BEREA, Ohio — Even on the first day of training camp, Browns fans were in midseason form. One group, led by a ringleader in a blinding, three-piece orange suit, stood in the front row and belted out the trademark chant with every opportunity.
"Here we go Brownies, here we go … Woof! Woof!"
In between choruses, the group took turns scanning a roster printout, and one could hardly blame them. Cleveland general manager John Dorsey and coach Hue Jackson over the offseason engineered a full-scale makeover designed to jump-start an offense that hasn't finished in the top 10 in points or total yards since the team's last winning season in 2007. Cleveland has finished 30th or lower in scoring offense five of the last 10 years, including the last three seasons.
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The Browns hired Todd Haley as offensive coordinator, traded for quarterback Tyrod Taylor and receiver Jarvis Landry, signed running back Carlos Hyde and drafted quarterback Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. How those new pieces fit at every level will determine how far the Browns can bounce back after a disastrous 0-16 season in 2017. Every move will be over-scrutinized, too, for better or worse.
When Taylor hit Landry on a back-shoulder fade in team drills, the cheers erupted again.
"Here we go Brownies, here we go … Woof! Woof!"
If only it were that simple, right?
"It is a work in progress, but I see good things," Jackson said. "We just need to see the consistent things play in and play out. That will come in time. We do not have to be a well-oiled machine right now, but I think that our guys are starting to get a feel for each other. That is a tribute to the quarterbacks."
The QB plan
The Browns have a straight-forward QB plan heading into 2018. Taylor is the starter, and Mayfield will be the backup. Jackson has reiterated that. The difference in style between the two QBs, however, is already evident.
Taylor is not known as a risk taker; he'll be an efficient passer within the system. Mayfield might flush from the pocket early, but he's a live-armed passer who's not afraid to take a shot down the field. Despite Mayfield's intriguing playmaking ability, Cleveland hopes it can stick with the plan.
Browns radio color analyst Doug Dieken has watched the plan crumble enough times. Taylor will be the 28th starting quarterback for Cleveland since 1999, but Dieken sees a precedent for the plan that makes sense.
"Ideally the way they would like to do it is the way the Bengals did it with Carson Palmer," Dieken said. "(Jon) Kitna played well, and all of a sudden when Palmer got in there (the next year) they were ready."
For those who need a refresher, the Bengals drafted Palmer with the No. 1 pick in 2003. Despite a 1-4 start, Kitna played well enough through an 8-8 season that Palmer did not have to play until 2004. Jackson came on as Cincinnati's offensive coordinator under Marvin Lewis that season. By 2005, the Bengals were in the AFC playoffs.
Half of the plan will require patience from Mayfield, who emphasized in his breakout session Thursday that he's a "team player" and believes in Jackson's vision. Dieken sees that belief as genuine.
"This guy wants to play," Dieken said. "Unlike some other quarterbacks who have come in here he's committed to working at it."
Taylor also is on board. He led Buffalo to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 last season. He is now tasked with engineering a similar turnaround in Cleveland.
"We have to take ownership of whatever the coach calls," Taylor said. "It is up to me to get everyone on the same page. We have a flexible scheme for us to go out and create big plays and make plays on our own."
Haley is in charge of that flexible scheme.
Browns coach Hue Jackson (SN Photo/Bill Bender)
Haley takes over
A new offense will be led by the marriage between Taylor (and possibly Mayfield) with Haley, who was the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh from 2012-17. The Steelers finished in the top 10 in scoring offense and total offense each of the last four seasons, and Haley's arrival signals a big shift for the Browns after Jackson called the plays the last two seasons.
"He's hard," Mayfield said. "He comes from the (Bill) Parcells family, so there's a kind of breed of coaches that he can associate himself with, but I like that. Being coached hard, I know exactly what's he expecting to me."
Dieken sees an offensive coordinator who, in Pittsburgh, kept it simple and got the ball in the hands of playmakers such as Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell. While the relationship between Haley and the QBs will be the focus, Dieken said the running game will be more important early in the season considering the Browns will be breaking in two new tackles. Future Hall of Fame tackle Joe Thomas retired in the offseason.
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"He's made these guys successful because of the way he utilizes (them)," Dieken said. "Bell was one of three or four backs who averaged more than 20 carries last year. He's not afraid to feed a running back. (Cleveland) kind of got away from the running game early last year."
Indeed, Bell averaged 21.4 carriers per game last season, between league-leader Ezekiel Elliott (24.2) and rookie star Leonard Fournette (20.6). The Browns finished 28th in the NFL in rushing attempts last season.
However, there are enough options at receiver now that the Browns could use the run to set up the pass.
Big-time potential
At max value, the Browns could have the best group of receivers in the NFL. However, Cleveland opened training camp without Josh Gordon, who announced he would be out "as part of my overall health and treatment plan."
Gordon averaged 18.6 yards per catch last season, but he hasn't played in more than five games since 2013, when he led the NFL with 1,646 yards. The hope is to pair Gordon with Landry, who led the league with 112 receptions last season while playing for the Dolphins. Landry made an immediate impression at training camp, and he will open the season as Taylor's favorite target.
"Unbelievable hands," Dieken said. "Just watching him at minicamp, the guy catches everything."
Landry seems to be the only sure thing. The pressure is now on 2016 first-round pick Corey Coleman to perform after totaling 718 yards and five TDs last season. Rashard Higgins, Jeff Janis and rookie Antonio Callaway all will fight for targets in a rotation heavy on potential, and the hope is tight end David Njoku will build on an up-and-down rookie year.
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Landry sees the potential, especially if Gordon is able to return.
"Having Josh and myself and the other guys with this supporting cast, that makes everybody better," Landry said. "You can be on a team by yourself, but if you are getting double-teamed, you're not making plays. Who's the No. 1 receiver, then? I know for me, I'm just focusing on growing as a leader."
The running game also got a make-over around Duke Johnson. Free-agent Carlos Hyde and second-round pick Nick Chubb will help form a three-back rotation Taylor said should be better.
"Every guy that we have in the running back room is definitely talented, especially when those guys get the ball in their hands, whether it's in the passing game or running game," Taylor said. "I am excited to see what those guys do with the ball in their hands in game time."
Jackson preached a power run game when he was hired in 2016. But Cleveland has not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Peyton Hillis totaled 1,177 yards in 2010.
That's where this offense will need to come together first.
How will it work?
All of that sounds good on paper, but Cleveland must be better on the offensive line. Chris Hubbard, who was Haley staple in Pittsburgh, and Shon Coleman are the leaders at tackle, and rookie Austin Corbett is in the mix. The interior features 2017 free-agent signings Kevin Zeitler and JC Tretter along with Joel Bitonio.
Dieken, a former tackle in Cleveland from 1971-84, will be watching that unit first.
"That helps your passing game because the other guys can't tee off on you because they have to honor the run," Dieken said. "When we got behind last year, they weren't playing the run at all. They were running all the way to the passer. They've gotta run the ball more than they did last year."
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Still, the first day of training camp showed there is an excitement in Cleveland, and fans were chanting the name every player who graced the practice field.
"Ba-ker May-field! … Jar-vis Lan-dry! … Chubb, Chubb, Chubb, Chubb!"
If and when Gordon joins this group, the talent will be enough to improve what has been a dreadful offense over the last 10 years. There's improvement at every level and a plan at QB that should feature Mayfield down the line. In the meantime, it's Taylor turn to lead the Browns.
"All of the quarterbacks are new, a majority of the skill positions on offense are new," Taylor said. "Of course with new pieces, you want to get everybody on the same page because the opportunity for us to turn this organization around is this year."
How far? While the term "work in progress" was thrown around freely on the first day, it's clear the Browns have more talent on offense than they've had in years. If Haley keeps them moving in the right direction, then bigger and better days are coming.
"I'm not trying to give predictions or make predictions," Landry said. "But I think if we play to our full potential we have a great chance of making the playoffs."
