The Lingering Questions Surrounding the Cleveland Browns

By Greg Macafee on September 8, 2023

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With change comes uncertainty, and, heading into their season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, the (allegedly) new-look Cleveland Browns have no shortage of uncertainties. While the fan base is buying into sky high expectations and team wide improvements, it’s pertinent to remember that each of those improvements come with serious questions.

Despite quarterback Deshaun Watson playing in a few games last season, the verdict is still out on the reclamation of the former Texan’s career. Yes, there’s reason to believe the quarterback can return to peak form, but an “I’ll believe it when I see it” approach absolutely  makes sense. There is very little precedent for a non-injured player taking this much time away from the game and his team’s facility in their mid prime. Watson is going to have to prove he can still be the guy he was. 

Kevin Stefanski will reportedly stray away from his historically run-centric scheme and look to spread things out to coincide with Watson under center. But is it just that easy? Many people attribute Stefanski’s run-dominant approach to a necessity of the situation he was handed in Cleveland. But the former coach of the year deployed a run-heavy offense in Minnesota as well. In 2019, with prime Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen at his disposal, Stefanski called an offense that finished fourth in the league in rushing attempts.

Maybe it’s just as simple as opening up the playbook. Or maybe there’s real reason to believe that actually adjusting a career-long offensive approach isn’t as simple as “Hey, let’s just do it now that we have the guys.” Stefanski will likely need to show a successfully aggressive approach in order to keep his seat cool.

Helping Stefanski’s case should be newly added weapons Marquise Goodwin and Elijah Moore. 

The latter, an addition from the New York Jets, has the speed and agility to destroy teams in the slot and could provide the deep threat Cleveland desperately needs to open up the field. We’ve seen Watson thrive with a similarly skilled Will Fuller in Houston, and that’s the type of connection Andrew Berry and Co. are hoping to establish with Moore. But is anybody ready to stake their credibility predicting Moore’s success? The end of his run in New York was disastrous. The Jets are currently going all-in. There are only two reasons you get rid of someone that young and talented from a team that’s ready to contend: Either they can’t play, or their presence has become unbearable. Cleveland, I suppose, is hoping for the latter? At least personality issues are rectifiable through team culture and leadership. 

Goodwin, a veteran speedster who can also stretch defenses down the field, has bounced around the NFL. Cleveland is his fifth team in 10 years. He’s never recorded more than four touchdowns in a season. Additionally he missed most of the offseason with blood clot issues. Currently, Goodwin represents far more mystery than certainty.

Even if Watson is playing well and Moore and Godwin excel, it could still take time for this unit to gel. 

“It takes work, it’s going to take patience, it’s going to take effort, discipline,” wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones said about the offense coming together during his press conference on Monday. “Those are all things we are working on this week and every week.” 

With an extremely crucial opening stretch, all three division rivals in the first four weeks, the team may not have that luxury. 

What about Nick Chubb? Surely he’s as solid as it gets, right?

Over the past few years, opposing defenses have been able to focus primarily on Chubb and the running game, but that could change significantly this year. After rushing for 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns on 302 carries last season, all career-highs, Chubb will likely benefit the most from Stefanski’s revitalized offense. 

The key word there is “likely.” But over the past few seasons, Chubb has had the benefit of a veteran backfield mate like Kareem Hunt. This season, second-year running back Jerome Ford, a former fifth-round pick, will step into that role. After recording a majority of the carries last season, Chubb could tote the ball even more this season. That’s a heavy workload for a back who already had a heavy workload. And there are those who aren’t ready to believe he can be dynamic in the passing game. Questioning Chubb is never a smart move, but durability and his pass-catching skills will surely factor into his ability to help the team the same way he has in the past, given then changes around him

A defensive uptick seems like a no-brainer. New coordinator Jim Schwartz is a huge upgrade, and he’ll have All-World sack machine in Za’Darius Smith. How could that not go well? There’s no arguing the Schwartz point, but although Smith has put up numbers throughout his career, it’s worth noting that his exits from his last two teams were unceremonious at best. Reports of locker-room and personality issues surfaced after production waned in both locations. If things don’t go the way Smith sees fit, the Browns could find themselves in the same position as the Vikings last year: with an upset defensive end who is producing less and wanting more money.

On special teams, the entire city breathed a sigh of relief when the Browns waived Cade York. But Dustin Hopkins lost a preseason camp battle. This isn’t Sebastian Janikowski in his prime waking into Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday. The team should feel a lot better about their stability at the position after the move, but Hopkins’ age and health issues are enough to give pause before celebrating the team locking down the position.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to be enthused about in Cleveland this year. But in order to become who this team wants to be, they are going to have to answer all of the questions that come along with all of their offseason changes. If the answers to those questions are good, this could be a very fun year. If the answers are bad, next offseason could feature its own set of extensive changes.

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