Embracing the 53

The Browns and their fans found out Tuesday there is a price to pay when the talent quotient of the team becomes so strong, trims to the final 53-player roster become that much more difficult.

The club either released or waived a handful of players who contributed nicely during the exhibition season and otherwise would have either been strongly considered for the final roster or make it outright. And that is the best sign of all.

It has taken General Manager Andrew Berry less than two years to almost totally Cinderella this franchise from one of the saddest to one of the strongest, making it extremely difficult for free agents to crash through.

That, in large part, is because every one of the GM's 15 draft selections the last two seasons landed on the first iteration of the 53-man roster, including eight in the 2021 class. Prejudicial? Of course. But that's also his prerogative.

"Roster decisions are always a combination between the front office and coaching staff making sure it's not just the most talented 53, but the right 53 to serve the different roles we need on offense, defense and the kicking teams throughout the season," Berry said. 

To that end, the squad, for the time being because roster massaging is quite the norm at this time of the season, is comprised of 25 men on offense, 25 on defense and three special teamers. That balance very well could change by as early as Thursday when waiver claims activity is taken into account.

There were very few surprises among the 28 casualties. Twenty-one were flat out waived; the contracts of four others were terminated; offensive linemen Greg Senat and Drew Forbes were placed on reserve/injured; and wide receiver Damion Davis was placed on reserve/suspended.

Among the surprises were wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge, defensive end Joe Jackson and linebacker Elijah Lee. Hodge's release was an obvious nod to the glut in the wide receivers room. Jackson was the best defensive end in the exhibitions and Lee was clearly the best linebacker.

As it stands now, the roster lists just three defensive ends -- Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney and Takkarist McKinley, the latter just now trying to get in shape after missing a huge chunk of training camp with personal issues. They need a fourth on the edge.

Seven linebackers are listed, but that is deceiving. It's actually five with Jacobs Phillips slated for IR with a torn biceps muscle and rookie Tony Fields II just now returning after missing all of training camp with a foot injury. He's also a candidate for IR.

Sticking with the defense, the secondary population of 10 breaks down to six cornerbacks and four safeties, eight of whom are healthy and ready to go. Corner Greedy Williams has trouble getting and then staying healthy. Ditto for safety Grant Delpit.

Perhaps the biggest surprise after the big roster purge from a positive standpoint overall is the seemingly-sudden emergence of defensive tackle Malik McDowell, who hasn't played a National Football League game since he was drafted by Seattle four years ago. He has been hampered by numerous off-the-field problems.

Odds on McDowell making it at the beginning of camp ranged anywhere from "are you kidding?" to "absolutely no chance." Two standout games in the last two weeks apparently sold Berry on wanting to see more. 

On offense, no big surprises outside of Hodge. But don't be surprised if Berry will on the lookout for a wideout to replace him. Breshad Perriman, who stood out for the Browns in 2018, was cut the other day by Detroit and is a possibility.

The 10-man offensive line room is fairly solid on the bench from a versatility standpoint. And head coach Kevin Stefanski is apparently satisfied with three tight ends unless, of course, one pops up on waivers he can't resist. 

And with the addition of rookie Demetric Felton, the running backs room might be the strongest and most dynamic this franchise has had since can't remember when.

Once everything clears from a roster standpoint, the 53-man roster for the season opener in Kansas City a week from Sunday very well will arguably be the strongest team to represent Cleveland in at least a generation.

Monday leftovers

Gonna get a little personal with the first item. Last May 1, I wrote the following piece summarizing the Browns selections in the National Football League college draft in downtown Cleveland.

"The final grade will be divided into two parts. The first two picks and the last six. They were so diametrically different.

"The first two selections without question were dynamite. I can't put enough plusses next to the A.

"Everything else is a disappointing fail. I wouldn't be surprised if one or two fail to make the final roster. Awarding a C- is being extremely generous.

"The finish wasn't nearly as strong as the start. Overall grade: C+."

Grading the draft is fun, but somewhat nonsensical because none of the players selected have played a game of professional football. Grading it accurately will not be known for at least a couple of seasons. 

But now that all but one of the eight young men chosen by General Manager Andrew Berry and his staff have displayed their talents on the pro level, even though they were meaningless exhibitions, I'm here now to correct (regrade?) the initial findings.

There is no question cornerback Greg Newsome II and linebacker/safety Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah were grand slams with the first two picks. Thus the A+++++++. It's that "disappointing fail" and subsequent C-that requires another look. Most notably the fifth and sixth rounds.

Two picks -- fifth-round safety Richard LeCounte III and sixth-round running back/wide receiver Demetric Felton -- have shown quickly they belong. Both have earned -- and are certain to get -- a lot of playing time this season.

Felton adds yet another dimension on offense. Makes no difference whether it's as a running back or receiver. He makes things happen. He reminds quite a bit of Duke Johnson Jr., who for four seasons was one of the few playmakers for the Browns in the lean years.

Both are 5-9, but Johnson, now a free agent, is about 20 pounds heavier. One thing is certain, though. Felton is not going to supplant Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt at running back nor Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry at receiver. 

But creative playcalling by head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt can take advantage of his unique qualities and skills and put him is certain sub packages that will get him as many as 15-20 snaps a game and make that sixth-round pick a steal.

LeCounte has taken advantage of injuries to Grant Delpit, Sheldrick Redwine and Ronnie Harrison Jr. to log 111 snaps in the three games, recording both of the club's interceptions. He overcomes his smallish size for a strong safety (5-11, 192 pounds) with a knack for being around the football. He owns the only two exhibition interceptions.

He also has shown a propensity for making solid tackles, a trait that was missing last season in the deep secondary. Even though Harrison is back, it looks as though LeCounte, who also has stood out on special teams, has earned a shot at being included in many of defensive coordinator Joe Woods' numerous packages.

As for the other four picks -- wide receiver Anthony Schwartz, offensive tackle James Hudson III, linebacker Tony Fields II and defensive tackle Tommy Togiai, the jury remains unconvinced. 

Schwartz made his debut in the Falcons victory Sunday night, catching one short pass and drawing a pass interference in 19 snaps. Hudson is raw. Makes no difference whether it's on the right or left side, although he looked better on the left. He appears to lumber rather than looking smooth. He's raw with lots of time to improve.

A foot injury has kept Fields under wraps throughout raining camp and the exhibitions. Grade him incomplete. And Togiai, whose forte at Ohio State was penetration, has found the NFL more challenging. 

So . . .  Because of Felton and LeCounte, change the grade for rounds 3-6 to a B- from a C-. And the overall grade becomes a straight B from a C+.

*     *     *

Could there be a second chance for Kyle Markway with the Browns? The tight end, who spent all of last season on the practice squad and was let go earlier this year, returned a few days ago after being released by the Los Angeles Rams. 

The club's tight ends corps has been reduced to just three with Stephen Carlson on injured reserve. It will be interesting to see if the club, which uses tight ends liberally in a Stefanski offense, chooses to stick with three or expand.

Markway and Jordan Franks stood out in the Falcons victory, combining for nine receptions on 14 targets and 99 of the club's 372 passing yards. Each displayed good hands and a willingness to block. Both are 6-4, but Markway outweighs Franks by about 25 pounds.

*     *     *

He probably won't make the final count, but if the Browns have trouble on the edge this season, keep an eye on Cameron Malveaux if he is placed on the practice squad. Cleveland is the third NFL stop for the 6-6, 265-pounder, who had half of the Browns' four sacks against Atlanta and hit the quarterback three times.

Last season, Malveaux came off the practice squad when COVID-19 struck down Myles Garrett and played well in weeks 11 and 12 in victories over Philadelphia and Jacksonville with four solo tackles and a forced fumble. 

*     *     *

If there is one area of some concern for Stefanski, red-zone ineptitude qualifies, at least in the exhibitions. The offense was four for 13 inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Granted Case Keenum and Kyle Lauletta were the quarterbacks for the most part, and the starting offensive line, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt were on the bench,  as well as the top receivers.

Still, when you get inside the other team's 10-yard line, good teams usually find a way to get into the end zone. Yes, even in the meaningless exhibitions. Establishing ownership at that end of the field can't be important enough.

*     *     *

Finally . . . If Malik McDowell doesn't make the final cut, there should be an investigation. The huge defensive tackle has played 44 snaps in the last two exhibitions after sitting out the opener and almost singlehandedly choked off the running game. In that limited time, he has racked up seven tackles, a sack and a half and three quarterback hits.  . . . The Browns outscored opponents, 59-36, in exhibitions. Of the 36 points the defense allowed, 26 came in the final quarter. Only10 points allowed in the first three quarters of each game. Not sure what that means, but it sure sounds impressive. 

Not bad at all

Kevin Stefanski either got very lucky Sunday night or the Browns' starting teams on both sides of the football are even better than advertised. Definitely the latter.

Ignoring those who believed he was nuts to play most of his starters in the meaningless final game of the exhibition season in Atlanta, the head coach gave those units two series each and luck had nothing to do with their success in the 19-10 victory.

Baker Mayfield and his buddies on offense were in mid-season form with two impressive drives even though Nick Chubb, Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. were spectators and Kareem Hunt played just one series.

The defense, with Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney and Denzel Ward enjoying the festivities from the bench, was sharp on its two possessions against the Falcons' second-string offense before taking the rest of the evening off.

With the exception of a couple of pass attempts batted down at the line of scrimmage, Mayfield was sharp, playing very much like the club's offensive linchpin as the Browns qualified for the National Football League playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Working behind an offensive line missing only center JC Tretter, he was in firm control, spreading the ball around, completing six of 10 passes for 113 yards and a 22-yard touchdown connection with KhaDarel Hodge on a beautifully executed misdirection play on the second series.

The opening series ran out of steam at the Falcons 9 as Stefanski twice challenged his offense to score touchdowns deep in the red zone and failed both times on fourth down. If you are looking for any negatives in this one, that would be it, which gives you some idea of just how good this offense is.

Mayfield failed to hook up with Austin Hooper on the first series and Case Keenum in the second quarter  missed D'Ernest Johnson after driving 66 yards to the Atlanta 3. Regular season and two field goals, not gambles, is the correct move. In exhibitions, what does Stefanski have to lose? Rhetorical question.

Once the starters retired for the evening, the offense rang up an additional 285 yards to finish with 443 (372 passing with Mayfield, Keenum and Kyle Lauletta), ran 75 total plays and controlled the football for an absurd 35 minutes as the defense limited Atlanta to just 12 first downs (the Browns booked 26).

The offense burped a couple of times in the second half when Lauletta, who probably will wind up on the practice squad, threw a couple of bad interceptions on consecutive possessions. He got lucky on the first when tight end Jordan Franks chased down Atlanta linebacker Kobe Jones after a 40-yard return and caused a fumble, which was recovered by Cleveland guard Colby Gossett.

Three plays later, Dwayne Johnson Jr. picked him off again. He wasn't so lucky this time, the Falcons converting the turnover  into their only touchdown of the night seven plays later, trimming the margin to 13-10.

Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith, perhaps taking a cue from Stefanski, gambled near midfield on fourth down with less than six minutes left in regulation and suffered the same fate. Defensive end Cameron Malveaux, easily the best Cleveland defensive lineman of the game, registered bis second sack of the contest, dropping quarterback Josh Rosen for an eight-yard loss.

Lauletta redeemed himself eight plays and 41 yards later with a 10-yard strike to Damion Davis with two minutes left. Chase McLaughlin who barely missed a 56-yard field-goal attempt earlier, was wide right on the extra point. He'll hear about that. 

Bottom line here is Stefanski knew exactly what he was doing. Was he really putting Mayfield in harm's way? Not really. The quarterback's uniform was spotlessly clean when he exited. And he showed he can play a mean air guitar after the Hodge touchdown.

When the games take on a much more important meaning beginning Sept. 12 in Kansas City, Sunday night's performance by the starters on either side of the football -- minus a few key players on both sides -- sure looked like a portent of things to come. Good things, that is.

Crystal ball revisited

Time to revisit the time machine one last time with the Browns' final roster cuts right around the corner with a few questions answered with regard to the shape of the roster.

For the most part, the predictions about a month ago haven't changed that much with injuries being the main factor in finalizing the list.

This will not be the roster, however, when the club opens the regular season in Kansas City against the Chiefs on Sept. 12. Even after the 53-man list is initially submitted, it probably will be massaged liberally depending on players the other 31 teams are jettisoning.

For the most part, subsequent moves will involve mostly the bottom roughly 25% of the roster with the starting offense pretty much the same as last season and the heavily-revamped defense fielding as many as nine new starters.

Many of the positional categories are unchanged from the last prediction piece. The status of some players have been moved around. But by and large the core of the team has not changed. The thoughts remarks have been abbreviated for the purpose of updating.

As with the last iteration of this exercise, let's start with an easy one.

                    OFFENSE

Quarterbacks (3) -- Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum, Kyle Lauletta

Starter: Mayfield. Off the bench: Keenum. Practice squad: Lauletta

Thoughts -- No change here.

Running backs (6) -- Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D'Ernest Johnson, Demetric Felton, John Kelly, Tre Harbison

Starters: Chubb, Hunt. Off the bench: Johnson, Felton. See ya: Kelly, Harbison

Thoughts -- No changes here. Kelly has run well in the exhibitions, but is a victim of too much talent at the position.. 

Fullbacks (2) -- Andy Janovich, Johnny Stanton

Starter: Janovich. Practice squad: Stanton 

Thoughts -- No change here, although consideration was given to Stanton playing some H-back.

Wide receivers (11) -- Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr., Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Anthony Schwartz, J'Marcus Bradley, Davion Davis, JoJo Natson, Ryan Switzer, Alexander Hollins

Then: Starters: Landry, Beckham. Off the bench: Higgins, Hodge, Peoples-Jones, Schwartz. Practice squad: Switzer, Bradley, Davis. See ya: Natson, Hollins

Now: Starters: Landry, Beckham. Off the bench: Higgins, Peoples-Jones, Schwartz. Practice squad: Switzer (IR), Bradley, Davis. See ya: Hodge, Natson, Hollins

Thoughts -- Two changes here. Hate to see Hodge go, but adding Schwartz unfortunately triggers the move. Hope to get Hodge through waivers and added to the practice squad. I also I think the front office might swap out Higgins for Natson. Just a feeling. Natson is a one-trick pony. Davis is another victim of a lot of talent in the room.

Tight ends (6)  -- Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant, David Njoku, Stephen Carlson, Jordan Franks, Connor Davis

Then: Starters: Hooper, Bryant. Off the bench: Njoku. Practice squad: Carlson. See ya: Franks, Davis

Now: Starters: Hooper, Njoku. Off the bench: Bryant. Practice squad: Franks.  See ya: Latecomer Kyle Markway

Thoughts -- Njoku's strong camp brings Bryant off the bench. Carlson and Davis on IR for the season.

Centers (3) -- JC Tretter, Nick Harris, Blake Hance

Starter: Tretter. Off the bench: Harris, Hance

Thoughts -- No change here.

Guards (7) -- Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Drew Forbes, Michael Dunn, Colby Gossett, Cordel Iwuagwu, Javon Patterson

Starters: Bitonio, Teller. Off the bench: Dunn. Practice squad: Forbes. See ya: Gossett, Iwuagwu, Patterson

Thoughts -- No changes here.

Tackles 6) -- Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills Jr., Chris Hubbard, Alex Taylor, Greg Senat, James Hudson. Practice squad: Senat, Taylor.

Thoughts -- Taylor waived injured. Otherwise, no changes.

                    DEFENSE

Ends (7) -- Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney, Takkarist McKinley, Joe Jackson, Cameron Malveaux, Porter Gustin, Romeo McKnight

Starters: Garrett, Clowney. Off the bench: McKinley, Jackson. Practice squad: Gustin, Malveaux.  See ya: McKnight 

Thoughts -- No changes here. McKnight already gone.

Tackles (8) -- Andrew Billings, Malik Jackson, Jordan Elliott, Sheldon Day, Marvin Wilson, Tommy Togiai, Malik McDowell, Damion Square

Then: Starters: Billings, Jackson. Off the bench: Elliott, Togiai. Practice squad: Wilson, See ya: McDowell, Square, Day

Now: Starters: Billings, Jackson. Off the bench: Day, McDowell, Togiai. Practice squad: Wilson, Elliott. See ya: Square

Thoughts -- Moving Day and, with fingers crossed, McDowell, who have been strong in the exhibitions, to the regular squad and dropping Elliott to the practice squad with Wilson.

Linebackers (9) -- Anthony Walker, Mack Wilson, Jacob Phillips, Sione Takitaki, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Malcolm Smith, Curtis Weaver, Tony Fields II, Elijah Lee

Then: Starters: Walker, Owusu-Koramoah. Off the bench: Phillips, Takitaki, Wilson. Practice squad: Fields, Weaver, Lee. See ya: Smith

Now: Starters: Walker, Owusu-Koramoah. Off the bench: Smith, Takitaki, Wilson. Practice squad: Fields, Weaver, Lee 

Thoughts -- Phillips on IR; moving the wizened Smith from see-ya status all the way up to off the bench.

Cornerbacks (10) -- Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams, Greg Newsome II, Troy Hill, M. J. Stewart Jr., Robert Jackson, Brian Allen, A. J. Green, Emmanuel Rugamba, Thomas Kiondre

Then: Starters: Ward, Newsome, Hill. Off the bench: Williams, Stewart, Jackson. Practice squad: Green, Allen. See ya: Rugamba, Kiondre

Now: Starters: Ward, Newsome, Hill. Off the bench: Williams, Stewart, Green.  Practice squad: Allen. See ya: Rugamba, Kiondre

Thoughts -- Moving Green up from the practice squad and removing Jackson, who has been waived already with Kiondre.

Safeties (8) -- John Johnson III, Ronnie Harrison Jr., Grant Delpit, Sheldrick Redwine, Richard LeCounte III, Montrel Meander, Elijah Benton, Javonte Moffatt

Then: Starters: Johnson, Harrison, Delpit. Off the bench: LeCounte, Redwine. See ya: Benton, Moffatt, Meander

Now: Starters: Johnson, Harrison, LeCounte. Off the bench: Delpit, Redwine. See ya: Benton, Moffatt, Meander (IR) 

Thoughts -- Moving LeCounte off the bench to starting status and eventually placing Delpit on IR until  he's completely healthy.                 

                SPECIALISTS

Placekicker (2) -- Cody Parkey, Chase McLaughlin

Then: Starter: McLaughlin. See ya: Parkey

Now: McLaughlin. Parkey waived injured.

Punter -- Jamie Gillan. 

Long snapper -- Charley Hughlett

Thoughts -- No other changes pending new developments in the kicking department.

Final tally: Offense, 25 players; defense, 25 players; specialists, 3

Was Stefanski kidding?

Maybe it was a wise crack by Kevin Stefanski at his post-practice gaggle with reporters as he announced Friday that Baker Mayfield and "select starters" would see their first action of the season Sunday night in the Browns' nationally-televised (NBC) exhibition finale in Atlanta. 

Then again, maybe it wasn't.

Asked if the surprising move meant the Cleveland offense would also include the entire starting line in the huddle to make certain Mayfield receives strong protection, the head coach cracked wise. "You guys have to tune in Sunday night (to find out)," the usually bland Stefanski said slyly. "NBC wants me to keep it a secret."

An opportunity for conspiracy theorists to jump all over that seemingly flippant remark. Did the Peacock network, sensing the Browns and Falcons would sit their starting quarterbacks in a meaningless game, suggest it would be a good idea for Mayfield and Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to at least start?

Can't see NBC hyping Case Keenum of the Browns and Falcons rookie quarterback Feleipe Franks leading up the game and expect many viewers. Mayfield and Ryan haven't taken a snap in the first two exhibitions and no word yet out of Atlanta as to Ryan's status for the game

But if Mayfield and Ryan indeed do start, it would be within reason to assume Stefanski wasn't kidding about NBC. Gotta give Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth something to talk about rather than fumbling around to find something nice to say about players who probably won't make the final roster.

When asked to be more specific about his "select starters," Stefanski did not bite. "I"m not going to go through who's playing and who's not," he said and moved on.

But you can be certain that as long as he's in there, Mayfield will operate, barring injury, behind Jedrick Wills Jr,, Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Wyatt Teller and Jack Conklin along the offensive line with D"Ernest Johnson, John Kelly and Demetric Felton carrying the infantry load.

The guess here is Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry will watch from the bench with Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge, JoJo Natson, J'Marcus Bradley and rookie Anthony Schwartz (until he aggravates his pulled hamstring) representing the wide receivers room. Tight ends getting work will be Harrison Bryant, Jordan Franks and maybe David Njoku for a series or two.

On defense, middle linebacker Anthony Walker, free safety John Johnson III, strong safety Ronnie Harrison Jr., cornerback Denzel Ward, defensive tackle Malik Jackson and edge rusher Takkarist McKinley probably will see the field for first time this season before the bench takes over.

While Stefanski did not come right out and call it a rehearsal game for the regular season, that is exactly what it is. He obviously didn't want to begin the season in Kansas City with an offense shaking off rust from relative inactivity outside of training camp.

A gamble? Sure, but you can also bet the playcalling for Mayfield will be as vanilla as possible with a significant number of high percentage passes in the package. He almost certainly will be instructed  to "don't' do anything stupid." Stefanski wants to exit this one with no regrets.

(Yep, blown to smithereens. The prediction, that is.) 

Midweek thoughts

Call it a hunch. A stab in the dark. A moment that woke me at 3 o'clock one morning. 

It's a question that will finally be answered by Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski Friday. I'm here to beat him to the punch.

Here we are with just one exhibition game left before the 2021 National Football League season begins in earnest and Stefanski has basically excused the starters on both sides of the football from entering the playing field.

Second-, third- and fourth stringers have won the first two games over Jacksonville and the New York Giants. With an opportunity to finish unbeaten in the meaningless exhibition season for the first time since 2017 -- the Browns were  4-0 that year, then went on to lose the next 16 games -- does Stefanski finally unleash his regulars and provide momentum for the regular season?

No, he does not. The explosiveness of the Cleveland offense, now in its second season under Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, allows the head coach to feel confident about what lies ahead, especially with the return of Odell Beckham Jr.

He doesn't need to see it first hand now in order to be convinced that keeping it under wraps is the wisest move until the money games arrive.

And although the defense will feature as many as eight or nine new faces, it is a considerably more talented unit than last season's crew, which imploded on a regular basis. If Stefanski wanted to see if it would become cohesive, he would have done so by now.

A 17-game season awaits. No need to expose your most valuable assets until you have to. Injuries, of course, are a big part of this collision sport. This training camp has had more than its share, mostly of the soft-tissue variety. 

That won't deter Stefanski. I think he runs out his backups -- he still has an 80-man roster with which to work -- one more time against the Falcons before making the gigantic trim to the final 53-man squad. Even then, there probably will be some roster juggling with regard to players not quite ready physically.

He's seen enough and will make it official Friday. You'll see Mayfield, Chubb, Hunt, the terrific wide receivers corps, the solid line on offense, and Garrett, Clowney, Jackson, Ward. Owusu-Koramoah, Hill, Johnson and Harrison on defense soon enough. You've waited this along. A little while longer shouldn't be a problem.

Now watch Stefanski go out Friday and blow that hunch, stab and 3 a.m. to smithereens.

*      *      *

Jadeveon Clowney has rather interesting thoughts about members of opposing offensive lines, in particular the two men who flank the center. The defensive end shared them with the media Thursday.

Clowney, whose ability to stop the run far exceeds his ability to rush and sack opposing quarterbacks, occasionally will move inside to tackle in certain sub packages. As an end, he tangles with opposing tackles. Inside, he encounters guards. He doesn't think highly of guards.

"We love that matchup," he said. "We feel they're the unathletic guys. That guard position, they're just physical and maulers, not real athletes down there. We try to get in there and create those matchups for certain guys and hopefully we get some wins."

Wonder what he thinks of Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, the two guys he faces in practice when he lines up at tackle. I wouldn't call them unathletic, not after watching them pull and trap, pull and lead and rank up there with the best pass-protecting guards in the league.

Clowney is clearly painting a picture with a broad brush. Most of the strong running teams around the NFL have guards who are decidedly the antithesis of unathletic.

*      *      *

Quick thoughts . . . Don't know why, but I get the feeling wide receiver Rashard Higgins might be among the roster cuts next Tuesday. It's one of those hope-I'm-wrong moments based strictly on a feeling. He's too valuable to lose. . . . If he makes the final 53, Johnny Stanton IV can thank his versatility (fullback, tight end). It'll be close between Stanton and tight end Jordan Franks. . . .  Cutting Joe Jackson in favor of Porter Gustin at defensive end is also a mistake. . . . Even though Takkarist McKinley has missed a huge chunk of training camp time with what the club called a personal problem, he'll make the cut. It's unfortunate because it deprives someone more deserving of the move up. . . . Rooting for Malik McDowell (based on just one game)  to be one of the four defensive tackles. That's because he looked so good against the Giants, even though it was against their scrubs.

Monday leftovers

It is now certain that one of the most important roster decisions Andrew Berry will make in the next few weeks involves a parade of candidates.

The Browns general manager is now tasked with finding a placekicker after Cody Parkey yanked a quadricep muscle sometime Sunday in the exhibition victory over the New York Giants and was placed on injured reserve.

Chase McLaughlin, with whom Parkey was dueling in training camp, is still around, but you can bet he won't be lonesome for long. The young National Football League journeyman -- the Browns are his eighth team since 2019 --  will soon have company.

This is a position that has gained in importance incrementally since the club's offense has graduated to dangerous status. Great teams, as a rule, have great kickers, or at least kickers who can make a difference in close games. In other words . . . clutch.

McLaughlin, who booted a 49-yard field goal that would have been good from 60 in the Giants' victory, does not fit that profile. He has missed six of 28 attempted field goals in his career, five of them between 40 and 49 yards. Consistency is not his calling card.

The Browns need a stone-cold kicker with icy veins you know, not hope, you know can be counted on to deliver in the clutch. Automatic Phil Dawson was such a kicker for the Browns for all those barren seasons. Unfortunately, he didn't get much help from the offense.

The need for this team to secure the services of such a kicker cannot be understated. That's why it is incumbent on Berry and his staff to scour as never before to bring in kickers off the street, if need be, to make certain this element of the team is not left wanting. 

Surely there are many placekickers lurking out there in the vast landscape of free agency who can come in at virtually a moment's notice in an effort to further their NFL careers. Berry & Co. need to find them with the regular season less than three weeks away.

Who knows? Maybe McLaughlin eventually turns out to be the man. Now that Parkey has been removed from the picture, he nevertheless needs to be challenged even more. 

*      *      *

It has become more than obvious that Greedy Williams cannot stay healthy. The cornerback is an injury waiting to happen at any time. All of which means he is becoming worthless as he attempts to resume his career. Playing football doesn't seem to agree with his body.

The 2019 second-round draft choice did bank 12 games in his rookie season after missing the first four with hamstring issues. A nerve problem in his neck and shoulder area shelved him the entire 2020 season. 

He fought his way back to the point where the club hoped he could play this season, but hamstring problems reappeared for a short time in training camp. He got the green light in the Giants exhibition, but exited after just 10 snaps with a groin injury.

It reminded me of the catchphrase the late Gilda Radnor used to say on Saturday Night Live as the character Roseann Rosannadanna when things seemingly went wrong.. "It's always something," she would say. 

Yep, that's Williams. If it's not one thing, it's another. When the groin heals, and there is no guarantee it will heal quickly, what's next? A knee? An elbow? A concussion? As it stands now, rookie Greg Newsome II has won the cornerback job opposite Denzel Ward almost by default. 

It will be interesting to see how patient the Browns are with Williams' visits to the dressing room to check out the latest problem. In order to be productive, he needs to steer clear of the dressing room and contribute. Whether that happens is the big question.

*      *      *

It is virtually certain Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JOK) will be in the starting lineup in the season opener at Kansas City. The rookie linebacker, who flashed brilliantly in the opening exhibition in Jacksonville, started the Giants game, but was pulled after14 snaps.

Now that Jacob Phillips is through for the season (torn biceps) and Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki are nursing lesser injuries, JOK is almost a lock to start at weakside linebacker with occasional trips to the slot in certain packages to cover the slot receiver.

Elijah Lee picked up the slack with a team-leading nine tackles (only four solo), along with veteran Malcolm Smith and Willie Harvey Jr., each booking six tackles. Lee and cornerback Brian Allen combined on a key stop on a two-point attempt by the Giants.

*      *      *

Based on his performance against the Giants, keep an eye on defensive tackle Malik McDowell. Off-the-field baggage has kept him from playing in the NFL until now. He has never played in the league after Seattle drafted him in 2017.

The Browns signed him as a free agent earlier this year. He did not play in the opening exhibition, but made up for it with a five-tackle, one-sack, two-quarterback-hits performance against New York and was a general fecal disturber against the Giants' running game.

Would like to see more of the former Michigan State Spartan in the final exhibition in Atlanta on national television Sunday night. The Browns could use all the help they can get at the defense's weakest area.

*      *      *

Finally . . . The Browns have an embarrassment of riches at running back. John Kelly ran like Leroy Kelly against the Giants with 58 yards in nine carries and a tackle-busting 21-yard run with a flat pass, but he bucks long odds to make the final 53-man roster. D'Ernest Johnson most likely will be Nick Chubb's relief on occasion. . . . Fullback Johnny Stanton IV sent a message to the coaching staff while displaying his versatility. The former quarterback played a little tight end, strictly blocking, and caught two passes for 33 yards. "Looking for a fourth tight end?" he seemed to say. "Here I am." Versatility like that could land him on the final roster. . . . Donovan Peoples-Jones  caught the only pass directed his way early in the game, but emerged with a highlight grab. Case Keenum delivered the pass late, forcing the wide receiver to reach back nearly three or four yards to haul it in one-handed for a 13-yard pickup. . . . Keenum also delivered an absolute dime to KhaDarel Hodge for the club's first touchdown on the opening drive, a seven-yard strike deep in the end zone corner that only Hodge could catch.

Wherefore art thou, starters

Unless he already knows and isn't willing to share it just yet, it will be very interesting to see if Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski intends to play the entire exhibition season with his starting lineups as spectators.

After watching his roster's second-, third- and, on occasion, fourth-stringers rack up a 17-13 victory over the visiting New York Giants Sunday afternoon and remain unbeaten after the first two meaningless games, one wonders whether the exhibition finale down in Atlanta might see more of the same.

It would be most unusual if Stefanski uses the regular-season opener Sept. 12 in Kansas City to debut his very talented regulars, whose only work thus far has been in training camp in Berea. Even then, it has been against teammates.

There is an entirely different rhythm and pace to the regular season. Everything happens faster, quicker, more suddenly than in the preseason, especially this season with the absence of a fourth exhibition, which forced a fewNational Football League coaches to at least think about resting starters in all three games.

Common sense, however, would dictate giving Baker Mayfield and his merry men at least a few series against the Falcons just to get them mentally, emotionally and physically prepared to play against men wearing different uniforms. Same with Myles Garrett and his merry men on the opposite side of the ball.

To throw them into the 17-game cauldron called the regular season without exhibition work, especially against arguably the best team in the American Football Conference on the road, is a gamble, particularly on offense where timing is of the utmost importance.

Live action, even in exhibitions, is important just to experience the feel and pace of the game. You don't get that in training camp, where the  biggest goal is remaining healthy. At some point, the starters have to feel what it's like to face someone other than teammates.

Yes, it's important to note construction of roughly a third of the roster is determined in the exhibition season, fewer this year because the Browns are loaded with talent on both sides of the football with as many as 30 players slated to see the majority of the reps and another 10 or so good enough to step right in.

Most of the final choices to fill out the 53-man roster will be selected according to how valuable they are on special teams. Few regulars play on the various teams

The starters just can't sit out the entire preseason, then flip a switch, step in right there against a team like the Chiefs, who are aiming for their third straight Super Bowl appearance, and be competitive. This team doesn't team have the kind of talent to overcome something like that.

Also bear in mind this iteration of the franchise is notorious for losing regular-season openers, having won just one in the first 22 seasons since the NFL allowed them to return in 1999. Unless, that is,  you consider that tie with Pittsburgh a few years ago a moral victory.

Asked after the game whether the starters will play in Atlanta and, if so, how much, Stefanski demurred. "I will do that next week," he said.

Sunday's victory over the Giants produced an offensive performance that could be labeled spotty at best, in part because the backups struggled against a better defense than they faced in the easy victory last week in Jacksonville.

The defense, which produced zero sacks and zero quarterback hits in the first three quarters, actually made Giants backup quarterback journeyman Mike Glennon and rookie Brian Lewerke look decent. The defensive line finally found some pressure in the final quarter with a pair or sacks.

They reserved their best effort after the Giants scored their second touchdown midway through the final quarter and attempted a two-point conversion. After a pass inference penalty negated the first attempt, which failed, the Giants tried to take the lead with a running play from 18 inches.

After defensive tackle Malik McDowell forced running back Gary Brightwell to bounce the play outside, cornerback Brian Allen and linebacker Elijah Lee closed in and stuffed him well short of the goal line.

That unit also caused the Giants to punt on six of their nine possessions, including four in a row spanning the second and third quarters. There's something to be said for that even though the lack of a pass rush was notable against New York's backups. 

The teams traded first-quarter touchdowns on long drives, Case Keenum connecting with wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge on a seven-yard score, easily his best throw of the day to the tightly covered Hodge. He reserved his worst throw for the next possession.

Keenum, who piloted the first three series, needed 10 plays and 65 yards to get the Browns to third-and-six at the Giants' 10 early in the second quarter. He saw tight end Jordan Franks in the end zone on play 11. He somehow didn't see Giants cornerback Quincy Williams, who was standing directly in front of Franks, and threw the ball right to him.

"Did not like that interception down there in the red zone," Stefanski said. "We can't do that and he should not do that. He knows that."

Kyle Lauletta, who looked good against the Jaguars, took over at quarterback late in the first half and looked just so-so against the Giants, but took advantage of a short field to break the tie early in the third quarter.

A Jamie Gillan punt pinned the Giants deep in their territory. The subsequent punt after a three-and-out went out of bounds at the Cleveland 44. Four well-executed plays and 56 yards later, running back John Kelly scooted five yards for the score.

Lauletta opened the possession with two passes to fullback Johnny Stanton that ate up 33 yards. Kelly took care of the rest with gallops of 18 and the final five yards.

Kelly, who put up 58 yards on only nine carries, gathered in a short checkdown pass later in the game and broke four tackles en route to a 21-yard gain that led to a 49-yard Chase McLaughlin field goal. 

Now it's on to Atlanta and the guessing game with regard to the whether the starters play. 

Hurtin' hammies

Full disclosure . . . I am not a doctor. I don't play one on the Internet. And I am not about to start. But I am going to address a medical issue that has afflicted the Browns for the last month or so.

Most of us are aware of what hamstrings are in the human body. They are a group of muscles -- four to be exact -- located in the back of the thigh that cross at the hip and knee. Straining or tearing them can be sore at best, painful at worst.

To pull -- or strain -- them usually results in an athlete missing valuable time to ply his craft. (So do groin muscles, but that's another story.) Such is the case with the Browns, 10 of whom are currently nursing some degree of hamstring woes.

Most of them are tethered to the sideline and unavailable for duty in exhibition games. That includes numerous starters and valuable contributors to the cause off the bench. And there seems to be no indication how long they remain unavailable.

Balky hamstrings do not heal overnight. Grade one and grade two strains-- which are considered moderate -- could take anywhere from three to eight weeks to heal with therapy. Grade three? Forget it. That could mean losing as much as half a season, perhaps more. A tear brings next season into focus.

With two exhibitions left, including Sunday afternoon's get together with the New York Giants at home, there is a very good chance most -- if not all -- of those 10 Browns might not play until the season opener in Kansas City on Sept. 12.

It is entirely possible many of them will play at that point, but also risk reaggravating the existing problem. And the fact hamstring muscle injuries tend to linger and do not heal in a short period of time pose a threat to quality of performance. 

Because the quadricep muscles, located in the front part of the thigh, and hammies are so necessary in helping athletes play the game at a high level, it places greater emphasis on keeping them healthy. 

It therefore is incumbent, it would appear from a layman's perspective, for the Browns to be extra cautious and make certain soft-tissue injuries such as these do not threaten to wreck what many expect to be a great season.

That, I would think, means it is safer to give the affected muscle group as much limited activity as possible until it is determined by a team physician to issue the green light. 

Some players have already indicated that if the regular season were to begin now, they would be able to play. You'd think they know their body well enough to make that choice. It also could be a testosterone approach to playing the game.

The Browns' mantra is to be "smart, tough and accountable." The big question with the regular season a little more than two weeks away is whether it is "smart" to play hurt in the first game of the season? And does it make you "tough" to do so if it hinders your ability to be "accountable"?

Exhibition thoughts . . . 

You know it's going to be a good season for the Browns when the biggest conundrum is whether Demetric Felton, a sixth-round pick at the last college football draft, is a running back or a wide receiver.

Felton, who began his collegiate career at UCLA as a 5-9, 190-pound wide receiver, switched to running back with the Bruins and became an all-purpose performer his junior season before concentrating on the ground game as a senior.

His versatility obviously caught the attention of Browns General Manager Andrew Berry, but no one knew exactly how he would fit into head coach Kevin Stefanski's offensive scheme. Coming off an abbreviated senior season averaging 111 yards a game on the ground and eight total touchdowns suggested running back.

That changed in a hurry when Felton began making his presence known in training camp that he was still pretty good at catching the football. And 25 snaps at wide receiver, mostly in the slot, in the 23-13 victory in the exhibition opener Saturday night in Jacksonville cinched the verdict. Or did it?

Felton was targeted a team-high six times and caught four for 44 yards. But Stefanski, when pressed, indicated there was a chance the rookie, who displayed the playmaking capabilities of former Browns running back Duke Johnson Jr., would get some reps at running back before the regular season begins.

The Browns obviously have an embarrassment of riches in the running backs room with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt with D'Ernest Johnson playing well enough to start with a few other teams. So where does Felton fit in?

Stefanski is just curious enough to run that possibility up his flagpole and find out. And then we will finally be able to answer the question: Running back or wide receiver? The guess here is both with a strong lean toward receiver. The versatility angle will more than justify his selection so late in the lottery.

*     *     *

Felton making the 53-man roster impacts the makeup of the wide receivers room. Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. will start with Donovan Peoples-Jones all but locking up the No. 3 role with a terrific camp. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Baker Mayfield's soul mate Rashard Higgins will be No. 4.

That leaves room for only one more receiver with the understanding Felton's versatility enables him to fit just about anywhere in Stefanski's offense. Candidates for the last slot are KhaDarel Hodge and rookie speedster Anthony Schwartz.

Hodge was a reliable, but seldom-targeted performer last season, but he is also highly regarded as a special teams player. He  caught only 11 passes last season (17 targets), but every one gained a first down, a statistic that should not be ignored.

Schwartz, meanwhile, can't stay healthy. Hamstring problems have sidelined the world class sprinter. And hammies,, like groin pulls,  have a tendency to linger. A solution if the healing process carries into the regular season is designating Schwartz for the injured reserve/return list.

*     *     *

The game plan for the Jaguars victory was so plain, so simple, so vanilla, the Browns did not use motion for any of their 71 plays. No motion to deceive or confuse the defense. Everything was as basic as basic could be.

It will be interesting to see if Stefanski adds a wrinkle or two in the offense in Sunday's exhibition at home against the New York Giants. With only three exhibition games this year, he's got to unveil something other than the basics by the time the real games are played.

*     *     *

It might take all three exhibitions to determine who wins the placekicking competition. Incumbent Cody Parkey was perfect, sort of, on his two field-goal attempts. But his 48-yarder that gave the Browns a 16-0 lead early in the third quarter doinked off the left upright and sneaked over the crossbar. Chase McLaughlin converted both extra points and connected on a 37-yard field goal on the opening drive. 

That Parkey never attempted a 50-yard field last season lingers in my mind. This very good offensive football team needs a kicker with a strong and accurate leg. No longer should drives stall at, say, the opponent's 35-yard or farther out and Jamie Gillan and the punt team trot out. That's got to stop.

I'm surprised the smart Browns front office has scoured the vast National Football League landscape and the best they can come with are two journeymen in Parkey and McLaughlin.  

*     *     *

The news that Stephen Carlson is through for the season is a big blow. The Browns still have three good tight ends in Austin Hooper, David Njoku and Harrison Bryant, though, after Carlson was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.

The Browns have an option to keep (backups) Jordan Franks or Connor Davis or choose to fill the roster at another position. The latter seems like the likely move because the club doesn't use a three tight end look often enough to keep a fourth.

*     *     *

What made Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah's performance Saturday night semi-remarkable was that once he entered the game midway through the second quarter, he was in every play thereafter. In addition to the 47 snaps he took on defense, he also booked 15 special teams plays.

Of the 47 plays on defense, he lined up in the box 35 times. That's the kind of versatility fans can look forward to this season. It could wind up with opposing offensive coordinators constantly playing a game entitled "Where's JOK?"

*     *     *

No need to worry about the red-zone woes that plagued the offense in the first half of the Jacksonville victory. The likelihood of that happening during the regular season would be rare, not with the likes of Chubb, Hunt and the solid receivers corps.