Despite my natural skepticism about this team borne from over two decades of fandom, it’s hard to avoid feeling optimistic about the coming season.
So for the 4th of July, let’s talk about four reasons I see to be optimistic, and four reasons that give me pause.
Matt Ryan’s back in the building
Ryan is, unsurprisingly, universally liked and deeply respected in Flowery Branch, and players and coaches alike have had nothing but good things to say about his level of involvement and investment. I am excited about the impact he’s going
to have on this team. Ryan knows how to win, and I believe his influence can create a winning culture around this team.
Jeff Ulbrich’s Year 2
Ulbrich’s defense was so much fun to watch last year, and while we’ve got questions (how hard will the departure of Kaden Elliss be on this unit, for starters), I still expect to see progress in Year 2, and if guys like
Bijan Robinson
I don’t even need to explain this one. Y’all have seen him play, and he’s a fantastic teammate and a steady leader the team needs with all of the changes it’s navigating.
Kevin Stefanski
People point to his overall record (45-56) in Cleveland to dispute the two-time Coach of the Year’s abilities, but when he won the award in 2020, he’d taken the Browns from 6-10 in 2019 under Freddie Kitchens to 11-5 and a 48-37 Wild Card win over the Steelers. (They lost in the Divisional Round to the Chiefs, 22-17.)
The second time he won, he also took the Browns to 11-5 and the playoffs, an ugly 45-14 Wild Card loss to the Texans. And they won those 11 games in the regular season despite starting FIVE different quarterbacks over the course of the season — Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, P.J. Walker, and Jeff Driskel.
There are also reasons to not be optimistic, but I don’t want to belabor mine:
- I expect James Pearce Jr. to face at least a six-game suspension and I don’t know if the league will wait for his diversion program to be completed before making a decision about that. The uncertainty of that timing isn’t great. It seems like, from what players and coaches said on the day of minicamp I was able to get to Flowery Branch for, he has a really strong support system in the building at least, and I sincerely hope he learns and grows from this experience.
- We don’t have any way to know when Michael Penix will be medically cleared. Penix loves the game and desperately wants to be out there, and I know he’s working so hard to rehab and get ready, but it’s not worth the long-term risk if he isn’t fully healthy, so I worry about him pushing to get back out there too soon.
- I also worry about Tua’s health, and for reasons that are bigger than football. I really hope he stays healthy.
- Kaleb McGary’s retirement came as a surprise, and I may feel more optimistic about this spot after the preseason. It depends on where Jawaan Taylor is in his recovery from the triceps and elbow injuries he suffered last season, and how the competition with Wanya Morris and Michael Jerrell goes.
TWhy do you think we should be optimistic about this season, and why shouldn’t we be? Tell us in the comments.
