3 mid-level Cleveland Browns who need to play better
By Greg Newland
To this point, not a lot has gone well for the Cleveland Browns. But if they want to start winning these 3 mid-tier players need to pick it up.
It’s been a strange year so far for the Cleveland Browns. Some fans would argue that they should be 5-0, while others argue that they are lucky to have the two wins that they do. One thing is for sure, this isn’t necessarily a bad football team, but they are bad at figuring out how to close and win games.
The issue is it isn’t just one thing. The fourth-quarter defense has been atrocious, the offense has been fantastic at times, but can’t get a first down at other times, there have been some timely missed kicks, and there have been some questionable coaching decisions when it comes to time management.
Most would argue the defense is the biggest hole right now. The unit continues to get run on consistently and it won’t get any easier this week vs. the New England Patriots who love to pound the rock. While some of the stars haven’t been great for the Browns, some of the mid-level guys have struggled as well. These three players need to get their acts straight if the team has a chance at staying competitive.
3 mid-level Cleveland Browns who need to play better
No. 3 – Harrison Bryant, Tight End
A former fourth-round pick, Harrison Bryant, started out his NFL career in 2020 with some real excitement. Not only did he push David Njoku down to the third tight end on the roster, but he also made some really nice plays as a rookie.
Unfortunately, those plays have become nonexistent and it’s looking like his rookie year where he only had 238 yards receiving and three touchdowns may be his best of three. Not often do you expect a ton of production from your second tight end, but in the Kevin Stefanski system, he has plenty of opportunities to play a vast majority of snaps.
At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Bryant is a pass catcher far more than a run blocker. He can hold his own, but at this point, the Browns may consider throwing a bigger body in the set to at least help with run blocking and pass protection.
Bryant doesn’t need to be a 700-yard tight end, but he at least needs to be a credible threat which he isn’t currently.