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I am not questioning anyone's opinion on their expectations for this upcoming season. I'm just voicing my own.

I am not going to give the Browns a pass on the season due to all their changes. The Browns are the ones responsible for making so many changes year after year after year. They've made their own bed.

I don't want to hear excuses. I want to see wins.

Was Jonah Williams the LT for Hurts?

Not sure. It might have been Cam Robinson. I know it was a good player. Not arguing that. Just saying that Wills played RT in high school and in college before Tua took over.

I did a little research...here's what I think I found:

Wills became a full-time player at RT for 2018-2019;

Hurts was "replaced" by Tua for the 2018 season / 2018 Championship game actually;

Tua was hurt - and replaced - during the 2019 season;

Jonah Williams was the LT in 2018;

Alex Leatherwood was the LT for 2019.

I remember reading last year that Jonah Williams might be better served to start the NFL at G...then he got hurt.

What does this tell us? Absolutely nothing IMO. (I did read again that Wills played RT in high school as you surmised.)

Time will tell if the "QB's blind-side" is why Wills stayed at RT or if he really is limited to RT.

One thing that caught my eye while doing this research is how often he was praised as being an elite run-blocker. That didn't stick with me until today's research.

I was not trying to say that he is limited to being a RT. Not my point at all. I was just trying to say that he was a RT "before" Tua took over.

I understood you that way - as underlined above. My post was not intended to paint your opinion either way. Just sharing some (probably useless) information.

What I think I learned/confirmed is that Wills was a RT before Tua, during Tua and after Tua got hurt.

I ended up trying to think about that fact while also looking at who was playing LT during Wills' starting years...to see if those guys were thought of as studs or not...and were they thought of as better LTs than Wills' projected to be...or was it really just the QBs blind-side.

My conclusion is non-conclusive.

I remember reading that they had pro prospects at LT while Wills was there.

I have no idea on whether or not Wills will be a good LT in the NFL or not. I do agree w/you on his run blocking. Very strong from what I saw. I do think some people underestimate making the switch from RT to LT. I get what Joe Thomas said, but he played both tackle spots and TE. Most guys are not even close to Joe in terms of athleticism and technique.

I think it will be telling to watch Wills' left foot when he comes out of his stance once the ball is snapped. I worry about it being too wide and throwing him off balance against speed rushers.

J/C

I have to imagine we're going to open the season with a lot of short game rhythm passing and running.

We have two outstanding RBs, one of the best rated RT's for run blocking and a draft prospect who was also known to be a top level run blocker. Conversely, Conklin is known as being just "decent" at pass blocking, whereas Wills has shown struggles against the pass so far in his transition.

We have a high-priced FA TE who has gotten into good rhythm with Baker, Njoku, and a rookie TE who has shown a lot of promise in camp.

I have to imagine we'll start off in a simpler routine. With my luck, though the first play will be a PA bomb to Beckham, now, just watch. Haha.

Interesting thing for me to watch for.

This time I am replying to you, haha.

IIRC, Wills was the one during the draft who said switching from RT to LT would be like wiping your "butt" with your other hand. That might speak to his comfort level in switching techniques and muscle memory. Hopefully, he can develop a rhythm, but I am concerned.

In the VERY limited examples I've seen so far, he has really struggled with getting his feet set. On the play where Chubb got his concussion, Wills got beat bad by Vernon. He leaned way too far into his stance as a last ditch effort and lost his balance. Vernon took advantage big time. There was another play too, I want to say against Clayburn, where his feet were too wide and he turned his body too far to the left where his right shoulder was perpendicular to the line. Clayburn was able to push him straight backward because his feet were like a fulcrum.

I wish he could learn that Joe Thomas "backwards jump" right from the snap. Watching Joe get into his stance was a thing of beauty.

Why draft a player for the LT position who is a natural RT ? It makes no sense especially when your QB has footwork issues too.
Double whammy.
Hes basically had to relearn playing the position in some aspects.
Dont be surprised if Willis gets a couple
False starts in the 1st few weeks.

I want to make sure I'm clear. I was not saying that Wills is only a RT. I just pointed to his history as always playing that position dating back to high school.

He might end up being a great LT. I really have no idea and I am not making any predictions.

j/c

Some of us tried to explain the difficulty of switching from RT to LT. Of course it was dismissed by many more.

I believe that out of all the RT's in college that were drafted with the expectation to switch to LT in last years draft, Wills has the physical skill set to have by far the best odds of making the transition successfully.

That by no means makes it a sure thing. It also doesn't mean he will or won't be successful in the transition. It is however a game of wait and see and those expecting immediate dividends may wish to consider using a little more patience before trying to reach a conclusion either way.

I'm curious to see how Wills' run blocking translates. If we can maul people in the running game, it should "help" with pass blocking (better down and distances, defenders approaches change, playaction blocking vs straight pass blocking drops, etc.) He'll probably have some growing pains, but we can have Hooper help/Backs chip. The defense getting stops will play in, too.

Wills has to be better than Mekhi Becton.

If not, it was a fail.

Wirfs too.

<typical online response>Why do you think he will suck as a LT? You are not a fan!</typical online response>

Yes. Forgot about him.

I actually don't disagree with you. I was quite happy we drafted him. But then I don't receive a seven figure salary to make those decisions.

Yes, but it doesn't all have to happen this year.

Some of you people have a hard to seeing a foot past your nose.

I think that is understood.

J/c

Looking back at the draft, I wanted Thomas, then Wirfs, then Wills ... so I hope I’m wrong

Williams was the LT in 2018 who was drafted in the first round by the Bengals but was hurt last year. He's the projected starter at LT this year for the Bengals.

Leatherwood was the starter at LT in 2019 and will start at LT again this year. Leatherwood earned 1st-team All-American honors from the AFCA, and was named to the All-SEC 1st-team by the league coaches. He considered a jump to the NFL but decided to stay for his senior season in 2020.

Wills has not played a single snap at LT from high school thru college. Redshirt sophomore Matt Womack was the starting RT and starting 14 games at the position during Wills Freshman year as he backed up Womack. Womack seriously injured his foot in spring practice 2018. After missing all of spring practice, Womack reinjured his foot in the preseason requiring surgery. Womack's foot injury opened the door for Wills to start. Womack returned mid season but was never 100% for the season and played a backup role to Wills.

Womack went undrafted in the 2020 draft having never really fully recovered from his foot injury.

Now I am hopeful for the Browns sake that Wills is successful in his transition. However, 1st round picks only have a 55% success rate of living up to expectations in the NFL. Making the move from RT to LT (a position he has NEVER played) and the second most valued position on the offense makes his probability of success much less likely (around 15%-20%).

Reports say Wills is struggling and that's to be expected. There also appears to be talk of help via the TE with chips to assist him this year. That's all good except that it changes the offense where in most situations the LT is on an island by himself. It will be interesting to see the learning curve and progress. The more we see him getting help - the less growth we will see. Wills is in a difficult position and I wish him luck.

Thanks for the info. I am not a fan of having to help your LT. Most teams are right handed. Sending help towards your LT compromises your play calling and design.