3 Reasons Browns Improve Record by 3 Wins

The Cleveland Browns need to improve three wins from last year's finish to achieve a 10-7 record, which should be enough for them to get back to the postseason. There are three good reasons why the team should be three wins better this season.

After a disappointing 7-10 finish in no small part due to losing winnable games, the Cleveland Browns need to find a way to win at least three more games this year to guarantee themselves a spot in the playoffs. Three major changes this offseason should make that an attainable goal, putting the Browns in position to return to the postseason for the first time since 2020.

Even with an 11-game suspension for quarterback Deshaun Watson and a fatally flawed defense, the Browns were capable of finishing with a winning record in 2022 even if they fell short of the postseason. Simply avoiding those letdowns would go a long way in assuring improvement in the standings this year, but the Browns improved in key areas this offseason.

1. Deshaun Watson and Elijah Moore

In a year when they traded for Amari Cooper and was had Jacoby Brissett play quarterback for 11 games, the Browns offense was still carrying the team. The Browns have only added to that side of the ball. While it's fair to question if Deshaun Watson is able to reach the level he played at 2020, he only needs to be average to have the Browns in a good spot.

Anything above average, the level Brissett played last season, means the Browns will be better on that side of the ball. While Brissett made his share of plays with his legs, he's not the threat that Watson has been throughout his career.

The Browns with Watson put defenses in conflict. If teams want to load up the box to stop the run from both Chubb and Watson, they risk getting beat deep by an array of receiving threats. Play two high safeties to keep the passing game in front of them and Watson can pick up his share of first downs when defenses abandon the middle of the field.

That's not including Elijah Moore, who was acquired in the offseason. In his coaching history with the Minnesota Vikings, their offense always had a player that could line up all over the place and create instant offense; notably Percy Harvin and Cordarrelle Patterson.

Since taking over as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Stefanski has been seeking that type of weapon for his offense. Even last year, part of the reason the Browns signed Jakeem Grant Sr. was to use him as a package player on offense. They've tried a handful of these space players during his tenure with underwhelming returns.

Elijah Moore has shown he can do it all in that role, which is why they pounced at the opportunity to trade for him. It's everything that Moore has ever wanted. His work ethic and passion for the game only to be ignored when he was a member of the New York Jets ate him up and occasionally resulted in butting heads within the organization.

Now, Moore is constantly in position to make plays in the same way he did when he played at Ole Miss under Lane Kiffin. Line him up anywhere, including the backfield to create mismatches and get him the ball with room to run.

Every week defenses now have to prepare for Moore and all the different ways the Browns can utilize him on offense. They have have do that while still finding a way to take away Cooper, David Njoku and Donovan Peoples-Jones in the passing game with the best running back in football waiting in the backfield.

A missed assignment or aligning improperly can create an opportunity to create an explosive play to any of their respective weapons.

The Browns offense in 2020 thrived when then quarterback Baker Mayfield just threw the ball to the open guy. At its best, that offense included Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins and KhaDarel Hodge at wide receiver. The trio of Cooper, Moore and DPJ are a significant upgrade and Watson should be better than Mayfield that season.

2. Defensive Line

After hoarding their assets in the form of cap space and picks last year as the team knew Deshaun Watson was going to receive a lengthy suspension, the Browns have put together one of the stronger defensive lines in the league.

The Browns brought in six players this offseason to improve this unit and the two holdovers not named Myles Garrett will attempt to contribute in smaller roles.

Myles Garrett proved to be one of the best defensive ends in the league last year with no meaningful help. Now, he is going to be rushing the passer with Za'Darius Smith, Ogbonnia Okoronwko and Maurice Hurst. That's a terrifying prospect for protection schemes that would send two and sometimes three blockers just to contain Garrett in the past.

Garrett has a chance to be the first player since Reggie White to record 16+ sacks in three straight seasons. The Browns defense is built to play against the pass and their current defense could enable Garrett to surpass 20 sacks this season.

That threat incentivizes teams to run the ball in an effort stay on schedule to keep the Browns defense honest. Being in second or third-and-long situations allows the Browns to pin their ears back and attack the quarterback.

2nd or 3rd-and-medium forces the Browns to be more honest in stopping the run and potentially slowing down their pass rush. 

This year, the Browns have an answer. Dalvin Tomlinson, Shelby Harris and Alex Wright will be tasked with primarily stopping the run. They have the ability to control the line of scrimmage and protect the Browns linebackers, which allows them to fly around and attack downhill to make tackles on ball carriers.

In addition to unlocking the linebackers, this defensive line should reduce the burden on the team's defensive backs to play the run, allowing them to be more focused on the pass. If the pass rush operates as advertised, they won't have to cover as long and be able to be more aggressive in making plays on the ball, which could result in an uptick of turnovers.

There have been any number of teams that have been able to make the playoffs almost entirely on the strength of their line play. The offensive line has been one of the better groups in the league for several years and enabled them to close out games with their running game. Now, the Browns have a defensive front that can close with their pass rush.

Any and all talk regarding matchups between the Browns and their opponents this season starts with one simple question: Can they protect their quarterback from this group?

3. Coaching

The most consequential improvements the Browns have made were to their roster, but new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and special teams coach Bubba Ventrone have a proven track record for success. The Browns have better Jimmys and Joes, but equipping them with better X's and O's should only help this team.

The Browns offensive staff is rock solid and now the other two units are trying to close the gap.

Schwartz knows exactly who he is, what he wants and the demands he put both on players and his assistants coaches. That consistency is important for a defense that added 13 new players to the active roster in the offseason.

Schwartz keeps it simple in the coverages he calls, allowing defensive backs to think less and play faster. The complexity of the defense is mostly with the usage of the defensive line. Utilizing stunts and fronts to keep the protection off balance, the defensive line doesn't have to slow down to execute.

This attacking defense will give up its share of plays but they are going to generate plenty of their own, which is exactly what Stefanski wants.

Ventrone returns to Cleveland where he spent much of his playing career. He had excellent results in his time with the Indianapolis Colts and now the Browns are hoping to get their special teams units into at least the top half of the league.

So much of the focus will be on the kicker, currently Dustin Hopkins, but the Browns need to win the game of hidden yardage. The second half of the 2022 season, the Browns special teams went from being a liability to an asset, even helping the Browns win a few games down the stretch.

It's on Ventrone to take the baton and run with it, getting a positive impact from the special teams unit throughout the season and if it's not too much trouble, get the ball to go through the uprights more often on field goal attempts.