New O-line is Browns’ best hope
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have won four games and lost 28 over the past two seasons. Yeah, an even deeper pit than usual.
If there’s anything in 2017 representing a rope ladder out of all that darkness, dampness and bone-biting chill it’s probably not the Browns’ newly anointed, raw rookie starting quarterback DeShone Kizer.
Rather, it’s the upgraded offensive line playing in front of him. The big uglies, as Keith Jackson memorably labelled them.
As the Browns franchise attempts a slow rebuild on an unproven NFL brand of Moneyball- imbued analytics, the team it fields this season remains dangerously too young and inexperienced at almost all position groups but the O-line.
Believe it or not, the signings of two of the best available free-agent blockers in March — centre JC Tretter from the Green Bay Packers for $17 million over three years, and guard Kevin Zeitler from the Cincinnati Bengals for $60 million over five years — give the Browns, potentially, one of the foremost offensive lines in the league.
The Browns also re-signed left guard Joel Bitonio for $51 million over six years.
Thus, the Browns O-line no longer comprises just perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas and four large orange pylons.
The fifth O-line starter, at right tackle, is leukemia survivor and promising 2016 second-round draft pick Shone Coleman, following a year of understudying. The Browns must be confident in Coleman, as a week ago they traded away Coleman’s primary competition for his spot, Cam Erving.
But Tretter and Zeitler could have gone anywhere. Why Cleveland?
For his part, Tretter — in an interview a couple hours before the Browns’ first padded practice of training camp in late July — explained why he said goodbye to Aaron Rodg- ers, Titletown and annual playoff berths.
“The big thing was, obviously nothing’s official but you kind of hear rumblings of what’s going on, and which free agents are interested in which teams,” said Tretter, an Ivy Leaguer who attended Cornell. “So I kind of understood what was being built here, especially on the offensive line.
“Obviously you start with Joe (Thomas). And then they were in the process of lock- ing up Joel (Bitonio), and did. Those two are great players. And Kevin (Zeitler) was possibly coming here. So being in a room like that with that much experience, and that much quality talent, we’d have something special to build on.”
If indeed the Browns’ O-line winds up being special, imagine what it could do. Running back Isaiah Crowell rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last year, averaging nearly five yards a carry behind a sub-standard line, and despite a dreadful passing attack.
If the Browns can consistently and effectively rush the ball, Kizer’s initiation into pro football could be so much smoother. See Prescott, Dak.
“When you have an offensive line that can come together and play well, I think that fixes a lot of problems and covers a lot of issues,” Tretter said. “As offensive linemen, we hope for run plays, and we hope to set the tone — get a defence on their heels a little bit. That makes pass protection so much easier, and makes everything so much easier on the quarterback, the running backs and receivers.”
Bitonio, the left guard, missed most of training camp with a knee injury but vowed Monday he’d practice this week and play Sunday in Cleveland’s opener, against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers.
What better team for a remade line of big uglies to prove itself against?
“We have high expectations for ourselves, and aren’t afraid of high expectations,” Tretter, 26, said. “Becoming a lead offensive line is something you only earn in this league. It’s not something that just because money is spent, or talent is brought in, it’s a guarantee.”
Say, did Rodgers give Tretter any grief for bolting Green Bay?
“Oh no,” Tretter said. “Everybody in the NFL is happy and excited for people taking that next step, getting that recognition that, hey, he’s a good player and other people are seeing that … It’s a business and guys move on, guys leave. That’s just part of it.”
For better or …