The Cleveland Browns’ offensive line has become the easiest target in a season full of offensive frustration, but the answer is not to keep tearing it apart and starting over.
This was a rebuilt unit from the jump. The Browns rolled into the season with five new starters up front, including two rookies.
They signed center Elgton Jenkins and guard Zion Johnson, traded for right tackle Tytus Howard, drafted left tackle Spencer Fano in the first round, and added right guard Austin Barber in the third round. It was a complete makeover, and the results have been uneven from week to week.
There have been bright spots, plenty of rough patches, and too many penalties along the way. Lately, though, the criticism has sharpened as the group has struggled more noticeably. That has led to calls for a shuffle and renewed complaints that general manager Andrew Berry did not do enough to address the line.
Still, the bigger picture says the line is fine.
The sack totals may look ugly, but that number does not tell the whole story. As a unit, this group has been average.
Howard, in particular, has taken plenty of heat after a difficult season, but he has not played himself into a benching. Dawand Jones would be the alternative, and when he got his chance this year, his play looked much worse.
Jenkins has settled in as an average performer, while Johnson has been better than many are willing to give him credit for.
The rookies have also held up better than expected. Fano has played at a high level, even with some growing pains, and Barber earned the starting right guard job from Teven Jenkins and has proven to be a solid starter.
That is why constant movement is not the fix. The Browns’ five best options are the five currently on the field, and changing pieces just for the sake of change could easily make things worse. The same lesson showed up when Jones was on the field: fans often want something different until the replacement turns out to be a step back.
Pass protection has actually been ahead of the run blocking, especially once the quarterback-caused sacks are factored in. The run game has been more erratic, but the line as a whole has still been better than it was last season. Barring injury, this is the group the Browns will ride with through the end of the year.
In Other News...
Browns Week 10 Suddenly Has A Travel Problem Fans Need To Watch
Fridays FAA ground stop on all outgoing flights created a travel headache that could ripple into the NFL weekend, with widespread cancellations and delays threatening to throw off team plans. For the Browns and anyone else watching Week 10 unfold, the issue is less about the scoreboard than the logistics, since visiting clubs and league personnel may have to adjust quickly just to get where they need to be.
The Houston Texans are among the teams that could feel the effects most directly, and game officials could face similar problems reaching their destinations on time. Even when the football itself stays on schedule, disruptions like this can complicate preparation, alter routines and add an extra layer of uncertainty to a weekend that already has enough to manage. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Suddenly Have A New Week 10 Problem Against Houston
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It is another reminder of how quickly the margins can change in November, especially for a Browns offense that has already had to adjust around injuries and roster churn. Houston, meanwhile, is dealing with its own availability issues, ruling out running back David Montgomery and cornerback Jaylin Smith while making several roster activations and elevations, so both teams are heading into Week 10 with a few moving parts still to settle. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Rookie May Be Changing A Problem Spot Faster Than Expected
The Browns have spent plenty of time searching for stability up front, and the early returns on their rookie tackles have given the staff a reason to believe the problem spot may not stay a problem for long. Veteran Tytus Howard has had his struggles, but Austin Barber and Spencer Fano have both shown encouraging development as Cleveland keeps sorting through the best answers on the offensive line.
Head coach Todd Monken pointed to Fanos mental toughness and his ability to adapt while learning left tackle in the NFL, two traits that matter as much as raw talent in a room that has needed both. Fano has already climbed to 17th out of 71 offensive tackles in overall Pro Football Focus grade, and with the Browns preparing for the Houston Texans, the expectation is that he keeps trending upward as the workload and the spotlight get bigger. [Read more 🡒]