WFNY Roundtable: 2016 thoughts as Browns travel to Seattle

Wow. So, we were reminded what a win looks like, and at home no less. Johnny Manziel had his best game as a Cleveland Brown (so far), and even his most ardent detractors started to anticipate Brett Favre comparisons. Really, all fans of the Browns, whether living in Northeast Ohio or if they are always the away fan, were left to wonder who those freaking guys in Browns uniforms dominating the San Francisco 49ers were. Well, except for Terrelle Pryor who was as absent statistically active as he ever was inactive.

The 2015 season is in the books as far as games that matter. So, the WFNY gang will turn our focus to the future as we discuss the upcoming game against the Seattle Seahawks.

2016 Browns Offense

What does Johnny Manziel need to do the rest of the season to stake his claim as the Week 1 starting quarterback of 2016 for the Browns? Or, is it too late?

Craig: I have no idea. The state of this franchise is such that anyone who says they know has no idea. Is Haslam married to Manziel? What will the new coach think? Will they keep Kevin O’Connell regardless of what happens with the rest of the coaching staff? This organization is so up in the air, that it’s hard to even rank the importance of Johnny Manziel continuing to play well. If he does it might earn him a trade out of town depending on the next coaching staff, front office or status quo.

Joe: Johnny has to do two things in my eyes in order to be considered the Week 1 starter next season. On the field, he must continue to show the improvement he has shown this season. He needs to keep getting better. That leads to the second thing. He must remain a professional on and off the field. He has to work incredibly hard at practice and the film room to show teammates and coaches he is someone who they can trust. He also must stay on the straight and narrow off the field and not make news with off-field incidents.

Michael: Well, going into the most difficult stadium for a visiting team and showing poise and big plays against a still really good defense would go a long way (and is probably too big of an ask). Really though with Seattle, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh still remaining on the schedule, Manziel needs to demonstrate an ability to continue to improve. On the field, he can certainly make his case these next few weeks. Off the field? Well, I am not sure though, contrary to popular belief, I think his odds improve if Pettine and staff are retained.

Josh: It’s simple: play well. Even if the team doesn’t win, if Johnny shows that he can control the pocket, the pass game, and the offense, he will make a case that he should remain the starting quarterback in Week 1 of 2016.

Scott: Regardless of what the Browns’ plans are for 2016, everyone’s best interests would be served if Manziel continues to grow in his pre-snap reads, post-snap decision-making, and off-field prowess. I have the Browns not winning any of these next three games, but as long as these losses are in spite of Manziel instead of because of him, I think there’s a shot he’s the option next season considering the suspect quarterback class coming out.

Will: No comment.

Richard: The Browns may actually still consider Manziel a viable future starting QB — or they may have plans to jettison him before next season. For all concerned, it’s best we don’t know. Either way, for Manziel to stake his claim to ANY starting QB in the NFL he obviously has to stay out of trouble and out of the scandal spotlight. On the field he’s making good progress, but further progress will require a less tempestuous mindset on his part. Avoid temper tantrums and acts of desperation, whether it’s ill-advised throws or trying to make too much out of a run, to protect himself and the ball.

Can Isaiah Crowell do enough over the last few games to keep a place on the 2016 roster after his disastrous season?

Craig: For sure, I think he can keep a place on the 2016 roster. The question is if he can do enough to keep the Browns from finding his future competition in the draft or via free agency. Crowell shows potential still, but you can’t look at his body of work for this year and think that you’re good at running back.

Joe: I am not a huge fan of Isaiah Crowell and think that Duke Johnson is the future of the running back group. Crowell is just too inconsistent and plays with bad vision to be productive for the team. I would look to add a back this offseason to complement Johnson next season.

Michael: With the year he had, Crowell is likely fighting to remain the third running back on the team for 2016. He absolutely has skills as a runner, but he has rarely showcased them this season. He has a much longer history now on the field and I do not believe there is much way the Browns cannot attempt to find a better top option for running back going into 2016 (still love Duke Johnson as the Sproles-type guy, but not outside that role).

Josh: Finally, Isaiah Crowell had a very good game against the Niners last week. If he can continue that (or at least some of that) the rest of the season, he could make a case to remain the Browns’ starting running back in 2016. But then again, all season Crowell has been a disappointment, and without a running back that poises a threat, the defenses have been able to key on the passing game, which has proven to be difficult for whoever is behind center for the Browns as well.

Scott: The Browns’ roster is such a mess that I have a feeling he would be around even if he didn’t build off of last week. Let’s be honest: As bad as things are, Crowell is better than Glen Winston. Even if the team addressed the running back position in the spring (as they should), Crow would at least provide depth. That said, this is Duke Johnson’s job going forward. Isaiah will soon be jettisoned to goal line duties.

Will: When you have nothing to say, you must zip it. Zip it good.

Richard: Unless the Browns make some huge moves at RB in the offseason, I would be very surprised if Crowell is not on the roster in 2016. His disappointing season seems as much to do with the Browns overall OL issues (both in the run and protecting the QB) as with any other challenge. I’ve been following six-feet, two-inch Glenn Winston’s progress and was really looking forward to seeing his game. He must have been in there when I blinked. Whack, fumble! Bam, concussion.

What does Terrelle Pryor need to do in order to prove to the NFL he is capable of being an NFL receiver and worthy of a 2016 roster spot on anyone’s roster? Do you think he will be?

Craig: You’d be crazy to imagine a scenario where Pryor has a roster spot with the Browns next season. I guess anything’s possible, especially with as much athletic talent as Pryor was born with, but the Browns have to look at their wide receiver position as one of the biggest priorities regardless of quarterback. Josh Gordon might be back, and they’ve got a lot of “utility” pass-catchers, but if they’re not looking to upgrade overall weaponry, they’re crazy. That could include Pryor, but they better make his task monumentally difficult.

Joe: Terrelle Pryor needs to first get on the field and that can happen through playing well in practice. Pryor has the athleticism to be a receiver in the NFL, but he must develop the skill of being a receiver. He seems to be working hard and trying to learn the receiver position. Pryor must produce on the field in these last few games and show promise that he could develop into something. He cannot continually have a game like last week, where he plays sparingly and with little production. He has to put something on tape for the Browns or the NFL to take a chance on him. I think he will stick in the NFL as a receiver.

Michael: If Pryor can demonstrate fire on the field blocking, while running his routes as precise as possible, then some team will give him a chance in 2016. Players as athletic as Pryor are a scarce commodity, so he is at least worth a roster spot in August. Whether or not he has a roster spot next September will have more to do with his work from January through July than anything he does these last few games.

Josh: The potential is obviously there, but the tall, lengthy receiver needs to show that he can actually be a good wide receiver. Whether it is catching the ball downfield or blocking in the run game, Terrelle Pryor must prove to the Browns (and all of the league) that he is worthy of being a receiver in the NFL. Honestly, with how much potential and his body type, he will be on a roster in 2016 no matter if he has a coach the rest of the season or not.

Scott: I know TP didn’t do much last week in a game where everyone was contributing, but he was on the field for a slew of snaps and was throwing a few blocks down field where he could. (Crowell’s second big run came with Pryor running with him stride for stride.) I presume the Browns will have to use him in some fashion this week with the injury to Brian Hartline and waiving of Darius Jennings. How that is, however, will be interesting to watch.

Will: No, seriously. No comment.

Richard:  Interesting that the Browns OC John DeFilippo mentioned the emphasis he’s been placing on WR’s not “tiptoeing through the tulips” on their pass routes. I’m guessing that Pryor may be among those looking tentative or insecure in their routes. It’s difficult to judge that on game day with TV coverage the way it is. It also seems impossible to discuss next year when we haven’t seen anything this year. I sure hope we see that big, explosive athlete in action very soon. Stay tuned!

2016 Browns Defense

Do you believe there is a chance Tashaun Gipson is back with the team in 2016? Would they consider the tag on him when Mitchell Schwartz, Travis Benjamin, and Alex Mack all might also deserve it?

Craig: (I don’t believe they can tag Alex Mack.) Mitchell Schwartz is 1A in terms of importance for me with Tashaun Gipson being 1B. I hope the Browns get all of these players back and they should be able to do so without tagging. These are the kinds of players that could really help you take a step forward in terms of ability and maximizing continuity. Sometimes when a team is bad, continuity is undersold for trying something new, but that’s a fool’s errand after a while as nobody gets a chance to grow within a system.

Joe: I do not like the chances of the Browns being able to keep Tashaun Gipson. After not being able to sign him to a long-term contract last offseason, the odds of him staying dropped dramatically. If I were the Browns, I would franchise tag him. The Browns cannot afford to lose one of their best players. The future of the secondary would be completely different without Gipson. I would do anything I could to keep him.

Michael: First, I believe Craig is correct on player-options making them non-taggable (doh). Tashaun is player with an outstanding skillset who plays a needed position for the Browns. But, if we need to do value judgements, then I would have him behind Mitchell Schwartz. Gipson is a better player than Schwartz, but it is more difficult to find a replacement right tackle. And, hopefully, Benjamin is close to re-signing ahead of a needed tag.

Josh: Well, hoping that he is back and thinking that he will be back are unfortunately not the same thing. Although I hope he is, the way he has played (when he hasn’t been hurt) and the money that he will probably ask for may not be worth it, especially when the Browns have players like Schwartz, Benjamin, and Mack that all need extensions as well. Here’s to hoping the front office decides to bring all of them back in 2016.

Scott: I hope they can get something worked out if only because his absence will create a giant hole at a position of strength. Letting him walk and then signing a veteran a la Donte Whitner may mean good things for the locker room, but there is no way I believe this team is more talented without T.J. Ward. Good news for the Browns is that Gip’s 2015 season has lowered his value compared to last spring. Whether or not the player agrees, however, is the wild card. The team is in a very weird spot where all of their performers just so happened to be in contract years. Letting them go elsewhere would be a huge blow to an already dismantled 53.

Will: I am not at liberty to say.

Richard:  Sure, there’s a chance, given what none of us knows … whether he’s already made up his mind to leave. What do these players really think about this organization, the GM, the coaches? What I’d like to think is that Pettine is seen as a fair coach and that, in spite of this season’s record, there is a good chance to make forward progress in the next year or two. But if Pettine is fired, I think that would actually motivate more players to leave the sinking ship.

Of the seven players who registered a sack against the San Francisco 49ers (Armonty Bryant, Nate Orchard, Desmond Bryant, Christian Kirksey, Jordan Poyer, Donte Whitner, and Xavier Cooper), which of them do you believe can be a consistent pass rush threat moving forward?

Craig: Nate Orchard and Armonty Bryant are my futures at pass rush. I like Kirksey and Cooper as well, but my belief is in betting on Bryant and Orchard. The real problem is that you didn’t get to add Mingo to this question. His defenders won’t be able to talk about him playing with only one arm this year. He is a disappointment with two arms as well.

Joe: I think Xavier Cooper can develop into a consistent pass rushing threat. His speed and burst off the line is very good. He just needs more development and experience in the NFL to pair with his talent to lift him to the level of a consistent pass rusher. Cooper has the skills to be just that for the Browns in the future.

Michael: I am not sure Cooper will see the field enough to be what I would consider consistent. He seems more a pure pass rush specialist DL type of player. So, Nate Orchard is my pick as he has an ability to become a complete OLB who can also get to the quarterback. He has a bunch of work to get to that point, but the rookie has impressed at times this season.

Josh: The Bryants. Both on the defensive line, they must be able to put pressure on the opposing quarterback. Not only will that slow down the run game, but it will also move the quarterback out of the pocket on passing downs as well. Obviously, any pass rush is good, but players like Donte Whitner and Jordan Poyer are going to be in pass coverage more often than they will put pressure on the opposing backfield.

Scott: The Bryants and Nate Orchard. I think Cooper could provide a pass-rush (alongside Jamie Meder), but the guys the team will have to count on are the young guns and the veteran in Desmond. I love Chris Kirskey, by the way, but would much prefer he work sideline to sideline.

Will: I plead the fifth.

Richard:  In matchups with the opponent’s OL, I’d go with the bigger guys, the Bryants and Xavier Cooper, and Nate Orchard. Those who have the potential to go through you as well as around you.

What other defenders are you watching as the season comes to a slow close? What struggling player do you want most to impress down the stretch?

Craig: I just hope I’m done watching Johnson Bademosi in coverage. I really do love the guy, but he’s a special teams player and that’s it. There’s no actual reason to see him play another snap in coverage.

Joe: I would love to see more of Pierre Desir, Charles Gaines and Nate Orchard. I think these three players could be part of the future. Desir has the talent to be a starting corner, but his absence on the field has been very dumbfounding. Charles Gaines has struggled so far this season, but I think he has the upside to be a productive corner. Nate Orchard had his best game of the season versus the 49ers. So, I am looking for him to continue to build off that success. I am also hoping that the struggling Danny Shelton can improve in these last few games and go into the offseason with momentum.

Michael: I’m honing in on Christian Kirksey. The guy has played really well lately and I want to see him continue on his upward trajectory. Also, I’d love to see Gilbert get back on the field and see if he can prove himself either worthy or not worthy of keeping for next season. Hate to have an injury make the decision for us.

Josh: Wish I could put Joe Haden’s name here, but that obviously isn’t going to happen. Considering the fact that Danny Shelton has struggled for the majority of his rookie season (both on defense and the field goal blocking side), I’m going to be keeping an eye on him and hopefully, hopefully he can somewhat turn it around and not be another disappointing first round pick for the Browns.

Scott: I’ll go with Kirksey again. I think he’s done a wonderful job learning under Karlos Dansby, and with Craig Robertson looking at a contract negotiation himself, I think the middle will be all Chris’ come 2016.

Will: Mums the word.

Richard:  Obviously, we’d all like to see Danny Shelton to make a big splash in the remaining games. Also, the coaches have been high on Charles Gaines so I’d like to see him stop getting turned around in circles in protection.