Cleveland Browns mailbag: What to expect from young players
By Jacob Roach
Over/under 2.5 touchdowns, on punt or kickoff returns, for Jakeem Grant -@devan_ribley on Twitter
Just like the struggle to find a kicker in recent years the Browns have struggled in the return game for a long time. Andrew Berry showed us that it matters when he went out and signed Jakeem Grant to a multi-year deal to try and jump-start that aspect of the game. That said I will take the under but just barely, I think he will get two return touchdowns this year and the Browns’ special teams units will be massively improved.
A lot of criticism goes Stefanski’s way because of his playcalling. Do you think this was due to his lack of faith in Baker’s ability, and if so, are we likely to see a more expansive offense with Watson under center? -@ijjohnson99 on Twitter
Last year due to injuries to Baker Mayfield, his ability to run the offense was absolutely hampered. You saw changes in the playcalling from some of the stuff Mayfield succeded with the year before. Mayfield has such a violent throwing motion and with that torn labrum he couldn’t properly do the boot action and misdirection that he did well the year before.
Stefanski called plenty of plays that worked but the QB couldn’t perform well enough to carry it out. Watson is an entirely different level of an athlete than Mayfield and we have seen during the offseason program that the offense will look vastly different with Watson in 2022, should he play.
How many tight ends make the 53-man roster? And who are they beyond Njoku and Bryant? @fla_buckeye on Twitter
I think that this offense will undergo changes with Watson, likely with Brissett as well, so you will see fewer two and definitely fewer three tight end sets as before. That being said tight ends can create mismatches in the passing game and double as a full back. So ultimately I only think they will carry three tight ends with likely one on the practice squad.
It’s hard to name a front-runner for tight end three until the preseason but I’d wager it’s Miller Forristall who hung around the practice squad and active roster last year, they seem to like something about him.