Cleveland Browns: Watch out for these 3 Raiders
By Joel W. Cade
Cleveland Browns need to watch Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow
The Browns secondary was hit hard by COVID. With Greg Newsome out with a concussion, the Browns added corners Troy Hill and AJ Green to the COVID list leaving some guy off the street to play slot corner.
This is terrible for the Browns as they will have to face Raider’s slot receiver Hunter Renfrow. This season, Renfrow has been a bright spot on an otherwise imploding Raiders team.
Renfrow is an all-around player. In addition to his wide reciever duties, he will return kicks on special teams. His most dangerous asset is his football IQ or awareness on the field. He is the smartest player on the field for the Raiders and he plays like it.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and Renfrow have great chemistry. Renfrow is Carr’s security blanket in addition to being a third down threat. Carr recently had this to say about Renfrow:
"“I think Hunter and I have spent more time together than any receiver I’ve ever had on the field and off the field. Just the level of communication that we have, it’s very high-level. It’s one thing for me to go to him, or to a receiver, and be like, ‘Hey, I need you to do it just like this.’ And it’s another thing for him to say okay and actually see it the same way on the field and do it. And he does it exactly how I need him to do it. And so, the trust is super high and the execution. It’s one thing to do it, but I’m throwing it and he’s making great plays”. – Derek Carr, via Pro Football Talk"
The connection is obvious as Renfrow has posted three consecutive 100-yard games. Carr and Renfrow have even developed their own favorite route.
With Waller out, the onus will fall on Renfrow to keep the passing game moving. Watch for the Carr-Renfrow connection to wreak havoc on a COVID depleted Browns secondary.