1. Sunday, September 13 at Jacksonville (1:00 CBS) 2. Sunday, September 20 Las Vegas (1:00 CBS) 3. Sunday, September 27 at NY Giants (8:20 NBC) 4. Sunday, October 4 Baltimore (4:25 CBS) 5. Monday, October 12 Houston (8:15 ESPN) 6. Sunday, October 18 at Pittsburgh (1:00 CBS) 7. Bye 8. Sunday, November 1 at Dallas (4:25 CBS) 9. Sunday, November 8 Indianapolis (1:00 CBS) 10. Thursday, November 12 at Baltimore (8:20 FOX) 11. Sunday, November 22 Philadelphia (4:25 FOX) 12. Sunday, November 29 at Cincinnati (1:00 CBS) 13. Sunday, December 6 at Tennessee (1:00 CBS) 14. Sunday, December 13 Pittsburgh (4:25 CBS) 15. Sunday, December 20 Washington (1:00 CBS) 16. Sunday, December 27 at NY Jets (1:00 CBS) 17. Sunday, January 3 Cincinnati (1:00 CBS)
Isn’t there a chance the Jacksonville game is scheduled to play in London?
i thought I had read somewhere that Cleveland would not be one of the teams .. they had the list pared down to a few options (JAX is playing 2 straight games in London IIRC)
I hope the Browns get a chance to play on Thanksgiving this year since they are playing at Dallas. I think the last time the Browns played on Thanksgiving was over 30 years ago.
I hope the Browns get a chance to play on Thanksgiving this year since they are playing at Dallas. I think the last time the Browns played on Thanksgiving was over 30 years ago.
We won’t be on thanksgiving ... FOX owns that game in Dallas this year
week 1 : Sun, 09-06 at Tennessee week 2 : Sun, 09-13 vs. Indianapolis week 3 : Mon, 09-21 vs. Baltimore (mon night) week 4 : Sun, 09-27 at New York Giants week 5 : Sun, 10-04 at Cincinnati week 6 : Sun, 10-11 vs. Houston week 7 : Sun, 10-18 vs. Philadelphia (sun night) week 8 : Sun, 10-25 BYE week 9 : Sun, 11-01 at Pittsburgh week 10 : Sun, 11-08 vs. Cincinnati week 11 : Sun, 11-15 at Jacksonville week 12 : Sun, 11-22 vs. Washington week 13 : Thu, 11-26 at Dallas (thu night) week 14 : Sun, 12-06 at New York Jets week 15 : Sun, 12-13 vs. Las Vegas week 16 : Sun, 12-20 vs. Pittsburgh week 17 : Sun, 12-27 at Baltimore
Dallas owns the Thanksgiving afternoon game, so that can’t be the date for our game ... and we can’t play there on Thanksgiving because it’s a FOX game
week 1 : Sun, 09-06 at Tennessee week 2 : Sun, 09-13 vs. Indianapolis week 3 : Mon, 09-21 vs. Baltimore (mon night) week 4 : Sun, 09-27 at New York Giants week 5 : Sun, 10-04 at Cincinnati week 6 : Sun, 10-11 vs. Houston week 7 : Sun, 10-18 vs. Philadelphia (sun night) week 8 : Sun, 10-25 BYE week 9 : Sun, 11-01 at Pittsburgh week 10 : Sun, 11-08 vs. Cincinnati week 11 : Sun, 11-15 at Jacksonville week 12 : Sun, 11-22 vs. Washington week 13 : Thu, 11-26 at Dallas (thu night) week 14 : Sun, 12-06 at New York Jets week 15 : Sun, 12-13 vs. Las Vegas week 16 : Sun, 12-20 vs. Pittsburgh week 17 : Sun, 12-27 at Baltimore
Dallas owns the Thanksgiving afternoon game, so that can’t be the date for our game ... and we can’t play there on Thanksgiving because it’s a FOX game
i can see Cleveland at Dallas for a SNF game. remember, there is now a 3rd Thanksgiving Night Football game on NBC, are they have been putting in as division rivals game. Cleveland at Pittsburgh possibly or Cleveland at Baltimore.
week 1 : Sun, 09-06 at Tennessee week 2 : Sun, 09-13 vs. Indianapolis week 3 : Mon, 09-21 vs. Baltimore (mon night) week 4 : Sun, 09-27 at New York Giants week 5 : Sun, 10-04 at Cincinnati week 6 : Sun, 10-11 vs. Houston week 7 : Sun, 10-18 vs. Philadelphia (sun night) week 8 : Sun, 10-25 BYE week 9 : Sun, 11-01 at Pittsburgh week 10 : Sun, 11-08 vs. Cincinnati week 11 : Sun, 11-15 at Jacksonville week 12 : Sun, 11-22 vs. Washington week 13 : Thu, 11-26 at Dallas (thu night) week 14 : Sun, 12-06 at New York Jets week 15 : Sun, 12-13 vs. Las Vegas week 16 : Sun, 12-20 vs. Pittsburgh week 17 : Sun, 12-27 at Baltimore
Dallas owns the Thanksgiving afternoon game, so that can’t be the date for our game ... and we can’t play there on Thanksgiving because it’s a FOX game
Doesn’t FOX show AFC road games all the time?
not for Thanksgiving ... it just alternates between CBS/FOX .. when FOX has Dallas it’s NFC vs NFC .. when CBS has Dallas it’s AFC vs NFC
The only exception was in 2015 when Carolina went to Dallas and it was on CBS, but that was in the CBA since Carolina’s owner wanted it in there IIRC
There’s been a full NFL schedule being circulated on Twitter ... of course who knows of its validity, but it makes sense.
Teams will all play their 4 games against opposite conference teams first Followed by 2 games against same conference games against like-record opponents Followed by 3 divisional games Followed by 4 games against different division, but same conference teams Followed by 3 divisional games
Here’s what ours is according to the leak:
At Dallas Washington At NY Giants Philadelphia Las Vegas At NY Jets Baltimore At Pittsburgh Cincinnati Bye At Jacksonville Indianapolis At Tennessee Houston Pittsburgh At Baltimore At Cincinnati
I don’t know how to post a picture or I’d post the entire grid schedule
Source: NFL to call off international games this year due to coronavirus ESPN 8:51 AM ET
The NFL will call off its annual International Series games in London and Mexico City this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, a league source told ESPN's Vaughn McClure.
The league will inform teams of its decision either Monday or Tuesday to move those five games back to U.S. stadiums, the source told McClure.
A league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday that he doesn't "think any international games [are] coming this year."
The NFL will release its full 17-game regular-season schedule this week.
The league was set to hold four games in London and one in Mexico City this season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars were slated to play two home games in London's Wembley Stadium. Two other NFL games were to be played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The NFL also was scheduled to play a game at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
AFC South and AFC East both have 2 games each with their opponent coming off of a bye, and AFC West 1 - AFC North none - that's nice for us - but it makes me doubt it is real.
I believe I read in our paper that the games in London and in Mexico were cancelled and moved back to the US by the NFL for this year. We can see something more official later I presume.
We started the season off strong before the bye week with a 5-1 record and then collapsed mid season to fall to 5-4. Recovered to rebound to 7-4 and create hope only to finish the season with 5 straight losses.
1-5 in our Division??? After going 3-3 in a very bad season. And to finish with 5 straight losses when that is when our O and D should be all familiar and working like a machine???
But anyway thank you for the effort...I'm just glad there will be an NFL season!
While it's been our MO in the past, I don't think we split with Cinci. They had a great draft, but they still have holes (assuming Burrow puts together a decent rookie season).
Balt and Pitt are who they are. They're winning at least 1 game vs us, each.
Jets blowing us out? Nah. I think we win that one. I think we lose one of the games against Titans and Colts.
This season, like many preceding it, has lots of ???. If we can build some early momentum, we could be more competitive in some of the tougher late-season games. We have the paper-talent, but any HC's maiden voyage is tough to predict. Also, we gotta see which Mayfield shows up week1 (and so on).
The Browns are going to run the football but hey, red alert, the Browns ran the football in 2019. The way the game is played today, the Browns have to pass too.
There's 3 items I will be watching for that I believe will determine whether the Browns are competitive or not.
1) 3-WR sets, who's going to step up and be the WR 3 that's enough of a threat that they warrant coverage opening it up underneath for Landry and Hooper while forcing the safety to play honest and not rotate toward OBJ. Who is that guy?
2) Red Zone offense: the Browns were 4th in the league at home in red zone offense TD's at 67.86%. They were 25th on the road @ 45.5%. Can we maintain that percentage at home and match it on the road? Critical area of improvement needed by the Browns.
3) 2-minute offense - let's not kid ourselves - one of the reasons that IND (w/Manning), GBP, NEP, and NOS almost always have winning records is they always seem to but some kind on points on the board in the last 2-minutes of the half or game. With the Browns weapons, can they be feared as is NOS, NEP, and GBP are when they get the ball in the last 2-minutes? Until the Browns are that type of team they are just an average team.
That said, I think the Browns lose 3 division games - @ BAL and at home against PIT and Bal.
Non Conference I think they go 3-1 winning @ NYG, WAS, PHI but losing on the road to DAL.
Conference games are a little hairy depending when they play. if they play Las Vegas early I think the Browns lose. If they play them late I think they win. The same can be said about TEN and HOU.
Since we don't know yet, I say they lose @ TEN and at home to HOU but beat Las Vegas at home. They win @NYJ and @ JAC. Finally I think they get upset by Indy with Rivers running a 2-minute drill at the end of the game to beat the Browns on a FG.
That puts the Browns at 9-7 and they miss the playoffs by a game (Indy loss). They finish an improved 5-3 on the road but go a disappointing 4-4 at home.
In 2021, the Browns have GBP, DET, CHI, MIN from the NFC and KCC, LVR, LAC and DEN from the AFC West on the schedule which should be the year the Browns return to the playoffs.
1-5 in our Division??? After going 3-3 in a very bad season. And to finish with 5 straight losses when that is when our O and D should be all familiar and working like a machine???
But anyway thank you for the effort...I'm just glad there will be an NFL season!
jmho
This is not my prediction for our record, it's what an NFL sim gave me for our record this year based on 2019 rosters.
1. Sun 9/13 - Washington (1:00 FOX) 2. Sun 9/20 - at Dallas (1:00 CBS) 3. Sun 9/27 - Philadelphia (1:00 FOX) 4. Mon 10/5 - at NY Giants (8:15 ESPN) 5. Sun 10/11 - Las Vegas (1:00 CBS) 6. Sun 10/18 - at NY Jets (1:00 CBS) 7. Sun 10/25 - Baltimore (1:00 CBS) 8. Thurs 10/29 - at Pittsburgh (8:20 FOX) 9. Sun 11/8 - Cincinnati (1:00 CBS) 10. Sun 11/15 - Indianapolis (1:00 CBS) 11. Bye 12. Sun 11/29 - at Jacksonville (1:00 CBS) 13. Sun 12/6 - Houston (8:20 NBC) 14. Sun 12/13 - at Tennessee (1:00 CBS) 15. Sun 12/20 - at Baltimore (4:25 CBS) 16. Sun 12/26 - Pittsburgh (1:00 CBS) 17. Sun 1/3 - at Cincinnati (1:00 CBS)
NFL Update @MySportsUpdate · 15s NFL schedule leak: Tom Brady's first game with the #Bucs will be in New Orleans vs. Drew Brees and the #Saints, per @nick_underhill . That will be a 4:25 EST game on FOX.
NFL Update @MySportsUpdate · 3s Schedule leak: #Eagles will open up their season in Washington vs. the #Redskins, per @JPFinlayNBCS . Ron Rivera's first game as Washington's HC.
Big news that affects us ... we won’t open against either team
Assuming we actually play, Nashville in early December is pretty good.
I'll probably see some of your there..
Embrace the mid-south. Nashville is a Music HOF city as well. It's actually pretty cool., even if you don't like country music, but you know what? Come down for a weekend, look at tight jeans and boots, you are going to think country music is great....man or woman.
If it is six wins......We're possibly talking a Baker replacement, Odell and Landy cuts/trades, Hunt walking (was going to happen anyway) Vernon not being re-signed (wasn't going to happen anyway), etc.
To me, that seems like a pretty tough schedule considering where we were as a team last year. It doesn't matter though, because I will be stunned if they play this year. If they do I suspect it will be a very condensed schedule. Will the NFL really risk their multi-million dollar player's health? Without a vaccine, nothing has changed... the virus is still around and it isn't going anywhere.
Anything less than 10-6 would be a disappointment.
4th easiest.
Really? It didn't seem like that to me. Starting out with the Ravens is no picnic. IF they play and I doubt that, we will get blasted early and often. Zero PTA's and mini-camps. probably not much camp... New systems on both sides of the ball.... Makes for a bad recipe.
All of us are playing the NFC Least. That division is bad. Probably the worst in the entire NFL.
I am not completely positive, but I am assuming that Baltimore has an easier schedule because they are playing us twice [6 wins] and we are playing them twice [14 wins.] I can't remember how many game the Steelers won. I want to say 8, but it might have been 7. Either way, they had more wins than us, which therefore would make their schedule automatically easier than ours.
Thanks. I really didn't know who had the easier schedules. Just wanted to clarify that before someone called me out. I do think there is a difference between playing a 6 win team twice vs playing a 14 team twice. That was my real point. Just trying to be accurate, but thanks for the info.
KC -10.5 vs HOU NE -6 vs MIA BAL -8 vs CLE Buff -5.5 vs NYJ CAR -1 vs LV SEA -1 @ ATL PHI -6 @ WASH DET -1 vs CHI IND -7.5 @ JAX MIN -3.5 vs GB LAC -4 @ CIN SF -7.5 vs AZ NO -4.5 vs TB DAL -3 @ LAR PITT -3 @ NYG DEN -3 vs Tenn
Tough opener for a brand new coach and system and then play 4 days later but after that it seems pretty favorable. I know I'm going to try to make one or both of the NY games as I live 30 minutes from Met Life. Lots of friends in both the Jets and Giants circles. Wife's family is die hard Giants fans. If not for all this Covid madness and disruptions for a new team I would be more optimistic than I was last year by a good margin.
Assuming we actually play, Nashville in early December is pretty good.
I'll probably see some of your there..
Embrace the mid-south. Nashville is a Music HOF city as well. It's actually pretty cool., even if you don't like country music, but you know what? Come down for a weekend, look at tight jeans and boots, you are going to think country music is great....man or woman.
We'll be there if the season happens and they have fans at the stadiums.
I wish they scheduled more Saturday, December games. 5 games, week 15 and week 16, are listed as a Sunday game, with a TBD start time. I’m guessing at least 2 of those games will be flexed into Saturday. I feel like there were 2 weeks of Saturday games last year, with 3 games each day. Maybe here were only 2 games though.
If it were up to me, I’d put half of all NFL games on Saturdays, after college championship weekends. Saturday NFL is fun.
I will never blame anyone for predicting doom and gloom for this team. They've earned every bit of pessimism they can get.
But that schedule is ridiculously easy. I mean if the Browns can't do anything with that schedule and Baker can't get on track with that schedule then I don't know what to say. We don't even need a great coach. Stefanski needs to be somewhat competent and not fall to pieces and the season should be a success.
I think we even take Baltimore game 1. I see Baltimore taking a step back this year.
Yeah, I’m certainly not an optimist as we all know ... but this is an easier schedule than last season’s.
Sure Baltimore is tough week 1, but week 2 we play at home on a short week in prime time against Cincy .. followed by another home game against Washington on more rest.
If we are anything worse than 2-1 we should be ashamed
The first 9 weeks of the season will be interesting with PIT and BAL having byes in week 8 and the Browns and Bengals in week 9. Weeks 10-17 become interesting because they are all on the same w-l schedule with byes gone. BAL and PIT have more difficult scheduled in the beginning which helps the Browns become more fluid as the season progresses.
I also think the Jackson factor in BAL will be much different this year because teams will develop ways to stop Jackson and force him to pass. Much like teams did against RG III, Vick, Newton and so forth. Not saying Jackson will be stopped but he'll definitely see different defenses this year that I believe will confuse him at times.
Thru the first 9 weeks I see:
BAL at 6-2 with losses to KCC at home and @ HOU CLE at 5-3 with losses @ BAL, @ DAL and @ PIT PIT at 4-4 with losses At home to HOU and road losses @ TEN, @BAL, @ DAL CIN at 1-7 with a home win against JAC
The second half of the season will be wide open with the Browns having an advantage of having the BAL and PIT game rematches at home.
Questions abundant at this time as to which Mayfield does the team have? Is LT and RG living up to expectations or still an issue? Injuries, poor play, or turmoil might be present. Can the Browns stop the run and is Garrett getting any help from the off side? Line backer, linebacker, linebacker - has anyone stepped up or are the Browns as weak at the position as it appears?
The second half will be more difficult and the Browns need 5 of 8 wins to be playoff worthy. Can they do it? We'll have a lot of those answers by week 9.
The Cleveland Browns will be one of the most scrutinized teams in the NFL in 2020. That comes from having several high-profile players, a brand new coaching staff and front office (again) and the weight of a lengthy postseason drought clashing with the bright promise of a talent-laden roster.
They’ll be tested by fire right away. Week 1. In Baltimore. Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and the 14-2 Ravens from a year ago is trial by fire, and it’s easy to believe the NFL arranged that deliberately.
How that first game turns out definitely shapes the narrative for the next few weeks. A win in Baltimore would be a massive confidence-builder and grab national attention. But laying an egg against Joe Burrow and the Bengals the following week or the Redskins in Week 3 would kill any positive buzz.
On the flip side, if the team falls in Week 1 but rallies for strong, controlling wins against the teams that picked No. 1 and 2 in April, it’s a sign of professionalism and resiliency. Those were not qualities the 2019 Browns possessed, and it would be a welcome development.
It goes without saying that the national spotlight will be on Myles Garrett’s return to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh in Week 6. How will Garrett handle the infamous incident from last year? Will the Steelers attempt retribution? How do the Browns conduct themselves in front of what figures to be a volatile, hostile crowd?
Two late road games in New York in Weeks 15 and 16 could very well be the difference between playing for a playoff berth in the Week 17 rematch against the Steelers or licking wounds and wondering what happened to all the promise.
Then there’s that Steelers game at FirstEnergy in Week 17. If that game indeed means postseason or die, so many narratives will be written. Baker Mayfield. Kevin Stefanski. Perhaps Jimmy Haslam as an owner. They’ll all face judgment on the outcome.
We can’t wait. It’s going to be a fascinating season for the Browns.
That was my last Browns game that I attended. Had a great time met with Paul Zuk's family including his fiancee at that time. At the end of the day had a bad experience with a fellow fan. So never bothered to go back to a game since.
Our Schedule 2020 there is a TBD with our second to last game vs. the Jets as I believe that was originally to be out of country. England or Mexico???
I really don't like opening with Balt. They'll come out flying. That said, splitting with them again doesn't sound too bad, especially if we can lay the beatdown at home instead of away.
Overall, the schedule does seem easier. We have 4 games against teams that appear to be a mess (Giants, Jets, Jags, Wash). I don't know what the Colts or Houston will look like, and I think Cinci will be better, but still weak.
Still, I don't think getting smoked at Balt to start things off is going to help at all. :-(
At Baltimore - LOSS Cincinnati - WIN Washington - WIN At Dallas - LOSS Indianapolis - WIN At Pittsburgh - LOSS At Cincinnati - WIN Las Vegas - WIN Houston - LOSS Philadelphia - LOSS At Jacksonville - WIN At Tennessee - LOSS Baltimore - LOSS At NY Giants - LOSS At NY Jets - WIN Pittsburgh - LOSS
This is really the truth. There are so many factors going into what can happen. I'll post my 4 most likely scenarios.
BAD - 5-11
At Baltimore - LOSS Cincinnati - WIN Washington - WIN At Dallas - LOSS Indianapolis - LOSS At Pittsburgh - LOSS At Cincinnati - LOSS Las Vegas - WIN Houston - LOSS Philadelphia - LOSS At Jacksonville - WIN At Tennessee - LOSS Baltimore - LOSS At NY Giants - LOSS At NY Jets - WIN Pittsburgh - LOSS
OKAY 8-8
At Baltimore - LOSS Cincinnati - WIN Washington - WIN At Dallas - LOSS Indianapolis - LOSS At Pittsburgh - LOSS At Cincinnati - WIN Las Vegas - WIN Houston - WIN Philadelphia - LOSS At Jacksonville - WIN At Tennessee - LOSS Baltimore - LOSS At NY Giants - WIN At NY Jets - WIN Pittsburgh - LOSS
BETTER 11-5
At Baltimore - LOSS Cincinnati - WIN Washington - WIN At Dallas - LOSS Indianapolis - WIN At Pittsburgh - LOSS At Cincinnati - WIN Las Vegas - WIN Houston - WIN Philadelphia - LOSS At Jacksonville - WIN At Tennessee - LOSS Baltimore - WIN At NY Giants - WIN At NY Jets - WIN Pittsburgh - WIN
BEST 12-4
At Baltimore - LOSS Cincinnati - WIN Washington - WIN At Dallas - LOSS Indianapolis - WIN At Pittsburgh - WIN At Cincinnati - WIN Las Vegas - WIN Houston - WIN Philadelphia - LOSS At Jacksonville - WIN At Tennessee - LOSS Baltimore - WIN At NY Giants - WIN At NY Jets - WIN Pittsburgh - WIN
I've got the Browns at 8 and 8. They go 3 and 3 again in the North Even the perceived "weaker" opponents Are not a gimme by any stretch of the imagination Anybody remember week 17 last year ?
At Baltimore - LOSS Cincinnati - WIN Washington - WIN At Dallas - LOSS Indianapolis - WIN At Pittsburgh - LOSS At Cincinnati - WIN Las Vegas - WIN Houston - LOSS Philadelphia - LOSS At Jacksonville - WIN At Tennessee - LOSS Baltimore - LOSS At NY Giants - LOSS At NY Jets - WIN Pittsburgh - LOSS
7-9 .. but I can see 8-8
Do you ever have any optimism? Basically, you said if a team is going to be considered good, the Browns will lose that game.
I want to stress too that this is not a make or break year for Baker. I wish Joe Thomas would have kept his mouth shut about that. It's been all the rage in the media. Baker needs to play well and show improvement. Starting over again, short of being in a position to draft Lawrence, will be a totally Browns thing to do.
And there will be a bunch of idiot fans on here and off of here advocating for it. Sometimes I think Browns fans get what they deserve.
I want to stress too that this is not a make or break year for Baker. I wish Joe Thomas would have kept his mouth shut about that. It's been all the rage in the media. Baker needs to play well and show improvement. Starting over again, short of being in a position to draft Lawrence, will be a totally Browns thing to do.
And there will be a bunch of idiot fans on here and off of here advocating for it. Sometimes I think Browns fans get what they deserve.
Ya it is ... unless Kev’s as bad as my boy was ... its year 3 ... put up or shut up .. no excuses ...
And i thought that was optimistic for 4 Life ... *L* ...
Haha I thought it was optimistic too!! As you said earlier Rish, fans have the right to be in “wait and see mode” in regards to optimism ... I was as optimistic as I’ve ever been before last year and it was a disaster.
I’m a little less optimistic this season, but I’m still not calling for us to be 4-12 or whatever
3rd season, 4 different coaches. Despite his play last year, he has shown flashes. No other QB we've had has ever even shown a flash other than Anderson and he had plenty of warts even when showing the flashes. He was also minus the pedigree.
Other than Lawrence, there will not be a better option in the draft. Baker is the guy. Let's let him get there even if it's not on the fans' timetable.
spirit, I think they absolutely will play and it will be with minimal risk. Each franchise can buy about 2000 or so of those 5 minute tests. Each player on the active roster is tested the Saturday before the game. Must have a negative test to play. Teams could the same thing with rookie camp and maybe even otas. Test all the rookies then isolate them at camp for the duration of camp. Same thing with otas.
I wasn’t debating options ... i know the history ... its year 3 ... he needs to show improvement ... i thought he was GREAT as a rookie for a rookie ... he even did some things great for a vet ... like the TD streak in the red zone ... THAT DON’T HAPPEN ...
He has the potential ... if he doesn’t show a good bit of improvement over how he played last year ... UNLESS Kev is as bad as Freddie we should start looking ...
HE STUNK LAST YEAR .... plenty of blame to go around but i can not recall ONE THING he did well last year .... IF he did i know device and my man tabber will be along to correct me toot sweet ... *L* ...
I was so encouraged after Baker’s rookie year as well. Last year he just seemed like a totally different QB (and person) ... we’ll find out how much had to do with FK
I was thinking about how to handle this about a month ago and I kept imagining a scenario where they have to bring in all the players, quarantine everyone separately for 14 days, then have them pass tests before they can bring them together as a group. Then, everyone - coaches, assistants, equipment people.... all would have to be part of it and it would have to be replicated by all 32 teams. A totally closed system. It would be like all of them being deployed for half a year, away from their families and friends. It's the only real way to guarantee anything, and even that isn't a guarantee.
Not doing that simply achieves the result of connecting all of those people and their families/households. Testing before the games merely tells you who has been sick already for a week or two which means that up to what.. eight entire teams could have been exposed and compromised during that time?
I was so encouraged after Baker’s rookie year as well. Last year he just seemed like a totally different QB (and person) ... we’ll find out how much had to do with FK
He looked an awful lot like the horrible rookie under Hue those first few weeks.
Maybe the difference is as simple as the difference between a simplified offense and the normal, complicated NFL offense?
but i can not recall ONE THING he did well last year .... IF he did i know device and my man tabber will be along to correct me toot sweet ... *L* ...
When you re-watch games you get a different perspective. I've been re-watching a lot of games. Baker was playing with so much confidence and no pressure his rookie year that he actually looked to play better than he really was. I thought one of his best games was the first Baltimore game his rookie year. The 12-9 game. My memory had him making a bunch of plus level throws that game. I was correct but when I re-watched it they were all first read throws and he just had the confidence and accuracy to fit them into tight windows. Not a bad outcome but not good for long-term success.
Last year, we all remember the awfulness. What we forget is that he did show improvement throughout the year. And some of his 22 TD passes were plus level throws not all QBs make. The one to Seals-Jones against Seattle comes to mind. The guy has a penchant for plus level throws.
My only real concern with Baker ... and I'll admit it's a big one ... is that he's not clutch. He plays his best when expectations and pressure are low. I do want to see clutch level play this year. Baker is touted for his moxie, but his moxie is only manifested when he's the underdog. This bears watching. We need to see clutch play (come from behind victories) against the best teams in the league, not the dregs.
I was so encouraged after Baker’s rookie year as well. Last year he just seemed like a totally different QB (and person) ... we’ll find out how much had to do with FK
He looked an awful lot like the horrible rookie under Hue those first few weeks.
Maybe the difference is as simple as the difference between a simplified offense and the normal, complicated NFL offense?
I think Bake has a chip on his shoulder from last year ... i think he is working his arse off this off season and I expect a HUGE bounce back from him this season ...
i am worried he may not be able to process NFL d’s quick enough but with our running game and the weapons we have ... we may just be able to overcome and deficiencies he has in that area ... i expect a very very affective play action passing game ....
I expect a GREAT YEAR from us ... KJ left a GREAT FOUNDATION and Andy has done a very good IMO filling in the holes on O and even acquiring another weapon for us ... now it’s on Kev and Bake ... GOOD LUCK MEN ...
I *HOPE* he has a chip on his shoulder and I HOPE he shows up having done all the work one could do to destroy their weaknesses. It starts with recognizing what you have to work on and then accepting help in doing the work. That help is an unbiased observer (coach) that tells you whether or not you're doing it right.
VanPelt said he has to change his foot positioning under center and in the shotgun ... lets hope thats just the start ...
He needs to solve his issues with why he throws high too much also ... the man has all the arm talent in the world and can be as accurate as anyone at times ... if he can get his mechanics down and can learn how to read D’s ... he could be very very special ...
the high passes were a concern for sure .. exposing WRs and leading to INTs
I’m worried that he is mostly a 1 read QB ... I’ve seen that implication a few different places and I dont know enough about QB play to dissect it, but I hope he has the ability to grow his field vision
I had also read something explaining that teams had really focused on applying (or at least showing) pressure over the C/G positions because of Baker’s height issues ... wanting to affect his release point in the pocket
I'm looking forward to seeing Mayfield work under center much more this year. More 3-step drops and bang - the ball's out. More play action, which he is quite good at, and finally, more designed rollouts or even just a slide step left or right to help create throwing lanes and offset defenses pressure up the middle. Oh yeah, and take that stupid shovel pass play to the WR in motion, rip it into pieces, and throw it away (or burn it).
I don't recall the high passes happening in his rookie year, but they were definitely a problem last year.
I suspect some other QB coach was messing him up; probably trying to change his release point or some whacky thing.
Passes were high his rookie year, just not as much.
That's probably going to always be a part of his game. It's due to his height. He feels like he needs to get a little more elevation on his passes to get them over the line.
I agree ... I thought it was idiotic to have so many straight drop backs and plays that took so long to develop. It didnt fit him and it didn’t fit our OL
Don’t be so sure its all his height .. Vers has pointed out footwork issues on some of his high throws ... Vers knows his stuff ... hopefully he can get that worked out also ...
I’m writing last year off as an anomaly for Bake ... it was just a season to forget all the way around ... lets hope it was just an anomaly and not a sign of things to come ...
Year 3 is usually a make or break year for QB’s ... this is years 3 for him ... most qb’s show improvement from year 1 to year 2 .. he regressed big time ...
I said i was writing it off as an Anomaly ... i didn’t say i was forgetting how he regressed from year 1 to year 2 or i wasn’t holding him accountable for his part in it ...
I have no doubt that his footwork has something to do with it. But compare how Baker throws to Drew Brees. Brees puts a lot of air under almost all his throws regardless of distance. That's how he gets the ball over the line. Baker likes to laser throw all intermediate to deep throws. The only way for him to make those laser throws on a line without much arc is to sail those passes high else they're getting batted down.
Passes were high his rookie year, just not as much.
.
I don't recall that at all. I'd be interested in seeing proof or hearing other posters correct my memory. He had a good rookie season but it wasn't perfect and I'm not trying to rewrite history.... i just don't recall apattern of balls sailing high.
I do not recall that being an issue at all year 1.
I believe that a lot of his inaccuracy this past year were injury related. He got banged up pretty good early in the year and I think he had shoulder and hand injuries that caused some of that inaccuracy.
When he was off his rookie year it was high passes prolly 70% of the time his rookie year ... he was very accurate that year for the most part... but when he did struggle it was usually high ....
The one game from his rookie year I remember Baker throwing high was the Denver game, especially in the first half. He wasn't too sharp that whole game, but it was enough to win.
At Baltimore - LOSS Cincinnati - WIN Washington - WIN At Dallas - LOSS Indianapolis - WIN At Pittsburgh - LOSS At Cincinnati - WIN Las Vegas - WIN Houston - LOSS Philadelphia - LOSS At Jacksonville - WIN At Tennessee - LOSS Baltimore - LOSS At NY Giants - WIN At NY Jets - WIN Pittsburgh - WIN
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Here ya go, switch 5 games I thought they'd lose, and now you get a 9-7 outcome; how's that for positive.
I was thinking about how to handle this about a month ago and I kept imagining a scenario where they have to bring in all the players, quarantine everyone separately for 14 days, then have them pass tests before they can bring them together as a group. Then, everyone - coaches, assistants, equipment people.... all would have to be part of it and it would have to be replicated by all 32 teams. A totally closed system. It would be like all of them being deployed for half a year, away from their families and friends. It's the only real way to guarantee anything, and even that isn't a guarantee.
Not doing that simply achieves the result of connecting all of those people and their families/households. Testing before the games merely tells you who has been sick already for a week or two which means that up to what.. eight entire teams could have been exposed and compromised during that time?
It is definitely going to be a strange season.
It's why there probably won't be a season.
If one player on one team catches it, the whole team has to quarantine, no? So then for 2 weeks you have one team who can't play their games. How is that going to work?
As you said, the only way would be a totally closed system. That simply isn't realistic, plus, you have the issue of travel. How do you assure the hotel where teams stay is 100% virus free? How about the bus that gets them to the stadium? The airplane?
College football is going to dictate this. I don't think colleges are going to be eager to re-open the campus anytime soon. I hope not. Putting students back in to dinky dorm rooms isn't a good idea.
I can already see some are getting a bit slack in precautionary measures. I see another spike in this a few months down the road.
Until we find a vaccine, I don't see this ending. How have we done in finding a vaccine for aids? That is harder to transmit than this crud. Just don't have unprotected sex solves about 99% of the problem. This is totally different.
It's a different world. I am a old guy. I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon, but I have had my life. I could go next week and feel like it was full.
For you folks in your 20's, 30's, 40's, if we can't defend against this, sooner or later it is going to catch you.
I can see life expectancy's dropping in a dramatic way if we can't fix this. Right now, men can on average expect to live until the late 70's. Women maybe early 80's. I can see that becoming even closer with people, on average, not living much past 45, 20 years from now. Maybe even younger because children are now starting to die from this as it mutates. As 7 year old children start to die, the average age goes down in a hurry.
I won't share what I really think about this stuff, but it is a bad deal unleashed on humanity. Yep, it came from a bat my ass.
Right. A lot of this falls on the head coach. I mean, you had a head coach who told his second year QB to take time away from football. The HC thought it would be a lot easier than it was. The GM thought it would be a lot easier than it was. Glad that's all behind us now.
I was thinking about how to handle this about a month ago and I kept imagining a scenario where they have to bring in all the players, quarantine everyone separately for 14 days, then have them pass tests before they can bring them together as a group. Then, everyone - coaches, assistants, equipment people.... all would have to be part of it and it would have to be replicated by all 32 teams. A totally closed system. It would be like all of them being deployed for half a year, away from their families and friends. It's the only real way to guarantee anything, and even that isn't a guarantee.
Not doing that simply achieves the result of connecting all of those people and their families/households. Testing before the games merely tells you who has been sick already for a week or two which means that up to what.. eight entire teams could have been exposed and compromised during that time?
It is definitely going to be a strange season.
It's why there probably won't be a season.
If one player on one team catches it, the whole team has to quarantine, no? So then for 2 weeks you have one team who can't play their games. How is that going to work?
As you said, the only way would be a totally closed system. That simply isn't realistic, plus, you have the issue of travel. How do you assure the hotel where teams stay is 100% virus free? How about the bus that gets them to the stadium? The airplane?
College football is going to dictate this. I don't think colleges are going to be eager to re-open the campus anytime soon. I hope not. Putting students back in to dinky dorm rooms isn't a good idea.
I can already see some are getting a bit slack in precautionary measures. I see another spike in this a few months down the road.
Until we find a vaccine, I don't see this ending. How have we done in finding a vaccine for aids? That is harder to transmit than this crud. Just don't have unprotected sex solves about 99% of the problem. This is totally different.
It's a different world. I am a old guy. I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon, but I have had my life. I could go next week and feel like it was full.
For you folks in your 20's, 30's, 40's, if we can't defend against this, sooner or later it is going to catch you.
I can see life expectancy's dropping in a dramatic way if we can't fix this. Right now, men can on average expect to live until the late 70's. Women maybe early 80's. I can see that becoming even closer with people, on average, not living much past 45, 20 years from now. Maybe even younger because children are now starting to die from this as it mutates. As 7 year old children start to die, the average age goes down in a hurry.
I won't share what I really think about this stuff, but it is a bad deal unleashed on humanity. Yep, it came from a bat my ass.
I agreed with you ... right up until the very end. Lol But yes, football in 2020 is a pipe dream. It sucks but it’s realistic.
Not going to touch the wider conversation you’re introducing but as it pertains to football I agree. I keep wondering what happens when (not if) 2, 3, 6, 10 guys on one team come down with it? They test the whole team and find half the guys have it and 1 or 2 are in serious condition? I feel like it’s inevitable. Then what?
So either the collective psychology of the world suddenly changes about this disease and our reactions to it are seriously modified, which is 100% not going to happen unless some kind of antivirus or effective treatment is hit upon, which doesn’t sound likely in the short enough term.
OR we’re in a similar psychological place and we have some players and staff refusing to show up, others claiming they’re not loyal/real men/whatever and the bickering in the wider culture gets even louder about all aspects of how to handle this and the games are played amidst tremendous distraction and strife and might grind to halt anyway.
OR the season is seriously delayed and/or cancelled before the start and we still have all the wonderful society-wide bickering, resentment and conflict but not the problem of teams and stadiums and traveling exposure. It’s a s$1t show any way you go. There is no scenario where something resembling a normal season takes place without an effective treatment coming online IMO.
At the end of the day, the bean counters will decide. Does the insurance cover the exposure? Do they have insurance against the loss of revenue? Is the exposure to lawsuits from players, staff, & fans greater or less than the potential loss of revenue? Is there less loss in writing down the whole season vs some awkward modified season where income might disrupt the ability to write it down? Etc etc.
ballpeen and purple, I may not understand the testing , but I do not agree with what you are saying. Purple I do not think you would need to isolate the team for two weeks. If they do the viral test, not the antibody test, on everyone it will tell you if anyone has the virus. This test has a very high specificity ( I think that is the right term ) which means if the test is negative it is accurate 99.9 % of the time. So if the test says you are negative you do not have the virus.
If the test says the player is positive, it is not as accurate. The sensitivity of the test is the % of positive results that are accurate. This test is about 65% accurate with positive results. So if a player tests positive we would retest. It would be very unlikely to get two consecutive false positives. If a player is positive he cannot play and would need to be isolated and treated.
This can be done, inconvenient, but it can be done.
ballpeen and purple, I may not understand the testing , but I do not agree with what you are saying. Purple I do not think you would need to isolate the team for two weeks. If they do the viral test, not the antibody test, on everyone it will tell you if anyone has the virus. This test has a very high specificity ( I think that is the right term ) which means if the test is negative it is accurate 99.9 % of the time. So if the test says you are negative you do not have the virus.
If the test says the player is positive, it is not as accurate. The sensitivity of the test is the % of positive results that are accurate. This test is about 65% accurate with positive results. So if a player tests positive we would retest. It would be very unlikely to get two consecutive false positives. If a player is positive he cannot play and would need to be isolated and treated.
This can be done, inconvenient, but it can be done.
So if it’s your starting QB that’s sick you’re basically without him for two games minimum. That could derail a team’s playoff picture quickly.
ballpeen and purple, I may not understand the testing , but I do not agree with what you are saying. Purple I do not think you would need to isolate the team for two weeks. If they do the viral test, not the antibody test, on everyone it will tell you if anyone has the virus. This test has a very high specificity ( I think that is the right term ) which means if the test is negative it is accurate 99.9 % of the time. So if the test says you are negative you do not have the virus.
If the test says the player is positive, it is not as accurate. The sensitivity of the test is the % of positive results that are accurate. This test is about 65% accurate with positive results. So if a player tests positive we would retest. It would be very unlikely to get two consecutive false positives. If a player is positive he cannot play and would need to be isolated and treated.
This can be done, inconvenient, but it can be done.
Unless the tests can correctly show an infection within a day or two of becoming infected, but BEFORE the person becomes contagious, it won't work.
Additionally, this testing would have to happen on EVERYONE that enters ANY related facility.... every time they enter. This also means that test results need to be had within minutes, not hours.
Lastly, it was my understanding that there was 30% false negative possibility. Secondary re-tests would have to come from a separate batch to ensure you aren't testing from a bad batch.
It CAN be done, but not currently. The rapid tests need to become widely available in sufficient quantity to test every employee of all 32 teams plus stadium personnel on a daily basis. Plus Referees and their crews, TV crews, etc...
ballpeen and purple, I may not understand the testing , but I do not agree with what you are saying. Purple I do not think you would need to isolate the team for two weeks. If they do the viral test, not the antibody test, on everyone it will tell you if anyone has the virus. This test has a very high specificity ( I think that is the right term ) which means if the test is negative it is accurate 99.9 % of the time. So if the test says you are negative you do not have the virus.
If the test says the player is positive, it is not as accurate. The sensitivity of the test is the % of positive results that are accurate. This test is about 65% accurate with positive results. So if a player tests positive we would retest. It would be very unlikely to get two consecutive false positives. If a player is positive he cannot play and would need to be isolated and treated.
This can be done, inconvenient, but it can be done.
So if it’s your starting QB that’s sick you’re basically without him for two games minimum. That could derail a team’s playoff picture quickly.
Seems to me if 1 player on a team tested positive, the entire team would have to lock down for 2 weeks.
I hope our players don’t remember the last time we played at Baltimore ... seems to me that type of confident attitude was a big crux of our problems last offseason
I hope our players don’t remember the last time we played at Baltimore ... seems to me that type of confident attitude was a big crux of our problems last offseason
What? We put up 40 points, stomped them into the mud in their own yard, and you hope our guys forget that happened? Confidence is a good thing for an athlete, IMO.
I hope our players don’t remember the last time we played at Baltimore ... seems to me that type of confident attitude was a big crux of our problems last offseason
What? We put up 40 points, stomped them into the mud in their own yard, and you hope our guys forget that happened? Confidence is a good thing for an athlete, IMO.
Then why didnt we do it again when we played Baltimore the 2nd time?
Even Chubb said we were too overconfident last year and thought it’d just come easy based off the previous year.
I’d rather have us act like underdogs ... that seems to suit Baker better anyways
I hope our players don’t remember the last time we played at Baltimore ... seems to me that type of confident attitude was a big crux of our problems last offseason
What? We put up 40 points, stomped them into the mud in their own yard, and you hope our guys forget that happened? Confidence is a good thing for an athlete, IMO.
Then why didnt we do it again when we played Baltimore the 2nd time?
Even Chubb said we were too overconfident last year and thought it’d just come easy based off the previous year.
I’d rather have us act like underdogs ... that seems to suit Baker better anyways
For starters, we didn't have Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon the second time we played, and we got gashed for about 250 yards on the ground and another 238 through the air. I just think its really dumb to think we were "overconfident" going into the 2nd last game of the season with a 6-8 record against a team that was 12-2 just because we had beaten them the first time.
I hope our players don’t remember the last time we played at Baltimore ... seems to me that type of confident attitude was a big crux of our problems last offseason
What? We put up 40 points, stomped them into the mud in their own yard, and you hope our guys forget that happened? Confidence is a good thing for an athlete, IMO.
Then why didnt we do it again when we played Baltimore the 2nd time?
Even Chubb said we were too overconfident last year and thought it’d just come easy based off the previous year.
I’d rather have us act like underdogs ... that seems to suit Baker better anyways
For starters, we didn't have Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon the second time we played, and we got gashed for about 250 yards on the ground and another 238 through the air. I just think its really dumb to think we were "overconfident" going into the 2nd last game of the season with a 6-8 record against a team that was 12-2 just because we had beaten them the first time.
Yeah for sure ... to each their own. I just know that if I were the HC I’d be banging home the “no respect, underdog, everyone doubts us” message instead of the “we beat them last year we can do the same thing” message.
Of course, I dont know the guys personally or the chemistry/etc
If I were HC, I'd show the video from that 40-25 beat down last year to the team and say, "this is what happens when everyone does their J-O-B.".
[shrug] Different strokes ... [/shrug]
No offense, Dave..............but, that would not be a good idea. Likewise, showing the game we lost would also be a bad idea.
I think you want to have take-aways that both good and bad and make them talking points. I think if you show game videos of the Rats, you want to show what they do well and how they were exploited by other teams. Calculated preparation. The emotion comes right before kickoff. Not good to get too emotional early in the week. Prepare w/intelligence. Use emotion on game day after the intelligence is second nature.
I just watched the highlight video. Here's an unpopular take: we won 40-24, but we got owned, and it showed in the rematch later in the year. Chubb & Landry had career days and defense got a bajillion turnovers. Without those, we're just a team getting run all over - which is what happened both games.
This defense has a LOT of work to do in order to be ready for the Ravens run offense. Our offense needs to bring its A+ game in order to hang with them and take some pressure off the D.
Love the schedule.. new staff, shortened off-season, go to Baltimore week 1 (arguably the toughest road game in the NFL these days), then a short week with limited prep time for a week 2 Thursday night game...
Love the schedule.. new staff, shortened off-season, go to Baltimore week 1 (arguably the toughest road game in the NFL these days), then a short week with limited prep time for a week 2 Thursday night game...
Thanks guys.
yeah, I dont think I can recall a team opening with 2 division games in 5 days lol
Love the schedule.. new staff, shortened off-season, go to Baltimore week 1 (arguably the toughest road game in the NFL these days), then a short week with limited prep time for a week 2 Thursday night game...
Love the schedule.. new staff, shortened off-season, go to Baltimore week 1 (arguably the toughest road game in the NFL these days), then a short week with limited prep time for a week 2 Thursday night game...
Thanks guys.
Schedule is super easy. Easiest in years.
We'll see what you think about the schedule by week 9 when we are out of playoff contention.
Love the schedule.. new staff, shortened off-season, go to Baltimore week 1 (arguably the toughest road game in the NFL these days), then a short week with limited prep time for a week 2 Thursday night game...
Thanks guys.
Schedule is super easy. Easiest in years.
We'll see what you think about the schedule by week 9 when we are out of playoff contention.
I agree in that no schedule is easy. You can lose to anybody in the NFL.
You do seem to take a pessimistic view most of the time.
We cannot treat any schedule as "easy" until the rest of the league no longer sees a game against as "easy."
Every year we talk about the schedule and this is a win and that is a win. Let's actually just go out and win some games before we announce our arrival.
Love the schedule.. new staff, shortened off-season, go to Baltimore week 1 (arguably the toughest road game in the NFL these days), then a short week with limited prep time for a week 2 Thursday night game...
Thanks guys.
Schedule is super easy. Easiest in years.
We'll see what you think about the schedule by week 9 when we are out of playoff contention.
I agree in that no schedule is easy. You can lose to anybody in the NFL.
You do seem to take a pessimistic view most of the time.
We cannot treat any schedule as "easy" until the rest of the league no longer sees a game against as "easy."
Every year we talk about the schedule and this is a win and that is a win. Let's actually just go out and win some games before we announce our arrival.
thats a good point ... We could look at a game against Washington (for example) as being easy ... but they look at a game against us as one of their easier games too lol
Love the schedule.. new staff, shortened off-season, go to Baltimore week 1 (arguably the toughest road game in the NFL these days), then a short week with limited prep time for a week 2 Thursday night game...
Thanks guys.
Schedule is super easy. Easiest in years.
We'll see what you think about the schedule by week 9 when we are out of playoff contention.
I agree in that no schedule is easy. You can lose to anybody in the NFL.
You do seem to take a pessimistic view most of the time.
Give me a reason not to be.
Optimism? Last year or the last 20 years don't have anything to do with this year.
The Jacksonville Jaguars confirmed this week what was a long-running rumor about the 2020 NFL schedule. In a communique with season-ticket holders, the Jaguars management revealed the two home foes that were originally scheduled to play in London instead of Jacksonville.
One of those is the Cleveland Browns. As many speculated, the Browns were indeed poised to play across the pond in 2020 as one of the Jaguars opponents. The Detroit Lions were the other.
Cleveland now plays at Jacksonville in Week 12 on Nov. 29th. That is a different date than the two teams would have faced off in England, because teams are required to have a bye week following travel to Europe and the bye weeks end in Week 11. All international games were cancelled and forced back to the United States due to the coronavirus pandemic earlier this spring.
Love the schedule.. new staff, shortened off-season, go to Baltimore week 1 (arguably the toughest road game in the NFL these days), then a short week with limited prep time for a week 2 Thursday night game...
Thanks guys.
Schedule is super easy. Easiest in years.
We'll see what you think about the schedule by week 9 when we are out of playoff contention.
I'm sick and tired of the Browns not being a better football team and I don't think they are at this point!
Numerous reports, including those from ESPN’s Kevin Seifert and Pro Football Talk, indicate the NFL is canceling half of the traditional 4-game preseason schedule. The exhibition games are the latest casualty of the coronavirus pandemic.
The reports indicate the league is trimming off the first and last weeks of the preseason schedule. For the Browns, that means a road trip to Chicago and a home date with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will no longer happen. The August 22nd game in Green Bay and the home contest with the Minnesota Vikings on August 30th are still set to run as scheduled.
In addition, the teams will travel the day before the games instead of heading in earlier. Joint practice sessions, a growing feature in recent years, were one of the first things the NFL cancelled earlier this offseason.
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Shortened preseason is a big loss for Kevin Stefanski and the Browns
The NFL has decided to lop off the first and last preseason games in 2020, the latest victim of the coronavirus pandemic and the precautions to try and prevent the spread to players and fans. While it was a predictable and probably necessary move, it’s not good for the Cleveland Browns and rookie head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Preseason games are generally unpopular with fans, but the games are not designed for fans. The exhibition season is all about building the team, sorting out roles, gaining some continuity and getting longer looks at players fighting for roster spots. It’s the only time many young players get any real game experience, something critical for development.
Stefanski is a rookie head coach. He’s never managed a game script before, never handled the responsibility of lording over the offense, defense and special teams. He’s never created a full game plan. Every bit of experience matters for those new skills, and now Stefanski gets denied the opportunity for half of those experiences.
Browns fans saw the perils of game management and preparation inexperience last year with Freddie Kitchens. That’s not saying Stefanski will have the same pratfalls, but the more chances Stefanski gets to prove otherwise, the better.
Stefanski and QB Baker Mayfield still have yet to work together in person. Mayfield and his receivers, which includes new tight end Austin Hooper, haven’t had a single practice together in Stefanski’s offense. They’re not going to click quickly without reps, and there’s no better way to get reps than in preseason games.
In addition to the coaching, the Browns are breaking in two new offensive tackles. Prized free agent right tackle Jack Conklin and first-round left tackle Jedrick Wills are being counted upon to be ready to roll right away. Both are very talented, but they’ve not worked in Stefanski’s offense before. They have no experience playing next to the guards and tight ends that are their new teammates.
Ah yes, the guards. Joel Bitonio is a bedrock presence on the left side. Right guard? It’s the only real position battle on the entire offense. And now the audition period is half of what was expected.
The bigger concern is the defense. Both starting LBs are new, and both are second-year players who proved they need as much seasoning as possible during their rookie campaigns. Both starting safeties, or all three if the base defense under new coordinator Joe Woods is the heavy nickel, are new to the team too.
That’s a lot of moving parts that have never moved together before. Expecting it to function like a well-oiled machine with even less practice and game time together is a real stretch. The experience playing together that the preseason games offer is invaluable. And now it’s cut in half.
So bemoan the oft-tedious viewing experience that is the preseason with the understanding that those games are critical for the players and coaches. Losing two of them sets back the Cleveland Browns more than it hits many other teams.
I predicted how this would end up. We have a new HC and both coordinators are new. Every team in that situation needed all the time they could get to install these systems and prepare. It puts all teams in that situation at a huge disadvantage.
