Cleveland Browns 2021 Season: The good, the bad, and the ugly
By Greg Newland
Cleveland Browns: The Good
While it’s easy to focus on the bad, there is some good to talk about with this team from the start of the season until now.
The defense is the biggest. They went from being a complete liability to being the only reason that the Cleveland Browns had a chance to win a game. They gave up some serious yards and points at the beginning of the season but have really settled down to end the season and played very well.
There’s still a lot of young talent on this team, and two rookies played extremely well in 2021. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah looks to be an all-pro talent. He slipped to the second round because of a heart condition, but this guy played out of his mind.
Not only is he one of the fastest guys on the field, he knows how to break down and just doesn’t miss tackles. This guy has been an absolute joy to watch.
Greg Newsome has also been a great addition. Paired with Denzel Ward who played lights out to end the year, Newsome got a lot of balls thrown his way and he held up very well. The only question with him remains, can he stay healthy and be available for games. He will need to prove next year he can make it through games without getting injured.
The last bit of good for this season was the extensions for Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, who are the best duo of offensive guards in the NFL. They both fit the zone scheme perfectly, and they both are also tremendous pass blockers. Remember, Bitonio slipped out to left tackle the last two games and did a bang-up job. The tackles certainly had some struggles this year, but the interior of the offensive line remained strong and should be elite again next season.