The Cleveland Browns look to bounce back and have a successful 2022 season and these three things are key to that turnaround
The 2022 Cleveland Browns will be in the thick of the AFC race to the playoffs and that elusive Super Bowl. Over the last four seasons, they’ve only made it to the playoffs once despite having a talented roster. However, while the talent was there, for any number of reasons the team wasn’t able to execute plays and moments over these past seasons to deliver more success.
Cleveland is going into this season with a roster full of talent again. As in the past, the way the team handles adversity and works through the moments will decide the season. There are areas that the team will have to do more or less of this season. Let’s take a look at some of these keys to success.
Cleveland Browns keys to a successful season
Cleveland Browns Key No. 3: Defense needs to hold leads in games
There’s been a lot of discussion on the Browns offense last season not doing enough or sputtering out at key moments in games. While that did happen at times, when you start looking at each game individually, you find out that Cleveland actually lost leads because of their defense for much of the season.
In 12 of their 17 games, they actually took the lead to start. Sometimes the defense helped in that department too. Remember cornerback Denzel Ward picking off Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and running the interception back 99 yards for the score?
Too much blame seems to have been put on the Browns offense last season. When your team grabs the lead, the defense needs to take more advantage of those circumstances.
While the defense improved as the season went on, they didn’t play well enough to keep the lead their teammates on offense gave them.
The defense finished the year middle of the pack in most defensive categories. They were 22nd in passing yards giving up 3,962 and 24th at passing touchdowns with 31. So, these are definitely areas that have to get better this upcoming season if the team has plans on returning to the playoffs.
Giving up lots of points was also an issue a year ago. They gave up big plays and lots of scoring. They had four games where they gave up 33 points or more.
For the Browns to win and contend this year, the urgency to hold and expand on a lead need to take priority.
Cleveland Browns Key No. 2: Team needs to involve Nick Chubb more in passing game
DPD’s Elliot Kennel touched on this topic earlier this week about Nick Chubb needing to be more involved in the team’s passing game. The good news is that this will likely happen because the Browns have a new quarterback in Deshaun Watson and he’s more willing to involve Chubb from the start.
When you break it down and look at Chubb’s previous output in the passing game you see he has caught 20, 36, 16, and 20 passes in his four seasons. So, the team made it to the playoffs in 2020 and Chubb only caught 16 passes. So why do the Browns need Chubb to catch more passes?
The biggest reason has to do with the fact that Chubb is probably your biggest offensive weapon on this team. Maybe Watson takes that lead in the department soon, but until then, the team needs Chubb to touch the bell more.
Cleveland needs to change something too because they’ve only made it once to the playoffs with Chubb. Getting the former Georgia Bulldog the ball more certainly can’t hurt.
Last year Chubb caught one pass or none in eight of 14 games he played in. Give Chubb two passes a game at least and we might see something special. We already know what a great running back he is when he gets his carries, now let’s get him the ball in the flat with some open space to work with.
Cleveland Browns Key No. 1: Protect the quarterback
Having a new quarterback in Deshaun Watson should help in this key to success. Keeping your quarterback upright and healthy is important. Watson is more mobile than Baker Mayfield, so that will help too.
Even though Mayfield was originally injured on a play where he tried tackling a defender who had intercepted his pass, much of the season saw him on the ground because the offensive line couldn’t protect him.
When Mayfield was with the Browns, he was sacked a lot — 134 times in four seasons. In two of those campaigns, he was sacked 40 and 43 times respectively. This problem for the team needs to be addressed and improved upon this season for the team to have any chance of success.
The Cleveland offensive line went through many injuries a year ago so that contributed some to the issue. It’s obviously important these players stay healthy this season.
It’s worth noting, that while Mayfield had trouble staying upright in the past, so has Watson. When you look at Watson’s sacks, he’s been on the ground a lot too. In 2018 when Watson and the Houston Texans made it to the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, he was sacked a league-leading 62 times.
So, while Watson is more mobile, he’s taken more gambles in the past trying to run around in the backfield.
If the team’s offensive line protects the quarterback and can stay healthy, then we should see more victories.