Christian Kirksey: Cleveland Browns have ‘a different feel’ this year
By Dan Justik
Entering his fifth season with the Cleveland Browns, Christian Kirksey says that this roster has ‘a different feel’ than the other team’s he has been on.
The Cleveland Browns roster was overhauled during this year’s off-season, adding plenty of talent to a roster that has won one game in two seasons. The roster overhaul was capped off by the Browns potentially finding their franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield.
The overhaul has some NFL analysts even thinking the Browns can make the playoffs this season, which would be the teams first playoff appearance since 2002.
But the feeling that the roster has playoff potential has carried into the locker room. Earlier in the off-season, Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey stated that the team had the talent necessary to make the playoffs.
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On Tuesday, Kirksey spoke even further about this year’s Browns team. He explained to NFL Network that the team’s management, coaching staff, and players has given the team ‘a different feel’ – via Around the NFL’s Jeremy Bergman.
"“Being one of the longest tenured players on the team, I’ve seen the teams come through Cleveland,” Kirksey prefaced. “I’m going on to my second head coach, my third general manager, my third defensive coordinator, so I’ve seen players and front office people come in and out the building, and this is just a different feel.”"
One of the biggest differences about this roster than any other roster that Kirksey has been on is having an established quarterback on the roster. During Kirksey’s career, he has seen many different quarterbacks start for the Browns, including Brian Hoyer, Johnny Manziel, Josh McCown, Robert Griffin III and many others.
With Tyrod Taylor as the starting quarterback, he has shown that he can lead his team into the playoffs. Not only has Taylor proven it on the field, his work ethic and leadership builds confidence in the players surrounding him.
On top of Taylor’s leadership is the confidence coming from Jarvis Landry and Josh Gordon. Kirksey said that the wide receivers have a “swagger” that he has never seen from the offensive side of the ball.
Not only has the offense been improved, but there have been significant additions made on the defensive side of the ball. Kirksey will be a part of a strong linebacker group that includes himself, Joe Schobert, Jamie Collins, and free agent signing Mychal Kendricks. Kirksey believes that the group of linebackers has the potential to be one of the best in NFL – via Bergman.
"“If we keep putting in the work each and every day,” Kirskey said of his unit, which also boasts Joe Schobert and Jamie Collins, “we can be a great linebacking corps, one of the best in the league.”"
With the amount of talent and depth the Browns have added this season, it is obvious why the players are so confident in the type of season they can put together.
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The biggest reason why the roster has ‘a different feel’ is because of the leadership from general manager John Dorsey since he was hired in December. Even before the 2018 Browns have played a game, it is apparent that Dorsey has already changed the culture with the Browns organization.