CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The final Thursday of the regular season is exit interview days with reporters for the Browns three coordinators.
Mike Priefer gave the most candid assessment of the day concerning his special teams unit.
“Probably average,” Priefer said. “I am not looking for average. I am not satisfied with average. I hope that from here we continue to get better both scheme, fundamentals, technique and personnel, and that will be the focus this offseason.”
Priefer, who served as the acting head coach against the Raiders, broke down all three phases of his unit – kicking, punting and the return game.
“I think we had an outstanding year on kickoff. Kickoff return, we were not quite as explosive. I think we were probably middle of the pack in terms of drive start average, but always looking for more there to help our offense. Our punt game was inconsistent, starting with the punter position,” Priefer said.
The Browns cut Jamie Gillan in December after replacing Gillan with Dustin Colquitt when he landed on the COVID list.
“We used a lot of different gunners and rotated a lot of guys in there, and I do not think we were quite as good as I would have hoped that we would be on punts so that is going to be a focus in the offseason,” Priefer said. “Punt return, our average is not great, but we have returned I think 43 kicks for 317 yards, and that is probably a couple hundred punt return yards more than we had last year so to me, that is nearly 32 first downs for our offense. We are all about field position. I am not worried about average or stats. Would I like a touchdown in that phase? Of course, but I think we did a better job on punt return this year than last.”
The Browns are still searching for a consistent kicker.
Chase Mclaughlin started strong making his first nine field goals before missing five of his next nine tries but the hop is McLaughlin can finish strong.
“Field goal, I thought we started the season great, and we have been a little inconsistent down the stretch,” Priefer said. “Field goal block, really it is amazing the people who seem to make all their kicks against us. The one that we tipped against Houston is the only one field goal they missed, and they missed a couple of PATs, but that is about it.”
Defensive highlights – Joe Woods’ unit came together as the season wore on despite a rotating cast of players due to injuries and of course COVID.
One of the big decisions to be made will be concerning Jadeveon Clowney, here on a 1-year deal, as he enters the season finale with seven sacks, 17 QB hits, a pair of batted passes and a forced fumble.
“He played really well for us this year,” Woods said. “He battled through some of the injuries, but I think if you ask him, it is probably the healthiest he has felt in a long time. The production is really good. He played really well for us in the last game. I do not know what his future has and holds for him, but I definitely like him being part of our defensive front.”
Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward is in line for a contract extension, and he may have earned it. Woods had high practice for the 2018 No.
4 overall pick.
“He is a legitimate No. 1 corner just from a size, length and skill standpoint and his ability to matchup and play anybody one on one,” Woods said.
Myles Garrett has fallen from Defensive Player of the Year ranks in recent weeks and has been limited with a groin injury, but Garrett still set the franchise record for sacks in a season with 15 and has taken over as the leader on that side of the ball.
“He is so dominant as a player that I think that sometimes, just the guys who I have been around over the years – Von Miller, Demarcus Ware – things come easy to those guys,” Woods said. “I think with Myles, he is so dominant that it is really just playing it at the highest level possible on every single snap.”
Woods seemed excited about their top two draft picks in 2021.
“The sky is the limit for JOK,” Woods said of their second-round selection. “He is so dynamic in so many different areas. His ability to blitz.
His ability to match up in coverage and make plays in space. Throughout the season as he got more comfortable, you really saw his abilities just show up in different areas at times.
“I really believe the sky is the limit. I think he can be a dynamic player for a long time for us.”
Greg Newsome II also had a strong first season in the NFL – nine pass breakups in 11 games to date.
“He is definitely another guy who I think he has improved throughout the season,” Woods said. “For him, the confidence is there because he has played against really good receivers and made plays. Again for him, he is a guy who is going to be here for a long time and give us a lot of good play outside at corner and inside in the slot.”
Jackson to COVID list – Defensive tackle Malik Jackson was placed on the reserve COVID-19 list Thursday and is unlikely to be available Sunday.
Kicker Chris Blewitt was also placed on practice squad/COVID-19.
Practice squad moves – Running back Benny LeMay and tackle Alex Taylor were signed to the practice squad.
The moves were possible because tackle Elijah Nkansah was released and Blewitt put on the COVID list.
Injury report – DNP: DE Jadeveon Clowney (shoulder/knee), TE David Njoku (shoulder), DT Malik McDowell (neck), CB Denzel Ward (groin); LIMITED: RB Nick Chubb (chest/ribs), S Ronnie Harrison Jr.
(ankle), CB Troy Hill (knee), RB Kareem Hunt (knee), S John Johnson III (hamstring), LB Elijah Lee (shoulder), C JC Tretter (knee), CB Greedy Williams (shoulder); FULL: TE Austin Hooper (hand), Ifeadi Odenigbo (biceps)
Up next – Final practice of the season Friday.
