Tag Archives: Cleveland Browns

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah needs to do more in 2023

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Year two did not go as planned for Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in Cleveland. After a first year which saw him look like a big time building block for the Browns defense, JOK was not able to build upon his rookie season.

Limited to just 11 games, Koramoah was not as effective as he was in year one. The 2021 second round pick saw an uptick in playing time, but struggled in a few areas. Pass defense is one area of note with nearly 70% of the 39 passes completed with Koramoah in coverage.

As far as non-pass coverage duties were concerned, they were not necessarily all that great either. Koramoah registered only two pressures and one quarterback hit in 2022, down from five and four respectively in 2021. Those numbers must head back in the right direction, ending up where they should have been last season.

JOK had his fair share of struggles but the coaching staff did not help either

Not all of this is on Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. The Browns defense notably struggled under the tutelage of the now departed Joe Woods. Many players did not know their assignments on a play-to-play basis which did not help anyone. Now that Jim Schwartz is in charge and there were actual improvements up front, JOK should have a much better third season in Cleveland. Schwartz should know how to deploy Koramoah properly, giving him the right responsibilities in order to get the most out of the former Notre Dame product.

If Koramoah is not able to get back on track it would be a big problem for the future of the Browns defense. There is not necessarily anyone noteworthy playing linebacker in Cleveland at the moment. The expecation is that JOK is that noteworthy individual not just now, but in the future as well. If he is not able to accomplish that it would lead to a much larger discussion that would need to take place.

Martin Emerson a breakout candidate?

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It seems like the Cleveland Browns got themselves a good player in Martin Emerson. Being selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Emerson was able to impress at time as a rookie. So much that Pro Football Focus has named Emerson as part of their All-Breakout Team.

“With a crowded cornerback room featuring the likes of Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II, Emerson had the highest defensive and coverage grades of the group at 72.5 and 75.1, respectively. In an AFC North that features receivers like Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and George Pickens, building on a strong rookie campaign from Emerson will help the Browns keep pace in a tough division.“

The obvious flaws of anything PFF does aside, the contributions of Martin Emerson last year were very valuable. Emerson allowed just over 50% of passes to be completed on 91 targets with 15 pass defenses in 72% of defensive snaps as a rookie.

As mentioned in the blurb from PFF”s Jim Wyman, Emerson will be counted on to help limit the productions from the top receivers in the division. Obviously it will be Cincinnati’s duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins which will give the Browns defense the most trouble, but Pittsburgh’s George Pickens is a player on the rise and new Ravens wideout Odell Beckham Jr. cannot be forgotten either.

If Cleveland’s defense is going to take the step forward that most expect, the secondary will have to play their part. That is in addition to the new look defensive front being more impactful than previous versions. The development of Emerson is essential for the Browns, but he is only cog in a much bigger machine that needs to operate in a highly effective manner.

Should the Browns sign Yannick Ngakoue?

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Cleveland overhauled their defensive front this past offseason, but could they look to add some more help?

The past few years have seen the Browns experience some difficulty in finding some consistent help on their defensive line. Attempts were made with Olivier Vernon and Adrian Clayborn in addition to the mixed results yielded from two years of the Jadeveon Clowney experience. After those attempts did not lead to a long term answer, Cleveland went out and brought in some pass rush help in the forms of Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Za’Darius Smith. But could they add another in Yannick Ngakoue?

Ngakoue is someone that has been linked to the Browns before and he does have some appeal. The 28-year old has been a consistent force in getting after the quarterback. Ngakoue has 65 career sacks in 110 games, including 19.5 over the past two years in Las Vegas and Indianapolis. On the surface it seems like a no-brainer, but it is not that simple.

Interestingly enough, this is very similar to the situation involving Cleveland’s wide receiver situation and free agent DeAndre Hopkins.

It would be on thing if Cleveland did not already invest in Okoronkwo and Smith in free agency. Additionally, the Browns drafted Isaiah McGuire in this past draft and still have some intriguing young options in Alex Wright and Isaiah Thomas to work into the mix. Barring any sort of injury, there really is not any avenue in which Ngakoue could take that would result in significant playing time in Cleveland.

While the proposition of Yannick Ngakoue as a situational pass rusher is intriguing, it just does not make sense currently. Things change in the NFL rather quickly, so this is not necessarily a permanent decline of Ngakoue. If Cleveland suddenly needs a pass rusher and Ngakoue is still available, that no changes to a yes almost immediately. But until then, it is a pretty firm no as they should look at their internal options before pursuing any of the external variety.

Which new Browns pass rusher was predicted to underwhelm?

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When evaluating three of the Browns free agent signings it was one player prediction in particular that would have many fans in Cleveland underwhelmed. Bleacher Report’s Jake Will thinks that defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo will finish with “fewer than three sacks” this season.

It is not hard to build a solid case for this hot take. When Cleveland signed Okoronkwo in the offseason it appeared he would instantly slide into the starting spot opposite Myles Garrett. But it was the trade for Za’Darius Smith that ultimately made Will come to this conclusion. Barring injury or poor performance, the starting job belongs to Smith.

Another valid point brought up is that Okoronkwo has a very short track record of being a productive NFL player. With all five sacks, six of nine tackles for loss, and six of 11 quarterback hits coming in the final six games, it is more than fair to question just how real this was. Considering that up to that point Okoronkwo had just 4.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and 18 quarterback hits in 44 games, things start to not so great here.

The best thing to happen to Okoronkwo is that the Browns traded for a known commodity in Smith, even after dealing with a knee issue last season. Okoronkwo behind Smith and possibly alongside him in a pass rush heavy package should allow the Browns to get the most out of him. Perhaps Okoronkwo can take over that role next season after Smith’s current deal expires, but for now he is best suited as complimentary pass rush specialist.

Browns unveil new dog logo

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The contest for the new Cleveland Browns new dog logo is over and the winner has been revealed. Brownie The Elf did make an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show to officially reveal the winner.

From the beginning this logo seemed destined to be the winner. It just looked more complete and professionally done over the other options that were not selected.

There are some hidden Easter eggs in this logo which definitely played a factor in gaining favor among voting fans.

The dog logo has evolved over the years as the team has made slight changes in their uniforms and color scheme. If anyone is not a fan of the winning design, they can at least take some solace that they’ve improved upon the abomination that was apparently still in use last season.

Browns in bottom half of big plays last season

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The Cleveland Browns had their fair share of difficulties last season. Between having to start veteran Jacoby Brissett while Deshaun Watson was suspended, and the latter quarterback looking extremely rusty when he did play, Cleveland’s offense was not exactly high-powered. Brissett is a perfectly fine quarterback, but not exactly someone known to chuck it down the field. With all of that in mind, it is not a shock to see where the Browns ranked when it came to offensive plays of 30 or more yards last season.

With just 21 to their name, 18 other teams were able to accumulate more plays of this type than Cleveland.

Of course the one outlier here is Denver and as Warren Sharp mentions, it was mostly “moonballs when losing”. Besides that, it is obvious that Cleveland needs to improve in this area for the upcoming season.

These numbers should look better for the Browns as Watson becomes more familiar with his teammates. That is in addition to adding some help in the form of former Jets receiver Elijah Moore. Cleveland is counting on Moore to be an important part of their offense this season. Moore, along with Donovan Peoples-Jones, should be able to find favorable matchups with opposing defenses focusing in on Amari Cooper.

Peoples-Jones was one of the better receivers when it came to catch rate over expected last season. This speaks about his volumes about his ability to reel in the ball, but also the quality of passes that were thrown in his direction last year. Peoples-Jones should have a much easier time making catches this season with a full season of Watson commandeering the offense.

There is also one other person of note, maybe you’ve heard of him, Nick Chubb. Chubb was one of the most explosive runners in the NFL last season and may in fact be the best running back in the league. The Browns will still utilize Chubb heavily in their game plan, but expect their passing game to evolve as well. Cleveland has been cornered into running a certain style of offense the past few seasons that can be effective, but is very limited in the variety of plays that can be run. There are more options at Kevin Stefanski’s disposal when curating a game plan that should lead to more explosiveness. That variety and potential explosiveness is what will ultimately determine the success of their season in what is a make or break year for this regime.

Do the Browns have a Top-5 pass rush duo?

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A list compiling the best pass rushing duos in the NFL has come out and the Cleveland Browns have managed to make the Top-5. Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report has Cleveland’s duo of Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith checking in at number three. The two duos ranking ahead of them? The Chargers’ Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack (2nd) and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward (1st).

Coming in at three seems about right for the combo of Garrett and Smith. Garrett is clearly one of the best defensive ends in the league as he forced the most turnovers via pressure last season. Like Garrett who was ranked third, Smith also made an appearance on the Top-10 disruptors list with a “just missed” designation.

This is a revamped defensive front for Cleveland. Smith is joining Dalvin Tomlinson and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo as new faces looking to make some noise for the Browns this season. That is before mentioning that Jim Schwartz replaced the much maligned Joe Woods this past offseason. As mentioned by Moton, Schwartz’ defense in Philadelphia had the third-most sacks and second-highest pressure rate in 2020. Cleveland is hoping for similar results with Schwartz at the helm. Considering the pass rushers at his disposal it may be possible.

There is one thing to monitor about Cleveland’s pass rush duo

The only real concern here belongs in the corner of Smith. This is not about talent as Smith is a very good player. The question is can he sustain a high level of play throughout a season at this point in his career? The first nine games were very productive for Smith last season in Minnesota. Registering 9.5 sacks, 17 quarterback hits, and 14 tackles for loss. The final seven games of 2022 saw those numbers plummet with just half a sack, seven quarterback hits, and one tackle for loss. A nagging knee injury clearly was a role in his production dropping and that cannot be dismissed. If Smith can manage to stay healthy it could lead to more consistent results in 2023.

Browns counting on Eliljah Moore

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When the Cleveland Browns were evaluating positions to improve this offseason there was one glaring area in need of some help. Wide Receiver. It was clear that this group needed some help even with the presence of Amari Cooper and to a lesser extent Donovan Peoples-Jones. That is why instead of standing pat and drafting a wide receiver in the second round of this past draft they went out and traded for Elijah Moore.

The trade for Elijah Moore is meant to bolster the current group and be a connecting piece to the future of Cleveland’s pass catchers. There is a very real scenario that both Cooper and Peoples-Jones are not on this roster this time next year, leaving a questionable at best group remaining. The Browns are hoping Moore can improve upon the flashes he showed while in a Jets uniform and be a more consistent offensive presence. While anything crazy like leading the team in receptions is off the table, Moore should be able to thrive as Cleveland’s third receiver/fourth pass catching option behind Cooper, Peoples-Jones, and David Njoku. Taking that role and running with it would do wonders for Cleveland’s passing game and take the Browns offense to the next level that they desperately need.

A change of scenery could be just what Elijah Moore needed

Moore’s rookie season in New York was promising, with 43 receptions for 538 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games. Additionally, 24 of those catches went for first downs, a valuable but sometimes overlooked aspect of receivers. Year two did not go as well, seeing his numbers drop to 37 catches (22 first downs), 446 yards, and just one touchdown in 16 games. Moore’s yards per reception dropped only slightly, from 12.5 to 12.1, but the expected improvements year-over-year were just not there.

Ideally Moore can get things back on track with a better quarterback situation than what he had in New York. There is a big difference in offensive potential when comparing a team quarterbacked by Deshaun Watson and a group consisting of Zach Wilson, 2022 Joe Flacco, Mike White, and Chris Streveler. Maybe a change of scenery and a quarterback situation that does not resemble most of the Browns history dating back to 1999 will be just what Moore needed to take the step he was unable to last season. The Browns are counting on it.

Former Browns backup lineman released by Dallas

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A former member of the Cleveland Browns has been released by the Dallas Cowboys. Takk McKinley is seeing his time in Dallas come to an end after signing to their practice squad last fall.

It has been a rough go as of late for McKinley as he has not been able to catch on anywhere for an extended period of time after leaving Atlanta. The Browns gave McKinley a chance in the 2021-22 season as Andrew Berry was on a quest to improve the defensive line. Unfortunately that quest was unsuccessful as nobody of note besides Myles Garrett remains from that version of Cleveland’s defensive front.

Takk McKinley really did not do a lot in his 43% of defensive snaps played. Registering just 18 total tackles to go with 2.5 sacks, this was not a meaningful contribution to a Browns defense that needed it. While McKinley did have 14 pressures and eight quarterback hits (including four knockdowns), the tangible production was not there, even though some of these secondary areas suggest a better performance that simply is not accurate.

As far any type of return to Cleveland goes, that answer is no. The Browns already supplemented their defensive line by adding Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Za’Darius Smith, and Dalvin Tomlinson. Even if these players were not added to their defense the answer would still be a definitive no. There was just was not enough from McKinley’s time in the NFL to justify having him on what is supposed to be a competitive NFL roster at this point. The best bet for McKinley is to sign with a bad team in an attempt to rebuild value for this time next year and that is not Cleveland.

Browns rework contracts of two players

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The Cleveland Browns have adjusted the contracts of two players who find themselves in pivotal years of their young careers, Harrison Bryant and Jordan Elliott. Bryant and Elliott are both entering the final year of their rookie deals before becoming unrestricted free agents at season’s end.

For Elliott, this is the season that he needs to prove he belongs. It has not been a great start to his career so far and with the Browns beefing up their defensive line with the additions of Za’Darius Smith, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, there are no more excuses for the former 3rd round selection. A lack of quality talent outside of Myles Garrett in previous can be pointed as to why Elliott has not produced, but that is no longer the case.

Bryant is in a similar situation. The 25-year old tight end has not been able to be as big of a factor as the Browns hoped when they drafted him in 2020. While Bryant seems to be good for 25 catches per season, more is expected from someone who came out of college as a John Mackey Award winner.

The good news here is that the roster spots for Elliott and Bryant appear to be safe for this season. Whether or not the Browns decide to retain their services after the season depends on how they perform. With how things have gone up to this point, it seems rather unlikely, but stranger things have happened. There is talent there, but they just have to harness it and prove that they can be a meaningful part of Cleveland’s future.