The lack of success from the Cleveland Browns this season has befuddled many. While injuries and COVID-19 related losses were easy explanations, nothing could explain the inconsistencies across the board. In the end, those inconsistencies led to an 8-9 record on the season and failing to make the playoffs.
During media time before leaving for the offseason, a number of players addressed some of the problems the team had. Veteran S John Johnson III believed the players and the training staff needed better relationships and that the team needed yoga. Coming from the Los Angeles Rams, Johnson has ideas that he believes will help the team.
Rookie LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah doesn’t have those same NFL experiences but believes the team lacks unity:
That is the biggest lesson that I really took just in terms of the brotherhood really matters. That is something that we really keyed in on at Notre Dame and at college because that is all we have really and we are not getting paid – at least back when I was playing we were not getting paid (laughter). That is something that I would really like to see is just this team to be a team, the brotherhood to be a brotherhood and just the unit to be a unit. That is the biggest thing that I really learned just in terms of what we should look towards next year in terms of the unity.
While Owusu-Koramoah is new to the NFL, it is obvious that he didn’t see the unity he saw from his college teams. Whether COVID-related limitations played a role or there was a deeper divide on the team, having all the players pulling in the same direction is vital for the future of the Browns.
A lack of unity could explain some of the inconsistencies on the roster. It is up to GM Andrew Berry, HC Kevin Stefanski and the rest of the staff to bring the team together in 2022.