Random thoughts as the Browns head for the season opener
By Mark Riley
Aug 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Terrance West (28) at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns are approaching the 2015 regular season with a number of questions still remaining, including the status of several players, injuries, the schedule and the on-field performance of the team.
Head coach Mike Pettine said this past week that “all the Browns wanted at this point was to be 1-0 after week one” and I think that’s a good approach with this young team.
First off, the team needs to determine who the final 53 on the roster will be. I don’t believe there will be any Earth shattering cuts to this roster, although a few mild surprises may occur.
Rob Housler, the tight end signed from Arizona in the off season has been a dud; not so much because of his play but because of the outstanding efforts of undrafted free agent E.J. Bibbs and Gary Barnidge. Bibbs led all Browns tight ends in receptions during the preseason, while Barnidge has augmented his blocking ability with some quality catches and positive yardage, including a touchdown against Tampa Bay.
As a result, Housler may be on the outside looking in.
Xavier Cooper, the rookie defensive lineman out of Washington State, has been very impressive in his limited opportunities. Despite just a handful of chances, Cooper had three sacks in the preseason, showing that he has the ability to use his hands and feet effectively to shed blockers and blow up quarterbacks in the backfield.
Another youngster making the most of his chances is offensive lineman Andrew McDonald. The 6-foo-t6, 313-pound Hoosier can provide depth to a solid offensive line, and as a cancer survivor, it’s hard not to pull for this kid.
Valley Forge High school’s own Jamie Meder, out of tiny Ashland College, ended the preseason as one of Pro Football Focus’ highest-rated defensive lineman. Meder has demonstrated outstanding blocking both in passing and running situations. His ability to get to the second level is what you would expect out of a Pro Bowler, not a second-year player who was cut by Baltimore last season.
A former wrestler, Meder uses leverage and his hands very effectively, and should find a locker at FirstEnergy Stadium with his name on it.
Two receivers seemingly going in opposite directions present a problem for the Browns’ decision makers.
First, Dwayne Bowe has been injured basically the entire preseason with a hamstring issue, with the result being he finished the preseason with just one reception. Considering what the Browns paid Bowe to come here and shore up the receiving corps, the Browns need to see on-field production from Bowe right now. Now, let me just say that there is no way the Browns are going to cut Bowe, but he needs to produce.
The other pressing wide receiver problem encompasses not Terrelle Pryor (we’ll address him later), but Josh Lenz. The speedy, undersized Iowa State Cyclone continues to catch everything thrown at him and get positive yardage after every catch. The Browns released Lenz earlier today, but he may eventually get stashed on the practice squad.
Despite a hamstring injury, followed by a concussion, Duke Johnson isn’t going anywhere when cuts come down. The Browns selected Johnson for a reason, specifically to get outside on the run and swing passes, something that Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell failed to do last season with any effectiveness. Johnson is a lock to make the team.
“The Terrelle Pryor Experience” (as I affectionately call it) is still in flux. If the Browns only keep two quarterbacks on the roster as expected, Pryor becomes the emergency quarterback by default. The real reason to keep him, though, is to develop him further as a receiver, because you can’t teach 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds with 4.3 speed.
My take is that Pryor makes the team, mostly because the Browns don’t want any other team to be the beneficiaries of all the training they have done with him. Pryor will help on special teams until he masters the details of being a receiver in the NFL. After that, watch out!
Unfortunately,there will also be several promising players who simply have not shown enough in the preseason to warrant a spot on the 53-man roster.
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Vince Mayle, although touted highly as a possession receiver out of Washington State, has had injuries and has not caught the ball effectively or at all in preseason. Already mentioned was Housler, who almost will certainly be cut.
In my humble opinion, Justin Gilbert should also be cut, as he has shown no evidence yet that he “gets it.” Gilbert just doesn’t seem to care if he gets better and it shows. He has proven to be a wasted first-round pick. Unexplainable mental issues and mysterious injuries make him expendable.
Also in danger, I believe, is Barkevious Mingo. Availability is a great ability in the NFL and Mingo just doesn’t seem to have it. Constant injuries and a “one trick pony” style of defense, which everyone seems to have figured out, have cursed this former first-round selection. Also of note is the fact that those who’ve been playing behind him all season are proving to be more flexible and, in fact, better than what Mingo has shown. Yet another high first-round pick that is a failure.
Beyond these players, I don’t believe that there will be any surprises in the cut down to 53. It will however, be interesting to see if the Browns add a veteran running back (like Ray Rice) or a veteran kicker once they start looking at players on the wavier wire.