The Cleveland Browns clinched a winless season in 2017 as they fell to the Steelers in Week 17. Here are the takeaways from the final contest.
For the most part, making history is used in a favorable context. A team or player makes history when they do something particularly great in a game, season or career. Leave it to the Cleveland Browns to bring a negative connotation to the phrase. That’s exactly the case after they lost their 16th game of the 2017 NFL season on Sunday to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After entering the season with high hopes that things would start to turn around for the franchise unaffectionately known as the Factory of Sadness, they finished the year winless. They weren’t hapless to the tune of getting blown out every week, but they didn’t ever see the bigger number next to their name on the scoreboard, which is ultimately what matters in the NFL.
Having said that, the Browns fought valiantly against the Steelers backups, losing by just four points. And with that, there were some things to take away for Cleveland as they again look to “next year”, something the franchise and fans are all too familiar with.
Let’s take a look at some of those takeaways.
3. DeShone Kizer will compete to be 2018 QB
This may have been rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer’s best game of his tumultuous first year at the professional level. While he went just 16-for-30 and showed some of the common issues (namely holding onto the ball and eating six sacks) his production was solid. Kizer ended the 16th loss of the season with 314 yards passing, two throwing scores, just one interception, and 61 rushing yards on six carries (leading the team on the ground).
As has been stated rightly numerous times, Kizer had no business being the starting quarterback this season. When he was drafted, he came with the caveat that he needed to get time to develop, and you could argue that putting him in this offense immediately only hurt that development.
Having said that, Kizer showed in this game why some loved him as a prospect. The talent is there for him to be a viable NFL quarterback. And while the Browns indubitably need to look at the quarterbacks in the 2018 NFL Draft class as they’ll have two top-four picks, whoever comes in will not just take the job immediately. Kizer has shown enough flashes to earn a shot at competing for the starting job next season.
2. No way their running game should be this bad
One of the focuses of the Browns this past offseason was improving the offensive line. And on paper, they entered the 2017 campaign with one of the better overall units in the entire league. However, partially due to injury and partially due to other factors, that didn’t translate in the ways that it should’ve, most notably in regards to the run game.
Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson combined for 21 carries for 41 yards in the loss to Pittsburgh in Week 17. It doesn’t take a football guru to tell you that’s horrendous. And while the whole season hasn’t been that bad, it’s still been an inconsistent part of their offense when, in truth, it really shouldn’t have been.
With Crowell hitting free agency this offseason and Cleveland unlikely to bring him back, the Browns need to get a featured back. Johnson is a great weapon, but giving him 15-20 carries per game isn’t feasible for the type of player that he is. This offensive line — particularly when Joe Thomas is healthy — is too good and talented for this team to not be able to move the ball on the ground with some effectiveness and consistency.
1. Jabrill Peppers should break out in 2018
There have most certainly been growing pains for rookie safety Jabrill Peppers throughout the 2017 season. However, there has also been a noticeable improvement in his level of play as the year has progressed. What’s more, this has all come while he’s been playing out of position at free safety for much of the season.
Peppers showed what a weapon he can be in this game, though, picking off Landry Jones and showing nice chops as a kick returner as well. In college at Michigan, Peppers was truly asked to do it all — playing linebacker, returning, getting carries on offense, and so on — and for good reason. Put simply, he’s a football player of the highest regard and a guy you want on the field.
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With that said, it stands to reason that the Browns will try to remedy the fact that the rookie has played at free all season by drafting or signing someone to play there and then sliding Peppers to his natural position at strong safety. Given the experience and growth he showed this season in coverage, he should be a force and a true breakout candidate next season should that happen.