DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Expectations

I think in all of my years watching the Browns this season has the biggest floor to ceiling I have seen and it is due to a decent roster when healthy and what are they going to get at QB. If I checked back in in January and the Browns were 3-14, I would not be surprised. If the Browns won 10 games, I would not be surprised either. If this team gets adequate QB play. I mean middle of the pack throw for 200+ a game with a 2 for 1 TD to INT type season so let's say the QB throws form 3,500 yards and has 18 td's to 9 int.. and Judkins rushes for 1,200+ yards and 10tds I could see this team winning 10 games. I think the defense does take a step back this season. I think they will remain in the top half of the NFL but not the top 10.

I would like to know what you saw in Preseason from our first string O Line that makes you think ( as a unit ) they can open wholes for the RB's // Just a question .

Time to take a hard look at what Monken is willing to settle for in 2026. Obviously some decisions have been forced on him and the club.

I expect to see more less predictable play calling, more balanced play calling and I expect to see more aggressive play calling at opportune moments in the game. The offence might be predicated on a short pass controlled play sort of scheme - but I expect timely attempts to go deep or stretch the field instead of waiting till we are 2+ TDs down before we suddenly start chucking it long. I also expect to see better and successful screens - to RBs TEs and WRs.

Unfortunately I expect to see Watson oscillate between decent play, bad play and really bad play ... and probably trend downwards. I expect to see Sanders starting by the 6th game. Maybe sooner. I expect to see Gabriel start by week 14.

On defense - I think we're going to miss Schwartz. I don't think Rutenburg is going to get the D playing at the same level as Schwartz did.

Overall I expect the rookies from last year to continue to impress - and I think the new rookie class is going to give us hope that (subject to finding a genuine starting caliber QB) there is some excitement to look forward to in future.

I suppose one concern I have is what I saw posted on this board. That was the poor run blocking rates by the FA OL players they signed. It isn't a prediction of the future but to me it serves as a warning sign. Without a solid running game they would have to depend on a stellar passing game to open up the run. I don't see that as an option. I think we'll need a stellar running game to open up the pass. I guess we'll have to wait and see how that all pans out.

One thing is guaranteed in the NFL. That is injuries are going to happen. Depth in both the secondary and the DL have me concerned. I realize you can't have pro bowl players at all 53 spots on your roster but.....

Expectations? I have none. Expectations are something I have for my children and my grandchildren. And even then it's more hope and the possibilities than expectations.

I used to build myself up to have expectations for this team each season. The general consensus seemed to be they would be lucky to win 5 games the way they did last season. The expectation is that they would draft close to the top of the draft if not 1st in the draft.

I'm just not one who lets the excitement of getting closer to the season start influencing my expectations only to be let down later.

Some call it negativity. But it's a lesson I have learned over the course of time and the Browns helped teach it to me.

If you expect the worse you will never be disappointed. But if something better happens you will be pleasantly surprised. At this point in my life I prefer to be pleasantly surprised than disappointed.

I expect to see a rough start to the season (offense being "as advertised" and the defense taking a step back from last year). I expect the QB carousel to continue, with Watson getting yanked and/or hurt by mid-season. I expect to see our 3 non-rookie QBs be named starter at various points throughout the season.

I expect the offense to start to settle in and begin forming an identity by mid-season. I expect to see the need for additional talent along the Oline, but for at least 3 of our current starters to have solidified their hold on their respective positions (I expect to go into next off-season needing to pick up at least 1 more starter-caliber OT).

I expect Judkins to show us more of what he did last year (gritty running behind a weak Oline). I expect Fannin to similarly build off of last year. I expect the rookie WRs to do well enough (still making rookie mistakes and probably fizzle out towards the end of the year, but showing lots of promise for the next year).



Edit to add: I expect coaching staff to take a very different tone. Berea is not going to be a happy place while we struggle. I expect some early-season penalty issues (with everyone on offense being new, but for the penalties to go down quickly).

My expectation depends on the health of our team. I think if we get dinged up on defense it's going to be a ROUGH year.

I'm also hoping that the OL is improved from last year. We need it to be much improved by the summer of 2027

My expectations are unwavering. I expect to see disciplined, hard nosed football. That never changes. After that it is all about wants, and what I want doesn't really matter.

My expectations will be as every year.

Tailgating is the best part of being there


Now that I don't go anymore, I expect I will not read this board during a game

I do expect the bashing will continue on here during the game

I expect not to hear "we have to coach better, play better as a team "

I expect and hope Monken tells Mary Kay to go.....

you mentioned Monken, and I do think he'll be more honest after games than KS was

I also think he has shown that the QBs have improved with him thus far, even slightly

My expectations for this year's roster are undoubtedly low. It's not good and lacking significant talent and depth. What talent there is largely young and unproven, neither of which are conducive to winning in the NFL.

Further, as I gleefully bounded toward the mailbox and unfolded this month's issue of Cleveland Magazine, much to my dismay, I was reminded why my confidence in this organization hovers around the bottom of the ocean floor.

Most likely we will draft a QB hoping he becomes our FQB. DW and SS will be gone and most likely DG. We will sign a vet and develop our drafted QB. IF TG makes progress, we may keep him if not he may go and we could keep Dillon. Very long way to go before these question's can be answered.

From my perspective we are in competition with the Dolphins to see which team can assemble the worst QB room in the NFL.

Their QB depth chart is currently Malik Willis, Kyle McCord and Brady Cook.

Not gonna lie, we might have a better room than they do...Not saying much, but it could also be a competition between them and us for the #1 overall pick. I hate feeling that way before the first kickoff...

I hate feeling that way too. But at the same time in the long run considering our QB situation it may be the best case scenario. I hate feeling that way too. It's like watching the same movie for the fourth or fifth time and expecting it to have a different ending.

Just wait 'til April next year and I fully expect that you will change your mind.....

In April I'll be wondering if they got it right. It will be well after April, maybe up to two to three years before we know the answer to that.

Very true, Pit. But nothing can match the excitement, drama and anticipation of the draft. It is the (for me) best 3-day stretch of the year...

I would take the under at 3.5 wins.

The Browns are an unserious organization that values process over results. I had hope for Monken, but we haven’t played a game yet and it is clear he has been sucked into the culture disease that is the Cleveland Browns.

You want to see a well run organization that prioritizes winning? Look at how the Broncos handled their coaching issues and the Russell Wilson disaster. The fact that Watson is starting for this team and it is being sold as he gives them the best chance to win is symptomatic of the larger culture issue that hangs over the head of this team.

Monken’s post game pressers are going to be so awkward and cringe they will be nearly unwatchable. He will regularly have that what the hell did I get myself into look.

This might be the most unlikable, unwatchable team in all of professional sports. It starts with Jimmy and Berry. They either have no clue how to win or don’t care. Both are bad, just for different reasons.

Buckle up. It’s going to be a long, bumpy, unpleasant ride. A one and done year for Monken, and I wouldn’t be surprised if their hand picked QB pulled a Manning. I would never let my son play for this team, owner, or GM. They are truly the epitome of the very worst the sport has to offer. Does anyone have any idea how almost statistically impossible it is to be this bad this long. I’m surprised there are any fans left honestly.

C'mon bro... you're just dizzy from that heat wave!

Bone I basically feel the same way. I feel we will lose our first 2 games being on the road and with all the new players and coaches. It will take time for the team to gel. My attitude will be what it always is. Expect the worse but hope for the best. We have a good core of young players. That's something to be optimistic about for the future.

I agree. We've seen DW's ceiling. With SS he's young and there's a chance he could be better than what we've seen. DW is a reminder of everything that's gone bad since 1999.

Sort of like Cod liver oil!!

I guess as of today, no real expectations just looking forward to a new season, seeing the rookies and sophmores and Verse.... Looking forward to new HC era and offense .... my head sort of says all the things I mentioned before about the play calling and some of the minutia, but right now I am glad football season is here and I can watch games on Sunday.

It won't surprise me if in 3 or 4 weeks I am cheesed off and paing as much attention to the QB draft class as I am the Browns - but we aren't there yet.

I really worry about the run blocking. And there s a reason for that. Here are the run blocking grades and ranking for the FA's that were signed.......

Zion Johnson earned a 53.4 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF) for the 2025 NFL season, ranking 64th out of 81 qualified guards.

Elgton Jenkins is an center for the Cleveland Browns who earned a 62.0 overall PFF grade in the 2025 season, 25th among 40 qualified centers. He played 538 offensive snaps on the season.

Tytus Howard is an offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns who earned a 62.8 overall PFF grade in the 2025 season, 58th among 89 qualified offensive tackles. His run-blocking grade of 50.8 ranked 79th at the position.

I, just like yourself have always thought run blocking was easier than pass blocking and maybe it is. It would seem far less complicated for sure. But with all three of these players their pass blocking rating is higher than their run blocking. Their run blocking rating is dismal.

From outward appearances it almost seems as though they were signed strictly based on their ability to pass block and that run blocking was more of an after thought. I hope for the best but these guys are veterans and have struggled in their run blocking.

in terms of Sunday's game, the only hope IMO is that week 1 oddities and sloppiness make the Jags play poorly.

But I fully expect us to start 0-2 in fairly ugly fashion

I fully understand who the Browns drafted. And maybe Barber and Brailsford can be developed. And I did not say the OL wasn't "improved".

All three of those FA's I mentioned are starters. That's where we are. I was simply informing you of their status as run blockers.