BROWNS PREDICTIONS OFFER OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM
By STEVE KING
So, which is it?
That is, which side is right – or at least closer to being right – when it comes to predictions for the Browns this season?
Is it the national people, or those around here?
Conor Orr, a writer I respect greatly from SportsIllustrated.com, had the Browns going 9-7 in his NFL season predictions piece on Wednesday. I’ve seen several other 9-7 finishes picked for the Browns from national media members. Keyshawn Johnson of ESPN Radio said the other day on Cleveland affiliate WKNR-AM that he is picking the Browns to make the AFC playoffs.
But there has not been anywhere close to that level of optimism from the local media members, and fans, at least recently. Some started training camp with high hopes, only to downgrade that considerably – to the tune of just five wins in the case of at least one media person – after the slew of injuries that hit the club, especially the defense, at the start of camp.
Despite that, the national people think the Browns will still be just fine.
The local media and fans are split, at best, when it comes to quarterback Baker Mayfield rebounding from a sub-par 2019 performance.
The national people think he’ll return to his 2018 form as a rookie.
Locally, the feeling is that the Browns, with an almost entirely new coaching staff and a lot of new players, will struggle because of the lack of practices due to cancellations from the coronavirus pandemic.
Nationally, people are high on new head coach Kevin Stefanski and how he should be able to boost the Browns sooner rather than later, particularly following the dysfunction of Freddie Kitchens’ tenure last season.
Locally, that aforementioned defense, with a dearth of proven linebackers, is a real concern.
But it is much less of one from the national people.
And the divergent opinions go on and on.
We’ll soon begin to see which side is correct, for the start of the regular season is approaching quickly.
My guess?
Not to sit on the fence, but I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
