Kevin Love’s Hall of Fame credentials: While We’re Waiting…
July 26, 2018Kevin Love Re-signs and We’ve Got Podcasts: While We’re Waiting
July 27, 2018Welcome to the 20th season of the new iteration of Cleveland Browns football, and welcome to my coverage of 2018 Browns training camp. This upcoming season for the Browns second decade in the factory sadness along the shores of Lake Erie, yes, very well may be the most intriguing one yet.
This year’s squad features a team that is coming off the second 0-16 season in NFL history, under the leadership of a head coach that has only won one football game off a miracle field goal block on Christmas Eve.
The storylines will be flowing but as of now, the biggest annual storyline of all is currently postponed for the time being. The Browns potentially have their best quarterback under center in over 30 years. Tyrod Taylor led the hopeless Buffalo Bills to their first playoff performance since… 1999 — ending the longest current drought in the NFL last season. Ironically, it took a miracle from one of Hue Jackson’s most successful by-products at the quarterback position Andy Dalton (whew), to beat the Baltimore Ravens sending the Bills into the postseason. Could this season entail similar storylines for the Browns?
Here is to presenting 20 predictions for the 2018 Browns, including what could shake out from Berea during training camp.
- Tyrod Taylor secures the already secured quarterback position
Jackson has mentioned on multiple occasions that Taylor is the Browns starting quarterback. Future Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas took that statement to a whole new level, expressing that he thinks Taylor could be… a Hall of Famer himself!? The reviews on Taylor have been quite positive following a solid spring, and this is surely his football team… for now.
- Baker Mayfield has some ups and some miserable downs
On the flip side of the quarterback wonders, the first overall pick just officially inked his contract to officially make him a Brown. Throughout the spring practice sessions, the former Heisman trophy winning quarterback looked like a rookie quarterback. With a deep and talented Browns defense, they are not going to make it easy on the future of the franchise during Mayfield’s first training camp. He is expected to push Taylor for the starting job in camp, but will not do nearly enough to unseat the Browns starting passer.
- Duke Johnson becomes the feature back
What!? Johnson finally earning the role he deserves!? Yes, the recently extended back wins the number one running back role to begin the regular season. He is one of the league’s most underrated offensive talents and even with the additions of Nick Chubb and Carlos Hyde, I think he becomes the starting running back.
- Antonio Callaway emerges as the Browns second starting receiver
With the absence of Josh Gordon, the uncertainty regarding Corey Coleman, and Ricardo Louis being out for the season with a neck injury, the Browns receiving corps is in immediate need for a reliable outside pass catcher. Callaway spent last season away from football and is hunting for a promising position in orange and brown. The way it has fallen out, it’s Callaway’s job to win, if he takes up the challenge.
- Shon Coleman wins the starting left tackle competition
I have tried to talk myself into rookie second-round pick Austin Corbett winning the job so many times, but I cannot successfully do it. It sounds like the job is essentially being battled between Coleman and former second overall pick Greg Robinson. This is by far the biggest glaring weakness on the team, and there a number of guys who could potentially fall into that role but right now I still see Coleman.
- Mychal Kendricks cements himself into a starting role
To say the Browns have one of the strongest linebacking groups in the NFL would not be far-fetched. Joe Schobert was tied for the most tackles last season with 144 but with the addition of Kendricks, he will be left as the odd man out. Kendricks alongside Christian Kirksey and Jamie Collins is a threatening middle of the defense.
- EJ Gaines becomes the second starting cornerback alongside Denzel Ward
The Browns secondary has been completely revamped and will look quite different than last season. Ward seems to have already won the primary number one role, but the starting corner opposite of him is wide open. Gaines had a solid season last year for Buffalo and will remain Cleveland’s second starting corner heading into the preseason.
- Jabrill Peppers becomes the odd man out on defense
Ever since Peppers was drafted by the Browns, he has constantly seemed misplaced. It does not help that he will start camp out on PUP with a groin injury, so the uncertainty among the former first-round pick continues. Derrick Kindred seems to be the starting strong safety at this point in time, and starting camp on the sideline will hurt Peppers.
- Briean Boddy-Calhoun hits the trade block
Boddy-Calhoun resided as one of the best nickel cornerbacks in football last season according to Pro Football Focus but is facing lots of adversity in earning his starting nickel position back. The Browns like free agent addition TJ Carrie as their nickel corner, and there have been rumblings that Boddy-Calhoun could be on the trade block.
- Antonio Callaway becomes Browns feature kick/punt returner
Peppers was surprisingly underwhelming last season as a returner after being one of the best in College Football while at Michigan. It is unlikely Duke Johnson/Jarvis Landry are seen as return-men with prominent roles in the offense. Callaway was a prolific returner in college and wins the job in Cleveland.
- Tyrod Taylor throws for 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2018
This stat line seems insane for a Browns quarterback but it is not unchartered territory for Taylor. The former Bills starting quarterback checked both of these boxes off during his first year as starting quarterback in Buffalo. With the noticeable amount of talent on the Browns roster, these numbers being repeated by Taylor is not unlikely.
- David Njoku leads the team in touchdowns
The pictures of Njoku’s off-season workouts are jaw-dropping, to say the least. The second-year tight end out of Miami is primed for a breakout season and will be a big-time mismatch against opposing NFL defenses. With consistent quarterback play, I think this one is a lock.
- Jarvis Landry records 1,300+ receiving yards.
This one does seem a little bit out there, but with Josh Gordon away from the team and no foreseen emergence at the receiver position, this may happen. Landry seems to be the best receiver the franchise has seen in decades, of course discounting Gordon. His role in the offense will obviously be significant.
- Nick Chubb rushes for over 1,000 yards
Johnson and Hyde will receive the majority of carries at the beginning of the season, but as the season runs its course, I believe Chubb will work himself into being the Browns’ bell cow back. Crowell was 147 and 48 yards away respectively from hitting the 1,000-yard mark as the Browns back with helpless play calling from Hue Jackson. With new offensive coordinator Todd Haley behind the play-calling, Chubb will be eyeing a breakout rookie season.
- Duke Johnson finishes 2018 with 1,500+ scrimmage yards for the second straight season
Johnson completed 2017 with 1,041 yards from scrimmage last season and there is no reason he should not crush that mark in 2018 with consistent play-calling. It will be intriguing to see if Haley uses Johnson similar to the way he used Le’Von Bell in Pittsburgh.
- Myles Garrett and Emmanuel Ogbah finish the season with 20 combined sacks as a duo
In 21 games last season, Ogbah and Garrett combined for 11 sacks. Garrett is already one of the league’s best edge rushers, and Ogbah is not that far behind. These two should wreck havoc if they both stay healthy in 2018.
- Larry Ogunjobi leads the team in run stops
Ogunjobi was one of the few bright spots on last year’s miserable team. He already seems to be one of the best young interior defensive linemen in the NFL and dominates in the run game.
- Jamie Collins registers an impressive season
Collins has been just okay so far as a Brown. Last season ended early for the former Patriot, and 2016 was not overly impressive after coming to Cleveland. With talent surrounding Collins, I expect a “breakout season” for the most under-the-radar Browns defenders
- Hue Jackson survives a third season as Browns head coach
Everyone seems to have chalked up Jackson as dead meat before the season has even started, and rightfully so. The Haslam’s seem to love Hue and Dorsey seems to be coming around, as well. There is no reason the Browns should not be much improved in 2018.
- Browns finish the season 5-11
Believe it or not, the Browns were in multiple games late, last season. They simply had the inability to close out football games, and that should change this year. I do not think five wins is impossible, even with a brutal schedule.
This is the beginning of my coverage of Browns training camp. I potentially will be on site for expanded coverage for this year’s practices and will be providing top-notch coverage all throughout camp. Stay tuned for more quality Browns content from WFNY.