With the first full week of training camp about to begin for the Cleveland Browns, you could say things are about to get serious. Fans have had a long seven months off to think about the disappointing 2022 season, but most are back on the wagon with high expectations for 2023.
The two most noticeable changes will be the special teams and defensive coordinator upgrades. Bubba Ventrone (Special Teams) and Jim Schwartz (Defense) will both be substantial upgrades for the team.
This roster is still full of prominent names like Myles Garrett, Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb, and Denzel Ward, but they will need some help from secondary players if they want this year to be a success.
Here are three bold predictions for this team as we head into the heart of training camp.
Browns Bold Prediction No. 3: Top 5 special teams unit
Two additions to this 2023 roster and one rebound season will make this year's special teams units top-notch. You heard me right, that includes coverage, return, and kicking as a hole.
First, Ventrone is such a welcomed sight in Cleveland. Not only is he young and passionate about the game, but he also has a real talent for connecting with players and getting the most out of them. I know Mike Priefer is a highly thought-of coach, but it’s just time for a change.
The second addition is Mike Ford. He's a low-level free agent signing who will never see the field in the secondary, but he's an elite special teams player. I know one player can’t change a roster, but his energy will wear off and help tremendously in coverage where the Browns struggles so much last season.
Last but not least, expect Cade York to have a monster year. For those calling for his job, he has the leg strength of a very small percentage of people. Having someone with a legitimate shot at 65 yards is such a weapon that will win games for the Browns next year.
It may not seem like a big deal, but the Browns getting this special teams unit in check and thriving in 2023 will be a tremendous help to this team.
Browns Bold Prediction No. 2: JOK returns to rookie season form
One of the bigger disappointments last season was the injuries to second-year linebacker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. After really coming out of his shell as a rookie in 2021, he took a few steps backward last year but struggled with injuries as well.
With a full season of workouts and time to get healthy along with the Schwartz scheme, I look for him to have a monstrous year. The biggest change will be Schwartz utilizing him as a blitzer where he showed a lot of promise in the past but wasn’t utilized.
JOK is a freak athlete but is undersized for the position. The previous dime scheme was troublesome for him at times with only two linebackers on the field, but playing the WILL allows him to do what he does best and run around the field like a maniac.
Hopefully, the soft-tissue injuries are behind him for 2023 and a leader like Anthony Walker to learn from will be more than enough to take him to that next level.
In the NFL it’s hard for a linebacker to jump off the film, but at times JOK did that during his rookie season. I think the injury bug is behind him and we will see a Pro-Bowl caliber player in 2023.
Browns Bold Prediction No. 1: Jedrick Wills turns the corner
One of the biggest things that held back the Cleveland Browns offense last season was the pass protection. The two tackles both struggled at times and the interior which is so often called “elite” also had a lot of trouble when Watson dropped back to pass.
For three years we have been talking about the talent that Jedrick Wills has and what an elite coach Bill Callahan (offensive line) is, but to this point that magic has just been on paper and not on the field.
In Wills' defense, he has struggled with ankle injuries and was asked to move from right tackle to left which would only sound easy for someone that doesn’t understand the game.
My biggest concern with Wills is at times he plays lazy. I would struggle a lot less if he made a mistake but was giving it his all. Far too often last season he would miss a block and then just stand around and make things worse.
I think Wills is finally healthy to start camp and in year four things will really come together. I’m not saying he’s going to be top five in the NFL, but I also don’t think he will be a liability anymore in 2023.