Changes To Watch For The Cleveland Browns In Training Camp

After an improbable playoff run in 2023, the Cleveland Browns went into last season with hope for more. Instead, they would finish with a 3-14 record and miss the playoffs. They went from the top Wild Card the year before to picking second overall (before trading it to Jacksonville).

With a fall like that, often comes change. While head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry have retained their jobs, there have been a few moves that indicate a shifting landscape. Not all changes are equal, so which ones should we watch as we head into training camp in July?

 

1. Offensive Coordinator

Last year, Cleveland tried to tailor their offense to one that quarterback Deshaun Watson was successful in while with Houston: it didn’t work. Watson struggled when he was healthy before going down with another season ending injury. This was followed by rough quarterback play from Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe with a couple of memorable performances sprinkled in.

Despite Stefanski calling plays for half the season, the playbook was too radical of a change for the team. This led to pass game specialist and tight ends coach Tommy Rees taking over the offensive coordinator role after Ken Dorsey’s firing.

Returning to a power run formation that helps set up play action, similar to what they had run from 2020-2023 should give this team a nice boost. ]

 

2. Offensive Line Coach

Prior to last season, Bill Callahan left Cleveland to coach with his son Brian in Tennessee. Enter Andy Dickerson who had been praised for his ability to develop offensive linemen and ran a similar style to Callahan. This didn’t work at all and even worse, through comments during minicamp, some of the issues lie with Dickerson.

Following Dickerson’s dismissal, Cleveland opted for former Rice head coach and Stamford offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren to take over. Bloomgren is known for his use of the power run game as well as effectiveness in short-yard situations. Aligning with Stefanski and Rees has the potential to really elevate the offense.

 

3. Running Game

Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way: Nick Chubb signed with the Houston Texans after seven seasons in Cleveland. This changing of the guard has broken Browns fans’ hearts, but it may not be a bad thing in the end.

Returning to a scheme Jerome Ford had success running in should help. Then add pieces like Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson in the draft, both of which averaged more than five yards per carry, and this run game may be the most dangerous its been since the years of Chubb, Kareem Hunt and D’Ernest Johnson.

 

4. Revamping The Middle of Defensive Line

Following the Myles Garrett trade/extension controversy, Cleveland needed to work on the defensive line. While the edge opposite of Garrett has been successful despite having interchangeable parts, they needed focus on the middle of the offensive line more.

Selecting Mason Graham at fifth-overall as well as signing Maliek Collins should provide some help for Myles on the inside, as well as complement Mike Hall Jr, Jowon Briggs and Shelby Harris.

 

5. Quarterback Room

Probably the biggest changes this offseason all involved the quarterback room. Starting with the promotion of Rees (former college quarterback and college quarterback coach), it demonstrated a desire to develop the position rather than supplement it.

This was taken even further with the promotion of Bill Musgrave from senior offensive assistant to quarterback coach. Musgrave is most known for his work with players like Michael Vick, Matt Ryan and Derek Carr, in addition to backing up for legends like Steve Young and John Elway.

On the depth chart side of it, Cleveland added four quarterbacks this offseason. It started with swapping Thompson-Robinson for Kenny Pickett and seeing the return of Joe Flacco to Cleveland. Later in the draft, they would opt for Dillon Gabriel in the third-round and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth-round.

While none of options are set in stone in terms of their future, they were at least good fliers in a draft didn’t feature great quarterback options. Best case, they have someone who they can roll with but absolute worst case, they’ll have the ability to shake the Etch-A-Sketch and wipe the slate clean in next year’s draft where there should be better options.