Cleveland Browns: Storylines to watch vs. Philadelphia Eagles

With a new coaching staff and front office in place, a complete makeover of the Browns took over this offseason. The team parted ways with many notable veterans to allow younger players to play and develop. Over 50 percent of the Browns’ opening day roster is made up of rookies and second-year players.

The front office successfully tore apart the roster to make way for a rebuilding stage for the team. The Browns are the second-youngest team in the league this year, and their youth and experience will be tested early.

The Browns will start three rookies on  Sunday, wide receiver Corey Coleman, linebacker Joe Schobert and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah. Carl Nassib, Tracy Howard, and Ricardo Louis are other keys rookies expecting to receive key playing time for the team.

The youth movement by the team will give these rookies and young players a full season to develop and grow under Hue Jackson’s system. Many questions remain about the skill sets of many of the younger players because they are unproven. But the Browns believe playing the young players is laying the proper foundation for the future.

Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton addressed the team’s decision to start a youth movement:

"“We wanted to revamp (the defense) and go and put some young players out there and we are. I’m excited for them,” he said. “They are bright-eyed. They have learned the system. They have done everything we have asked them to do.”"

He continued by addressing how quickly the rookies picked up the system this offseason:

"“It’s been quick. We’ve seen these guys since May and more their personalities, watching them and watching them mature really quickly. I don’t think they knew they were going to play this fast but they are.”"

The Browns will rely heavily on their rookies this season led by playmaking receiver Corey Coleman, and the rooks will directly impact how quickly the team develops a winning culture. The Browns season rests in the hands of its younger players.

Next: Brown vs. Eagles: 5 keys to victory

The team will have growing pains as rookies will be inexperienced but starting the youth movement will pay dividends for the Browns as the rookies play week in and week out and develop into the players the front office has envisioned.