Top 3 areas the Cleveland Browns must improve this offseason
By Greg Newland
The Cleveland Browns end 2022 on another disappointing note. Andrew Berry must address these three issues to make sure 2023 doesn’t go the same way.
The good news for fans of the Cleveland Browns, we’ve ended seasons with far worse feelings than on Sunday. The bad news, this organization has been a dumpster fire since returning in 1999, so the fact that it’s been worse isn’t high praise.
Sunday was going to go one of two ways. The Browns would win and have some great momentum heading into the 2023 offseason, or they would lose to their archrival again and the rumor mill would start on every single coach being fired. Unfortunately, the latter happened.
There have been times when the offense looked fantastic, other times when the defense looked elite, and the special teams even put in a few great plays this season. Unfortunately, other than one game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football, things never synced up for this team. The Steelers game is the perfect example. The defense held tight for most of the game while Deshaun Watson brought the team back within six points. On the next drive, the defense allowed a touchdown and all but ended the game.
With the 2022 season finally over it is full steam ahead for 2023. Andrew Berry has certainly accumulated some talent, but with limited draft picks in the next few years and a salary cap that is going to shrink each year with the way contracts have been structured, there are going to be some difficult decisions. Here are the three areas that need the most improvement.
No. 3 – Browns Special Teams
I have been told that Mike Priefer is one of the best special teams coaches in the league, but I have yet to see that shine through in his tenure with the Cleveland Browns. Jerome Ford and Donovan Peoples-Jones finally got the return game going toward the end of the season, but the rest of the units have been terrible.
Cade York has one of the strongest legs in the league, yet he continues to mishit the ball causing a low trajectory that allowed multiple kicks to get blocked. This has caused a nightmare between the ears for York and while he can kick it a mile, you don’t always know what direction it’s going.
Kick coverage has also been disastrous for punts and kickoffs. The Browns seemed to get hit as soon as they catch the ball, but when it comes to the other way, the other team has a mile-long lane to run with no defenders. I think Kevin Stefanski must cut ties with Priefer this offseason.