Cleveland Browns 2015 position preview – Offensive Line
By Roger Cohen
Jun 16, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Alex Mack (55), Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas (73) and Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz (72) during minicamp at the Cleveland Browns practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
I’m always the first guy to volunteer … for the easiest assignment.
So when our DawgPound Daily editors asked the minions to pick a position group to preview, I immediately hit “reply” taking the team’s strongest suit – the offensive line. Might as well wear the rosiest color glasses during this summer lull when every NFL fan harbors Super Bowl dreams. Or dreams of a .500 season for us Clevelanders.
Despite losing center Alex Mack to an injury five games into the season, Pro Football Focus still ranked the Browns offensive line as the league’s sixth-best in 2014 – a remarkable rank given the team’s poor scoring output. (For those keeping score at home, the site ranked the line as the second best in pass blocking and No. 7 in run blocking.)
Related: Browns Offensive Line Key to Success in 2015
With this line, the offense would be unstoppable with even marginally positive skilled players.
Assuming no pre-season injuries, six roster spots appear locked for 2015: Joe Thomas, Joel Bitonio, Alex Mack, John Greco, Mitchell Schwartz and Cameron Erving. Unless he’s a real bust, let’s give Michael Bowie the seventh spot, with the eighth a dogfight amongst the flotsam and jetsam, with my prediction being that Ryan Seymour will grab it, unless someone jumps out during pre-season.
Here’s my July 4th preview of the group that’ll take the MetLife field on Sept. 13 vs. the New York Jets.
Next: The Starters