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I’m not going to tell you that 3-0 in the preseason is meaningful. I’m not going to tell you that a rookie QB is going to lead us to the Superbowl. I’m not going to act like improving on a 1 win season is going to be a huge accomplishment, especially when you consider the talent that was added through the draft. But…
The winds of change are blowing in Cleveland. From the interviews to the product on the field, it’s obvious that the culture in Berea has changed. The organization is realigning and the personnel has finally bought in. The current regime understands something that its predecessors doesn’t: there is no such thing as a meaningless action. Everything matters. Practices, preseason games, interviews, the draft – everything is approached with a level of professionalism that was previously missing.
It’s paying off. 3-0 in the preseason means nothing. But 0-4 in the preseason does. We’ve been there before. No team that has gone winless in the preseason has ever won the Superbowl. The Browns have had 5 undefeated preseasons, in 4 of the following seasons they posted a winning record. In their 3 winless seasons they’ve only managed to post 1 winning season.
But the Browns have had fleeting success before. In 2002 and 2007 the Browns managed to post winning records. While the Browns have yet to play a down of the 2018 season, something seems different this time. This doesn’t have the feeling of a flash in the pan. The offensive line is the best its ever been (on paper), the defense, with a fresh influx of premium talent and merciless coordinator, looks to be an imposing unit and the Browns have a rookie QB under center who beat out both last season’s most coveted FA QB prospect and the Brown’s recently drafted career back up. I look at the current Browns and I’m reminded of the 2012 Carolina Panthers. With Myles Garrett and Deshone Kizer playing the roles of Luke Kuechly and Cam Newton, the Browns appear to have found their new leaders on both sides of the ball.
So what does this mean for 2018? I expect 6-7 wins. I wouldn’t be shocked by 9. So much depends on Kizer’s development, but it truly feels like we’re just a QB away. Perhaps the most exciting part? Based on Kizer’s play, that QB might already be on the roster. And regardless if Kizer is the answer or not, we are positioned well to draft one of next year’s premium QB prospects.
In my opinion, we’ve made the transition from rebuilding to seeing what we’ve got. While not yet battle tested, the initial indications look better than anything I’ve seen in orange and brown since the return. The raw talent is there on both sides of the ball, and the Browns look like they can play at the speed of the NFL.
I suspect the 2018 season will be a fun one to watch. We’re going to lose some games we should win due to inexperience. We’re going to win some games we shouldn’t because people underestimate our talent.
My prediction:
While Patrick Mahomes was my QB of choice, I think the Browns hit on a winner with Kizer. His physical attributes are elite, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how quickly he’s picked up the play book. While he hasn’t officially been named the starter yet, he is the only QB on the roster that has flashed anything in the preseason. I think he’s going to start game game one and put up respectable numbers this year, struggling at first but hitting his stride near the halfway mark.
The Defense is going to be imposing. The front 7 can generate pressure at will, and that should help make up for some of the deficiencies in the defensive backfield.
My biggest prediction for the 2018 season? The Browns don’t finish in the cellar. Here’s how I see it playing out:
Week 1:
At home vs. Steelers
Result: Win
Notes: This is our Super Bowl and Hue will have the team ready to defend the land. Garrett will show the world why he was the number 1 pick as Cleveland’s defense punches Pittsburgh in the mouth and Kizer and the Browns’ running game does just enough to pull out the victory.
Record: 1-0Week 2:
At the Ravens
Result: Win
Notes: The Browns stumble and bumble to win number 2 as the defense continues to dominate and the running game continues to do just enough for the “W”.
Record: 2-0Week 3:
At the Colts
Notes: Luck and the Colts aren’t at 100% and the Browns defense will deliver win number 3.
Record: 3-0Week 4:
At home vs. the Bengals
Notes: The Browns bring home the W for Hue against his former team.
Record: 4-0Week 5:
At home vs. the Jets
Notes: If we win the first 4 games, we should win this game. Young teams have issues with consistency though, and after a great start, the Browns stumble in a trap game.
Record:4-1Week 6:
At Texans
Notes: If this game were in Cleveland, we’d win. It’s not, so we won’t. I expect a close game where defense dominates and both offenses struggle.
Record: 4-2Week 7:
At home vs. the Titans
Notes: Mariota and the Titans are simply too much for the young Browns.
Record: 4-3Week 8:
At home vs. Vikings (England)
Notes: The Browns visit former owner Randy Learner in England and walk away with the win.
Record: 5-3Week 9:
ByeWeek 10:
At the Lions
Notes: A motivated Lions team looks to step out of the Packers’ shadow and the Browns can’t generate enough offense for the win.
Record: 5-4Week 11:
At Home vs. the Jaguars
Notes: Bortles continues to regress and the Browns offense continues to improve behind a strong running game that allows Kizer to excel in play action situations.
Record: 6-4Week 12:
At Bengals
Notes: Cleveland doesn’t fair as well in the second match up as the Browns fall in Cincy.
Record: 6-5Week 13:
At Chargers
Notes: The defense plays well, but the Chargers big play ability proves to be too much for the offense to keep pace with.
Record: 6-6Week 14:
At home vs. the Packers
Notes: Green Bay will be playing for the #1 seed in the NFC and will be in rare form. Cleveland will play respectably, but are unable to hang with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
Record: 6-7Week 15:
At the Ravens
Notes: We should win this game, but the Packers will leave us with a hang over. We fall to Baltimore as our playoff hopes fade.
Record: 6-8Week 16:
At the Bears
Notes: A moral victory for the Browns that has no real consequence. Winning is never meaningless, and in the battle of rookie quarterbacks, Kizer bests Trubisky on the Bears’ home field.
Record: 7-8Week 17:
At the Steelers
Notes: The Steelers will still have a lot to play for and will prove to be too much for the Browns as they enter the post season. The Steelers won’t be caught sleeping a second time.
Record: 7-9Notable Achievements:
DYOTR: Myles Garrett
Pro Bowl: Myles Garrett, Joe Thomas, Isaiah Crowell, Jamie Collins, Jabrill Peppers (Special Teams – returner)My Kizer Prediction:
Completion %: 60%
Yards: 3,600 yards
TD: 24 (19 passing, 5 rushing)
INT: 12We do better if:
We can find a way to remain consistent and bounce back from defeat. Or sign/trade for a real WR. If we do either of those things, I wouldn’t be surprised to see us win weeks 5, 6, 10 and 15.We do worse if:
The offense can’t keep the defense off the field. I wouldn’t be surprised to see us lose weeks 1, 4 and 16.What do you think Browns’ fans? What’s your prediction for the upcoming season?
818 mph. 13,723 feet. 3 second burn.
https://youtu.be/hy-3bb1Nqy0Wow, that’s a whole lot of positivity. I’m not nearly as positive as you are. I’d like to buy what you’re selling and I hope you’re right and I’m wrong.
I see 6 wins and especially running the division in the first 4 games as unattainable. Our defense is better, our offense is not. Yeah our rookie QB made some awesome plays but we’re running the same 20 piece playbook and it’s gonna take more than that to generate any offense on the Steelers. One good preseason game from our WR doesn’t not make him an instant #1 WR in this league.
One area we are definitely better is on defense, at least when the opposing offenses are running with training wheels on. I hope they keep it up during the season. Still we’ve had decent defenses before and without a good offense we’re still losing games with scores like 6-17.
Last season was not a fluke. We were truly a terrible team.
I’d love that record, don’t know how good the Texans are depends on the QB and right now it looks like Savage has won the job, Vikings game will be tough but are they really that good ? be nice to split with the Bungles so not unrealistic.
I suck at predictions, so I don’t make them anymore.
I will say that there’s certainly a lot to be excited about. We actually have a QB that inspires hope for the future, a defense motivated by a take-no-shit defensive coach that seems to get the best out out of his players, and (to my knowledge) we field the youngest team in the league. Not too shabby.
Also, I wanna give a shout-out to a player who has been completely underrated (and not mentioned here either): Joe Schobert has been an absolute force throughout the preseason. He has made a quantum leap from last year, and he’s doing an outstanding job in a scheme that historically places more importance on the safety making plays in the middle. He has definitely stood out in what looks to be a few playmakers.
I see 4 wins. And that’s not a terrible thing. This team needs offensive playmakers in the worst way. It would of been great if Njoku had run away with the te job.
This team needs offensive playmakers in the worst way.
I wish I could say “oh, but these guys will come along”…but outside of Coleman, nobody has been real consistent catching the ball. We haven’t seen a lot of the running game thus far (Duke needs to stop with the fumbilitis), although Dayes is intriguing. Beyond that, nobody really screams “threat”, do they?
Still, we’ve showed growth from last season so far. Remains to be seen if we trend up or down by season’s end, and I’m sure that will determine what we use those first 5 picks for.
This team needs offensive playmakers in the worst way.
I wish I could say “oh, but these guys will come along”…but outside of Coleman, nobody has been real consistent catching the ball. We haven’t seen a lot of the running game thus far (Duke needs to stop with the fumbilitis), although Dayes is intriguing. Beyond that, nobody really screams “threat”, do they?
Still, we’ve showed growth from last season so far. Remains to be seen if we trend up or down by season’s end, and I’m sure that will determine what we use those first 5 picks for.Yeah. I expected Ricardo Louis to step up, but I haven’t seen it, and what was the point of cutting Barnidge?
Maybe splitting Njoku out wide like they did when he was at the u would help him get started, plus we’ve not seen duke in the slot yet even though Hue had him doing it in camp so maybe we’ve not seen all the playbook yet.
Yeah. I expected Ricardo Louis to step up, but I haven’t seen it, and what was the point of cutting Barnidge?
You spend a 1st round pick on a TE, Barnidge becomes a financial liability. Notice he still hasn’t found a home.
At this point I’m extremely disappointed in both Louis and Njoku.
I’m excited about this season, and see good things for the Browns on the horizon.
But………we’re breaking in a rookie QB, the defense is learning a new scheme, and once again we have probably the youngest roster in the league. Mistakes will abound. I can’t see that translating to 7+ wins. Sure it’s possible, and I’d love to see it happen but I’m staying with my more conservative estimate of 6 wins. Most likely 4 or 5.
Not about to predict wins. Thi all hinges on Hue Jackson. If the game plan is the same as last year – look for a new head coach next year. If the game plan is to actually, finally, for the first time, be intelligent and run first and run often and be top 5 in rushing attempts in the NFL – then the sky is the limit.
Freedom!!!
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