2017 Record - 0-16-0
Head Coach - Hue Jackson
2017 Offensive Ranking - 24th (309 ypg, 14.6 points per game)
2017 Defensive Ranking - 14th (328 ypg, 25.6 points allowed per game)
OFFENSE - Tyrod Taylor came over from Buffalo in the off-season and will be the starting quarterback. Taylor passed for 2,799 yards with 14 touchdowns and just four interceptions last year. He also ran for 427 yards (5.1 ypc average) and scored four times. Number one draft pick Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma) will be waiting in the wings.
Running backs include Carlos Hyde (938 yards, eight TD and 59 receptions with San Francisco), Duke Johnson (348 yards, 4.2 ypc, four TD) and Matthew Dayes and rookie Nick Chubb (Georgia).
The wide receivers are Jarvis Landry, who led the NFL with 112 receptions (987 yards, nine TD) with Miami. Corey Coleman (23, 305, two TD), Josh Gordon (18, 335, one TD), Ricardo Louis (27, 357) and rookie Antonio Callaway (Florida) will also be available. The tight ends are David Njoku (32, 386, four TD) and Seth DeValve, who had 33 catches for 395 yards and one score.
DEFENSE - Defensive End Myles Garrett (seven QB sacks) anchors the defensive front and is supported by Emmanuel Ogbah (four sacks) and linebackers James Burgess (four sacks) and Christian Kirksey (3 1/2 sacks).
The defensive backfield will have first round rookie pick Denzel Ward (Ohio State) and either Terrance Mitchell or T.J. Carrie at cornerback. The safeties include Jabril Peppers and Damarious Randall along with Derrick Kindred. The Browns intercepted just seven passes last season along with a total of 34 QB sacks.
OUTLOOK - After going winless last year and 1-15 in the 2016 season, the Browns have to do better this season, right?
With the influx of new talent and some solid looking draft picks, they should get in the win column, perhaps even more than once as Head Coach Hue Jackson enters his third season in Cleveland.
Tyrod Taylor takes over as the number one quarterback and Baker Mayfield will be ready to go when needed should there be any issues with the offense, which averaged only 14.6 points per game last season. With a new starting halfback in the fold, perhaps the Browns will improve in that area (107 yards per game in 2017) as the passing game looks to take flight as well.
The defense wasn't bad against the run (98 yards per game allowed) but the pass defense was torched regularly, allowing 230 yards per game while the the Browns allowed 410 points overall, which was second worst in the NFL. Four rookies and four free agents will look to help out this season to improve those numbers.
The AFC North is looking to perhaps be a two team race (Pittsburgh and Baltimore) this season, but the Browns are aiming for the future with the rebuilding process they are in. Anything is possible in today's NFL with quick turnarounds, but a 4-12 record would be a nice improvement after three straight seasons of 13-plus losses.
2018 TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Pittsburgh
Week 2 - at New Orleans
Week 3 - vs. NY Jets
Week 4 - at Oakland
Week 5 - vs. Baltimore
Week 6 - vs. LA Chargers
Week 7 - at Tampa Bay
Week 8 - at Pittsburgh
Week 9 - vs. Kansas City
Week 10 - vs. Atlanta
Week 11 - Bye
Week 12 - at Cincinnati
Week 13 - at Houston
Week 14 - vs. Carolina
Week 15 - at Denver
Week 16 - vs. Cincinnati
Week 17 - at Baltimore
No comments:
Post a Comment