This preseason is big for kicker Cade York. The Browns would like to keep him on their practice squad, but if he has a good exhibition season, they could lose him.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Kevin Stefanski’s philosophy on coaching preseason games is simple.
“Well, they’re keeping score, so you want to win,” he said. “That’s important.
“You know, it’s an opportunity for our guys to compete and as you know, that’s a core tenet of who we are. So regardless of who’s out there, we expect to compete. And the nice part, obviously in those games, we’ll get some different situations in different settings.
“It’ll be live, so it’s tackling to the ground. So that’s something that you continue to emphasize with your guys and I know it’s not going to be perfect in game one, we don’t expect it to be. But I think just the sheer competition of it all is what we’re most excited about.”
Stefanski and the Browns open their fifth preseason schedule Saturday against the NFC-contending Green Bay Packers in Cleveland Browns Stadium. Stefanski successfully had the game set for a 4:25 p.m. kickoff because that’s the kickoff time for the Browns’ season-opener on September 8.
As usual, Stefanski conferred with his counterpart, Packers coach Matt LaFleur, about his plans for playing regulars.
LaFleur intends to play his starters for a short period, which means quarterback Jordan Love will make his first game appearance since signing a four-year, $220 million contract. That $55 million annual average matches Love, 26, with Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow atop the quarterback pay standings.
Maybe LaFleur shamed Stefanski into playing some starters, but it’s likely none will come from the defensive side. The big names expected to be spectators include Deshaun Watson, Myles Garrett, Amari Cooper, Denzel Ward, M.J. Emerson, Grant Delpit and, probably, Dustin Hopkins.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t be points of interest as Stefanski tries to keep his preseason winning record alive.
The preseason was wiped out by COVID in Stefanski’s first season as Browns coach. In the three years since, the Browns have gone 5-4-1 in exhibition games, averaging 20.8 points scored and 17.5 points allowed.
Here are a few areas we will be monitoring:
Quarterback
QB2 Jameis Winston will start the game and probably stay in for 10-12 plays.
It’s Winston’s first appearance in a Browns uniform in Browns Stadium and he is excited about it. He had a pretty good practice week.
In the second phase of his NFL career as a backup QB, the 2015 No. 1 overall draft choice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appeared in 21 games in four seasons with the New Orleans Saints and made 10 starts (he was 6-4).
Winston gets the honor of commanding the new, Ken Dorsey-influenced offense for the first time. Judging from the 11 practices in training camp so far, expect some quick screens and misdirection prompted by pre-snap motion.
After Winston, one of the few position battles kicks off between QB3 hopefuls Tyler Huntley and Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Huntley should enter the game first, based on his seniority as a four-year backup with the Baltimore Ravens (2-6 in starts, 20 games overall). DTR, last year’s preseason heart-throb as a rookie, will relieve Huntley. They probably will reverse that rotation in preseason Game 2.
While GM Andrew Berry has said he prefers to keep three quarterbacks on the 53 roster, anything is possible, such as one going to the practice squad and another, possibly Huntley, being traded.
Offensive line
The left tackle position is an increasing concern.
With Jedrick Wills still on PUP and not practicing, James Hudson has been holding down LT1. He did OK until Myles Garrett joined defensive team drills this week.
The new O-line coaches have kept Hudson exclusively at left tackle, which is a departure from the previous three seasons under legendary offensive line coach Bill Callahan. Hudson made 14 starts at right tackle in three seasons, but never took a snap in a game at left tackle.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Stefanski plays his entire starting offensive line with Winston in the game. Hudson needs the reps with them in case Wills’ time on PUP persists.
If Hudson struggles against the Green Bay first-team defensive line, I would expect the Browns to consider bringing in a veteran left tackle on their ready list. Names such as Donovan Smith, D.J. Humphries, Jason Peters and Duane Brown might have to be considered.
Wide receiver
The top four spots are pretty much secured – Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman.
Two other roster spots, maybe three, are available.
The contenders are David Bell, Michael Woods and Jamari Thrash – each of whom has the advantage of being Berry draft picks. The non-draft pick contenders are James Proche and Jaelon Darden, who are bona-fide kick return specialists; Ahmarean Brown, who is a kick return contender; and Matt Landers, a well-traveled free agent with impressive physical tools (6-4 and 4.37 speed).
Michael Hall
The Browns’ top draft pick in 2024 is probably the most compelling storyline among defensive players.
Hall didn’t figure to get early playing time as a rookie because of the Browns’ veteran depth at the defensive tackle position. But injuries to Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris have given Hall an opening to show his game.
The Streetsboro HS and Ohio State product received good reviews for effort in his first training camp. If he can penetrate the Green Bay No. 1 offensive line and get into the Packers’ backfield, Hall could accelerate his growth.
The new kickoff format
Early preseason games have seen this highly anticipated rules change bring ho-hum results.
Nobody is showing anything exotic, and most returns have been stopped inside the 30-yard line. At least touchbacks have been drastically reduced.
Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone figures to keep his exotic stuff reserved for the real season. Prepare to be unimpressed, for now.
Cade York
The 2022 rookie hero in the must-win victory over Baker Mayfield in Charlotte, NC, is trying to shake off the mental shrapnel of a second season gone haywire.
York flamed out in his second Browns preseason. He declined the Browns’ invitation to join their practice squad and signed with Tennessee. The Giants poached him and he ended up on their injury list with a quad injury.
Berry re-signed York in the offseason. He would like to keep a kicker on the practice squad because of Hopkins’ certifiable injury history and he would like it to be York.
York should get plenty of opportunities this summer and if he is pristine, he could get offers from other teams after the 53 cut. If not, Berry would bring him back on the practice squad.