I’ve been asked any number of times over the years, especially recently, where the Browns’ biggest problems are.
Are they on offense? Or defense?
Or both?
I’ll take selection c.) both.
Yes, the Browns have issues – big issues, in a lot of regards – on both sides of the ball.
Having said, that, though, the majority of the problems – a vast majority, really – lie on offense.
And it’s been that way not just in recent seasons, but in all 19 previous seasons of the expansion era. In large part because of a lack of anything close to consistently good quarterback play, the Browns can’t move the ball much. On the few occasions when they do move it, they can’t score touchdowns. They have to settle for field goals.
Until that changes, the Browns have no chance to win games and become a contender.
New Browns General Manager Joh Dorsey gets that. It’s why he cleaned out most of the offensive coaching staff in the offseason, and brought in a lot of offensive players in free agency, most notably quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
It’s also why, with three of the first four picks in the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday and Friday nights, they went offense.
With the first selection of the second round to open the draft on Friday, at No. 33 overall, they took Nevada offensive lineman Austin Corbett, who most certainly will be asked to fill the gaping hole a left tackle created by the offseason retirement of future Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas.
Then two choices later at No. 35, they took the running back they eschewed at the top of the first round when they bypassed Saqion Barkley at No. 1 overall to ab quarterback Baker Mayfield. His name is Bradley Chubb, and the Georgia product has a great combination of speed and power.
Yes, former Ohio Stater Carlos Hyde, who was signed in free agency, will get his carries, but as the season goes along, Chubb is going to become the man more and more and more. Hopefully, Hyde will show him the tricks of the trade. It’s no doubt what Hyde figured when he signed that he’d be asked to do anyway.
