Previewing the Cleveland Browns 2020 Season
On Sunday, the 2020 NFL season will have its first full slate of games of the season, and the Cleveland Browns are going into the season with something to prove. After a disappointing 2019 season, where they went 6-10 and their franchise QB Baker Mayfield regressed, the Browns will look to turn their franchise around in 2020. Let us dive into every aspect of the Browns team.
Offense
When you think of the Cleveland Browns offense, your attention immediately shifts to QB Baker Mayfield, a former number one overall pick out of Oklahoma. After coming out of the gate hot for a record-breaking rookie season, Mayfield took a major step back in 2019, throwing 22 TD and 21 INT. Along with his struggles, Odell Beckham Jr. had a subpar year also, totaling only 1,035 receiving yards and 4 TD. Despite this, the coaching change should work wonders with these two players. Kevin Stefanski uses the play-action pass exclusively, giving Mayfield a cleaner pocket and giving Beckham Jr. more one-on-one opportunities. Jarvis Landry will look to continue his 2019 success in 2020.
The second part of the offense is their strength, the rushing attack, and the tight end play. The Browns feature arguably the best RB duo in the NFL with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. In 2019, Chubb finished second in the NFL in rushing yards, while Hunt caught a lot of passes out of the backfield while also getting some carries. Hunt is a former rushing champion and is still young and would be a starting running back on a lot of teams. Austin Hooper, David Njoku, and Harrison Bryant fill out the tight end group, who will be vital to the Browns offensive success, specifically in the play-action game. The Browns also drafted Jedrick Wills Jr. and signed Jack Conklin to sure up the offensive line, which was a glaring problem in 2019. If the Browns stick to their game plan and run the ball to give Mayfield more easy opportunities, the Browns should have a successful offense in 2020.
Defense
Even with the question marks on offense, the defense is tough to get a read on in 2020. On the defensive line, the Browns feature Olivier Vernon, Sheldon Richardson, Larry Ogunjobi, and of course Myles Garrett, making for one of the tougher ones in the NFL. Getting to the quarterback was not an issue, but Cleveland struggled to stop the run, most of that coming from when Garrett was off the field due to a suspension. Expect veteran Adrian Clayborn to earn snaps as well as rookie Jordan Elliott, depending on the formations that the Browns will be in.
The biggest question mark on the Browns defense will be their linebackers, who have already suffered a key injury in Mack Wilson. Wilson is not expected to miss that much time, but a player to his caliber is a huge loss, especially when Joe Schobert just left for Jacksonville via free agency. Sione Takitaki, Malcolm Smith, and B.J. Goodson will bring a veteran presence to the linebacker position, while Jacob Phillips will look to make an impact as a rookie.
In the secondary, led by corners Greedy Williams and Denzel Ward, the Browns should be extremely solid, even with the loss of rookie S Grant Delpit to a season-ending injury. Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo will be the starting safeties for Cleveland while newly acquired Ronnie Harrison will work his way into the rotation. The secondary was solid in 2019, and I would expect more of the same in 2020.
My Take
For the Browns, it is very simple, they have a loaded team talent-wise and now they just have to put it together but, in the end, the fate of this team is going to fall on QB Baker Mayfield. If Mayfield is the player he was as a rookie, the talent of this team will take them to the playoffs. If not, and the Browns can be in trouble. If Mayfield keeps his interceptions down, he should bounce back extremely nicely, especially with the offense that head coach Kevin Stefanski is implementing for the 2020 season.
Stats from profootballreference.com
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