season opener, then the Browns will place him on the non-football injury list. That creates an opening at wide receiver and Austin Watkins is definitely making a case to take that spot. I still worry the team won’t have a true kick returner, but the longer Jakeem Grant and Jaelon Darden don’t play, the more Watkins inches closer to a roster spot. Running back Jerome Ford and DPJ handled return duties in 2022. As for the backup running back spot, Demetric Felton has played well, I just wish he could pass block better. He gives up too soon. The offensive line was solid. RT Dawand Jones looks like a steal. Nick Harris is making a case to be on a roster, whether it’s with the Browns or another team. Luke Wypler again played at guard and center. Michael Dunn is so underrated. Tyrone Wheatley continues to shine. Of the two veteran guards, Colby Gossett and Wes Martin, Martin is playing better with the more game time he gets. At tight end, no one impressed, thank goodness Harrison Bryant is returning to practice this week.

On defense, DT Maurice Hurst is passing DT Jordan Elliott and it’s not even close. But can the Browns rely on him staying healthy? DT Shelby Harris is all that and more. He’s big, strong and see’s thing so quickly. Great signing. At DE, Isaiah Mcguire played better, but it’s still a position of need until Alex Wright returns. The August 29 roster cutdown date will be interesting. LB Mohamoud Diabate is a name to watch. He’s not the best is space, but he’s already playing at NFL speed. If Jordan Kunaszyk doesn’t improve his game. Diabate will take his roster spot. Hopefully safety Ronnie Hickman’s concussion isn’t too serious. He’s earned a roster spot over D’Anthony Bell. CB Cameron Mitchell is playing very well in the slot. Greg Newsome might not get an extension if Mitchell keeps this up. CB Caleb Biggers and S Tanner McCalister have played themselves onto the practice squad.

The coverage units on kick returns played very well. After an eleven-yard return by the Eagles on the first punt, they really stepped up and shut down the Eagles. Kickoff coverage was also better. As for kicker Cade York, time to bring in some competition, even if it’s a street free agent. If the competition kicks well, place them on the practice squad as an emergency and to push York. I doubt the Browns are going to cut York unless he really regresses or asks to be cut. He has the talent, but the mental block showed on his face before the next to last field goal attempt. Wide eyes and a heavy sigh. Yikes.

Now it’s onto a Saturday afternoon game in Kansas City. Word is the starters will play, probably not the entire first half, but more than a series. I don’t expect to see RB Nick Chubb or DE Myles Garrett until the opener against the Bengals. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Last night turned out to be a typical Browns preseason game. It started with a weather delay, then fans complaining the team needs a dome and ended with fans complaining the team needs a kicker. Good times. I wasn’t surprised QB Deshaun Watson played well. During the last few months, I’ve gone back and watched his games from 2018 and 2019. What you saw last night was the same Deshaun Watson, except with better talent around him and Nick Chubb, Joel Bitonio and Amari Cooper didn’t play last night. His decision making was quick and decisive. My only complaint is, he needs to slide more after he runs, because watching QB Joshua Dobbs play didn’t make me feel any better if Watson gets hurt. Hopefully Dobbs will get better with some reps, which he should get against the Eagles in preseason game three. He’ll more than likely start.

Besides the number one offense playing well, so did the number one defense. Dalvin Tomlinson and Za’Darius Smith are as good as advertised. Imagine adding Myles Garrett, Shelby Harris, Anthony Walker, Sione Takitaki, Denzel Ward, Grant Delpit and Greg Newsome to what we saw last night. Scary. As for the number two defense, yikes. Fromer Browns QB Jacoby Brissett carved them up. The number threes and the number fours looked much better, but they’re hungrier. After Dobbs, both Dorian Thompson-Roberson and Kellen Mond played well. DTR brings a spark to the team. I still think Dobbs will be the number two QB, but DTR is making a solid case. As I’ve said before, the Browns are going to have to have three quarterbacks on their final 53-man roster.

I absolutely love WR Austin Watkins on offense and LB Charlie Thomas and S Ronnie Hickman on defense. Excellent UDRFA’s. As for the draft picks, Cedric Tillman looked a little flat, Dawand Jones, Sika Ika, Luke Wypler and Cameron Mitchell all played well. When Nick Harris came in to play center, I noticed Wypler playing guard next to him. Something to keep an eye on. The Browns love to have their backup linemen play several positions. On the downside, I just can’t see how Anthony Schwartz makes the roster. Last night also made it clear the Browns need to bring in a veteran running back to help backup Nick Chubb. They might also want to look at backup left tackles. James Hudson did nothing to help his case. I still think Jedrick Wills will get better; however, he was schooled by Washington’s DE Chase Young a couple of times.

On the injury front, WR Elijah Moore (ribs), CB A.J. Green (shoulder), S Bubba Bolden (shoulder) and LB Jacob Phillips (shoulder) left the game last night. Moore’s x-rays came back negative so he should be fine. Coach Stefanski says he’s day-to-day, but then again aren’t we all. Phillips suffered a torn pectoral muscle and is out for the year. I personally didn’t think he was going to make the roster. He’ll probably be waived with an injury designation. I had high hopes he would become a good player. The special team’s coverage units played better until the end of the game when they gave up a big return, but those players won’t be on the team. Finally, kicker Cade York. I’m sure you’ve seen a ton of articles about who is available. Not a very good list. I know fans want to bring in competition, but any kicker who agrees to that will want guaranteed money. Competition will take away repetitions from York and further damage his mental outlook. Let special teams coach Bubba Ventrone work with him. For decades the Browns had crappy quarterbacks and good kickers, now it’s the other way around.

Next week the Browns will scrimmage in Philadelphia against the Eagles Monday and Tuesday then play preseason game number three Thursday. I expect the Eagles to be a great barometer in the scrimmages. I don’t expect any starters to play in the game. Ever since the scrimmages against the Colts a few years ago and too many fights broke out, head coach Kevin Stefanski doesn’t like to play his starters in the game. Wise move. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Happy victory Friday. I know it’s only a pre-season game, but still seeing those uniforms and helmets on the field for the first time always gives me chills. For the most part the Browns 2023 draft class played well. Right tackle Dawand Jones played the whole game and played well, so the out-of-shape narrative can be put to rest. Some Pro Football Focus ratings for the offense are, G Colby Gossett 90.1, G Wes Martin 87.1, G Michael Dunn 84.2, T James Hudson 83.3, QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson 81.7 and WR Austin Watkins 80.8. On defense, S Budda Bolden 93.2, CB Caleb Biggers 80.0, CB A.J. Green 79.7, CB Cameron Mitchell 79.4 and DE Alex Wright 77.4.

As I’ve said before, the Browns are going to have to carry three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster and Dorian Thompson Robinson is the reason. There’s no way the team can sneak him on the practice squad. Kellen Mond on the other hand showed why he’ll be headed to the practice squad. RB John Kelly is the king of pre-season games. You have to figure some team will pluck of the Browns roster one of these days. As for the defense, the Jets were two of twelve on third down conversions. At one point they were zero for ten. They only had nine first downs. If I had to compare the Jets backups and the Browns backups, the Browns have a distinct edge.

The negatives were the two turnovers and the special teams. WR Anthony Schwartz is not long for this team. K Cade York missed his first field goal attempt and you had to be thinking about it when the Jets had the ball at the end of the game. If he misses another one during the next game, then it’s time to bring some competition into camp. Coach Bubba Ventrone can’t be happy with the kick coverage team. Thank goodness they have three more pre-season games to fix it.

It was curious that DT Jordan Elliott started this game. Coach Jim Schwartz must not be happy with the state of the defensive tackle position behind Dalvin Tomlinson. DT Sika Ika showed some flashes, but he’s a rookie, so a veteran is definitely needed. The Browns did sign an offensive lineman today, Derrick Kelly. He can play both tackle positions.

The next game is at home against the Commanders. I expect more starters to play, especially QB Deshaun Watson. Hopefully he gets more than a couple series, a full quarter would be nice. Stay safe and Go Browns.