Browns offensive line sits very high in PFF’s early-season ranking

The investment in the OL is paying off nicely for GM Andrew Berry

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New Browns GM Andrew Berry poured significant resources into upgrading the team’s offensive line. So far, the investment has paid off well for Cleveland’s offense.

Through the first three weeks of the 2020 season, only two teams have offensive lines playing better than Cleveland’s revamped unit. That’s according to Pro Football Focus, which ranked all 32 offensive line groups through Week 3’s games.

Cleveland sits third in the rankings, behind only Green Bay and New England. The Browns collectively have allowed just 15 QB pressures on Baker Mayfield, one of the lowest figures in the NFL.

One of Cleveland’s big offseason tasks was to revamp its offensive line and ensure that it could no longer be a reason for Baker Mayfield’s regression in play. The Browns attacked the problem in both free agency (Jack Conklin) and the draft (Jedrick Wills Jr.), and so far, both players have provided clear upgrades at the two weakest points on the line from a year ago.

That doesn’t even mention right guard Wyatt Teller, who is the top-graded guard in PFF’s metrics through Week 3.

It’s a testament to the new players, as well as veteran offensive line coach Bill Callahan for quickly assembling an upgraded line in this unusual offseason.

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4 Browns earn spots on The Athletic’s Week 3 Top Performers

Four Cleveland Browns made the Week 3 list of top performers around the league as chosen by The Athletic. Running back Nick Chubb, right guard Wyatt Teller, defensive end Myles Garrett and safety Karl Joseph all earned nods for their strong games in the Browns’ win over the Washington Football Team on Sunday.

It’s a reflection on the balance of talent across the roster in Cleveland that all are deserving of the honor. Garrett had a dominant game against Washington, while Joseph picked off a pass and played his best game in a Browns uniform. Teller continues to thrive in Kevin Stefanski’s outside zone blocking system and clearing holes for Chubb, who topped 100 yards on the ground once again.

Chubb is also a nominee for the FedEx Ground Player of the Week for his two-TD performance.

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Offensive line once again dominates the Browns’ top PFF grades

3 of the top 4 offensive grades went to the Browns OL

It’s becoming a weekly theme for the Cleveland Browns. The Pro Football Focus grades for the team’s 34-20 win over Washington in Week 3 reflect very highly on the Cleveland offensive line, just as they did in the first two weeks.

Three of the Browns’ top four offensive grades from PFF in Week 3 went to offensive linemen.

Joel Bitonio – 81.0
Wyatt Teller – 80.3
Jack Conklin – 73.2

Only WR Odell Beckham Jr. worked his way into the top foursome, scoring a season-high 76.6 in the game. Fellow wideout Jarvis Landry rounds out the top five with a 73.0 grade.

On defense, Myles Garrett’s dominant performance shot to the top of the PFF scores. Garrett earned a 91.0 overall grade and a 91.4 pass rush grade.

Linebacker B.J. Goodson parlayed his best game in a Browns uniform into a strong 84.4 overall grade. Most of that came from a 90.8 mark in coverage that was helped by an interception. CB Kevin Johnson, in his Browns debut, was the only other Cleveland defender to top the 70.0 overall mark.

At the other end of the grading scale…

CB M.J. Stewart – 30.2 overall
LB Sione Takitaki – 34.0
LB Mack Wilson – 36.9 in six snaps
S Ronnie Harrison – 46.3 in six snaps
WR JoJo Natson – 49.5 in four snaps

3 Browns fined for penalties in the Week 2 win

Andrew Sendejo received the biggest fine

Cleveland’s Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals got a little less sweet for three Browns players on Saturday. All three received fines for penalized plays in the 35-30 victory last Thursday night.

The biggest fine went to safety Andrew Sendejo. He was hit with a $13,327 fine for lowering his head to initiate contact.

All of the other fines were below $5,000

Guard Wyatt Teller – $4,412 for an illegal blindside block
Defensive end Porter Gustin – $3,971 for a facemask infraction

One Bengals player, DE Khalid Kareem, was also fined for unnecessary roughness in the loss.

The players have until Monday to appeal their respective fines.

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Wyatt Teller, Terrance Mitchell tabbed as ‘secret superstars’ from Week 2

Teller and Mitchell got recognized for being great while under the radar in Week 2

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Everyone knows about the stars studding the Cleveland Browns roster. And while Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, Nick Chubb and Odell Beckham Jr. all had strong performances in Cleveland’s Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, two unheralded Browns also stood out enough to earn spots on the Week 2 “secret superstars” list from Touchdown Wire.

Right guard Wyatt Teller and cornerback Terrance Mitchell both made the list, which honors the under-the-radar performers who played above their pay and recognition scale.

Teller was an easy choice. He dominated Cincinnati, helping pave the way for big nights from Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

Playing right guard, Teller has allowed no sacks, no quarterback hits, and just one quarterback hurry in 72 pass-blocking snaps this season, and he’s a big reason the Browns were able to run all over the Bengals with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt last Thursday night.

The NFL’s Secret Superstars of Week 2

As for Mitchell, he was money in the bank in coverage despite the Bengals throwing the ball an incredible 61 times.

One of the reasons Burrow was unsuccessful on all but one of his seven deep passes against the Browns last Thursday night was the efforts of cornerback Terrance Mitchell. Burrow targeted Mitchell 10 times, and Mitchell allowed just two catches for 19 yards and an opponent passer rating of 39.6. Mitchell, who has played for four different teams and is in the last year of a three-year, $12 million contract, busted up deep attempts to both John Ross and A.J. Green. It was as good a performance from a boundary cornerback as you’ll see from Week 2.

Getting these unheralded performances from the role players like Teller and Mitchell is a great way to bolster the big-name players on the Browns. When Cleveland gets performances like that from their non-marquee players, they’re tough to beat. Week 2 proved that.

Eagles RT Lane Johnson lands in the top-5 of a PFF ranking of the NFL’s highest-graded offensive linemen ahead of Week 3

Philadelphia Eagles star right tackle Lane Johnson is No. 4 in a Pro Football Focus ranking of the NFL’s highest graded offensive linemen through Week 3

Lane Johnson’s importance to the Philadelphia Eagles can’t just be explained in dollars and senses. The star right tackle is the engine that makes the train run and during a Week 1 loss to Washington, the lack of Johnson’s presence at right tackle was glaring as Carson Wentz was sacked 8 times by the Football Team’s stout front line.

Johnson returned in Week 2 with a hurt ankle and played a huge role in the Eagles holding Aaron Donald sackless in the loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Pro Football Focus recently ranked the highest-graded offensive linemen in the NFL through Week 3, and Johnson landed on the list despite missing a game.

4. T LANE JOHNSON, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
It’s probably safe to say the Eagles missed Johnson in Week 1 against Washington. He has been one of the best tackles in the NFL for some time now, and he looked like it again in his first game of the season against the Rams in Week 2. He did not allow a pressure on any of his 42 pass-blocking snaps — losing only one pass-blocking rep overall — and he put up a run-blocking grade over 90.0 in his return to action.

The Eagles have been disappointing through the first two games, but a healthy Johnson on the field helps this offense. Now, it comes down to Carson Wentz to turn around his league-worst play this season before the Eagles find themselves out of playoff contention.

With Johnson’s return, the right side of the Eagles offensive line was stabilized and Nate Herbig looked much improved in his second start at right guard.

Larry Ogunjobi, Wyatt Teller receive top Browns scores from Pro Football Focus

Teller, Ogunjobi and Njoku were the top-graded players at their positions around the entire NFL in Week 1

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Pro Football Focus released its initial game grades for every Cleveland Browns player in the Week 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Despite the lopsided 38-6 loss, PFF did find a couple of Browns who performed at an elite level.

Right guard Wyatt Teller scored an outstanding 91.2 for the Browns. Not only does it top the Browns offensive scoring from PFF, but it makes Teller the highest-graded guard in the entire league through Sunday’s games.

Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi also posted an elite score, grading out with a 94.5 on 31 snaps. That is also the highest score given to any defensive lineman from any weekend game via PFF.

On the full team level, the Browns fared surprisingly well overall. Cleveland’s team grade of 61.9 was higher than seven other teams, including the Washington Football Team, which won on Sunday. The Browns grade was propped up in part by an excellent tackling mark of 85.6, the second-highest of any team.

Tight end David Njoku also topped the 90.0 mark, earning a grade of 92.3 in his 17 snaps before leaving with a knee injury. That’s also the top score of any TE, though Njoku played less than 25% of the Browns snaps.

On the flip side, no team scored worse than the Browns on special teams. Others scoring terribly for Cleveland:

Safety Andrew Sendejo – 30.9
LB B.J. Goodson – 38.4
CB Tavierre Thomas – 45.8
WR Odell Beckham Jr. – 46.6
TE Harrison Bryant – 50.5

Tracking what happened to the draft picks the Browns traded away

Tracking what happened to the draft picks the Browns traded away in the 2020 NFL Draft

Andrew Berry and the Cleveland Browns made a couple of trades during the 2020 NFL Draft. The rookie GM accepted two separate offers to move back a few spots.

Here’s what became of those draft trades.

No. 41 overall

The Browns traded No. 41 overall in the second round to the Indianapolis Colts. In return the Browns received No. 44 and No. 160 overall. Cleveland used those picks to select Grant Delpit and Nick Harris, respectively.

The Colts moved up to land Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor at No. 41. With RB not a need in Cleveland, it’s a good return on a pick that the Colts used on a player the Browns weren’t going to select anyway.

No. 74 overall

The Browns picked up No. 88 overall and a third-round pick in 2021 from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for the team’s first third-round selection. Cleveland snagged DT Jordan Elliott after moving back and still owns the extra 2021 pick.

New Orleans drafted Wisconsin OLB Zack Baun at 74. The Browns also sent the Saints a seventh-round pick, No. 244 overall. The Saints used that pick on Iowa QB Nathan Stanley.

Baun would have been an interesting fit in Cleveland. He’s a better all-around player with much more positional versatility than Jacob Phillips, the LB the Browns chose later in the third. Baun fell because of concerns about his size, or lack thereof.

No. 155 overall

This was originally the Browns’ pick, but it was traded to the Buffalo Bills at the end of the 2019 preseason in exchange for guard Wyatt Teller. The Browns original 6th-round pick, No. 188 overall, was also included in that deal. Buffalo took Georgia Southern kicker Tyler Bass with that pick.

The Bills traded this spot to Minnesota in the huge, multi-pick deal last month to acquire WR Stefon Diggs. Minnesota didn’t keep the pick either. They traded No. 155 to the Chicago Bears for a fourth-round pick in 2021. Chicago used the 155th pick on Tulsa EDGE Trevis Gipson.

No. 224 overall

Cleveland sent this pick, it’s original 7th-rounder, to the Tennessee Titans last August in exchange for WR Taywan Taylor. The Titans kept the pick and used it to select Hawaii QB Cole McDonald.

Donovan Peoples-Jones was selected by the Browns with the pick acquired from the Arizona Cardinals in the Jamar Taylor trade back in 2018.

Browns vs. Dolphins: Week 12 game news and notes

The Cleveland Browns went into their matchup with the Miami Dolphins expecting to win and they won. There is something to be said for a team being able to take care of business when they are supposed to win, the Denver Broncos notwithstanding. The Browns were able to dominate early. In the first half of the game, the Browns were able to gain long chunk plays and score easily.

Offense

QB, Baker Mayfield, 24-34-327-3-1

RB, Nick Chubb, rushing 21-106-1, receiving 3-58-0 (4 targets)

RB, Kareem Hunt, rushing 8-37-1, receiving 2-9-0 (3 targets)

WR, Jarvis Landry, 10-148-2 (13 targets)

WR, Odell Beckham, 6-84-1 (8 targets)

TE, Demetrius Harris, 2-20-0 (2 targets)

It was nice to see Kareem Hunt score a touchdown and for the Browns to give plenty of opportunities to both running backs. The story of the game should be the continued progression of Baker Mayfield. Since the bye week, Mayfield has looked sharper with his decisions and his ability to get the ball out on time. His lone interception of the day came on a target to Odell Beckham.

Beckham was running a slant over the middle and Mayfield threw the ball behind Beckham. Beckham’s forward momentum was carrying him away from the ball and created an almost impossible catch. Mayfield almost had a second interception on the afternoon on a target to Demetrius Harris. Mayfield put a little too much juice on the pass and it went through the hands of Harris hitting him in the helmet. Fortunately, there was a Miami penalty on the play and the interception was erased.

There will undoubtedly be talk about how good Jarvis Landry is looking and how he is the best wide receiver on the team. While I agree he has the best production, the more appropriate line of thinking is that both Beckham and Landry are playing well off each other. Both wide receivers are exceptional at what they do, and Beckham is drawing attention from Landry the same way Landry draws attention from Beckham.

Defensive Notes

There are two main storylines to pay attention to on the defense. One is how well Joe Schobert has been playing recently. In Week 12, Schobert was able to add another 10 tackles and 2 interceptions to his amazing run in 2019. The second storyline to watch is the progression of Greedy Williams. Again, in Week 12, opposing offenses were singling him out in coverage. DeVante Parker, as a bigger-bodied receiver, was able to be more physical than Williams and push him around at the line of scrimmage.

Remembering to Week 11 against the Steelers, Mason Rudolph and Co. were also targeting Williams frequently and caused crucial pass interference penalties. Fortunately for the Browns, there were a couple flags not thrown on obvious pass interference.

Penalties (9 penalties, 7 accepted penalties)

Wyatt Teller – 5-yards (ineligible downfield pass)

Wyatt Teller – 10-yards (holding)

Jarvis Landry – Penalty Declined (illegal shirt)

J.C. Tretter – 10-yards (holding)

Mack Wilson – 15-yards (unnecessary roughness)

Greg Robinson – Penalty Declined (ineligible downfield pass)

Greedy Williams – 15-yards (defensive pass interference)

Bryan Cox – 10-yards (illegal block above the waste)

Greedy Williams – 5-yards (illegal use of hands)

Final Thoughts

Week 12 against the Miami Dolphins came at a perfect time for the Browns. They had an opportunity to play a team with significantly less talent, learn to create pressure without Myles Garrett, and develop chemistry on the offensive side of the ball. The pass rush still leaves a lot of questions on the table, but I don’t believe the Browns were putting their defensive game plan for creating pressure on film against the Dolphins.

Overall, there are plenty of positives to take away from Week 12 against the Dolphins. It will be important for the Browns to keep their composure and remember the lessons of this game as they move on to the Steelers.

Final Score: 24-41 (Cleveland Browns Victory)

Time of Possession: 36:06 (+12:12)

Record: 5-6 (third in the AFC North)

Current Draft Position: 15 (information via Tankathon)

Next Opponent: at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)

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