CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski doesn’t like to play the numbers game when it comes to roster construction.
His philosophy is pretty simple.
“At the end of the day, regardless of position, you want to make sure you’re keeping the best players,” Stefanski said Wednesday.
Saturday the roster will need to be cut to 53 by 4 p.m.
eastern.
Stefanski has been huddling with his staff as well as executive vice president of football operations and general manager Andrew Berry often to evaluate the 80 players they have throughout camp and in recent days.
“[Some] Real hard decisions are going to be made and that’s a testament to the players Andrew and his staff have brought in,” Stefanski said.
Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer noted an advantage this year for the Browns, and the other 31 teams, will be an expanded practice squad, which increases to 16 this year due to COVID-19.
“We’ve got 69 guys you can move up and down the roster and you never know based on the new rules,” Priefer said.
Priefer’s unit will play a significant role in helping Berry and Stefanski sort through the back end of the roster over the next few days.
Versatility is key.
The decisions will be difficult. The questions are plentiful.
Stefanski’s use of the fullback means one or two less open roster spots are available to accommodate Andy Janovich and or Johnny Stanton.
Do they keep one or two running backs behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt? D’Ernest Johnson and Dontrell Hilliard are also competing in the return game mix. Do – or can – they keep both? Probably not.
How many receivers do they keep? Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry should meet the primary receiver needs for Stefanski’s offense. Rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones, who is also part of the Priefer’s return game, isn’t going anywhere. Same for JoJo Natson. That’s four spots already spoken for. Rashard Higgins, Damion Ratley, KhaDarel Hodge, Taywan Taylor, J’Mon Moore, Ja’Marcus Bradley are vying for one or two remaining slots.
Then there are the tight ends. They currently have five on the roster – Austin Hooper, David Njoku, Pharaoh Brown, Stephen Carlson and camp rookie standout Harrison Bryant. Bryant has been outstanding during camp and voted the top performing rookie by those that cover the team daily. Stefanski’s dependence on them places added value on the position, so does that mean Berry needs or will keep an extra one this year?
Stefanski refused to say if he prefers to keep two or three quarterbacks on the active roster, but given the circumstances this year, a case for keeping three is easy to make, meaning another less roster spot available to play with should they retain Garrett Gilbert or Kevin Davidson. However, with an expanded practice squad this year, the third QB could be stashed there.
Up front fifth-round pick Nick Harris continues to fill in for JC Tretter at center. Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller are your guards and Miachael Dunn is the lone other guard on the roster. They have Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills as their starting tackles leaving three others including Chris Hubbard and Kendall Lamm in reserve or on the bubble.
Turning to the defensive side of the ball, injuries have thrown a wrench into their plans during camp.
Up front the starters are set with Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon on the ends and Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi in the middle. Porter Gustin made quite the impression, and impact, while filling in for Garrett during camp. Can the Browns keep Gustin, Adrian Clayborn and Chad Thomas? What about the depth behind Richardson and Ogunjobi? Berry could scan the waiver wire hard Sunday for help there.
Linebacker was not a position the Browns significantly invested in this year. With Joe Woods expected to run more of a 4-2-5 scheme, it’s understandable why they felt signing B.J. Goodson and drafting Jacob Phillips was sufficient in the offseason. Mack Wilson’s knee injury, which won’t require surgery and end his season, forced them to sign veteran Malcolm Smith during camp. Sione Takitaki had a really nice camp and made his case for playing time. They currently have nine on the roster and ended the season last year with five. Is it possible they think they can get away with four and stash a couple on the practice squad?
The secondary isn’t nearly as set as once thought – again thanks to injury.
Rookie safety Grant Delpit is out for the year and Karl Joseph has been in and out while the team carefully manages his time on the field coming off foot surgery. Andrew Sendejo and Sheldrick Redwine have gotten significant work during camp as well as Jovante Moffatt. Elijah Benton and J.T. Hassell are on the bubble.
The Browns have 10 corners on the roster and three are hurt including a pair of key contributors in Greedy Williams and Kevin Johnson. Williams has been MIA with a shoulder injury for over a week and Johnson is recovering from a lacerated liver. M.J. Stewart, who took over for Johnson at nickel, is sidelined by a hamstring so the position is all of the sudden not nearly as robust as thought going into camp.
The specialists are essentially set.
Austin Seibert has done nothing to warrant replacing at kicker, Charley Hughlett returns as the long snapper and punter Jamie Gillan should be even better in his second year.
Berry and Stefanski might not like the numbers game when it comes to finalizing a roster, but they’re going to play one this weekend.
