Why Cleveland Browns won’t miss a beat with Nick Harris

The Cleveland Browns made the decision to move on from center J.C. Tretter however let’s look at why they won’t miss a beat with Nick Harris at center.

J.C. Tretter has been one of the best centers in the league during the last five seasons he spent with the Cleveland Browns. The Browns made the tough decision to move on from the veteran and his big salary this offseason so big shoes are left to fill. Still, the Browns won’t miss a beat with Nick Harris taking over as the starting center.

Harris has only made one start at center during his time in Cleveland as Tretter only missed one game due to COVID-19. Let’s look at that start in which Nick Harris went up against one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL in Green Bay’s Kenny Clark.

If you didn’t look at the name on the jersey you wouldn’t have even noticed that Harris was playing and not Tretter. Harris is the exact type of center that Kevin Stefanski likes, athletic and strong that moves really well in space.

Against Green Bay, Harris held Kenny Clark to just three pressures with zero sacks and zero tackles for loss. Harris showed great hand placement and the ability to pull and locate his man in open space showing the asset he is in the zone blocking scheme.

Another point to talk about is that Tretter hardly practiced the past two seasons which tells you that Nick Harris takes most of the first-team reps. Though not in-game action the Browns have seen a lot of snaps from Harris and are letting us know they have full confidence in him letting go of Tretter.

Harris still has a lot to prove but when you look at him on tape in college and the preseason as well you see a player that is athletic, strong and knows his assignment.

There are likely to be some growing pains early on but all of the tools for a great player are there and I expect Harris to excel as the Browns’ starting center in 2022.