The Cleveland Browns are entering the third year of the Mike Priefer experience. Will 2022 be the season that Priefer proves he is the right man for the job?
The Cleveland Browns have not put all three phases together in both seasons of Kevin Stefanski’s tenure. In 2020, the offense kept the team’s head above water while the defense struggled to find its footing. In 2021, the defense stepped up only to have the offense take a massive step backward.
However, the special teams have been widely inept in both 2020 and 2021.
As a whole, the Browns special teams units finished in the bottom quarter of the league in 2020 and then again in 2021, according to lineups.com. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer managed to make it through both seasons unscathed. But a third consecutive season off subpar results could spell the end for Priefer in Cleveland.
The NFL is a results-driven business, and even though Priefer has yet to miss a kick himself or muff a punt, at the end of the day those results directly fall in his lap. The Browns had a young promising core of special teamers when Priefer arrived in 2020: punter Jamie Gillan, gunner’s Tavierre Thomas and KhaDarel Hodge, and return specialist JoJo Natson headlined the roster.
Fast forward two years and all those players mentioned have flamed out in Cleveland and have been replaced.
Cleveland Browns special teams commitment in 2022
General manager Andrew Berry has put an extra emphasis on bringing in specialists during the 2022 offseason. The biggest upgrade came in the form of Jakeem Grant as the team’s new kick return specialist.
The Browns have not returned a punt for a touchdown since 2015 and have not had a kickoff return for a touchdown since 2009. Since 2016, Grant has returned four punts for touchdowns as well as two kickoffs for scores.
Cleveland also brought in a new punter in Corey Bojorquez. In his four seasons in the NFL, Bojorquez has demonstrated the ability to flip the field regularly. In 2020, Bojorquez led the NFL in average yards per punt with 50.8, and over the past two seasons, he has recorded the longest punt of the year (72, and 82 yards). The Browns have also worked out the super punting prospect Matt Ariza heading into the draft.
The quest to find a kicker is still an ongoing odyssey. Since Phil Dawson walked out the door following the 2012 season, there has been a revolving door of kickers at the Browns facility in Berea. As of right now Chase McLaughlin and Chris Blewitt are the would-be kickers on the roster. With neither of those names inspiring confidence, it is to be expected that more will be added to compete at training camp.
With Berry supplying the pieces, it is going to be up to Priefer to ensure that it all comes together on Sundays. If the Browns spend a third consecutive season in NFL’s special teams basement, expect Priefer to be the neck that winds up on the chopping block.