Hard to be optimistic

Numerous facts tell the story of the 2023 Cleveland Browns. They all lead to a false sense of security.

On paper, this is more than just a good National Football League team. Or a very good football team. The talent quotient strongly suggests Browns Nation will be rewarded handsomely this season. But paper does not win games. That has been proven ad infinitum by this franchise since 1999. 

That's why red flags dominate my thoughts. Something always seems to go wrong with this franchise within the course of a 17-game season. Until that stops, it leads me to believe it won't be any different this season. Can't put my finger on it. Just know it's there and will show up when least expected.

It happened again and again last season, for example, when the Browns astonishingly turned three victories into losses en route to a 7-10 record and a return to the AFC North basement. Jacoby Brissett's 4-7 record keeping the job warm for Deshaun Watson should have been 7-4 with any help from the defense.

At the risk of sounding like a typical rabid Browns fan whose hopes for success vanish way too early in just about every season since 1999, it's difficult to be sanguine of what lies ahead this season in spite of all the optimism.

General Manager Andrew Berry has ostensibly fixed that nagging problem on defense during a busy and presumably productive offseason. It doesn't count, however, until and unless it translates to the playing field. Therein lies the lack of optimism. 

Talent is one thing. The ability to make plays when making them means the difference between winning and losing a game is quite another. All great teams have playmakers. We'll find out soon enough -- in the first four games of the season -- whether the Browns can join their ranks.

If Berry is as successful this season with his roster massaging as he was in 2020, when he put together one of the NFL's most dangerous offenses that came thisclose to getting to the AFC championship game, a return to the postseason cannot be removed from the list of possibilities.

By the time cutdown day (Aug. 29) rolls around and Berry trims his now-bulging 90-man roster to the required 53, the Browns will be in a better place from a depth standpoint in every facet of the game than at any time since he and head coach Kevin Stefanski arrived in 2020.

The defensive line is decidedly stronger with an emphasis on making opposing quarterbacks feel  extremely uncomfortable in the pocket. And it certainly can't get any worse against the run than the woefully inept unit last season.

What tends to challenge my pessimistic outlook for 2023 is the aggression defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz brings to the table. The it's-about-time return of man-to-man coverage in the secondary is slowly and persuasively tempering some of that thinking.

The biggest concern will be the role of the linebackers in what likely will be a 4-2-5 base. How will Schwartz utilize Anthony Walker Jr., Sione Takitaki and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah all coming off major surgery? Each is more effective when turned loose.

If the new DC is philosophically consistent, look for aggressiveness to stretch throughout the entire defense this season. Over the years, the Cleveland offense has not often enough been afforded short fields caused by takeaways. Another optimistic sign.

Turning to the other side of the football, as Watson goes, so will go the offense. It's really that simple. He needs be the Pro Bowl quarterback they traded a king's ransom for. Berry has set him up nicely with a splendid wide receivers room.

At the same time, though, let's not forget about the black cloud that has hovered over this franchise since the return. Yep, had to mention that. Last season was another emotionally painful reminder. The frustration needs to end.

The regular season begins in 50 days.