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Last week I started the discussion of fixing the Browns defense through free agency and the draft. I highlighted the most important position group that needed an upgrade, DE/Edge. This week I’ll look at the safety position. Since last week’s blog, there has be news on the salary cap. Last week it was reported by Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network that the cap would be increasing from $175 million to $185 million. Over the weekend Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the cap would be between $180 and $181 million. So this means the Browns will have between $24 to$29 million in cap space. Remembering that GM Andrew Berry likes to sign players in their mid twenties coming off their first contract here is a list of safeties the Browns might be interested in signing.

Marcus Williams, New Orleans. William’s coverage grade by Pro Football Focus has been in the 90’s since he entered the league in 2017. He also has the highest rate of forced incompletions during that time period and is a very solid run defender. Due to the Saints cap situation, worst in the NFL, Williams will be available. Market value according to Spotrac is $9.4 million on a five year deal.

Marcus Maye, New York Jets. A very versatile safety. Since 2017 has played free safety, strong safety and some slot corner. When targeted, he is the best at breaking up passes. Can line up anywhere on the field. and is solid against the run. Finished the 2020 season with a PFF grade of 82.8, fourth best among safeties. Market value according to Spotrac is $8.3 million on a three year deal.

John Johnson, III, LA Rams. Had an injury plagued 2019. But when healthy he is an elite coverage safety. Came on strong in 2020. In three out his four seasons in the NFL, he has never been below a PFF coverage grade of 84.9. He finished 2020 with a PFF grade of 85.6, third highest for safeties. Market value according to Spotrac $8.3 million on a five year deal.

Others to watch. Xavier Woods, Dallas, Keanu Neal, Atlanta and Jaquiski Tartt. Just remember as the beginning of the league year on March 17th approaches, more players will become available as teams fight to get under the cap. As for the draft, here’s my second mock draft.

26. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB/S, Notre Dame.

58. Jay Tufele, IDL, USC.

89. Patrick Jones, Edge, Pittsburg.

91. Monty Rice, LB Georgia.

110. Davis Moore, IOL, Grambling.

130. Deommodore Lenoir, CB, Oregon.

168. Richard LeCounte, III, S, Georgia.

206. Shi Smith, WR, South Carolina.

250. Jovani Haskins, TE, West Virginia.

If GM Andrew Berry does use all the Browns draft picks, this draft covers a lot of bases. Owusu-Koramoah is listed as a LB, however he has the athletic ability to drop in coverage and be that “rover’ back that DC Joe Woods wants to use. Safety Grant Delpit was going to provide that role in 2020. I really like LB Monty Rice as a middle linebacker. He has great lateral movement, can fight through traffic and is a hitter. Tell me what you think, this is only one of many mocks I’m going to do till draft day.

Next week I’m going to look at the cornerback position and do yet another mock draft. If the 2020 season proved anything, you can never have enough quality cornerbacks and there will some available. Everyone stay safe. Go Browns and RIP Marty Schottenheimer, you brought the gleam back to the Browns.

It’s time to start forecasting, so lets start with free agency at the position the Browns have the most urgency to fill, defensive end/edge rusher. The Browns have to find someone to compliment DE Myles Garrett. If DE Olivier Vernon hadn’t gotten hurt, I fully expected the Browns to make a serious attempt to resign him. But coming off an Achilles injury at 31 years of age it’s not an option. I expect the Browns to sign an edge rusher in free agency and draft one as well. Let’s start with free agency.

As I mentioned last week, Cincinnati DE Carl Lawson is the type of player the Browns are looking to sign. He is 25 years old coming off his rookie contract. When he was drafted he looked like a fourth round steal. He had 59 pressures on 389 pass rush attempts his rookie year. However, he has never reached those benchmarks again. He’s more of a situational pass rusher and is a liability in the run game. So who else might the Browns go after?

Roman Okwara, DE, Detroit. After his first 1000 snaps as a pass rusher, he was below average. In 2020, specifically since week 12, he had the third best pass rushing grade according to Pro Football Focus. He finished 2020 with a PFF pass rush rating of 85.4. That was ninth best in the NFL. As a number two pass rusher he fits the bill perfectly. His market value for 2021 according to Spotrac.com is $10.1 million per year on a three year contract.

Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Baltimore. There were rumors that Browns GM Andrew Berry attempted to trade for Ngakoue last year before he was traded to the Ravens. While he is a good pass rusher, Ngakoue is defiantly a liability in the run game. When he lines up wide, since 2017, he’s had the eighth best pass rushing PFF grade at 89.1. If a team has a strong interior rush, he’s a great fit as a situational pass rusher. His market value for 2021 is $15.5 million on a four year contract.

Trey Hendrickson, DE, New Orleans. Made great strides in 2020 after three average years, recording 13.5 sacks. He had 4.5 sacks in 2019. In his first four years in the league, he is mid level in both pass rushing and run defending, but like Okwara, it appears he is ascending at the right time. His market value for 2021 is $10.3 million on a three year deal.

Others to watch: Solomon Thomas, San Francisco, Bud Dupree, Pittsburg and Hasson Reddick, Arizona.

Trades: The big question on Browns Twitter, would Andrew Berry make a trade for DE J.J. Watt? Berry did try and improve the pass rush last year by attempting to trade for Ngakoue and trying to sign DE Jadeveon Clowney, but would he trade for the 31 year old Watt? While Watt’s sack production has declined since he had 17 sacks in 2018, he still registered a 85.5 pressure rate last year. Trading Watt makes perfect sense for the Texans. They are around $16.4 million over the cap and by trading Watt, they would take his $17.5 million salary off their cap with no dead money ramifications. This trade would have to happen before the start of the league year.

My First Mock Draft: I don’t think Andrew Berry will use all nine picks and I don’t figure in trades in my mocks. Here are my nine picks.

26. Jaelan Phillips, Edge, Miami.

58. Tommy Togiai, IDL, Ohio State.

89. Keith Taylor, CB, Washington.

91. Monty Rice, LB Georgia.

110. Amari Rogers, WR, Clemson.

130. Brady Christenson, OT, BYU.

Noah Gary, TE, Duke.

Marco Wilson, CB, Florida.

Benton Nelson, S, Virginia.

Have at it and tell me what you think. This draft hits some key needs for the Browns. Next week I’ll look at the safety position in free agency and do another mock draft. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.

Now that we know the Super Bowl participants, can we all agree that fourth down has been the major topic of this years playoffs. I have never seen a year where fourth down can make or break a good coach’s decision making. Wow. Getting back to the Super Bowl, how close are the Browns from making their first appearance? Pretty, pretty close. If GM Andrew Berry and the Browns front office can do to the defense this year, what they did to the offense last year, the Browns are close. The process begins with the Senior Bowl this week. With the NFL Combine going virtual, the Senior bowl still affords the Browns to personally watch practices and speak individually to draft prospects. The off-season has begun.

Lets start with the schedule. Besides Pittsburg, Cincinnati and Baltimore, the Browns host Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas and Houston. Their road games are the Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City, Green Bay, New England and Minnesota. The home schedule is pretty good, while the road schedule is daunting. I’m glad there’s only one west coast trip. The key to this schedule are when the games are played and how they’re spaced out. Due to the Browns success, there will probably be at least four prime-time games. The Kansas City game, if the Chiefs win the Super Bowl, has Thursday night season opener written all over it. The amazing thing about the 2020 Cleveland Browns, they never lost two games in a row. That’s preparation by the coaching staff. To make the next step, the Browns need to win their opening game, win their division, beat teams coached by Andy Reid and John Gruden (0-8 vs Reid and 0-6 vs Gruden) and win two playoff games in a season. Sounds simple right?

First, the Browns have to fix their defense either through the draft or free agency. Since free agency starts first, you have to look at the teams who are over the salary cap for potential free agents. With an expected salary cap of $175 million, there are currently thirteen teams over the cap. The Giants ($3.3), the Titans ($7.4), the Bears ($10.7), the Vikings ($12.8), the Texans ($18.3), the Chiefs ($ 18.9), the Raiders ($23.5), the Packers ($28.6), the Rams ($30.5), the Steelers ($ 34.9), the Falcons ($36.3), the Eagles ($53.5) and the Saints ($112.1). That’s an incredible list. The Giants and the Titans could do restructures and get under the cap, but signing free agents would be difficult. As for the other teams, trades would their best option. This puts more players on the market. GM Andrew Berry’s ideal free agent is a player in his mid twenties coming off his first contract. But if Berry feels the Browns are close to the next level, then acquiring a big name defensive free agent has to be considered. Think defensive end or safety. As for the draft, the Browns have nine picks and I do not expect Andrew Berry to use all nine.

For the first time in a long time the Browns return their entire coaching staff and front office. They return their offense in tact and get Greedy Williams and Grant Delpit back from injury. This team has the capacity to handle both a virtual combine and pro days better than most NFL teams. They spent the last three weeks of the season game planning virtually Next week I’ll start my way too early free agent tracker and throw in a mock draft. The future looks bright. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.

Well it’s been 48 hours and it’s time to move to the off-season. If you had told me the Browns would hold Kansas City to 22 points, I would’ve thought the Browns would have won. How many Browns fans thought when safety Karl Joseph intercepted the ball in the end zone with about eight minutes to go in the game,” here we go.” I did. This offense was built for a long drive for a touchdown. After watching the game again, I’m comfortable with Kevin Stefanski punting the ball with around four minutes to go. The defense just needed to make a stop. And despite what Browns twitter says about firing DC Joe Woods, stop. Just stop. They lost their number two corner and their starting safety in training camp on the same day. Woods won the Steelers wildcard game with his scheme. The entire year the Browns played cover two defense 1% of the time. In the Wildcard game the Browns played cover two defense 26% of the time. He basically installed a new defensive scheme with one practice and missing his number one corner and his number three corner. Simply put, the players didn’t execute. If the Browns invest heavily in defense this off-season, like they invested in offense in 2020, then the defense will make giant steps in 2021.

The Browns are on to the off-season 2021. The goal is to win the division and advance farther in the play-offs. I have complete faith in GM Andrew Berry and this front office. First there will be no changes in the coaching staff. Nice change of pace, right Browns fans? The Browns have nine picks in the 2021 draft starting with the 26th pick in the first round. Andrew Berry has already proven he lets the draft come to him and knows talent. I still can’t believe I haven’t looked at a mock draft and it’s January. As for the salary cap, the Browns have a little more than 24.6 million in cap space based on a 176 million dollar salary cap. This includes the fifth year options for Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward. The big question will be the wide receiver position. Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry will be owed over 30 million and Beckham’s 15.7 million is guaranteed because of his injury and is due the third business day of the new league year. Because of the injury, he may not be ready till training camp, so trading him now is not an option. This offense does not rely on the WR position, but does need a burner on the outside. Asking Landry to restructure is an option.

First, the Browns need to pick up the fifth year options on Mayfield and Ward. No brainer. Even though both RB Nick Chubb and RG Wyatt Teller are signed through 2021, offer both contract extensions. Ward and Mayfield’s contract extensions aren’t a priority until later in the spring. As for key Browns free agents, try and resign WR Rashard Higgins. I have a feeling he’ll test free agency, but his relationship with Mayfield will help the Browns. I would also try and resign OL Kendall Lamm. He proved his worth this season. As for the defense, I think the Browns will try and resign free sign CB Terrance Mitchell and Larry Ogunjobi, but I think both will test free agency and move on. The Browns do get DT Andrew Billing back, so losing Ogunjobi won’t hurt so much. I would resign LB B.J. Goodson, CB Kevin Johnson and S Karl Joseph. Goodson took over the defense this year, Johnson proved to be a valuable third CB and Joseph played really well down the stretch. A safety room of Grant Delpit, Ronnie Harrison and Joseph is one hell of a great start for next year.

As for other teams free agents, it’s still to early to tell who the Browns will target. But I do know Andrew Berry likes to target players in their mid twenties who are coming off their first or second contracts. Catch players entering their prime. This team is ascending. They have their franchise QB, their franchise head coach and a young and hungry team. Finally, the Browns will become a desirable destination for free agents. Times have changed. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.

It’s playoff Victory Monday and those weren’t the same old Browns. No head coach, no OL coach, no assistant OL coach, no TE coach, no WR coach, no All-Pro LG, no number one CB and no number three CB. Then they lost their All-Pro RT and their starting LG. It did not matter. The Browns practiced once last week, once. The first playoff win since 1994. The Browns beat the Steelers twice in seven days. Twice. To make it sweeter, the Browns made Big Ben cry. The Browns wanted this game more than the Steelers. The Steelers had a sack in 73 consecutive games going into Sunday. They did not sack QB Baker Mayfield. I don’t remember the broadcasters saying T.J. Watt’s name once. Mayfield had a Pro Football Focus rating of 90.5. That’s the fourth highest rating by a QB making his first playoff start. He was 21 of 34, 263 yards and three touchdowns. Again no interceptions. The 28 points the Browns scored in the first quarter were the most points scored in the first quarter by a playoff team in NFL history.

All three phases of the game showed up and played. It really helped that the Browns were up 7-0 before the offense got on the field. Michael Dunn, Kendall Lamm and Blake Hance (who?) combined for 68 pass blocking snaps against the league’s best pass rush. They allowed only two pressures. Damn. Here’s a tweet I still can’t believe, “Brent Sobleski@brentsobleski·6mThe Browns will pay Blake Hance $39,706 for driving from New Jersey, not practice with the team, replace injured third-string guard Michael Dunn, survive 14 snaps against Cam Heyward and become a legend.” Because Kevin Stefanski tested positive last week, he and Hance haven’t even met each other yet. Hell, Mayfield introduced himself to Hance before the game. Both OC Alex Van Pelt and DC Joe Woods called great games. The Browns offense kept the Steeler’s defense on their heals and the Browns defense, while not getting a sack, kept the pressure on Big Ben.

Injuries and Covid. RT Jack Conklin (hamstring), LG Michael Dunn (calf) and Robert Jackson (hamstring) are all day to day. As for the Covid list, the Browns reported no new positives this morning. Baring any negative tests, all coaches and players should be back by Thursday. It would great to have everyone back to practice this week for the Kansas City game on Sunday. Speaking of the Chiefs, do the Browns have a chance to beat Kansas City? Yes they do. The Browns need to control the line of scrimmage and run the ball. Pat Mahomes can’t beat you if he’s sitting on the bench. Enjoy this one Browns fans. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.

Another Victory Monday, the Browns won and now they’re in the playoffs. Eighteen long years. QB Baker Mayfield was 17 for 27, 196 yards and a touchdown. No turnovers. For the season Mayfield finishes with a 62.8% completion rate, 3563 yards, 26 touchdowns, eight interceptions, a QBR of 72.4 and a Pro Football Focus rating of 81.6. He joined Payton Manning and Andrew Luck as the only players in NFL history with 3500 yards and 20 touchdowns in each of their first three seasons. That’s a franchise quarterback. Mayfield also added 44 yards rushing. The most important on a third down needing a first down to seal the game. This team fought hard all season and especially this past week. I think the facility in Berea was shut down every day. The Browns had a revolving door of players going on the Covid list and coming off the Covid list. They only had two short practices during the week. One on Wednesday and one on Friday. Amazing.

Several players stepped up yesterday besides Mayfield. On offense Nick Chubb, Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge and Austin Hooper. Landry is the first Browns player since Eric Metcalf (1989) to throw, catch and rush for a touchdown. On defense Sheldon Richardson, Olivier Vernon, Ronnie Harrison, Karl Joseph, M.J. Stewart and Jacob Phillips. Phillips had his best game of the season at middle linebacker. He, Grant Delpit, Denzel Ward and Ronnie Harrison are the types of players, along with Myles Garrett, you build a defense around. Hopefully Ward will be back for the Wildcard game, because Robert Jackson was abused all day. As for the game, it appeared to me, head coach Kevin Stefanski was holding back some of his offense knowing the Browns would be playing the Steelers again this weekend. The Browns did just enough to win.

Next up is Pittsburg part three. The Steelers will have Ben Roethlisberger, T.J. Watt and Cam Hayward back. I would argue that Mason Rudolph has a better arm for throwing long passes, so the defense will have to be ready for the dink and dunk passing attack of Big Ben. The Browns offensive line will have to play better after giving up four sacks Sunday. I expect some roll outs, a little more play action and Mayfield being in the shotgun more.

Injuries, the Covid list and signings. DE Olivier Vernon ruptured his Achilles and is done for the season and probably played his last game as a Brown. Time for Adrian Clayborn and Porter Gustin to step up. WR Donovan Peoples-Jones is in concussion protocol, but said he is okay. On the Covid front, LB B.J. Goodson, TE Harrison Bryant, LB Malcolm Smith and S Andrew Sendejo should be back for this weekends game. Ward might be back, but it will be close. Today the Browns signed Brian Allen off the Bengals practice squad.

Finally, on the above mentioned run to secure the win, Mayfield called out Maserati, Maserati as the play call. Early in his NFL career, known Baker hater Colin Cowherd said Mayfield was a Mazda and Sam Darnold was a Maserati. On a game and playoff clinching play, the Browns are trolling Cowherd. You got to love this team. Everyone enjoy your week and this win. It’s Steeler week again and Go Browns.

The Browns are currently in the eighth seed and if the playoffs started today they would be out. But the playoffs don’t start today. If the Browns beat the Steelers on Sunday, they are in. It’s that simple. Win and you’re in. Other things can happen and they will automatically clinch, but those scenarios can be a bit dicey. So how did we get to this spot. Well it seems B.J. Goodson, Jacob Phillips, Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge and Donovan Peoples-Jones were all in a hot tube together at the team facilities. Goodson tested positive on Saturday morning and the rest were labeled close contacts. Most of the players were already on the plane to go to New Jersey when the team found out about Goodson. If this had happened one day earlier, the Browns could have adjusted the game plan. Some are asking why didn’t the NFL postpone the game like they did for the Ravens earlier in the season. The Ravens kept testing positive for several days and the Browns had no more positive tests on Saturday or Sunday.

As for yesterday’s game, yuk. There were only three positives. DT Sheldon Richardson, DE Olivier Vernon and TE David Njoku. That’s it, that’s the list. The Browns were out coached and out played. Sure they were missing eight starters and ten players total, but the Jets had only won one game prior to Sunday. The Browns couldn’t run the ball, reliable tight ends were dropping passes and Baker Mayfield couldn’t hang on to the ball. The Browns couldn’t get out of their own way. The offensive line allowed eleven pressures and three sacks. Kendall Lamm and Nick Harris were responsible for seven pressures and two of those sacks. The highest graded players according to Pro Football Focus were Joel Bitonio on offense (78.6) and Olivier Vernon on defense (88.0). As for the not-so-special teams, the Browns have a kicker problem. Head coach Kevin Stefanski says he still has confidence in Parkey. He might be the only one. I’m not going to talk about the officiating. It sucked as usual.

Moving forward, Wyatt Teller should be practicing Wednesday. Landry, Hodge, Peoples-Jones, Higgins and Wills have all tested negative and if they continue to test negative will be back Thursday. Goodson and Phillips will miss the Steelers game. The Browns signed WR Alexander Hollins off the Vikings practice squad due to the lack of players in that position group. Baring any setbacks, safety Ronnie Harrison should be back to practice this week and playing on Sunday.

As for the playoffs, here are the scenarios for the Browns to clinch Sunday. A Browns win or the Colts lose to the Jaguars or the Texans beat the Titans plus the Ravens beat the Bengals plus the Dolphins beat the Bills. You got all that. My head hurts. Just beat the Steelers and the Browns are in. As for the Steelers, there is some speculation head coach Mike Tomlin might rest some starters. The oddsmakers in Vegas seem to think he will. They made the Browns a 6.5 to 7 point favorite. The Steelers are one of the older teams in the NFL and were forced to take their bye week in week four and it was actually a bye weekend. So resting players would make sense. Also with a win, Pittsburg really doesn’t improve their playoff seeding. They could get to the second seed, but a ton of things would have to happen. All the Browns need to do to win is start fast, execute their offense and not blow coverages on defense. And for gods sake, don’t leave it up to our kicker. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns, it’s Steeler week.

It’s Victory Monday and the Browns are 10-4. They still hold the fifth playoff seed. That was a business like, professional football team win. I can’t even remember the last time I said that about a Browns team. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has these players believing in themselves and in their head coach. QB Baker Mayfield is playing like a Pro Bowl quarterback. He has the fifth best QBR (76.6) in the NFL and had the highest QBR in week fifteen at 98.3. Mayfield was 27 for 32, 297 yards and two touchdowns. His 84.3% completion rate was the highest by any Browns quarterback. Mayfield broke the record held by Kelly Holcomb who had a completion rate of 82.9% in 2003. On to the other positives.

On offense, the Browns did whatever they wanted. Two 95 yard drives for touchdowns. The second 95 yard drive was ten plays and took 4:55 off the clock. More importantly, after the touchdown, there was 21 seconds left in the first half. Impressive and business like. Stefanski’s play calling is pure genius. On the touchdown pass to TE Austin Hooper, the Browns lined up in their goal line “jumbo” package, three tight ends and two running backs and threw the ball. Considering the Giants had a top five red zone defense, it was a work of art. On another play, the Browns lined up with three tight ends and one wide receiver. Stefanski had the tight ends bunch up on one side of the field and the wide receiver on the other side. Wow. Speaking of wide receivers, Donovan Peoples-Jones has been fantastic. When he’s targeted, Mayfield has a perfect quarterback rating. Not bad for a sixth round pick. Another rookie who did a great job was G/C Nick Harris. He stepped in for Chris Hubbard and held his own. He did allow a sack, but that was the only sack allowed by the offensive line.

On defense, everyone contributed. Safety Karl Joseph has strung together a couple of good games. He had two passes defended and a team high ten tackles. On the defensive line, Myles Garret, Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson were pressuring Giants QB Colt McCoy all night. In the absence of LB Mack Wilson, who was a healthy scratch, Rookie Jacob Phillips had his best game of the season. However the biggest defensive difference maker was CB Denzel Ward. A defense can do so much more, when you have a shut down corner playing. The secondary is much better when CB Kevin Johnson is play the nickel.

As for the negatives, the not-so-special teams. First they allow a big return on the opening kickoff. Luckily for the Browns, former Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens was calling plays and the Browns escaped an opening drive Giants score. By the way, a fake field goal where the punter attempts to throw a touchdowns pass to the center? Never change Freddie, never change. Kicker Cody Parkey has now missed three kicks in two games. I’m going to wait and see what he does verses the Jets before I start to worry. Can the Browns get any good NFL referees to work their games? One reason Parkey missed the extra point was because WR Jarvis Landry had a penalty call against him after the touchdown and Parkey had to kick a 48 yarder. Bad officiating. The Giants defensive player should have had the penalty called on him.

As for injuries, RG Chris Hubbard is having season ending knee surgery this week on his knee. Harris will start at right guard moving forward with Michael Dunn as the back up. Coach Stefanski in his news conference today said DT Sheldon Richardson (neck) should be okay, but we’ll have to see if he practices this week. Safety Ronnie Harrison can come off the IR, but he’s also a wait and see for this week. Safety Andrew Sendejo is still in Concussion protocol and RG Wyatt Teller is week to week.

Finally for the Browns to clinch a playoff spot next weekend, the Browns have to beat the Jets and then one of three things have to happen. The Colts lose to the Steelers, Miami losses to or ties the Raiders or Baltimore losses to or ties the Giants. Two of those three scenarios are possible. I would love to see all three happen. As for the Browns next opponent, the Jets, I was very happy to see them get their first win. Nothing is scarier than playing a team who hasn’t won a game this late in the season. Just ask the Rams. One interesting stat concerning the Jets, they’ve scored on their first possession in seven straight games. So next week, the Browns get the ball first, score and keep the Jets from scoring on their first possession. Game over. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.

I know I usually wait 48 hours to write a blog after a Browns loss, but this really doesn’t feel like your normal Browns loss. Yes, a loss is a loss, but there are many positives. For some reason, even after losing to the Ravens, I feel better about the Browns if they make the playoffs. The Browns are 9-4 and still hold the fifth seed in the playoffs. Winning the AFC North is no longer in reach, but like I said in an earlier blog, it was a long shot. This team never gave up last night and QB Baker Mayfield played like a franchise quarterback. More importantly, head coach Kevin Stefanski is showing the confidence in Mayfield to open up the play book. Stefanski is the only NFL first year head coach with a new team this season to have a winning record. The other first year coaches are Ron Rivera (6-7), Joe Judge (5-8), Mike McCarthy (4-9) and Matt Rhule (4-9). Let’s go to the positives.

On offense, the best example of Stefanski opening the up the play book was the pass play by Jarvis Landry. Mayfield fakes to Chubb and throws the ball to Landry and then points down field. Landry stands there looking towards the end zone. Then at the last minute. throws the ball across the field the Chubb to set up a screen play. Damn, that’s genius. Mayfield finished 28 for 47, 343 yards, two touchdown passes, one interception and one rushing touchdown. After the interception, Mayfield probably played his best ball. That’s called growth. Mayfield is ninth in the NFL in total QBR. The Browns had 471 yards of total offense verses the Ravens. Again the offensive line allowed no sacks. They are tied for fifth in the NFL for the fewest sacks with 17. Every team in the top nine would make the playoffs if they started today. The highest offensive line ratings per Pro Football Focus for the Browns offensive line were Bitonio (86.2), Teller (93.8) and Conklin (84.1).Without OBJ, Donovan Peoples-Jones has really stepped up. Remember he started the season on the inactive list for a couple of games. He has ten catches for 238 yards, 23.8 yards per catch. On defense, the Browns sacked Lamar Jackson four times. However they all came in the first half. DE Olivier Vernon and DT Sheldon Richardson played their butts off.

As for the negatives, the defense. The linebackers disappeared. Mack Wilson had zero tackles. Zero. If this team doesn’t get a turnover, it’s going to be a long game. The defense really missed Denzel Ward and Ronnie Harrison. DC Joe Woods should have adjusted and put a “spy” on Jackson. DE Myles Garrett seemed to disappear at times. I know he was tripled teamed for most of the game and he’s still recovering from Covid, but the Browns just needed one game changing play. The special teams are a mess. Just call them the not-so-special teams. As for the officials, how in gods name do you miss 15 guys on the field. Fifteen? Stefanski had to use his challenge flag for them to see it. The offensive pass interference on Peoples-Jones was complete crap, as was the intentional grounding. Hey NFL, it’s a prime time game in December featuring two teams with winning records, how about some quality NFL referees? With New England struggling, you would think the good ones were available.

On the injury front, Garrett, Jedrick Wills and Wyatt Teller are going to be evaluated during the week. Teller and Wills have ankle injuries and Garrett hurt his elbow. I expect all to play next Sunday. Stefanski said in his press conference today, he expects Ward, KhaDarel Hodge and Austin Hooper to be back on the practice field this week. The only other injury to report was Andrew Sendejo, who suffered a concussion. New safety Tedric Thompson is learning the defense and should be ready to play verses the Giants.

Moving forward to this weeks games with playoff implications, the Titans play the Lions, the Colts play the Texans, the Dolphins play the Patriots and the Ravens play the Jaguars. Currently the Browns have a two game lead on the Raiders, a one game lead on the Ravens and the Dolphins and are tied with the Titans and the Colts. The Browns have the tie breakers verses the Titans and the Colts. The Raiders look like they peaked early. The Dolphins have a great defense, but are struggling on offense and the Ravens have an incredibly easy schedule for the rest of the season. The Browns will face the Giants Sunday night (I still can’t believe the Browns got flexed to the Sunday night game). I watched a little of the Giants/Cardinals game on Sunday. They do have a good defense, but no offense. If a team can score 20 on them, the Giants don’t have the fire power to come back. The Browns might be facing former Browns QB Colt McCoy Sunday night, so be prepared for another prime time walk down memory lane. I have complete confidence Kevin Stefanski can get this team to forget about the Ravens game and be prepared to face the Giants. The Ravens were supposed to have one of the best defenses the Browns played all year. The Browns erased a 14 point deficits last night twice. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.