DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Terry's Talkin' Browns

I think this could be a good thing for players like Hunt, Landry, and our TEs. Short passes with hopefully some YAC attached. Red zone targets like out TEs could be the key.

I'm six houses from the Lake and think it might be Armageddon.

The Browns FINALLY have a big game, do we know how to react? Terry Pluto



CLEVELAND, Ohio – I received this email from a Browns fan about Sunday’s game with Pittsburgh:

“There’s so much riding on it, I’m almost afraid to watch!”

I bet he’s not the only one feeling that way. I keep running into fans, who ask “What do you think about Sunday?” There is almost fear and trembling in their voices.

I tell them the Browns will win. I tell them these are not the Same Old Browns. Not at 10-5. Not with a drama-free team and a promising young head coach.

I also know I’m preaching to myself. Part of me wonders ... they can’t really lose to backup QB Mason Rudolph and the Steelers, can they?

Please, don’t answer that question.

GHOSTS OF THE BROWNS PAST

A reader once emailed me, “When the Browns are bad, they are really bad. And when they are good, they are excruciating.”

He was flashing back to The Drive, The Fumble and even Red Right 88. All of those heartbreaks were more than 30 years ago. That means you have to be at least 40 to have a clear memory of them. At least those were winning, likeable playoff teams.

Bernie Kosar had a 10-4 career record vs. Pittsburgh!

What do younger Browns fans have?

Sunday can be a special present to this generation.

A REALISTIC VIEW

Some fans are bothered by last week’s 23-16 loss to the Jets. It was one of the Browns’ worst games of the season. But it also was a game where everything went wrong, the Browns learning they would be without four receivers and a few other key players about 24 hours earlier due to the COVID-19 contact tracing rules.

No time to practice. No time to prepare. It was just a mess.

That game should have no impact on Sunday. Most of the players who were out are supposed to be back.

A GRUMPY COACH

The game means nothing to Pittsburgh. The Steelers have won the AFC North. Their playoff spot is secure, regardless of the outcome.

The game means everything to the Browns. Win, go to the playoffs. Lose ... I don’t even want to think about it. This would be the Pitts -- losing a playoff spot in a game in which the Steelers shouldn’t care if they win or lose.

But a team coached by the steely Mike Tomlin – they’d love to knock Cleveland out of the postseason. Tomlin sounded very grumpy in his mid-week press conference.

Asked about the Browns, Tomlin said: “Their business is not my business.”

On Baker Mayfield: “It’s not my job to evaluate Baker.”

On Myles Garrett and last season’s helmet brawl with Mason Rudolph: “I will not address it. ... That’s so far in our rearview mirror, we can’t even see it.”

DON’T GET LABELED

In 2009, the Browns faced Pittsburgh in a November blizzard on the lakefront with minus-15 wind chill. The Browns were 1-11. They were on a 12-game losing streak to Pittsburgh. That night, the Browns beat Pittsburgh 13-6 and sacked QB Ben Roethlisberger eight times.

Eric Mangini was the coach. He was on Bill Belichick’s Cleveland staff in 1994-95 when the Browns lost five times in two years to the Steelers, including the playoffs. Mangini wanted to beat the Steelers as much as any hardcore Browns fan.

When I wrote Things I Learned From Watching The Browns, Mangini told me this story for the book. He talked to his team the night before the game, mentioning how his father died when he was 16. He talked about being a Division III college football player with no NFL connections.

“Like many of you, I was labeled,” he said. “I’m not supposed to be here.”

He mentioned how some of the players were considered too small, too slow, too something to reach the NFL – and how this 2009 team supposedly had no chance to beat Pittsburgh.

“Every day, you get a chance to write your own label,” Mangini said. “You can write what you want on that label in today’s game.”

He paused.

“Never give anyone a pen to write that label for you,” he said. “Do it yourself.”

These Browns have a chance to write a new label for themselves Sunday: Playoff team.

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/01...erry-pluto.html

Let's all hope it comes to fruition. Lord it would be a nice start to a new year!!!

Truth.

I am OK with winning this. Seems to be a correlation between Buckeyes winning and Browns following suit. I hope it is true when we play Them next.

Fans deserving, Baker delivering, and more Chubb needed – Terry Pluto’s Browns Postgame Scribbles

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Scribbles in my notebook after the Browns clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2002 with a 24-22 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers:

1. Jarvis Landry on the 11,989 fans who watched the game at FirstEnergy Stadium: “I’m sure they’d still be in the stadium now if they didn’t get kicked out. They are some of the best fans in the league.”

2. Coach Kevin Stefanski on the fans: “I’m really happy for them. They deserve this. They have been waiting for this and we’re happy to deliver it to them...We know that many people around the country and around the world are watching; we feel their support.”

3. Myles Garrett on the fans: “We’re paying them back for all the time and effort they’ve invested, just like us. They are just as involved...supporting us and cheering for us...It’s a pleasure to finally really show them that what they are doing is appreciated.”

4. I opened with the fan comments because the team felt the burden and responsibility not to mess this up. The door was wide open to make the playoffs with Pittsburgh resting QB Ben Roethlisberger, star linebacker TJ Watt and other starters. But the pressure of all the losses to Pittsburgh...and hearing of the Browns’ past failures...that did create extra pressure on the team.

5. How does a team learn to handle pressure? In a game like this where they are favored to win but could easily have lost – you simply go out and win it. Doesn’t matter the final score. NFL people will tell you it’s a Pass/Fail league. The Browns passed a big test Sunday.

6. This has been a terrific season for the Browns, who have overachieved with an 11-5 record. I’d call them overachievers at 10-6, but losing this game would not have made it feel that way. Following the 23-16 loss to the Jets, it would have meant ending the season on a major downer. That’s why this was so important to the psyche of the franchise and fan base.

7. Baker had an iffy day throwing the ball, but he made big plays when it mattered. This guy played all 16 games. He learned how to become a winning QB this season. Stefanski’s system is QB-friendly, but not all about the QB. He had to change his game and his mindset. Lots of credit goes to him for that.

8. After a game where he fumbled vs. the Jets, Mayfield made several big scrambles and runs. He played a gritty, blue-collar game against a physical team. Stefanski allowed Mayfield to run for the final first down to put the game away.

9. Stefanski on Mayfield’s last run: “Just put the ball in his hands and say, ‘Go get this thing.’ It was well blocked. Kareem Hunt was at the point of attack. To get that was pretty cool...Baker wants the rock in his hands. That’s the type of person he is in these moments.”

10. Garrett on Mayfield: “I never had any doubt he was going to fight for every yard and the first down. When it was in his hands, I was sure it was going to be all right.”

11. A key to the Browns victory – ZERO turnovers. They are 10-0 when they make fewer turnovers than the other team.

12. Mason Rudolph (22-of-39 passing, 315 yards and 2 TDs) was excellent. But he did throw one interception. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said: “We turned the ball over and didn’t get a stop after that turnover. They scored a touchdown after that turnover. When you look at it, that’s the...difference in the game.”

13. The interception was by M.J. Stewart. The Browns then drove down the field, and scored a 3-yard TD on a jet sweep to Landry. It was a creative call by Stefanski. Landry had a solid game with five catches for 51 yards.

14. The Browns are 6-0 when Nick Chubb runs for 100 yards.

15. Which brings us to a second-guess. Actually, a first-guess. I doubt I was the only one saying, “Get Chubb more involved!” He had 14 carries for 108 yards. The Steelers rarely stopped him. Hunt had only 37 yards in 10 carries.

16. Hunt is one of the best receivers on the team, even if he’s a running back. The Browns threw to him only once, a 4-yard catch. The Steelers blitz a lot. Some screen passes to Hunt and even Chubb would have helped negate the rush. Hopefully we’ll see more Chubb running the ball and more chances for Hunt to help the passing game.

17. Rookie Jacob Phillips had a good game at middle linebacker with 10 tackles. The front office really likes him. The third-round pick could be a starter next season.

18. The Steelers had several players blocking Garrett. That opened up things for Olivier Vernon, who had his ninth sack of the season. But Vernon left the game with an ankle injury. He will have an MRI Monday. Vernon has a history of high ankle sprains from his days with the Giants (2017-18) when he missed nine of 32 games.

19. How did senior Brown Joel Bitonio plan to celebrate making the playoffs for the first time in his seven-year career: “Just go hang out with my wife and baby. We will probably watch some football. Nothing too crazy. We are in a pandemic right now so we will just hang out at the house... I will probably watch the film and see what we need to do to get better.”

20. Next week, it’s the Browns and Steelers in the playoffs. It’s a fun way to end these scribbles, writing that sentence.

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/01...-scribbles.html

I hope we see Chubb get 20+ carries Sunday

nothing against Hunt and I know they rotate them but we better ride Chubb. Every single drive in the last game stalled when Hunt was in. There was no comparison between the two this past game! Someone made the comment on the Game day thread during the game "Hunts doing OK" I was thinking, "YOU WATCHING THE SAME GAME AS ME"?? it was even close!

I thought this was a bright spot on the defense. The guy has speed. Hope to see him grow.

Agreed - he made a couple plays where he jumped off the page at you. Encouraging.

He's a sideline to sideline player. He should be very good for us as he improves.

especially against Pittsburgh ... you need those hard yards between the tackles. Chubb gives us that AND the ability to break it. That’s a rare combo.

Hunt can spell him and act as a receiving back, but we need to lean on Chubb

his quickness was evident immediately

Has he been dinged up all year?

yeah he’s played sparingly

Larry Ogunjobi on rookie Jacob Phillips stepping in for B.J. Goodson yesterday: "To step in a role, in a big game like that, and play as well as he did is a testament to how bad he wants it...he's a baller."

https://twitter.com/camijustice/status/1346160988480032768

#7: Yes. Especially 2nd and 3rd sentence.

#11: Yes - and, of course.

#14 and #16 together: Double Yes.

One of the first things Hunt did when he joined the team on the field on Sundays last season was establish himself as a 3rd down monster.

Adversity, character, coaching & Zoom meetings – Browns Postgame Scribbles

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Scribbles in my notebook after the Browns 48-37 playoff victory in Pittsburgh:

1. Acting head coach Mike Priefer said the Browns “talked about facing adversity from Day One of training camp.” The lessons don’t always come quickly or easily. Browns fans saw that early in the season when their team was blown out in Pittsburgh and Baltimore by a combined score of 76-13.

2. One of the themes for the season was handling adversity and not letting one bad game carry over into the next week. GM Andrew Berry discussed that point with me when I interviewed him before the season opened. The Browns were without head coach Kevin Stefanski and four assistants because they tested positive for COVID-19. That adversity hung over the team all week.

3. The “Old Browns” would have fallen apart in the second half of this game. They were up 35-10 at the half. Pittsburgh closed the margin to 35-23 late in the third quarter. Didn’t you fear they’d blow it? Things like that have happened before to the Browns, especially against the Steelers.

4. Instead, the Browns scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Baker Mayfield was a key in keeping the offense moving in that final period. His passing was sharp. His decisions were wise. He had ZERO turnovers. He had ZERO sacks. He threw three TD passes, and was 21-of-34 passing for 263 yards.

5. Meanwhile Ben Roethlisberger heaved four interceptions. Let’s put that in capital letters....FOUR interceptions. The Steelers opened the game with a snap over the head of their QB that was recovered in the end zone for a Browns TD by Karl Joseph.

6. I was watching the Steelers look underprepared and overwhelmed to open this game and I was thinking, “This is the kind of stuff that usually happens the Browns.” That was Pittsburgh’s 9-time Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey who heaved that ball about 10 feet over the head of Roethlisberger....ON THE FIRST SNAP OF THE GAME!

7. Priefer on Stefanski’s message to the team during the week: “Coach talked about our three keys to victory in this game. No. 1 was the turnover ratio, and we were plus-five. No. 2 was relying on our technique and fundamentals because we did not practice a lot this week, and that is what the guys did...The third thing Coach talked about all week long – and we talked about right before the game – was we need to play as a team. This was a great team win and great complimentary football.”

8. More from Priefer: “The faster and more physical team was going to win this game.” He was right. That team was the Browns. And that isn’t supposed to happen when they face Pittsburgh, but it did. Just as the Browns were more poised, better-coached with amazing organization, something rarely seen when facing Pittsburgh in the past.

9. “This is a team no matter if we’re in person or not,” said Mayfield, meaning all the Zoom calls and other technology the Browns used to prepare for the game when they couldn’t practice on the field or in the facility because of COVID-19 restrictions.

10. The Browns have a technology driven organization, partly because their leadership is young. Berry is the NFL’s youngest GM at 33. Stefanski is 38. These guys understand the value of on-line preparation, teaching and even practicing.

11. Priefer talked about practice schedules constantly changing because of COVID issues: “We had virtual walkthroughs. We had a good solid practice on Friday and more meetings. Then on Saturday, we had our walkthrough. And more meetings last night. And more meetings and a walkthrough this (Sunday) morning. They never batted an eye to be honest with you.”

12.This was the second game in Priefer’s life where he has served as a head coach. The other was for one game in 2016. Alex Van Pelt had not called plays since 2009, but he took over the role Sunday. Both men filled in for Stefanski so well, you’d never have guessed the coach was missing.

13. Nick Chubb on Van Pelt calling plays: “He did a great job filling in for Coach. I didn’t notice a difference at all.”

14. One change was the Browns using Chubb as a receiver, he caught four passes for 69 yards. That apparently was part of the preparation for this game. Usually, fellow running back Kareem Hunt is the primary receiver out of the backfield.

15. None of this is to dismiss the value of Stefanski. It is to show how the first-year head coach did a great job coaching and preparing his assistants. That’s a big part of the job of a head coach – and the front office. Remember the “alignment” sought by Owner Jimmy Haslam over the years? We’ve seen it happened this season.

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/01...-scribbles.html

#10 - I hadn't considered the age-related aspect of the importance of technology this season. If this is actually the case (the age/leadership thing), then maybe it will be interesting to see how this will affect front office hires the next couple of years.

#14 - I was extremely happy to see this. Necessary both in terms of game time adjustments, but also probably part of the pre-game strategy.

Stating the obvious, I guess.

I can't tell you how happy I am to read things like this about My Browns. It's all I've been harping about since The Return.

Browns’ wonderful season ends with a few second guesses – Terry Pluto’s Postgame Scribbles

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Scribbles in my notebook after the Browns lost 22-17 in Kansas City, ending their season in the second round of the playoffs:

1. As I write this, keep in mind none of it is to take away from the Browns’ 11-5 record this season and a playoff victory over Pittsburgh in the first round. Big-time football finally is back in Cleveland.

2. But when the Browns look back at the loss to the Chiefs, it will gnaw away at them for quite a while. Suppose you knew the Browns would hold KC to 22 points. And suppose you knew Patrick Mahomes would leave the game in the third quarter with a concussion. That sounds like what it would take for the Browns to upset the Super Bowl champs.

3. That’s why I said this would be a frustrating loss. The Browns thought the game would be high-scoring. But it wasn’t. They thought they could run the ball vs. the Chiefs, but they really didn’t give it a chance – especially in the first half.

4. I’m still stunned that Kareem Hunt didn’t have a single touch of the football in the first half. Not a carry. He wasn’t targeted with a pass. Granted, the Browns had only three possessions in the first half, but why ignore Hunt? The former KC player was eager to face his old team. He has played hard all season and was finishing the year strong.

5. In the first half, Nick Chubb had only 12 yards on five carries. He dropped two passes. In the upset of Pittsburgh last weekend, the Steelers were surprised by some of the short passes to Chubb. The Chiefs were prepared. And Hunt – the team’s best receiver out of the backfield – was ignored. In fact, Hunt had only one pass thrown his way all game. He caught it for 2 yards. In the second half, he carried the ball six times for 32 yards (5.3 average). He rushed for a 3-yard TD.

6. The Browns wasted two timeouts in the fourth quarter. One was a challenge of a catch by KC’s Tyreek Hill that had little chance of being overturned. The official’s ruling held up. The second came when they couldn’t get lined up correctly and had to call timeout.

7. Coach Kevin Stefanski said: “All of those decisions, that’s on me. I should have been better.” As for the failure to get the team set up to run their plays, the coach said: “Miscommunication. Unfortunate, and that ultimately is on me.”

8. The breakdown in communication was so surprising because I can’t recall it happening more than a few times this season. Maybe only once. It used to be a regular problem in previous years, and that points to issues with coaching.

9. It seemed Stefanski wasn’t sure what type of game he wanted to call – or the KC defense did something to surprise him, especially in the first half: “We had three drives for three points. A bunch of drops. Penalties. Bad play calls...You can’t come in here and score 17 points and get a win.”

10. The Browns defense will be ripped for not stopping the Chiefs on a key fourth down near the end of the game. Of course, they didn’t stop anyone all year in those situations. Opposing teams converted 27 of 32 fourth-down plays vs. Cleveland this season. That was the worst of any NFL defense.

11. That said, they held the Super Bowl-defending, high-powered Chiefs to 22 points. That should have been enough to win. If you want to point the main finger of blame, point it at the offense.


12. And that said, Rashard Higgins should have not reached out with both hands to put the ball over the goal line. New England coach Bill Belichick has a team rule against it because it creates fumbles. But Higgins was the victim of a helmet-to-helmet hit on the play by KC safety Daniel Sorensen. But no flag. Nor can the play be challenged. Because the fumble went out of the end zone, KC got the ball on the 20-yard line. The Browns should have kept the ball and been in position to score a TD.

13. Higgins had an excellent game with five catches for 88 yards, a 17.6 average. David Njoku had his best game of the season with four catches for 59 yards. The Chiefs made sure Jarvis Landry couldn’t hurt them with big plays. Landry caught seven passes, but his longest was for 10 yards.

14. Baker Mayfield was 23-of-37 passing for 204 yards. He threw a poor interception, right into double coverage. “A cardinal sin, throwing across my body,” said Mayfield.

15. That was Mayfield’s second interception in the last 10 games...covering 376 passes. Mayfield’s final numbers (counting playoffs): 12-6 record, 30 TDs, 9 interceptions and 62.6 completions. The Browns have a QB who can lead them to the playoffs.

16. Stefanski on Mayfield: “This is what he’s done all season...steering the ship...being out in front and leading the group. I’m proud of him.”

17. Mayfield said: “We are setting a new standard here...it sucks when you come up short, but you get a taste of it and you realize the lessons learned. For now, it’s going to definitely sting...But we’ve come a long way since I got here.”

18. Landry said: “These guys, we’ve created a high standard...I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished...(Now) we have to find a way to beat these teams.”

19. I didn’t think Mack Wilson’s hit on Mahomes (leading to a concussion) was a dirty play. On Twitter, Mahomes agreed. It was a class act by the Chiefs QB.

20. The season is over. The Browns have the No. 26 pick in the draft. The fact that most fans have paid little attention to the draft during the season is probably the biggest compliment of all to the team. They kept us all engaged with a great show on the field.

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/01...-scribbles.html

For once, you can like Browns’ chances better than Steelers without dreaming! Terry Pluto

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/02...erry-pluto.html


CLEVELAND, Ohio – At some point, it had to happen. At least, that’s what Browns fans have been telling themselves for years.

At some point, the Browns would no longer be under the cleats of the Pittsburgh Steelers. At some point, the Browns wouldn’t lose to Pittsburgh simply because Ben Roethlisberger stepped on the field and the orange helmets melted at the sight of him.

At some point, the Steelers would have an offseason like this one – full of question marks.

The Steelers were 12-4 last season, but that was deceiving. They lost four of five games to finish, including 48-37 to the Browns in the playoffs. But it’s more than problems on the field that showed up in their final two games (and losses) to the Browns.

It’s Ben Roethlisberger, who is 38 and in major decline.

It’s the QB’s salary cap number of $41 million. Even if Roethlisberger retires – not his desire right now – he would still be on the salary cap for $22 million next year.

ESPN estimates the Steelers are $22 million over the salary cap for 2021. My favorite site for NFL money is overthecap.com, which has the Steelers are $30 million over the cap right now. The Browns are $22 million under.

(FYI: With those cap issues, free agent J.J. Watt is not heading to Pittsburgh to play with his two brothers. Pittsburgh has to cut payroll, not add to it.)

The Steelers have other problems, including the retirement of star center and close Roethlisberger friend Maurkice Pouncey and 19 unrestricted free agents.

A NIGHT FOR THE AGES

I think back to that remarkable Sunday wild card victory over the Steelers. I think of Pouncey firing that first snap over Roethlisberger’s head, the Browns recovering the loose ball in the end zone for a TD. I think of Roethlisberger throwing the ball to the Browns, over and over and over and over again. That’s four “over’s,” one for each interception.

I think of the Browns without head coach Kevin Stefanski, offensive line coach Bill Callahan and several key assistants out with COVID-19, and the Browns out-coached, out-played and out-schemed the Steelers anyway.

Most of this is what we’ve seen before, only it was the Browns with the awful snaps, the dumb passes into double coverage. It was the Browns falling behind something like 35-10 at halftime.

Most of all, it was the Browns losing their poise.

But this time, it was the Steelers. And it happened in Pittsburgh. That game combined with Roethlisberger’s age and the late-season collapse of the team seems to have rocked Pittsburgh’s front office.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Even if Roethlisberger and the Steelers can find a way to re-work his deal, does saving those salary cap dollars make any sense? Is it time go with 25-year-old Mason Rudolph and begin a rebuild?

“The game (Rudolph) started this year was the best game he has played for us,” Pittsburgh GM Kevin Colbert said at a press conference. “It was very encouraging to see the way he played in Cleveland.”

Colbert is talking about Cleveland’s 24-22 victory over the Steelers in the final regular season game. Pittsburgh rested Roethlisberger and other starters. Meanwhile, the Browns had to win to make the postseason.

Rudolph had some very nice moments. He was 22-of-39 for 315 yards and a pair of TDs. Watching Roethlisberger the next week, it was obvious Rudolph’s arm strength has surpassed that of the veteran.

HERE COME THE BROWNS

Rudolph or Roethlisberger, neither should terrorize the Browns next season.

Mike Tomlin remains a very good coach. He could find a way to squeeze an 8-8 record out of the team, much as he did in 2019 when Roethlisberger was out. But it could be time for the Steelers to tear down their aging and expensive roster.

Meanwhile, the Browns are young. They are well under the salary cap. Baker Mayfield has taken control of the QB position with both hands firmly on Stefanski’s offense.

For much of the season, the Browns’ winning record was ridiculed “because they only are beating bad teams.” Well, by the end of the year they knocked off Pittsburgh (12-4) along with the Colts (11-5) and Titans (11-5). They were 3-3 vs. teams with winning records.

This isn’t to put the Browns in the Super Bowl. But it will be hard to find any “experts” who believe that Cleveland hasn’t passed Pittsburgh in the AFC North.

And that’s not just Browns fans dreaming.

What about J.J. Watt? Nick Chubb’s contract? Future of Rashard Higgins? Terry’s Talkin’ Browns

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/02...kin-browns.html


ABOUT J.J. WATT

Could be wrong, so keep this in mind while you read this about free agent defensive end J.J. Watt:

1. One executive told me if Watt had an offer at $15 million a year, he should have immediately taken it. The executive wondered if Watt’s camp was working to hype the value of their client by putting that rumor into play, perhaps hoping for a multi-year offer.

2. Teams want Watt, and the Browns are one of those talking to the former Houston star. But at 32 and with a significant injury history, it’s hard to imagine the Browns or most teams making a major commitment to Watt of more than one year. It’s possible he could sign a multi-year deal, but only with the bonus and first season being guaranteed.

3. Most analytics-based teams such as the Browns have the same mindset as traditional football people when it comes to offensive and defensive lines – you need a lot depth. These guys get hurt. The Browns reworked Olivier Vernon’s contract ($11 million) and brought him back in 2020 knowing he’d probably miss some games due to injury. But they hoped he’d play maybe a dozen at a high level.

4. Vernon played 14 regular-season games, but tore his Achilles in the final contest of the year vs. Pittsburgh. He’s had surgery, but it’s doubtful the Browns will bring back the 30-year-old veteran.

5. My guess – and it’s a guess – is the Browns would offer Watt more than Vernon, but it would be a one-year deal and not at $15 million. They’d view him much like Vernon in 2020. He’s a guy who probably won’t stay healthy all year, but they’d hope he plays most of the time. Even 75 percent of Watt is an asset. But he has played only 48 of 80 games in the last five years.

6. Right now, attention is on Watt. That will end in two weeks, when free agency opens. The “legal tampering” period is March 15, when word of signings will leak out. Watt would be wise to sign well before that date.

7. The Browns want a pass rusher. It’s doubtful they’ll find an elite one in the draft. So that leaves free agency. Like most teams, the Browns also know some quality (and expensive) veterans could be cut. No need to rush to Watt at an inflated cost when there will be other options.

8. Meanwhile, the Browns will probably lose defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi to free agency. Andrew Billings is expected back. He signed with the Browns before the 2020 season, then sat out because of COVID-19 concerns. The Browns have a good feeling about Jordan Elliott (third-round pick, 2020) making significant progress in 2021.

ABOUT NICK CHUBB

1. Not much is said about this, but Chubb is a free agent at the end of the 2021 season. The Browns are expected to engage in contract talks at some point, probably after free agency. Chubb’s contract is for $3.4 million, according to overthecap.com. There is no fifth-year option available. Those ae only for first-round picks.

2. So the Browns could lose Chubb after this season, but I doubt that will happen. The Browns want to keep Chubb for all the reasons fans love the running back. If nothing else, the Browns can use the franchise tag in 2022. That would be about $10 million.

3. As the Browns and Chubb’s agents talk, there are several issues. Knowing the franchise tag exists means the Browns can easily have contract control for two years. Let’s face it, Chubb has a history of a major knee injury in college and he missed four games in 2020 with a knee problem. Does it make sense to play on what amounts to a pair of consecutive one-year contracts?

4. The argument for keeping Chubb beings with his brilliance at the position, matched by his work ethic and character. The four games he missed in 2020 came after playing every game in 2018-19. So it was his first real pro injury.

5. The Browns have Kareem Hunt under contract for two more years. The Chubb/Hunt combination is unmatched in the NFL, augmented by a strong offensive line. The Browns don’t want to break that up.

6. Chubb will be offered some kind of extension. The three biggest of recent years are Ezekiel Elliott (6 years, $90M, $28M guaranteed), Christian McCaffrey (4 years, $64M, $40M guaranteed) and Alvin Kamara (5 years, $75M, $25M guaranteed). I doubt the Browns will play in that financial ballpark. All contract information came from overthecap.com.

7. The main point in writing this is yes, Chubb is in the final year of his contract. But I expect the Browns would use the franchise tag on him in 2021 if needed. They want to keep him on the team.

ABOUT RASHARD HIGGINS

1. Many fans know I have a soft spot for Higgins, who is heading into free agency. The Browns have told Higgins they want him back. But like everything else this time of year, it’s a matter of dollars.

2. Cleveland.com’s Scott Patsko wrote a story about the impressive productivity of Donovan Peoples-Jones and Higgins. It’s based on analytics from football outsiders. According to the story, Higgins caught 37 of 38 “catchable passes,” and 31 went for first downs. He also caught seven of 11 passes of at least 20 yards in the air. Mayfield had a 119.2 passer rating when throwing to Higgins.

3. Those numbers match the eye test. Higgins seldom dropped balls. He has a chemistry with Mayfield. He’s not fast, but he averaged an impressive 16.7 yards per catch. Only Peoples-Jones (21.7) was higher. He led the Browns with 12 catches that gained at least 20 yards. Jarvis Landry was next with 11.

4. The Browns have $27 million tied up in receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Landry. Beckham is coming off an ACL knee surgery. If he’s cut, the Browns still have to pay him $12.7 million. That’s why it would be a shock if that happens. The injury combined with Beckham’s salary makes it difficult to trade him.

5. What will happen to Higgins? He was paid $910,000 last season. The Browns will offer him a modest raise, but it would seem an analytics-driven team with a need for a receiver could wrestle him away from Cleveland.

"According to the story, Higgins caught 37 of 38 “catchable passes,” and 31 went for first downs. He also caught seven of 11 passes of at least 20 yards in the air. Mayfield had a 119.2 passer rating when throwing to Higgins."

There is no way you let that kind of production and efficiency leave your team.

The down cap year will definitely hurt his market as a possible mid-range #2 wideout.

I would be surprised if he got more than 3 years/11-12 million total.

Just offer him 3 years at 8 million so he knows he's wanted.
A 1.5 million dollar signing bonus
Year 1: 1.5 mil salary (2 mill cap hit)
Year 2: 2 mil salary (2.5 mil cap hit)
Year 3: 2.5 mil salary with 500k roster bonus (3.5 mil cap hit)

I doubt he would take it but at least it would be "on the table"

Once we get to free agency we can always up it closer to the 11 mil market with maybe 3 mil as a signing bonus.

Year 1: 2 mil salary (3 mil cap hit)
Year 2: 2.5 mil salary (3.5 mil cap hit)
Year 3: 3 mil salary w/ 500k roster bonus (4.5 mil cap hit)

I don't think the "decreased cap" will effect things much at all overall. It will just decrease teams' future flexibility as the NFLPA (allegedly) wants players to push for more up front signing bonuses, etc. that can have their cap hit spread over the life of the contract. If that's the case, it might hurt us more than some teams as maintaining flexibility is one of the guardrails. With word of the increased TV deals filtering out, I don't expect as many bargains as once was thought there might be. I'm starting to worry prices might even go the other direction.

I'm torn on Higgins. It'd be nice to have him around as insurance, but ideally OBJ, Landry, and DPJ (or a more dynamic rookie/FA) will be getting most of our WR targets. What is his special teams value?

I think Higgins, while a smaller in stature, is like Joe Jurevicius. All he does is move the chains every time you get the ball to him.

When you need to move them, he's a prime guy to look at.


The problem is, we can only put so many guys on the field at once.

Amen.

Not picking nits here because I don't want to deflect from your point...but...Higgins is 6'1"...and looks thicker to me than does Landry or Beckham who are both 5'11".

Hodge and DPJ are both 6'2"...as is Perriman.

His reference was Higgins vs. Joe J.

and Joe Jurevicius was listed at 6'5", 232.

No love for Rashard Higgins? Can this really become a top-10 defense? – Terry’s Talkin’ Browns

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/04...kin-browns.html

ABOUT RASHARD HIGGINS

Confession time: This is not a cold-eyed, objective column about Rashard Higgins.

Many readers know the wide receiver has been one of my favorite Browns since he was a fifth-round draft pick in 2016. This is not an attempt to turn Higgins into the second coming of Paul Warfield or Jarvis Landry. But it is to say Higgins is productive when given regular playing time.

The perception of Higgins is that of a possession receiver, and that’s true. You throw the ball to him, he catches it. As he told me in 2016 after being drafted, “I’m a catch-the-ball type of receiver.”

He’s not supposed to be a big-play guy. But he’s also averaged 16.2 yards per reception. That’s higher than Odell Beckham Jr. (13.9) and Landry (11.7). That’s because Baker Mayfield likes to throw medium and deep passes to the receiver he’s known the longest and best.

Talking to some NFL sources, I heard the scouting report on Higgins dwells on his lack of speed and athleticism. They believe he is a product of the Browns’ system, especially his chemistry with Mayfield. He’s not the No. 1 receiver, so he seldom deals with double- or triple-coverage.

Most fans in Cleveland know the decline of Higgins in 2019 was due to a personality clash with former coach Freddie Kitchens. Higgins caught only four passes. He also dealt with a knee injury.

In 2018, he had 39 catches (27 for first downs, 4 TDs).

In 2020, he 37 catches (26 for first downs, 4 TDs).

“The feeling around the league is the numbers are nice, but nothing special,” said one source. “You can find a lot of guys like Higgins without spending much money.”

General manager Andrew Berry values Higgins. Berry was part of the front office that drafted Higgins out of Colorado State, where he was the school’s all-time leading receiver. When Berry returned to run the Browns in 2020, he re-signed Higgins after the disastrous 2019 season to a $1 million veteran minimum contract.

In March, Berry read the market, knowing Higgins would be ignored by most teams – as has been the case for nearly all of his career. Coming out of high school, Colorado State was his only Division I scholarship offer. The Browns signed Higgins to a $2.37 million deal. He had offers from other teams (probably in the same price range), but wisely stayed where he has been productive and appreciated.

Here is my favorite stat on Higgins: He was 37-of-38 in “catchable passes,” according to Football Outsiders. You can count on him.

He’s a player with the nickname “Hollywood,” but his style is pure Cleveland.

ABOUT THE BROWNS DEFENSE

ESPN’s Mike Clay wrote: “They were a contender in 2020, but keep in mind that of the 14 playoff teams, they were the only one with a negative scoring margin (minus-11). In order to avoid a crash back to irrelevance in 2021, there was work to do on the defensive side of the ball. ... Mission accomplished. Star safety John Johnson III is a game-changer of an acquisition; Troy Hill upgrades the corner spot opposite Denzel Ward; Malik Jackson adds quality depth at defensive tackle; DE Takkarist McKinley helps replace Olivier Vernon; and Malcolm Smith and Anthony Walker improve the team’s shaky linebacker corps. Already loaded on offense, Cleveland now arguably has a top-10 defense.”

Let’s think about this as I relay what I found on the profootballreference site:

1. The Browns ranked 17th out of 32 teams in yards allowed. This means little to me.

2. More important is points allowed. The Browns were 21st at 26.2 per game. That’s better than I thought.

3. The Browns ranked No. 9 vs. the run. That is significant. Most fans remember how opposing teams have run roughshod in the past.

4. They ranked No. 9 in fewest tackles missed. That helps explain why the run defense improved.

5. They ranked 16th in sacks -- middle of the pack.

6. They were 24th in “pressuring the QB.” This stat is a combination of sacks, QB knockdowns, passes batted down, hurries and QB hits. This is a major stat, showing they didn’t put that much pressure on the QB.

7. The Browns ranked 31st in QB knockdowns after the throw. Another indication of a lack of a consistent pass rush.

8. They were 10th worst in preventing third-down conversions to first downs. On fourth down, they were the second-worst.

9. They were 19th in red zone defense, which is denying touchdowns. I thought it would be worse than that.

10. The Browns ranked 19th in forcing turnovers. I thought they were better than that.

Jake Trotter
@Jake_Trotter
Browns safeties allowed 12 passing TDs last year when they were the nearest defender in coverage, most in the NFL. John Johnson's 61 targets as the nearest defender in coverage was 3rd-most this season among safeties. And he allowed only 1 TD, via @NextGenStats @ESPNStatsInfo

WHAT COMES NEXT?

1. Signing safety Johnson has been praised everywhere. He can play strong or free safety. He is a team leader, the one who set the Rams’ defenses. Browns safeties allowed 12 TD passes last season, most in the NFL, according to ESPN. Johnson allowed only one for the Rams.

2. The plan is for the Browns to often use three safeties: Grant Delpit, Ronnie Harrison Jr. and Johnson. Don’t be surprised if they also draft a safety in the middle rounds. They need depth at the position with Delpit coming off Achilles surgery and Harrison missing five games with various injuries in 2020.

3. Malcolm Smith and Anthony Walker are the type of linebackers favored by defensive coordinator Joe Woods – and the modern NFL. They are quick, almost like safeties. With all the passing and the variety of spread offenses, the traditional hard-hitting linebacker has fallen out of favor.

4. The Browns are still shopping for a defensive end/pass rusher. Not sure what is happening with Jadeveon Clowney, who visited a while ago. He played only eight games because of injuries last season, had zero sacks. Some of his stats against the run are good.

5. One way to improve the pass rush is improve coverage. That explains the free-agent emphasis on the secondary and a quick linebacker. Malik Jackson could help a lot at defensive tackle. Takk McKinley has the ability to be an effective pass rusher, but we’ll see if it happens in Cleveland.

6. A top 10 defense? I doubt it. But a better defense than a year ago? That looks certain.

They were 10th worst in preventing third-down conversions to first downs. On fourth down, they were the second-worst.

That's what I saw last season..

The defensive stats were improved by the 3 bad weather games.

The defense was not very good and I am hopeful that the team will be better next year.

Those three games DEFINITELY skewed things.

No doubt. Excellent point.

No doubt we should be better based on the recent additions. Top 10 D..I think that might be a stretch but we never could run what Woods wants, so here is to hoping.

Despite the injuries and such, I'm still surprised we ended up that low-ranked in terms of pressuring the QB.

Conversely, I'm not surprised we did as bad as we did re: turnovers. We started out hot and then that went away immediately once the injuries and such set in.