Cleveland Browns Derrick Willies: There’s a new gunner in town

Cleveland Browns WR Derrick Willies is at the top of the depth chart as a gunner on special teams will see more action at receiver than most people expect.

Suddenly, a virtual unknown by the name of  Derrick Willies is at the top of the Cleveland Browns depth chart on special teams as one of the gunners, and he may also see more action at wide receiver than most people expect. Though his 2018 season was shortened by a broken collarbone, this fellow looked like he was going to challenge for a starting position last year, especially after a solid performance in last year’s 12-9 victory over Baltimore.

So who is this guy?

Credit this one to John Dorsey and the Cleveland scouts, because Willies did very little in college, and really was on no one’s radar screen. He was a junior college transfer to Texas Tech, where he had a grand total of 36 catches, 592 yards and only five touchdowns.

Texas Tech, you may recall, is the University attended by Baker Mayfield as a Freshman, with a guy named Patrick Mahomes slinging it while Willies was catching passes. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury had Keke Coutee, a fourth round draft pick in 2018, as his top receiver, with several talented players rotating in and out of the second, third, fourth and fifth wide receiver positions, according to the design of the Air Raid Offense.

Everybody Tech used performed at a high level, so this may be one of the cases in which  a player can be forgiven for not being able to stand out.

Anyway, ask Baker Mayfield if he holds it against Willies for not being a favorite of Kingsbury.  Probably not.

At his Pro Day, Willies measured at 6-foot-4 and 210-pounds, the classic size for the physical wide receivers that seem to thrive in cold weather, natural turf stadiums.   He also turned in a 4.57 40-yard dash, which is very good for a big guy.

From Day One, Willies made a good impression on the Browns coaching staff, and also caught the attention of special teams coaches. Cleveland used him as one of the gunners along with Jabrill Peppers.  Special teams coverage units often receive almost zero attention from writers and fans, until such time as the other team starts to get a few major runbacks. The gunner is especially critical in the NFL because only two of them are allowed downfield ahead of the kick.

In terms of special team snaps, the Browns had six players participate in over half the snaps: Peppers, Derrick Kindred, Tanner Vallejo, Orson Charles, Briean Boddy-Calhoun, and D’Juan Hines. Only Charles remains from that group. New special teams coach Mike Priefer has his work cut out for him.

Willies may be able to help. Though his name does not appear on that list, he has had a full year, including game snaps as a gunner in the early going last year. His size, speed, smarts, and aggressive nature make him a top candidate to occupy a first string position this year. He may be joined by newcomer Eric Murray, who manned the gunner slot for Kansas City.

It’s also possible that Willies will be a factor as a wide receiver. By Week 5, Willies had moved on the depth chart ahead of another impressive young receiver in Damion Ratley. No doubt Browns fans will remember Willies making a spectacular grab in overtime to set up the game-winning knuckleball kick from Greg Joseph.

In that game, he had three grabs for 61 yards and was one of the stars of the game. Yes, it is a very small data sample, but he truly looked the part of the big physical receiver that the Browns have been looking for since Josh Gordon evaporated in a puff of smoke.

But after the Baltimore game, he broke his collarbone in practice and that was the end of the year. However, he is good as new now, and there’s no reason why he should not pick up where he left off. It is not at all crazy to suggest that he may share reps with Rashard Higgins as a mainstay in the receiving corps, as well as performing as one of the gunners in special team coverage.

Keep your eye on No. 84 this year.