Browns report:
We begin our NFL team-by-team looks-ins with Cleveland, whose widespread changes suggest an improvement in 2017.
Five things to know about the Cleveland Browns heading toward the 2017 season: Osweiler is still around: Oh, right. The Browns traded for the erstwhile franchise quarterback of the Houston Texans in what looked a lot like an NBA-style salary cap dump in March. The club was happy with receiving the Texans’ second-round draft pick in 2018, not so much the 26-year-old quarterback. But here we are, on the verge of organized team activities, and Osweiler is not only on the Browns’ roster but is the team’s most seasoned — and expensive — signal caller with 21 career starts. He is due to count $19 million against the salary cap in 2017. Coach Hue Jackson has said rookie DeShone Kizer will compete with Osweiler, Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan for the starting job. Check your depth chart: The Browns went 1-15 a year ago, so changes would be expected. But going off their official 2016 Week 1 starters against the Philadelphia Eagles and a projected starting lineup (including top draft picks Myles Garrett and David Njoku), the Browns are likely to roll out about five new starters on offense, not including former staring center Cameron Erving potentially moving to right tackle. On the other side of the ball, new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams could field three new starters. None of this includes rookie Jabrill Peppers, who easily could find his way into the starting 11 on either side of the ball come September.
The Williams effect:
Jackson brought in the coordinator, and while Williams will have young players to work into a new system he often finds success immediately. In previous stops in Washington (2004), New Orleans (2009) and St. Louis (2012) with the Rams as a first-year defensive coordinator, his unit improved in either points allowed or yards allowed, if not both, over the previous season. The Browns were 30th in the NFL in points allowed and 31st in yards allowed in 2016.
How much does Thomas have left?
Left tackle Joe Thomas, 32, is entering his 11th season, all with the Browns. He has played in 160 consecutive games, made 10 Pro Bowls in a row and is a six-time all-pro. He is likely to be a Hall of Famer when he eventually hangs it up. But the question is how long he can continue to anchor the blind side of whoever is playing quarterback for the Browns? Hall of Famers of a similar ilk saw their careers come to an end at about this time. Jonathan Ogden was done at 33. Walter Jones, Anthony Munoz and Orlando Pace at 34, Willie Roaf at 35. Thomas hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down, but as the Browns retool with younger players, it’s worth keeping an eye on the best player the franchise has had since rejoining the league in 1999.
Get ready to run:
Before the revolving door at quarterback really got ridiculous, the Browns were rushing the ball at an impressive clip. They finished the year 19th in the league in total rush yards, but Isaiah Crowell averaged 4.8 yards per attempt and totaled 952 yards and seven touchdowns. Duke Johnson averaged 4.9 yards per rush and added another 358 yards. For all of his creative formations and ability to groom quarterbacks, Jackson loves to pound the ball — and with new additions up front in center JC Tretter and right guard Kevin Zeitler, expect the Browns to hand the ball to Crowell and Johnson early and often in 2017. Owczarski writes for The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network.