Back in March, Andrew Berry rebuilt the Cleveland Browns' entire offensive line from scratch. Departures included franchise legends Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, and Jack Conklin, as well as reliable center Ethan Pocic. Among the reinforcements Berry brought in were Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, and Tytus Howard — from the Chargers, Packers, and Texans, respectively.
In the aftermath, the Chargers and Packers have plummeted to 31st and 32nd in team-wide pass block grade, according to Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, Cleveland is sitting pretty at 14th after ranking 32nd last season.
Sure, Johnson and Jenkins are just two players, but it's clear they were quite impactful for their teams.
The Zion Johnson decision, in particular, was widely criticized. Through five games, it seems that Berry took a calculated risk that is paying off. As we wrote at the time, young, high-potential offensive linemen rarely come available in the O-Line-starved NFL. While some felt the Browns overpaid, perhaps the reality was that they undervalued him.
Zion Johnson is proving Andrew Berry right for handing him the Browns' biggest free agent contract this offseason
As we furiously knock on wood, Johnson has played every offensive snap this season except one in Week 1. He is the Browns' top-graded pass blocker in that time, allowing just four pressures and zero sacks through five games. His run blocking has graded out as mediocre, yet he still is second on the team among the Browns' starting offensive linemen.
While it's far from a perfect science, runs that have gone through the left A-gap (between the center and left guard) have averaged 4.8 yards per carry, according to PFF. That average yards per carry is the second-highest, behind only the 5.0 average for runs that go through the C-gap (between the right tackle and the tight end).
As a reminder, the Browns are averaging 3.7 yards per carry overall this season.
Just as head coach Todd Monken's doubters have been forced to eat crow after he's led the Browns on a surprising 3–2 start, perhaps it's time for folks to start putting some respect on Andrew Berry's name. He hasn't been perfect, but his moves in the NFL Draft and free agency have been panning out far more often than the national media landscape is letting on.
Johnson is still just 26 years old for another month. Under the tutelage of Todd Monken and his hand-picked offensive line coach George Warhop, he's taking tremendous strides. If the trend continues, this will be his highest-graded season according to PFF. There's no reason to think the ascent stops here.
So, keep an eye on big No. 77 out there on Sunday. Chances are you'll see him blast open a running lane or stonewall a pass rusher a time (or 10).
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