‘Flipping a whole new script’: Schwartz eyes big year with Browns
BEREA – Can someone have two first years? Anthony Schwartz believes it’s possible.
“I think so, definitely, because last year there was a lot going on with me and also the rest of the team,” the Cleveland Browns second-year receiver said. “I didn’t feel like I was able to play at my best last year. But this year, I’m flipping a whole new script, trying to get a fresh new start and show people what I can do.”
A year ago, Schwartz was a thirdround draft pick out of Auburn who entered the league with the potential to be one of the Browns’ legitimate deep threats thanks to his world-class speed. Instead, it turned into a frustrating rookie season, and not just in terms of production. .
The story of Schwartz’s first year in the league was injuries. It didn’t take long for that to become the storyline. A hamstring injury kept him off the field significantly throughout the offseason program and into training camp.
In that regards, 2022 is already a significant step forward from 2021.
“It’s been good so far,” Schwartz said. “Just helped to have a healthy offseason to be able to connect with the team, be able to connect with the new quarterbacks and be able to compete. I feel like I’m in a much better place than the end of last year.”
Schwartz missed three games after suffering a concussion. He finished with 10 catches on 23 targets for 135 yards — 69 of those coming on three catches in the season opener at Kansas City — and a Christmas Day touchdown in Green Bay.
Even though he missed only three games, Schwartz admits the injuries were a constant nagging issue.
“Every week it was pretty much just fighting through so I could play
Sunday,” he said. “For me, my goal was to be out there and play on Sunday. This year I feel my goal is to win on Sunday and do my best to be able to help the team win on Sundays.”
Route running is where Schwartz feels his growth is most notable. Part of that is just the ability to actually work on that part of his game more instead of having to spend time in the trainer’s room.
“It was definitely just running more and more routes because at Auburn I was more used as a speed, sweep, kind of gadget guy,” Schwartz said. “Having to kind of make my route tree that much better was something I was working on this past season. Coming into now, I feel like I made great improvements into that point and I feel like I’m at that next stage where I can start adding more and more to it.”