First look: Offensive Line

The biggest difference on offense between the disappointing 2019 Browns and the 2020 edition resides in the trenches. Yep, the offensive line.

Last season’s unit struggled to protect the quarterback, struggled to open up holes in the ground game and struggled in general when it came to coming through in the clutch. That’s way too many struggles.

If last season’s offense had this season’s revamped offensive line, the Browns would not have finished 6-10 and Freddie Kitchens might still be the head coach. Shrewd free-agent moves and drafting by General Manager Andrew Berry made it happen.

Signing tackle Jack Conklin away from Tennessee in free agency and making Alabama tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. the club’s top draft pick took care of the flanks just like that. Last season’s turnstile tackles are a mere (bad) memory.

No longer is the Browns’ offensive line considered less than mediocre with Wills now protecting Baker Mayfield’s blind side and Conklin, a Pro Bowler whose strength is the run game, beefing up the strong side of the formation.

Add the reliability of center JC Tretter and left guard Joel Bitonio and you’ve got a solid base to work in front of arguably one of the most talented and star-studded offenses in the National Football League.

The only weakness of the unit, if you can call it that, is at right guard, where Wyatt Teller is considered the favorite to win the job now that second-year man Drew Forbes has opted out for the season.

Teller started the final nine games last season due mainly to the inefficiency of everyone else tried at the position and performed reasonably well. The big difference this season is he will play beside Conklin, a considerable upgrade over Chris Hubbard.

If there is any concern along the unit, it lies at left tackle, a position quite foreign to Wills, who was a career right tackle at Alabama. The Browns insist making the switch to the other side will not be a problem for the rookie.

What makes it a little edgy is Wills will make his professional debut in Baltimore without the benefit of exhibition games. Because the league and players association agreed to forego all the exhibitions because of the pandemic, Wills’ work will be only in intra-squad scrimmages.

If coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive line coach Bill Callahan are smart, they will make certain defensive end Myles Garrett, one of the elite pass rushers in the NFL, lines up opposite the rookie as much as possible during drills.

The coaches will have only 14 padded practices and game-plan week to get Wills ready. A steady diet of Garrett might drive the kid batty, but he’ll emerge a better tackle. If he survives Garrett, he’ll be prepared for just about anybody.

An offensive line functions much smoother and efficiently when working in concert as a unit. All it takes is one mistake or blown assignment to blow up a play. Wills is the likeliest candidate for that to occur unless he is a quick study.

Plugging in a rookie at the second-most important position on offense is a gamble to begin with. But when that rookie has never played that position at any level, the odds rise he’ll encounter early problems.

Switching from right tackle to left tackle is not as easy as some would believe. Everything is exactly the opposite. Muscle memory is the most important key to pulling it off.

When Wills was protecting the blind of side of left-handed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for two seasons at Alabama, his first move in pass protection was moving his right foot back to initiate a drop step. With Mayfield, a right-hander, it becomes his left foot.

Not easy. Don’t believe it? Try doing something with your less dominant hand. Like eating. Or writing. Shooting pool. It’s not easy. That’s where muscle memory factors in with extra repetitions, so much so it becomes second nature. It also helps playing next to the veteran Bitonio.

Backing up this unit most likely will be rookie Nick Harris, Kendall Lamm, Colby Gossett, Ohio State’s Malcolm Pridgeon and Hubbard, who was surprisingly retained. Others in camp are Alex Taylor, Willie Wright and Evan Brown.

The fondest hope for Browns fans is the first unit remains healthy all season long . . . if there is a season.

Next: Defensive ends