Tag Archives: Deshaun Watson

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.

Browns: Watson and Goodwin developing deep ball connection

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The Cleveland Browns have been missing something for a few years, a reliable deep threat. In search of a possible short-term solution, Cleveland went out and signed Marquise Goodwin to a one-year deal. While it is only OTAs, there is a connection building between Goodwin and Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Watson would connect with Goodwin on a deep ball more than once Wednesday.

It is usually best to temper expectations when it comes to situations like this where nothing counts. But considering where the Browns have been and where they need to go, it is easy to understand the excitement here. If Cleveland is going to live up to the lofty expectations and for everyone in a position of power to keep their job, this connection (and others) will have to be a common occurrence once games that mean something are played.

Deshaun Watson would love to have DeAndre Hopkins in Cleveland

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DeAndre Hopkins to the Browns? Well, if Deshaun Watson was in charge it seems like it would be a reality. Watson said that he would love to have Hopkins in Cleveland in addition to stating that the two have kept in touch over the past years.

Watson also noted that it is out of his range of things, so this does not appear any type of Aaron Rodgers-esque situation with his pass catchers. Dictating who the team employs at the receiver position would be one heck of a power play from Watson considering how he looked last season.

Recent reports have stated that the Browns are not a major contender Hopkins at the moment. There is that saying about smoke and fire… until Hopkins signs elsewhere the connection with Deshaun Watson is going to keep the Browns at least mentioned as a possibility.

If Hopkins were to end in up Cleveland it would add to an already full receiver room. While the longterm presence of a few players is something to consider beyond just this season (Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones), it would make evaluating their younger players, (such as David Bell and Cedric Tillman),a bit more difficult without them seeing meaningful playing time. But with this regime knowing they have to be substantially better this year or else they are out of a job, they could focus on the immediate impact that Hopkins would have on this team.

Browns not a major contender for DeAndre Hopkins

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The Cleveland Browns are reportedly not a major contender for the services of free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Even though it is relatively easy to connect the dots between the Cleveland Browns and DeAndre Hopkins, the team is reportedly not a major contender for his services. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that while there is interest from Hopkins reuniting with Deshaun Watson, others teams are considered to be more likely landing spots.

Buffalo and Kansas City are both considered to be potential destinations for Hopkins. While both have to work on some creative financial maneuvering to get a deal done, they are still higher up on the list of where the former Texan and Cardinal could end up.

Hoping to see Watson and Hopkins together again could produce some outstanding plays, but the Browns really do not need him at the moment. Timing is everything when it comes to situations like this and unfortunately timing is not friendly to the two parties at the moment. Cleveland made some moves in the offseason to improve their receiving group. This is in addition to the team still needing to find out what they have in a few players to determine whether or not they are part of their future.

There is also the fact that DeAndre Hopkins will like a chance to play for a championship. While the Browns should be better this season, they are more than a move or two away from getting there. Although it must be mentioned that the pressure that the front office and coaching staff to win now could alter their plans, but things just do not really line up at the moment for Hopkins to sign with Cleveland. The veteran wide receiver would be wise to sign with a team that has consistently played well and has a less murky future.

Browns restructure Deshaun Watson’s deal

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Cleveland’s restructure creates some much needed cap room.

With the tampering period about to begin the Cleveland Browns did some financial maneuvering to get under the cap. The team has restructured the contract of quarterback Deshaun Watson which creates some much needed cap room in order to improve the team.

Deshaun Watson was due to a cap hit of around $55 million which has now been lowered to just over $19.1 million per Spotrac. The restructured money has been spread over the next three years of the deal resulting in Watson having a near $64 million cap hit over that span with a void year tacked on at the end of just under $9 million.

Creating cap room was a necessity when considering the current state of the Browns roster. Paying Deshaun Watson the money he was set to make was simply not an option for this team. There are simply too many needs at the moment to allocate this type of money currently. Looking ahead, Cleveland will surely duplicate this series of events over the life of Watson’s contract. The unfortunate news is that the kicking the can down the road strategy will eventually come back to bite them. On a positive note it shows a sense of urgency to not stand pat and run it back as is. Recognizing the finite window this team has while adding to it is a step in the right direction.

Deshaun Watson expected to start upon return

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The suspended Cleveland Browns quarterback is expected to be the starter when he returns.

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry spoke with the media Tuesday and provided an update about the status of quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson will be the Browns starter upon his return.

https://twitter.com/twithersAP/status/1587812105603932163?s=20&t=6MngQz1ipH4w4l1WcfAGvg

This is hardly earth shattering news as this has been the plan all along. Cleveland is currently 3-5 on the year with Jacoby Brissett as their interim starter. Brissett has performed admirably and has been able to manage the Browns offense in a more efficient manner than last year’s starter.

When Deshaun Watson does return the assumption is that the offense will have a few more wrinkles to it with an expanded playbook. Watson is one of the best quarterbacks in the league when he is on the field. The main concern when it comes to Watson’s play on the field is the time between starts.

It has been nearly two calendar years since Deshaun Watson last played and rust will be a factor. While he will be eligible to practice soon there is not a true way to simulate a real game. That is before mentioning that his first opponent will be his former team (Houston) on the road. It will be a hostile environment for on and off the field reasons.

Cleveland is currently on their bye week after not being involved in Monday’s trade deadline festivities.

Deshaun Watson on track to return

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The Cleveland Browns quarterback is on track to return from his suspension.

Deshaun Watson is on track to return following the conclusion of his 11-game suspension. That is according to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. This would result in Watson’s Browns debut taking place against his former team, the Houston Texans.

Without Deshaun Watson Cleveland has been treading water unsuccessfully. While the Browns have managed to win two games, three of their four losses have been by a combined six points. A porous defense and questionable decision making have resulted in this unspectacular start. It is not hard to imagine that the deficiencies in both departments would be less of an issue with Watson as their quarterback. Jacoby Brissett has played admirably, but is still a limited quarterback who is best suited in a backup/spot start role. Unfortunately Watosn’s return will be too late to make a run for postseason play, but it will at least give a glimpse into the future of the Browns offense. That is assuming the coaching and front office staff remains intact, far from a guarantee considering how Jimmy Haslam has acted in the past.

What to expect from Browns in 2022

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The Cleveland Browns enter the 2022 NFL season with uncertainty due to changes made across the board.

Expecting a lot from the Cleveland Browns this upcoming season seems to be a big ask as they are primed for a middle of the road and perhaps disappointing finish for those with lofty expectations. The offense has seen wholesale changes with multiple starters no longer on the team from this time last year. Defensively the team has continued their puzzling practice of flat out ignoring certain positions. The only group that seems to be a lock for certain improvement is the special teams unit. Let’s examine all three phases of the game and what should be expected from them.

Offense

Referring the state of the Cleveland Browns offense as transitional seems to be incredibly fitting. Thinking big picture it is all about Deshaun Watson starting every game beginning next season, but for now it is Jacoby Brissett holding down the fort for the first 11 games. With that comes lowered expectations offensively, specifically the passing game.

Brissett is not the caliber of quarterback that Watson is and with that will come difficulties when manufacturing a passing attack. This can be attributed to the underwhelming group of pass catchers. Amari Cooper is by far the best pass catcher on the roster, but is not a true/traditional number one receiver. After Cooper it is an average (at best) group featuring David Njoku, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Harrison Bryant, David Bell, and Anthony Schwartz. These options really do not move the needle with most being third/fourth options on teams with complete receiving corps.

Due to the state of the passing game it will again be the Browns rushing which leads their offense. Luckily for Cleveland they have the best two-headed attack in the game with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Even with their ability to be game-changing type players, a familiar issue will resurface. Teams will again stack the box and dare the Browns to beat them through the air. The good news is that this time Brissett is more than capable of playing in a non-turnover prone manner and should be able to at least give the team a legitimate chance to win. But again, any sort of high-scoring/shootout type of game will be difficult with Brissett at the helm.

Defense

Last season the Browns defense was an overall impressive unit as they were near the top in multiple statistical categories. This comes with not being able to generate turnovers at the same rate as 2020 (19 in 17 games compared to 21 in 16 games). Combined with the uptick in giveaways (16 to 22), Cleveland was fighting an uphill battle they were not going to win quite often.

Most of the defense looks the same from 2021 with the defensive tackle position continuing to be ignored. Moving on from the Malik’s last season was a wise decision. Unfortunately banking on Taven Bryan and Jordan Elliott to anchor the center of their defense seems like an unwise decision. There has not been anything in either player’s career that says they are capable of being more than rotational players.

The good news is that the Browns still have the combo of Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney on their line. Garrett is going to continue providing elite level production and disrupt offenses on a regular basis. An area of concern is the repeatability of what Clowney was able to accomplish last season (nine sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and 19 quarterback hits in 14 games). The previous two seasons saw the former first overall pick total just three sacks with the same number of TFL and QB hits in 21 games. Will Clowney be able to avoid the injury bug and be a productive player again or was 2021 an outlier? The answer to that question will dictate quite a lot in regards to Cleveland’s defensive success or failure this season.

Special Teams

Chase McLaughlin and Dustin Colquitt out, Cade York and Corey Bojorquez in. As of now York appears to be the long awaited rightful heir to the legendary Phil Dawson. While York is yet to appear in a regular season game, the uneasiness that came with the likes of McLaughlin, Cody Parkey, and the endless list of others is not present.

It was believed that the Browns solved their returner problem by signing Jakeem Grant this offseason, but a season-ending injury has thrust Demetric Felton into this role. Felton will more than likely be one of several players to return kicks this season.

Verdict

A world where the Browns are able to have a winning record without Watson and be primed for a playoff run upon his return. There is also a world in which the team wins just six games. Expectation wise, the best foot forward is the safe route. The quarterback situation paired with the roster turnover could be too difficult to overcome. Hoping for middle of the road/around .500 type season is a more than fair ask for this team. This season is not about contending, it is about continuing to establish building blocks for the future. As long as that continues Cleveland should be in position to contend in 2023 and beyond.

Jacoby Brissett can hold down the fort if needed

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When Week 1 finally comes around the Cleveland Browns could be starting one of two quarterbacks, Deshaun Watson or Jacoby Brissett. Should Watson find himself the recipient of a lengthy suspension all is not lost as Brissett has proven himself to be a more than capable quarterback. If need be Brissett can hold down the fort in Cleveland as long as Watson is not available.

It must be noted that the realistic expectations for the Browns in 2022 change quite a bit depending on who their quarterback is. With Watson the expectations are obviously a playoff bound campaign with the possibility of making a run. Super Bowl may be a bit much, but is not terribly far from reality. In regards to the Jacoby Brissett experience expectations must be tempered a bit, however they are not the bottom feeder many perceive them as.

Brissett falls into the category of game manager and that is more than fine. With the loaded offense in Cleveland all the team needs is a game manager to get them around .500, something that the former quarterback was simply unable to do. Having Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Amari Cooper, David Njoku, and Harrison Bryant can take a lot of pressure off of Brissett allowing him to manage the game properly. That is before considering Donovan Peoples-Jones, Anthony Schwartz, David Bell, and D’Ernest Johnson. There are lot of quarterbacks who would love to have this supporting cast, especially with a coach like Kevin Stefanski running the show.

Even though so called pundits and analysts alike continue to push for the Browns to trade for Jimmy Garoppolo there is no need. Besides the fact that the offense does not fit Garoppolo’s skill set, there is a reason why the team put their quarterback room together in this manner. Jacoby Brissett can ensure the team does not hit rock bottom while preparing to turn the keys over to Watson when the time comes.

Almost all civil lawsuits settled with Deshaun Watson

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All but four civil lawsuits have been settled with Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.

The representative of the plaintiffs in the cases against Deshaun Watson, Tony Buzbee, has announced that all but four of the civil lawsuits have been settled.

Buzbee also mentions that Ashley Solis, the first woman to sue Deshaun Watson, is one of the four who have not settled.

As the cases continue to be settle or potentially go to trial, the punishment from the NFL continues to loom over. The length of any suspension that gets handed to Watson has been a topic of debate with no real clear idea of what is to come. As the process progresses the picture of how Watson will be punished will only become more clear.