Buckeyes redeem themselves in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech
September 8, 2015Browns receiving corps trending up despite pre-season struggles
September 8, 2015It’s entirely too early to write off Dwayne Bowe, but it appears that the Cleveland Browns coaching staff is firmly sending the veteran a message. As head coach Mike Pettine released the first iteration of his team’s Week 1 unofficial depth chart, Bowe, signed this offseason to help a battered and non-intimidating receiving corps, is listed as the third string on the outside.
#Browns first depth chart. WR Dwayne Bowe is still third-team pic.twitter.com/eHt750ayJ7
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) September 8, 2015
Getting nearly a full game worth of snaps in Week 4 of the preseason, this is the same spot Bowe occupied in the final, unofficial depth chart of the summer. Prior to the last preseason contest, rumors began swirling, stating the Browns were considering cutting Bowe despite his $9.5 million guaranteed contract, but he apparently flashed enough to buy him some additional time.
Brian Hartline (also 6-2, 220) and Andrew Hawkins (5-7, 180) are currently listed as the starters, but it is expected that Bowe will still earn snaps with plenty of three-receiver sets in the team’s future. Taylor Gabriel, Travis Benjamin and Terrelle Pryor (if active) could also see some time out wide.
Other depth chart items of note:
- Isaiah Crowell is currently the only healthy running back on the roster. Rookie Duke Johnson is still immersed in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
- Justin Gilbert is listed directly behind Joe Haden with K’Waun Williams behind Tramon Williams. Nickelback duties remain to be seen.
- Barkevious Mingo (knee) is listed behind Scott Solomon. Nate Orchard (a slew of things) is behind Paul Kruger.
- The Browns’ long-snapper is named Charley Hughlett. Just thought you should know.
The Browns play the New York Jets at 1 p.m. this Sunday.
31 Comments
Also interesting to see Desir behind Gilbert. Thinking injury impact – could he same be said for Bowe?
He’s lucky he’s even on the roster as far as I’m concerned.
Ironically this is EXACTLY where Dwayne Bowe would be on any other legit NFL depth chart.
This is inexcusable. As i said when they signed the guy: what the heck for?? He’s washed up. Done. Kaput. The guy scored as many TDs last year as I did, so what made the Browns think he was worth a roster spot? Because he’s big and he used to be good?
It’s SO Cleveland Browns.
I know they want to get something out of their QBs, so why not try and draft/sign a guy who can make a difference at the WR position?
Vince Mayle? Really? cmon guys. Get a WR who can actually play. GOod thing they got rid of that Charles Johnson fella.
Desir has the injury impact. Bowe has the stink impact.
I don’t know if this means much. I don’t think the Browns would have kept Bowe if they didn’t actually intend on giving him a bunch of targets. He can’t play special teams so it would have made more sense to keep another player and cut Bowe.
I don’t know why I find myself making excuses for Bowe, but I’m still that guy. He received probably the lowest number of targets of any WR1 in the league last year. He had almost 20 fewer targets than Andrew Hawkins in the same number of games. Having seen Andy Reid’s WR-averse offenses in Philly and KC over the past decade plus, I want to see a year of Bowe before determining whether he’s really not worthy of being a WR1.
Same here. Bowe had exactly as many TDs last year as every other WR on the KC roster – and many of those guys are still on the KC team. Pretty sure Bowe is 3rd string now because he just has not had much work.
I understand Bowe much more than Mayle. Bowe, at least, we just money that we had (and still have plenty more cap room to not burn).
wait, wait, wait…..
“Having seen Andy Reid’s WR-averse offenses in Philly and KC over the past decade plus, I want to see a year of Bowe before determining whether he’s really not worthy of being a WR1.”
and just how are you going to see that version of Bowe in this Cleveland offense? The guy is not a playmaker, Andy Reid or no Andy Reid.
Over the last 3 seasons total, Bowe has caught 176 balls on 315 targets. Last year he had 96 targets and caught 60.
Desean Jackson had a simliar amount of targets and catches but at least he scored 6 TDs on a terrible offense. He also had over 400 more yards than Bowe. Rookie Allen Hurns had similar target/catches numbers but he also produced 6 TDs. On Jacksonville.
Andre Holmes and Mychal Rivera, both of Oakland, had similar targets (less yards) with 4 TDs each.
Are TDs overrated? Maybe by mathematicians, but not by football players. And Bowe is, plainly, not much of a football player.
completely agree. As I looked at who was available in the 4th round, I can’t say i would have taken anyone else, since I really didn’t know the guys. But Bowe was just a way for the Browns to get rid of a few bucks while covering their butts.
But you’re talking about him not getting TDs and then failing to mention that he was rarely targeted in the red zone. Which is weird, because he’s clearly not a stretch-the-defense YAC receiver, he’s a possession/red-zone target. So that shows me why Reid was willing to let him go… he likes to use his RBs and TEs in the red zone and didn’t feel like he needed a WR in those spots. Bowe received 8 red zone targets last season… good for 96th in the NFL. Some TE on the Colts named Jack Doyle and Travaris Cadet received as many red zone targets as Bowe (btw Bowe caught 6 of those 8 targets).
I am on record as having really liked Tony Lippett of the WRs drafted after Mayle. If nothing else, he can catch the football. We’ll see how he does (sort of blocked in a stacked Miami WR group).
Farmer’s only saving grace on Mayle is that he picked up Ifo and Telfer picks when he did the trade down with the Cardinals.
Where can I buy a Hughlett jersey?
So many things Cleveland Browns including this Moeller debacle. It just won’t stop.
Jeremy Maclin is now on the Chiefs as well. Wanna bet he finds the endzone?
Imagine if our 7th wide receiver wasn’t a quarterback!
Chicken/egg? Egg/chicken?
We’ll know in a few short months!
very fair point. I may have been better served with more in-depth research. However, my general point is still the same: you don’t get shut out of the end zone if you are a playmaker.
Catch a pass. Recover a fumble. Return a kick. Run a reverse. Run past your guy. There are many ways to skin a cat, and Bowe is without a knife.
touche!
Lippett – totally remember him. i agree again. I can’t say truthfully that I was angry they didn’t take Lippett instead, but prior to the draft he was a guy I thought they could target late.
Wow did the Dolphins move Lippett to CB? Is that weird? I’ve never seen him play.
When the Spartans lost CB after CB, Lippett went to the coaches and demanded he play 2-ways. He said he could help the team. And, he was incredibly impressive doing it.
Stacked Dolphins WR group, so I heard they were tinkering with him at CB, but I didn’t pay enough attention to see that they made that position switch stick.
Only third team right now on their depth chart there, but obviously lots of development to do on that side of the ball.
Or, we’ll have chicken salad.
So a chicken/egg situation is also a win/win situation? Nice.
Based on what I saw last night, maybe he should be our number one WR!
I guess if you’re looking for the names of the Browns starting WRs, all you need to do is grab a depth chart and look…somewhere over Dwayne Bowe
https://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m40siwa3va1ro6db1o1_400.gif
I’m so sorry.
Yeah, a rushing touchdown, lol
Still counts but just watch KC WRs will end up with more TDs then CLE!
well done, sir.