2017 Cleveland Browns Preview
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Transactions
Key Additions: C JC Tretter, OG Kevin Zeitler, DE Myles Garrett, SS Jabrill Peppers, TE David Njoku, WR Kenny Britt
Key Subtractions: QB Robert Griffin III, WR Andrew Hawkins, QB Josh McCown, DB Tramon Williams, WR Terrelle Pryor, DT Stephen Paea, S Jordan Poyer
Strengths
After going just 1-15 last campaign, the Browns’ top brass deemed it necessary to invest in their offensive line for the upcoming season. And that they did, signing center JC Tretter and guard Kevin Zeitler in free agency and giving Joel Bitonio a lucrative long-term extension. With Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas remaining the anchor for the Browns O-line, what was once a weakness for Cleveland is now a major strength. That’s certainly great news for the Browns’ backs who will have more chances to gain some yards on the ground this season. They averaged 107.0 rushing yards per game last year, 19th in the NFL.
Weaknesses
RGIII is now gone but the quarterback dilemma remains for Browns head coach Hue Jackson. Cody Kessler, DeShone Kizer and Brock Osweiler are locked in a tight battle for the starting QB position but unfortunately for Browns fans, none of these three options inspire confidence right now. Kessler went 0-8 in his eight starts last season before sitting out the final five games for Cleveland with a concussion.
Kizer, on the other hand, is a rookie and still has a ways to go in the NFL. The 21-year-old Ohio native completed only 58.7 percent of his passes last year and fumbled 13 times in his two seasons with Notre Dame. Kizer has the biggest upside among the three but don’t expect too much from the youngster in his debut season.
The biggest question mark at this point is Brock Osweiler. He finished 29th out of 30 eligible NFL quarterbacks last season with a dismal 72.2 rating, and was fourth-worst with a 59 completion percentage. Osweiler threw only 15 touchdowns against 16 interceptions, and was benched by the Texans in favor of Tom Savage with the playoffs on the line. Can he revive his once-promising career in Cleveland? That we shall all find out.
Key Player – Myles Garrett
The Browns’ reward for their abysmal performance last season is top pick Myles Garrett and they surely hope that he is finally the answer to their long-standing problem in defense. Drafting the defensive end was a no-brainer for the Browns as their biggest problem last season was their lack of pass rush. Garrett was a beast for Texas A&M in that department, compiling 32.5 sacks in three seasons with the Aggies. He finished his three-year college career with 145 total tackles, including 48.5 tackles for loss. The Browns will need Garrett to deliver quickly if they are to become legit contenders in the AFC North.
Key Game – vs. Pittsburgh (September 10)
The Browns will already have their backs against the wall in the opening week versus the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers. A win against one of the league’s best teams would be a perfect way to kick off their 2017 campaign, but a fairly close game should actually suffice as a victory for Hue Jackson’s men. Ultimately, it will serve as a good measure in finding out if Cleveland is indeed heading towards the right direction this season.
2016 Team Stats
| Category | Stat (Rank) |
|---|---|
| Points per game | 16.5 (#31) |
| Passing yards per game | 204.0 (#28) |
| Rushing yards per game | 107.0 (#19) |
| Scoring defense | 28.2 (#30) |
Writer’s Prediction
The Browns, who are priced at +30,000 to win the Super Bowl, finish dead last in the AFC North with a 3-13 record.
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