Can the Browns come to rescue of Cleveland sports fans? New idea for defensive end - cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It comes down to the Browns.

In this spring and summer of disease, death, destruction, economic collapse and anger in the streets, Cleveland sports fans need the Browns.

They need the Browns to be decent. They need the Browns to be interesting. They need a reason to sit in front of the TV on fall Sundays and escape from all the dismal news of 2020.

Yes, it comes down to the Browns for Cleveland sports fans. Most of the NBA is starting, the Cavaliers will be left at home to think about the 2020 draft. Major League Baseball ... I don’t even want to talk about that self-absorbed industry which has so little interest in compromise in this summer of self-sacrifice.

Maybe they will come to their senses and play. But I don’t trust them ... the MLB players and owners.

Neither should you.

Running back Nick Chubb has been a tough runner, a steady presence in his two years with the Browns. Photo by John Kuntz / cleveland.comcleveland.com

WHY SPORTS MATTERS

Sports doesn’t change real life. But sports is a diversion. Sports can be bring unity. Fans of every income, race and political background can come together to cheer for Nick Chubb. What a wonderful running back and admirable pro.

Part of the reason we love sports is some of the discussions on the possibility of Baker Mayfield returning to his 2018 form actually lead to rational discussions.

Was the problem the offensive line? Hey, he was sacked 40 times! Or was it Freddie Kitchens, a clueless rookie head coach when the pressure was on. How about forcing the ball to Odell Beckham?

Or maybe Mayfield simply didn’t work as hard as he should have and developed some bad habits with his throwing motion?

We’ve all heard at least some of these debates. There is no “blue state vs. red state” mindset when it comes to the merits of the Browns QB.

Instead, we’re talking about the new coaching staff, the upgraded offensive line and how Mayfield will handle offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt changing his footwork. Somehow the Browns need to return Mayfield to the QB who set an NFL rookie record with 27 TD passes in 2018.

Kareem Hunt should be a lot of fun to watch this season. Joshua Gunter,cleveland.com

THERE IS TALENT

The Browns have two Pro Bowl-caliber running backs in Kareem Hunt and Chubb. They have two Pro Bowl-caliber receivers in Jarvis Landry and Beckham. They have one of the NFL’s premier defensive ends in Myles Garrett.

These guys can be entertaining to watch. That’s what we need: entertainment. It’s why troops began playing something resembling baseball in the middle of the Civil War.

We need a break that doesn’t end up in some type of emotional fracture.

NO BIG PREDICTIONS

The Browns have a rookie head coach in Kevin Stefanski, a new defensive coordinator (Joe Woods), offensive coordinator (Van Pelt) and offensive line coach (Bill Callahan). All are bringing new schemes and playbooks to the team.

COVID-19 has knocked out the mini-camps. Not sure what impact it will have on the regular training camps in late July.

All that hurts a franchise with a new coaching staff. Mayfield needs be on field for 11-on-11 practices against real players to create a muscle memory for his new footwork. It’s not fair to expect the Browns to get off to a fast start. But please, no repeat of 18 penalties and that 43-13 Week 1 loss to Tennessee in 2019!

Discipline and staying away from a tidal wave of pre-snap penalties is something any good coaching staff can implement even early in the season.

But how about a team that is interesting? A team that plays better as the season goes along? A QB who grows with the new coaching staff?

I’ll take that.

And yes, they should at least have a winning record.

ABOUT THE BROWNS

1. I can’t recall where I heard this, but I liked the idea of signing a veteran defensive end. Just not Jadeveon Clowney. How about Everson Griffen, who had eight sacks in 15 games last season? He also had 24 QB hits and played 78 percent of the snaps.

2. The 32-year-old Griffen had been with Minnesota since 2010. He is considered a good guy. Stefanski and Joe Woods know Griffen well from their time with the Vikings.

3. A nice one-year contract for Griffen makes more sense than a long-term deal for Clowney. Depending upon Griffen’s price, the Browns can either keep defensive end Olivier Vernon or cut him. Vernon’s $15 million deal is not guaranteed until a week before the regular season.

4. Vernon has missed 15 of 48 games over the previous three seasons. In that same span, Griffen has missed seven. He made the 2019 Pro Bowl. Perhaps Griffen is looking for a multi-year deal and that’s why he is still unsigned. But I like the idea.

5. The Athletic’s Chad Graff reported Griffen wants to visit teams in person, and that may finally be possible with COVID-19 restrictions being lifted. The Browns value defensive linemen far above linebackers when it comes to spending. Keep an eye on Griffen.

6. Every week, I receive a few emails wondering why the Browns don’t sign Clay Matthews III. After all, they need help at linebacker. Matthews is a magic name to Browns fans, his father being Clay Matthews Sr.

7. My sense is if the Browns wanted the 34-year-old Matthews, they would have signed him by now. He was waived by the Rams to save salary cap money. He had eight sacks last season. But it’s clear he is in decline – especially when most defenses value linebackers who can cover tight ends/running backs in passing situations.

8. I believe Matthews can still be effective as a pass-rusher with the right defense. Not sure that’s Cleveland, where Woods sounds as if he plans to play mostly two linebackers and five defensive backs.

9. In his conference call, I asked Woods about the use of linebackers: “I would like to transition into a dime system. But it’s going to take time ... and I’d like to have a nickel package where we have two linebackers on the field.”

10. The Dime Package often involves six defensive backs and one linebacker. The Browns are sorting through Sione Takitaki, Mack Wilson, B.J. Goodson along with rookie Jacob Phillips. I don’t expect them to make any significant moves at linebacker.

RECENT TERRY PLUTO COLUMNS

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Terry’s Talkin’ Browns: Andrew Berry’s big moves, Jadeveon Clowney

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New Browns face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Browns-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection for adults and youth, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All NFL proceeds donated to CDC Foundation.

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