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Four Cleveland Browns who could emerge from Freddie’s dog house

By Elliot Kennel

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 16: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) D'Ernest Johnson #30 of the Cleveland Browns in action against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 16, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Browns defeated the Jets 23-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 16: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) D'Ernest Johnson #30 of the Cleveland Browns in action against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 16, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Browns defeated the Jets 23-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 29: Damion Ratley #18 of the Cleveland Browns makes a touchdown catch during the first quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 29: Damion Ratley #18 of the Cleveland Browns makes a touchdown catch during the first quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

Wide receiver Damion Ratley

Damion Ratley is fast, he ran a 4.45 40 yard dash at his Pro Day, and at 6-foot-2 and 200-pounds is big and strong enough to be a possession receiver. So, why the heck did he not play last year? Amazingly, even after the self-destruction of Antonio Callaway, Ratley found himself joining Rashard Higgins in the dog house while KhaDarel Hodge ascended to the role of third wide receiver. No offense to Hodge, a ferocious competitor, but the man has six catches in his NFL career.

After five games, and 186 offensive snaps (37 snaps per game), Ratley was sent back to the bench, where he had 72 snaps (6.5 snaps per game) in the next 11 games.

Ratley seems to run good patterns and catches the ball when it is thrown to him (catch percentage 56.8 percent over his Browns career). His best game was the last game of the season when, despite limited snaps,  he caught a touchdown pass and had 64 yards.

So what did he do to earn his spot in the dog house? Again no one knows, but we do know that Khadarel Hodge was promoted over both Ratley and Hollywood Higgins at the end of the season. Hodge showed great ability to make yards after the catch, but it is still embarrassing to have to sit down for a two-year veteran with six total catches in his career.

For that matter, Ratley had even fewer snaps in 2018 but was somewhat more productive in his rookie campaign.  2019 was clearly a setback.

Wide receivers often take two or three years to become proficient with a deep route tree. Thus 2020 will probably be a make or break year for him. He doesn’t need to collect 1,000 receiving yards, but 200 yards for a number three NFL wide receiver is ridiculously low.

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