What a whirlwind for the Cleveland Browns in the past two days. After their final preseason game, the Browns coaching staff and GM Andrew Berry had nothing but decisions to make.
But here is the thing: a lot of these decisions had nothing to do with the preseason games. Why? None of the Browns players faced the starting offensive and defensive units of any of the 31 NFL clubs. How is an evaluation done for any player who dominates against another team’s second team?
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Here are some things on my mind regarding the last few days:
1. First, let’s get to the elephant in the room: Luke Floriea. The talented receiver was the darling of the Browns’ preseason games, getting open frequently, juking out defenders, and scoring three touchdowns, including two in one contest. But hold on for a sec. All of that was against all three opponents’ second-team defensive units. Not a single defensive starter covered Floriea, so yeah, he looked great.
The starters that did cover Floriea were the Browns’ defensive starters in practice, mainly Denzel Ward and Tytus Campbell.Remember, Cleveland’s defense was ranked #4 last year. What did Floriea do against those two corners? Get wide open, juke them out, and score a ton of touchdowns? Or get stifled?
Here’s another thought. Greg Larvadain, Malachi Corley, and Tylan Wallace are all returners as well as receivers. With all the new bodies in the Browns receiver room this year, the final two guys in this group aren’t going to see the field much, unless they can offer the ability to return punts and kickoffs. My guess is that because both Corley and Wallace are returners, this aspect kicked Floriea out the door. Plus, Floriea cannot remain engaged in downfield blocking.
Now, did Berry call Floriea back to be added to the practice squad? Or did the young receiver decide to move on after getting waived by two sets of Cleveland coaching staffs? Keep in mind, none of the other NFL clubs put in a waiver claim on him. And as the Browns proceed with Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, and Isaiah Bond, if any of these were to be injured and end up on IR, all Berry has to do is claim Floriea off another team’s practice squad list.
2. Another surprise cut was OG KT Leveston. I really thought he had found his groove after being moved from offensive tackle inside to guard. He did well in preseason against other teams’ second-string defensive units. In fact, the second-team offensive line looked great in all of the preseason games. Usually, bigger guys like Leveston (6’-4”, 335 pounds) don’t do well on the interior. But he has that versatility to move over if needed, or become a swing tackle.
Leveston would have been the backup behind RG Teven Jenkins (or rookie Austin Barber), who has not only been thrust into the starting lineup but has also missed time in camp with an injury and, early in training camp, complained of a stiff back.
3. Okay, rookie offensive lineman Austin Barber really showed out in training camp.He was smooth in preseason games and is further along than the coaches thought he would be. Referring back to Leveston, Barber just might be the reason they let him go. Barber played a ton of snaps at offensive guard in preseason, but is listed on the depth chart at RT behind Tytus Howard.
Barber is a guy who has had a slew of college offers since leading his high school team to the 3A State Championship. Barber started 33 games at left tackle and two games at right tackle for Florida and was a two-and-a-half-year starter. In his junior year, his pass-blocking grade was 70.9. He provides a quality blocker who has every opportunity to become the starter next year, but at this moment provides quality depth in the event of an injury. His ability to drop insideis a huge advantage.
4. Another perplexing rookie is TE Joe Royer. He was earmarked to become a part of the final roster, but has been AWOL with a “personal issue.” What is this such a secret? Some digging has found nothing. Berry isn’t saying, nor is head coach Todd Monken. If it is a health issue with himself or a family member, then just tell us so that we will know and then quit asking. This happened when he played for Ohio State, and his mom became ill. He then transferred to the University of Cincinnati, his hometown. But everyone knew without prying. At least the Browns’ front office placed him on the reserve/non-football illness list to retain him, so they must believe he is coming back at some point.
5. Well, the quarterback room issue worked itself out. Dillon Gabriel having a “back issue” is pretty suspect, but it keeps him in-house until the franchise can sort things out.Apparently, he became injured on a third-down run, yet he was seen on the field after the game interacting with friends and former teammates without any issue. He is slated to come off IR in four weeks. If you ask me, it just delays the decision to get rid of one of the four in this group, or at least have to deal with the logjam. Surely, the Browns are not going to keep four QBs, right?
But here are my thoughts. The year when Deshaun Watson was suspended for 11 games is the only season he played in Cleveland where he did not get injured. Not to jinx Watson, but he is injury-prone. Perhaps the thoughtprocess with the coaches has been that at some point, he will end up hurt once again. Okay, then bring in Shedeur Sanders as the new starting QB. But here’s the rub: do you want Sanders’ backup to be the rookie, Taylen Green? Great athlete, exceptional runner, horrible accuracy. Yeah, that Taylen Green. Just maybe, by the time the team is putting Watson on IR is when Gabriel will become available. And now, Sanders’ backup is the more experienced Gabriel instead of an unproven rookie or having to scour the free agent list for an experienced backup QB.
6. Speaking of Green, he should be moved.In my interview with Hall of Famereceiver Paul Warfield, he told me he had played a bit of receiver in high school, but was a running back first and made All-State in that position. When he arrived at Ohio State, he was moved to the defensive backfield, but also played some running back up until he graduated. He was drafted as a cornerback. In his rookie training camp, Browns head coach Blanton Collier took him out of the defensive back group and asked him to play some receiver. In one day, Warfield became a receiver for Cleveland, where he won three rings and became a part of the NFL’s 100-year Team.
That could be Green’s story as well. I saw him at this year’s Senior Bowl, and quarterback was on my list to interview. After seeing him run, dodge, and weave, I was excited for our impending talk. But then, seeing him in the 7-on-7s, he couldn’t hit anything: too high, too far, sailed this, behind the receiver, you name it. I scratched him off my list. But if Green was to be moved to receiver or tight end, with his athletic ability and running skills,he would excel. Now, can he catch?
7. Monken’s offense usually keeps four tight ends on the roster. But with the addition of FB Michael Burton, that eliminated the need. Burton is not only a true fullback, but he is able to line up in traditional tight end and H-back spots. Will be interesting to see if Monken will use him in the backfield in front of Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, or if he will line up just to the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle or tight end.
Long gone are the days of seeing duo backs like Emmitt Smith with FB Moose Johnson in front of him. Hard to believe that some of Cleveland’s best running backs were actually listed as fullbacks: Jim Brown, Marion Motley, Kevin Mack, Lawrence Vickers, and Leroy Hoard (who was listed as RB/FB).
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8. The roster has its fair share of undrafted players, but none more so than the defense. The only starter is S Ronnie Hickman, but with the backups, there are quite a few: LB Easton Mascaranas-Arnold, DT Adin Huntington, LB Winston Reid, CB Michael Coats, Jr., and S Donovan McMillon. Both Coats and McMillon are two young guys who had a great training camp. Each will have to fill a key role as a depth player.
The safety room received rookie Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in this year’s NFL draft, who impressed and almost instantly became this group’s third safety. But McMillon had to battle it out with veteran Daniel Thomas and another undrafted guy, Chris Edmonds, who has been on the Browns for two years, either on the active roster or on the practice squad. McMillon offers defensive help, but his role on special teams won him a spot. He is a tackling maniac. The Browns did keep Thomas as the room’s fifth safety and waived Edmonds. DC Mike Rutenberg does go into some three-safety looks.
Coats came into camp and wowed everyone before he became injured. He had been signed with a $100,000 guarantee, so Berry had him pegged from the beginning. Coats showed he can ball out as an undrafted rookie and had a 40-yard time of 4.41. He did have a slight ankle injury during the first preseason game, and then a second leg injury arose. But he has shown quite a bit in training camp with a spectacular interception against the Chicago Bears. If he can remain healthy, the coaching staff believes that Coats can provide good depth plus value on special teams. He may not play right away, but once he heals, he should become an asset.
Here at DBN, we reported that the Browns’ depth at cornerback was suspect. Not that there weren’t enough bodies in training camp to fill the void, but the number of quality guys who could come on the field and ball out was in question. But now that the air has cleared, Berry picked up former Buffalo Bills CB Torniano Pride, Jr.and Mekhi Blackmon from the Indianapolis Colts, then retained Coats.
9. Losing out on LB Devin Bush in free agency was a huge blow. He had great tackle numbers, and I thought Berry should have pursued him more and given him an extension. But Quincy Williams is filling that void and will do great things with Carson Schwesinger.
But the player who shined in preseason was fifth-round rookie Justin Jefferson. He isn’t listed as a starter – yet – but showed flashes that he could hold his own once his number is called. We saw last year that rookie linebackers can be explosive and contribute. Jefferson is quick too, with his 4.57 speed. Has instantly found a role on special teams on kickoff and punt coverage, but will get his fair share of defensive snaps.
Jefferson (6’-1”, 223 pounds) can also change direction quickly and defend sideline-to-sideline. He is a high-character guy and is very humble, coming from a single-parent home who went the community college route. Jefferson is a headhunter and a striker. He never takes off plays. Some scouting reports suggested that if he were two inches taller, he would have been a bona fide second-round pick.
10. I am still concerned about the pass rushers. Alex Wright was not a fav of mine, but he was an able body. Opposite Jared Verse, are the Browns in trouble? Isaiah McGuire, to me, is more of a rotation guy rather than the starter who will get over 70% of defensive snaps.
Berry did sign veteran Derek Barnett, who has a ton of talent and experience and is a former first-round draft pick. He is just 30-years old, but started just one game in the past two seasons, although he played in 33 games during this time span. He played under Jim Schwartz while with the Philadelphia Eagles, so he is familiar with the defensive scheme in Cleveland. But he is called for far too many penalties and has an inconsistent pass rush. Although Barnett is entering his 10th NFL season, he is rotational at best.
Now that the dust has settled, what are your thoughts on the Browns roster?
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