The Cleveland Browns will be trying to win 3 straight to close out 2022, but heading into week 16 here are the 3 most disappointing items.
The Cleveland Browns head into week 16 with bleak playoff hopes, but they are at least alive. They would need to win out and some help, but if they finish 9-7, they still have a shot at the wildcard. The biggest issue, most of the teams ahead of them (Patriots, Jets, and Chargers), the Browns have already lost to this season.
This team is playing for a draft pick with everything they gave up to land Deshaun Watson, and they have a chance to finish the season winning five of six and not having a losing season. That may not sound like much, but for everything this team has gone through that would be a great way to end the 2022 season with a positive vibe heading to 2023.
While there is a bit of positivity around this team now, there are still some major disappointments that can hopefully be addressed over the next three weeks.
No. 3 – Poor special teams play
The easy target here continues to be Cade York. Although he had gotten better, he missed two kicks last week vs. the Ravens which could have ended up being costly. We must remember, this kid hit a 58-yard game-winner vs. the Panthers in Week 1. Most of his issues are above the shoulder which hopefully he can correct in the last three weeks of the year.
On one positive, Jerome Ford and Donovan Peoples-Jones have drastically stepped up the return game, but our coverage teams continue to be mediocre at best. Every time DPJ catches a punt he is surrounded, but whenever the Browns boot one deep, it feels like the guy has 15 yards before he even has to elude a defender and is already up to full speed.
Mike Priefer has been given a fair chance, and this unit may just need a fresh start and a new coach for the 2023 season to get things right.
No. 2 – Poor play on the Cleveland Browns offensive line
Cleveland started this season with a huge loss when Nick Harris went down. After letting J.C Tretter walk, Harris was the biggest wildcard on the unit but had shown a ton of promise. Ethan Pocic stepped in and played at an elite level, but after missing four weeks with his own injury, this unit has struggled.
Not only has Jedrick Wills continued to be inconsistent on the left side of the line, but Jack Conklin has also regressed as well, and Deshaun Watson has been under a ton of pressure all three games that he has played this season. Teams have been able to get pressure with no issues only bringing four and sometimes five guys.
The interior of the line has been bad as well. Wyatt Teller started the year playing at an elite level but has really regressed in recent weeks. He had a calf injury roughly a month ago that may be holding him up, but he has really struggled in pass protection and handing off guys during stunts. Hjalte Froholdt was thrown into a horrible situation as the third center, but he hasn’t helped at all either.
Nick Chubb continues to make something out of nothing from time to time, but it’s also becoming evident that the holes are becoming smaller and smaller with more runs that are going for negative gains than the ones for 20-plus yards.
Bill Callahan is as good as they come so I think this issue will get corrected, but this is a unit that could go through some turnover this offseason to make sure their franchise quarterback is fully protected.
No. 1 – Cleveland Browns Defensive struggles
It’s hard to drill down on the issues with this defensive unit for the Cleveland Browns. It’s not really one thing they are lacking. They struggle to stop the run up the middle, they have been decimated by injuries at linebacker, and the secondary has likely been the biggest disappointment on this roster.
It’s hard to call the play from the defensive tackles disappointing because most knew how bad the talent was at the position. The fact that Andrew Berry continues to fail to address it is what’s most concerning. Hopefully, a big guy will be taken or signed in free agency this offseason.
This secondary continues to struggle as well. They aren’t good tacklers, and we can’t forget the beginning of the season when they gave up at least one 60-yard play per game where the guy wasn’t even covered. Our starting corners thrive in man, and the safeties are better in a zone which makes it tough to be effective calling plays.
Finally, Joe Woods can’t go without being mentioned. I think he’s getting a bad rap because he’s really lacking leadership on that side of the ball, but I’m afraid it may cost him his job. This unit has not been great in the last three years, so Stefanski may need to make a move simply for optics.
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