How much will the Browns miss Drew Forbes and two other guards who opted out? (usatoday.com)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Hey Tony: With the opt outs on the offensive line, do you foresee signing or trading for another lineman?
-- Jim, Coshocton, OH
Hey Jim: The Browns had five players opt out from the 2020 season and three of them were guards – Drew Forbes, Colby Gossett and Malcolm Pridgeon. That leaves only four guards on the training camp roster – starters Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, and backups Willie Wright and rookie Nick Harris. This poses a depth problem, so, yes, I would expect the Browns to add a couple guards. Forbes and Gossett were viewed as competitors with Teller for the right guard starting spot. I would expect a couple street free agent signings rather than a trade. What is with the guard position and this team, already?
Hey Tony: With Andrew Billings out this year, we’ve yet to play a game and we are already talking about depth at D-Line. Any free agents or trades you have heard that could address that hole? What is your over under on games played this season?
-- Jason, Weeki Wachee, FL
Hey Jason: Billings, a free agent pickup from the Bengals, was pegged to be the first tackle off the bench – a fairly prominent role. There are still four tackles left behind starters Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi, including rookie draft pick Jordan Elliott. More than half a dozen veteran tackles are still unsigned, including Mike Daniels, Damon (Snacks) Harrison, and Corey Liuget. If the Browns add a tackle, I would expect younger than older.
Hey Tony: I’m hoping for Mack Wilson to be a leader on our defense and a Pro Bowl linebacker. What do you think of the chance of that happening?
-- Chad, Erie, PA
Hey Chad: The vacuum for leadership at the linebacker position has to be filled by somebody. Wilson is the leading candidate. Pro Bowl in 2020? That’s a stretch, I believe.
Hey Tony: Do you believe the Browns’ defense has progressed as much as the offense did this offseason?
-- Louie, Akron, OH
Hey Louie: Not much is asked about the defense. It always seems to fly under radar. I like the addition of safety Grant Delpit to join Myles Garrett as a potential play-maker. Overall, though, the defense on paper is the third-best unit in the division, which isn’t good enough. We’ll see if coordinator Joe Woods can succeed where his many predecessors have failed.
Hey Tony: Why do you put such importance on beating Pittsburgh? Baltimore is the reigning division champ and has an MVP at QB. They are the team to beat right now.
-- John, Cleveland, OH
Hey John: The Steelers will always be the Browns’ No. 1 rival. That will never change. Since 1999, the Browns are 7-35-1 against the Steelers, including 16 losses in a row in Heinz Field. Until they overcome that psychological hurdle, they will not win the AFC North. Although the Ravens may be the better team right now, the Browns don’t have a psychological barrier blocking them from beating the Ravens. They have defended Lamar Jackson fairly well in four meetings. They beat him last year and should have beat him in their first meeting in 2018. Overall, the Browns are 11-31 against the Ravens, which is pathetic but many of the losses were very competitive games.
Hey Tony: Why didn’t the Browns interview Brian Schottenheimer? Do you think he’ll be a head coaching hire somewhere next year (possibly here the ways things go)?
-- Charles, Cleveland Heights, OH
Hey Charles: Brian is a good man who has acquired extensive experience alongside several different coaches using different offensive systems. It’s amazing to me that he’s 46 years old. I remember him catching punts at training camp between practice periods as a ball boy in the 1980s. I don’t know if he’d ever be considered a head coach candidate. He needs to win a Super Bowl as an assistant coach first.
Hey Tony: If the Browns are in first place towards playoff time and the season gets cancelled, will you hold me?
-- Adam, Tallmadge, OH
Hey Adam: Alas, social distancing protocols prohibit it. But I don’t think you have to worry about that scenario.