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Cleveland Browns: 4 scapegoats if things go south in 2021

By Randy Gurzi

BEREA, OH - JUNE 09: Cornerbacks Greg Newsome II #20 and Greedy Williams #26 of the Cleveland Browns run a drill during an OTA at the Cleveland Browns training facility on June 9, 2021 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
BEREA, OH - JUNE 09: Cornerbacks Greg Newsome II #20 and Greedy Williams #26 of the Cleveland Browns run a drill during an OTA at the Cleveland Browns training facility on June 9, 2021 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 18: Malik Jackson #97 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on after the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lincoln Financial Field on October 18, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

The Cleveland Browns are expected to take another step forward in 2021 but if they don’t, these could be the scapegoats to place the blame upon

2019 was supposed to be the season that the Cleveland Browns put it all together. They finished 5-3 down the stretch in the prior campaign and while they had a new head coach in Freddie Kitchens, he was the play-caller during their strong finish.

Cleveland also had a new star player in Odell Beckham, Jr. who was supposed to really open up the offense. Their defense was supposed to be improved as well after landing Olivier Vernon in a trade with the New York Giants and Greedy Williams in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. Cleveland limped to a 6-10 record and Kitchens was out after one year. Also gone was John Dorsey, the general manager who hired him.

The good news is, the Browns are now on the right track and had an 11-win season in 2020 and have high hopes for this year. But what if this campaign goes up in flames like 2019? If so, here are four possible scapegoats who could take some of the blame for the failure to meet expectations.

4. The Defensive Tackle Room

The two starting defensive tackles from 2020 are gone now with Larry Ogunjobi leaving in free agency and Sheldon Richardson being released in a cap-saving move. With them gone, Cleveland most likely will start Andrew Billings at the nose and either Malik Jackson or Jordan Elliott as the three-technique.

They also have rookie draft pick Tommy Togiai, veteran Damion Square, an undratfed rookie in Marvin Wilson, and redemption project Malik McDowell available as well. What they don’t have is anyone who has proven to be capable of playing at the level Richardson was.

This is why Andrew Berry tried to bring Richardson back at a more affordable deal, but he elected to go back to the Minnesota Vikings. Overall, this defense is vastly improved but any shortcomings could fall on the shoulders of this defensive tackle group.

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