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Cleveland Browns: 3 most important players on offense

By Randy Gurzi

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 02: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns is pressured by Whitney Mercilus #59 of the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 02: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns is pressured by Whitney Mercilus #59 of the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 23: David Njoku #85 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates his touchdown with Greg Robinson #78 and Darren Fells #88 during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

3. Greg Robinson, Left Tackle

It was a tale of two halves for the Browns in 2018 when it came to protecting the quarterback. Throughout the first eight games, the quarterback was sacked 33 times as Tyrod Taylor went down 13 times in his three starts and Baker Mayfield was sacked 20 times in five starts.

Following those eight games, head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley were let go and things started to change. Interim offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens adjusted the protection scheme to better fit his players and started calling plays designed to get the ball out of Mayfield’s hands quicker.

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He also shifted the starting lineup. After Jackson started undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison at left tackle for the first eight games, Kitchens and interim head coach Gregg Williams decided to give veteran Greg Robinson a shot. A former No. 2 overall pick of the St. Louis Rams, Robinson was on his third team and possibly his final chance in the league.

The former Auburn star made the most of his chance with the Browns as he was part of a line that gave up just five sacks in the final eight games. This isn’t to say things were perfect as there were the aforementioned changes implemented by Kitchens, but Robinson still did what was asked of him. And he did it very well.

In the end, it was enough for him to get a one-year contract from Cleveland which could be worth up to $9 million this season. He could also parlay that into a long-term deal should he play well — and the team needs him to play well. With Mayfield there as a franchise quarterback, it will be very important to have his blindside protected. Robinson needs to perform as well, or maybe even better than he did in 2018 if this team wants to compete for their division.

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