3 impacts of COVID-19 for the Cleveland Browns in the 2020 season
By Greg Newland
Rookie development:
With the Browns expecting to have two major rookie contributors next season, the lack of face to face coaching could also be a major concern.
Not only will the Browns have two rookie starters (possibly more), one of their rookies will be at left tackle. Fortunately for the Browns, that starter is number 10 overall pick Jedrick Wills who was one of the best college tackles last year.
The Browns expect Wills and Grant Delpit (safety) to be day one starters, with Brandon Phillips (linebacker) expecting to compete for playing time. While all were high performers at the collegiate level, the NFL is at a totally different speed.
Delpit is coming off an injury and will be playing free safety to begin the year. One busted coverage can lead to an easy touchdown over the top which the Browns defense can’t afford. Wills was the top-rated tackle in the draft but will be asked to switch from the right side of the line. While it shouldn’t be a huge move, the more repetitions, the easier the transition would be.
Not only will these rookies miss the face to face coaching during the offseason, there will also not be a preseason. If Wills misses a block or Delpit busts a coverage, it would be better for that to be in the preseason than a live game. Obviously, all teams will face the same challenge, but the Browns must make sure these guys are ready to go week one.