CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Every year there are questions to answer during Training Camp and this year in no different for the Browns.
As veterans report for training camp, here’s a look at the questions they hope to answer on special teams.
1. Can Cade York live up to the hype?
The Bengals got a boost from rookie kicker Evan McPherson during their Super Bowl run and the Browns are hoping fourth-round pick Cade York will be as successful for them this year as McPherson was last year in Cincinnati.
Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer joked about having tears of joy following York’s selection, but the pressure will be on York to come through in 2022. The Browns cut Chase McLaughlin and Chris Blewitt shortly after drafting York, handing the job to the rookie.
York was reliable and had a big leg at LSU where he made 54 of 66 tries, including a school-record 57 yarder in the fog to beat Florida State, and 164 of 168 PATs.
York was impressive during the offseason program. He has also consulted with former Browns kicker Phil Dawson about kicking down by the lake, something he did often during rookie camp and OTAs.
2. Can they finally light a spark in the return game?
Priefer’s coverage teams have been solid his first two seasons with the Browns, but the return game has been a complete dud. As part of the offseason special teams makeover the Browns signed Pro Bowl returner Jakeem Grant Sr. to give Priefer a weapon that will allow his return unit to regularly flip field position.
The last two years Priefer was drawing names from a hat to return punts and kicks. Not this year.
Grant has averaged 10.3 yards per punt return and 24.5 yard per kickoff return over six seasons. He has returned four punts for touchdowns and taken two kickoffs to the house as well.
Cleveland hasn’t returned a kickoff for a touchdown since Josh Cribbs did it twice – 100 and 103 yards – against the Chiefs in 2009. Their last punt return for a score came in 2015 against the Titans – a 78-yard return by Travis Benjamin.
3. Who wins the punter competition?
Punters are people too but regardless of who wins the competition in camp, the hope is they won’t be needed much this season. The Browns signed two punters – veteran Corey Bojorquez and Joseph Charlton – this offseason to compete.
It’s not all about distance for Priefer when it comes to punting. Hang time and angling of punts are equally important, including dropping them inside the 20.
Bojorquez has averaged 45.4 yards per punt over four seasons – three with Buffalo and las year with Green Bay while Charlton, who has appeared in 21 games with Carolina and one with Jacksonville since 2020, has dropped 29 punts inside the 20 and has a 44.3 yards per punt average.