Are the 2018 Cleveland Browns Becoming Overrated?
The often ill-fated Cleveland Browns are coming off the heels of one of the worst seasons in NFL history. This offseason, Cleveland added more new talent than one could shake a stick at, and their team has changed (and likely improved) dramatically. But are they becoming overrated?
Last season, the Cleveland Browns became just the second NFL team to add a 0-16 winless season to their team history. Joining only the 2008 Detroit Lions, the Browns became not only the laughing stock but the embarrassment of the National Football League. Then, the offseason hit, and Cleveland stopped messing around.
Jarvis Landry, Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward, and Tyrod Taylor name just a few of the higher-end talents that the Browns nabbed throughout the offseason. Suddenly, the Browns had gone from one of the worst rosters in the history of football, to a solid team that might actually get pretty competitive. It’s an exciting time in Cleveland but, please, slow down.
The Cleveland Browns are so much better than they were just nine months ago, but we actually might be overestimating them a bit. They’ve added a few really nice pieces, and at least in the preseason, the defense looked aggressive and sharp. But make no mistake, the Cleveland Browns are not ready right now.
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The Browns, for as nice as they look on paper, are still a team being coached by a man who has gone 1-31 in the past two years. Hue Jackson, although he showed some promise in 2007 with the Oakland Raiders, will more than likely be ousted during the season in favor of offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Unless this team can seriously turn it around, and fast, Jackson is a sitting duck.
Additionally, the depth of the Browns is lacking everywhere except the linebacking corps. While they can run nearly six deep at linebacker and still be competent, the defensive second team is atrocious otherwise.
This almost negates just how great the first-team defense is, with a star-studded offensive line and a budding young secondary. Players are going to get hurt, especially on the defensive side, and the Browns don’t look totally prepared.
Finally, consider just the history of this team lately. The Browns are young, and while that inevitably will make them hungry, they are not ready to win the division, or maybe even a wild card spot like some are predicting around the league. The AFC is definitely the NFL’s “junior varsity” conference this year, but something tells me they’re still a year away.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not here to be a Negative Nancy or anything of that nature. I just don’t believe that the Browns are ready yet, and I’d rather be the bearer of possible bad news now, before everyone gets carried away.
Next. Browns defense one of the most talented in the league?. dark
In reality, this is a beyond-exciting time for the Cleveland Browns, who look the best they have in years. But don’t be surprised if the media at large has overhyped this young squad, just a tad.