Cleveland Browns fans should bubble wrap their hearts for euphoria, dismay of 2022 season
Get the swear jar ready.
Remove all breakables close to the television.
Most importantly, bubble wrap your heart.
For the faithful, following a Browns season has always been a major emotional investment, even in the franchise’s glory days. Red Right 88 set an expect-the-worst tone long before The Drive and The Fumble. The late coach Marty Schottenheimer was forced to play four quarterbacks in 1988. Kicker Matt Bahr was cut after the last AFC Championship appearance in 1989.
But the circumstances surrounding the 2022 Browns may make for a roller-coaster ride of euphoria and dismay.
Bubble wrap might not be protection enough.
With quarterback Jacoby Brissett slated to start during Deshaun Watson’s 11-game league suspension, the offense may resemble your grandfather’s Browns.
Coach Kevin Stefanski is expected to feature a run-heavy attack with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Brissett attempted a few deep balls during preseason, but even in practice he relied on short and intermediate routes. There is no proven receiver behind four-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper, with Hunt the second most dependable option. Tight end David Njoku has a big new contract and questionable hands. Speedster Anthony Schwartz, the deep threat so desperately needed, is experiencing a crisis of confidence.
Pro Bowler receiver sees potential:Amari Cooper bullish on Cleveland Browns offense: 'Hopefully it's going to be fireworks'
The Browns offensive line leaves plenty of questions
The offensive line, one of the strengths of the team, faces multiple questions. Center Nick Harris was lost for the season with a knee injury suffered in the preseason opener and free-agent signee Ethan Pocic takes over. Two-time All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin is coming off surgery after rupturing his right patellar tendon on Nov. 30 and swing tackle Chris Hubbard may be called on to fill in. Much will be expected of left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. after a an ankle injury derailed his second year in the league.
There is also the question of how rusty three-time Pro Bowler Watson will be after a 700-day layoff when he is scheduled to return Dec. 4 at Houston. Considering the strength of the late-season opponents, a 3-3 record with Watson would be laudable, 2-4 seems more likely.
Even if the defense can repeat or improve its ranking after finishing fifth in the NFL last season, the Browns appear headed to a sub-.500 record. At this point, it looks like seven wins, and that’s adding one from an initial quick six —Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans and Washington Commanders. That count means a 3-1 start.
The beginning of the Browns schedule is easy. They need a hot start
With the easiest stretch of the schedule in the first four games, the Browns are going to have to make magic immediately. That burden falls on Brissett, Chubb, Hunt, Cooper, Njoku, defensive ends Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II.
The Browns need turnovers on defense after getting only 19 in 2021. They need big plays on offense from the young and unsung, such as receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones and rookie David Bell and tight end Harrison Bryant. They need major move-the-needle improvement on special teams, especially from the coverage and return units, even after Pro Bowler Jakeem Grant Sr. was lost during camp with a ruptured Achilles. They need flawless execution on both sides of the ball, and the closest they’ve come to that this summer — rested starters excluded — has been from rookie kicker Cade York.
A kicker has been their player of the year before, in 2012 when Phil Dawson was honored by the Cleveland chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America after a 5-11 season. It may be that kind of year again.
Mayfield denies T-shirts were his idea:Cleveland Browns not overly amped for Baker Mayfield's revenge game with Panthers
To exceed expectations, the Browns are going to have to rely on chemistry. They are going to have to forge a belief that they can succeed when no one thinks they can. They are going to have to make tackles they’ve often missed, to break tackles on which they’ve usually stumbled.
Attention to detail will be paramount. Some surprises in Stefanski’s play-calling will be crucial. Their best hope for success this season will be to catch a wave of momentum with a fast start.
That will require making a statement in Sunday’s season opener against Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Browns’ No. 1 overall pick in 2018 who was traded on July 6. That will require breaking the trend of their horrific home-opening record of 1-21-1 since 1999 on Sept. 18 against the Jets. That will mean overachieving in the AFC North, where they look destined for last, at least when the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive depth chart is considered.
Browns in 2022 spotlight:Jacoby Brissett, Jordan Elliott among players in focus with Browns opener approaching
Barring game-wrecking performances from the Browns’ stars, the team’s fate will be determined by Brissett and its second-tier players. Watson can’t be expected to go 6-0 when he returns. Chubb can’t be expected to rush for 1,500 yards. With the attention he will draw, Cooper isn’t likely to break his single season-high of eight touchdowns in 2019 and 2021 with the Dallas Cowboys.
Fans will surely be all-in. With their unrivaled passion, they know no other way. But they shouldn’t agonize over every dropped pass.
They must keep their hearts encased in bubble wrap and their eyes on the big picture. The Browns got their franchise quarterback — for 2023.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns must overachieve to succeed in 2022 NFL season
