AFC Team of The Bearded Twits

The Cleveland Browns have had their share of disappointment, particularly over the last two years with one win combined. However, I believe things maybe looking up for the Browns as we enter the 2018 season.

I’m not going to dwell on the past in this article, i'm simply going to focus on what Browns fans have to look forward to for 2018.

It’s well documented that the Browns have had 28 starting Quarterbacks since 1999. They have suffered with a long list of first round draft picks which have not turned out as they would have hoped. But, looking at their depth chart for 2018, at the Quarterback position they have some talent. They have the ability in 2018 to allow their 1st pick, Baker Mayfield to sit for a season and allow proven, winning Quarterback Tyrod Taylor to lead the team.

There was a lot of negative reaction to the Browns picking up Taylor from the Bills in a trade for a third round 2018 pick. But, I can’t see why. Taylor started for the Bills and had shown some talent whilst on their roster. Sadly, this Bills didn’t appreciate what they had and there were a number of confidence knocks on Taylor, which I might add, he dealt with in a way that a leader should. The biggest knock came when he was benched for Nathan Peterman mid-season, that however didn’t last long.

He goes to the Browns with a point to prove and a number 1 draft pick hunting him down for his job. I think we see a fire in Taylor that we haven’t seen before. He is a duel threat quarterback who has the ability to extend plays with his feet, a trait Mayfield also possess.

Baker Mayfield won’t start this season. Is true, up until Taylor starts throwing interceptions on a regular basis of course. The Browns need to win games this season, that is the main objective. And I believe Taylor gives them that chance.

Mayfield was a beast at OU and had some incredible games with some equally incredible numbers. But I think Hue Jackson has made the right call making Taylor the starter, given the Browns history of Quarterback woes. Last year we saw DeShone Kizer get thrown under the bus by the Browns coaching staff, and fans will not be wanting the same thing to happen to Mayfield, who really does offer them their franchise quarterback.

Their running back position consists of three main stands out guys. Carlos Hyde who comes of a great 2017 campaign with the 49ers, Duke Johnson who returns to Cleveland’s backfield and 2nd round draft pick, Nick Chubb. Hyde has his best season last year for the 49ers starting every game and recording 940 rushing yards, 350 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns which was one of the best performances by a running back in the league in 2017. He will offer the Browns some versatility at that position and has already been listed as the number 1 back on the most recent depth chart. He will receive help from Duke Johnson who has been a solid starter for the Browns since being drafted in 2015 and has consistently performed. Further help is added by Nick Chubb. Chubb is a natural runner with great balance and gains yards after contact, which is what the Browns will be looking for out of their rookie running back. In college he wasn’t utilised that much in the passing game, and with Carlos Hyde, it could be that the Browns don’t utilise that aspect of Chubb’s game this season either.

Two notable additions to their receiving corps have to be Jarvis Landry from Miami and 4th round pick, Antonio Callaway. The Browns also have Josh Gordon whose status is largely unknown at the moment. It seems that Gordan has been dealing with some personal problems and has spent some time in rehab in the past. The Browns are doing the right thing by Gordon, allowing him the time he needs to get himself together before starting the season and this seems like a sensible move in order to not add to the pressure he clearly is already facing.

Let’s talk about Jarvis Landry. Landry is considered one of the best receivers in the league at the moment and rightly so. After signing the franchise tag on March 8th, the Dolphins informed him on March 9th he had been traded to the Browns. 2017 saw him put up good numbers In Miami being targeted 161 times, catching 112 for 987 yards and 9 touchdowns. Landry and Beckham Jr are the modern-day pioneers of the one-handed catch and having the ability to make catches most people couldn’t dream off. By adding Landry, the Browns not only get an incredibly talented receiver, but also a great leader in the locker room and for that wide receiver corps. By simply having Landry on the team, the Browns chances increase.

Their O line is where the question mark lies at the moment after Joe Thomas announced his retirement, so it’s probably a good thing they have quarterbacks capable of extending plays with their feet.

If we look at their offensive depth chart, we can see some real strength and depth at important positions.

QB – 1. Tyrod Taylor, 2. Drew Stanton, 3. Baker Mayfield, 4. Brogan Roback

RB – 1. Carlos Hyde, 2. Duke Johnson, 3. Nick Chubb, 4. Matt Daves, 5. Dontrell Hilliard

FB – 1. Dan Vitale

WR – 1. Jarvis Landry, 2. Rashard Higgins, 3. C.J Board, 4. Blake Jackson, 5. Derrick Willies

WR – 1. Josh Gordon, 2. Antonio Callaway, 3. Jeff Janis, 4. Damion Ratley

TE – 1. David Njoku, 2. Darren Fells, 3. Seth DeValve, 4. Orson Charles, 5. Devon Caiuste

LT – 1. Joel Bitonio, 2. Shon Coleman, 3. Greg Robinson, 4. Desmond Harrison

LG – 1. Austin Corbett, 2. Geoff Gray, 3. Fred Lauina

C – 1. J.C. Tretter, 2. Austin Reiter, 3. Anthony Fabiano

RG – 1. Kevin Zeitler, 2. Spencher Drango, 3. Avery Gennesy

RT – 1. Chris Hubbard, 2. Kevin Bowen, 3. Christian DiLauro

K – 1. Zane Gonzalez, 2. Ross Martin

First play from scrimmage, Barkley takes the handoff from Eli and takes off on a 39-yard run. Randell chases him down and forces him out of bounds.

Over the off-season the Browns added incredible depth to their defense in, Mychal Kendrick’s fresh off his Superbowl win with the Eagles, EJ Gaines from the Bills and TJ Carrie from the Raiders. Their linebacking corps is one of the strongest in the League. The Browns also acquired Randell in a trade with the Packers.

On top of the added talent made by trades and free agency, the Browns used their draft picks wisely. They took Denzel Ward in the first round and later on took Chad Thomas and Genard Avery.

Their defensive depth chart currently looks like this.

DE – 1. Myles Garrett, 2. Emmanuel Ogbah, 3. Chris Smith, 4. Carl Nassib, 5. Nate Orchard

DT – 1. Larry Ogunjobi, 2. Trevon Coley, 3. Jamie Meder, 4. Caleb Brantley, 5. Jeremy Faulk

MLB – 1. Joe Schobert, 2. Genard Avery, 3. B.J. Bello

WLB – 1. Christian Kirksey, 2. Mychal Kendrick’s, 3. Justin Currie, 4. Jermaine Grace

SLB – 1. Jamie Collins, 2. James Burgess, 3. Brady Sheldon

CB – 1. Denzel Ward, 2. E.J. Gaines, 3. T.J. Carrie, 4. Terrance Mitchell, 5. Briean Boddy-Calhoun

FS – 1. Damarious Randall, 2. Derron Smith, 3. Simeon Thomas, 4. Elijah Campbell

SS – 1. Jabrill Peppers, 2. Derrick Kindred, 3. Micah Hannemann, 4. Tigie Sankoh

There are many reasons why the Cleveland Browns are The Bearded Twits AFC Team to watch for 2018. But, to be honest, the main one, I’m excited to watch them play, and I want them to win.