Daily Dawg Tags: Will offensive line hinder Cleveland Browns playoff hopes?
By Dan Justik
The Daily Dawg Tags brings you all the Cleveland Browns news you need to know, including how the offensive line could hinder the Browns’ playoff hopes.
After Freddie Kitchens took over as the Cleveland Browns’ offensive coordinator midway through last season, he helped rapidly turn around the play of the offensive line.
The offensive line played so well, they allowed the fewest quarterback hits in the league during the second half of the season, as Baker Mayfield was hit only nine times in that span.
For the most part, the Browns will be returning the entire unit who accomplished that feat. But they will be without arguably the best player on the line from last year, right guard Kevin Zeitler. That has caused the Browns to have an open competition at right guard, creating a major question mark.
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Today’s featured article believes that despite Zeitler being the only linemen not returning, the offensive line could be the biggest concern for the Browns’ playoff hopes.
Cleveland Browns News
"If there is one obstacle standing in the way of the Browns returning to glory it is their offensive line, but there isn’t a consensus of how well this offensive line played last year."
Although the Browns return most of their offensive line from last season, it is fair to say that out of all the position groups, the offensive line has the biggest lack of star power. They will have to prove early on in 2019 that their play at the end of last year wasn’t a fluke.
Analyzing the Cleveland Browns’ linebacker depth chart
There were a lot of concerns about the linebacker position during the offseason after the Browns cut Jamie Collins. But after adding a veteran and multiple rookies to the group, Randy Gurzi breaks down the Browns’ linebacker depth chart.
"When your quarterback starts calling you out and your agent’s legendary rapper husband claps back, you’ve reached the point of no return.That’s exactly where the Browns and Duke Johnson are right now: It’s over and it’s in the best interests of both sides to part ways as soon as possible."
The Cleveland Browns may believe they can hold onto Duke Johnson for as long as it takes to find the right trade partner. However, it quickly became noticeable that Johnson’s trade request and time away from the team bothered the locker room, creating a potential problem between Johnson and the rest of the roster.
Next. Johnny Manziel 'pulling for' Baker Mayfield, other Browns. dark
Morgan Burnett excited to play natural position for the Browns
Morgan Burnett once played like one of the best safeties in the NFL when playing for the Green Bay Packers. But after signing with the Steelers last season, Burnett played out of position and struggled. Now with the Browns, Burnett believes he can return to his former self as he plays his natural position closer to the line of scrimmage.