Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns: Offensive line better than expected

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:22 p.m. ET

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Oct 2, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) carries the ball past Washington Redskins safety David Bruton Jr. (30) and Redskins linebacker Will Compton (51) in the second quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns offensive line was predicted to be one of the worst if not the worst in the league. How have they done after one quarter of the season?

The Cleveland Browns offense is better than expected! After one quarter of the season, the Browns are leading the league in rushing, due, in no small part, to the change in offensive schemes with the arrival of head coach Hue Jackson.

This past offseason, fans and media were mourning the loss of center Alex Mack and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz. The drama ran so high, one would think the apocalypse was upon Cleveland. The departures of Mack and Schwartz spelled certain doom for any Browns quarterback, and there was no chance the running game could be effective without them, or so the story went.

Somewhere in all the Browns bashing and woeful lament people forgot that the Browns were a 3-13 team with that offensive line. They lost sight of the fact that the running game was pitiful until the Browns changed from an outside zone scheme to a power-run scheme. Last season the Browns were 22nd in the league in rushing. Even that number was greatly boosted by the rushing performances of the last three games.

The Browns offense last season was 21st in the league in passing. Even those numbers are skewed given the Browns threw the ball incessantly most of the season. Pass blocking was wildly ineffective and contributed to multiple injured quarterbacks. Much like every year preceding 2015, the Browns used multiple starting quarterbacks and started their third-string quarterback for the last game of the season.

In the post Mack-Schwartz apocalyptic fallout, expectations for the 2016 offensive line were extremely low.

However, the Browns’ post-apocalyptic offensive line came out in the first quarter of 2016 and played effectively. Did they play perfect? No. Did they protect the passer well? Not really. But they did one thing not a single person predicted: they blocked well enough to lead the league in rushing.

The one-quarter point is a good place to go back and revisit some of my statements and predictions for the Browns offensive line in 2016.

Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Austin Pasztor (67) and guard John Greco (77) against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Browns 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this summer I stated the primary focus in terms of the offensive line was preparation for executing a power-run scheme. Jackson was known in Cincinnati for the power-run game combined with the short-quick passing attack designed to get the ball to playmakers in space.

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So far, the Browns have slowly worked themselves into a consistent power run threat. The reason a team uses the power run, particularly in the AFC North, is to attack smaller outside linebackers in a 3-4 scheme whose primary purpose is to speed rush the passer. Speed rushers like Barkevious Mingo are quickly becoming a dinosaur in the NFL and the AFC North is leading the innovation in this category. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals have deployed the scheme effectively over the years to open up their passing attacks.

For the Browns to execute the power run scheme, they had to address the right side of their offensive line. Last year’s offensive line was not built to execute a power-run scheme as for the previous two seasons, they had run a zone-based scheme.

As the first quarter of the NFL season recently came to an end, the Browns have effectively transformed their offensive line into a power run line. They now lead the league in rushing. Mission accomplished.

Jun 15, 2016; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons center Alex Mack (51) sets up to block during a drill during mini camp at Falcons Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, I said it then and I still believe it now, letting Alex Mack and Mitchell Schwartz leave made perfect sense for what the Browns are trying to accomplish in 2016. The statement, then and now, has nothing to do with a youth movement.

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Schwartz and Mack decided to leave regardless of what the Browns were offering. Mack tried to leave two years prior during restricted free agency. Only a matching offer by the Browns kept him in Cleveland during Mike Pettine’s tenure. Once Mack had a chance, he rejoined offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta where his skill set will be maximized. The Browns offered Schwartz more money than what he got from Kansas City. It was a good decision for Schwartz, as his skill set fits exactly what the Chiefs offense is trying to accomplish.

Neither of their skill sets fit the power-run scheme the Browns sought to employ this season. Mack is a quick, athletic center whose skill set fits the zone-run scheme. But the power-run scheme requires a bigger, stronger lineman. Schwartz was drafted to play in the West Coast passing system. In theory his skill set works for the Browns passing offense. However, a right tackle in Jackson’s scheme needs to be a run blocker first and pass blocker second. Schwartz is a pass blocker first and run blocker second. The Browns went with a right tackle whose primary asset was run blocking. It was the correct decision.

I won’t go so far as to say the Browns have a better offensive line this season. I will say the Browns have a better offensive line for what they are doing schematically. They were built to run the football and pass protect well enough to succeed in a quick passing game.

Sep 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns guard John Greco (77) and offensive guard Austin Pasztor (67) check on quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Browns, 29-10. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, I was wrong. I thought the pass protection from the rebuilt offensive line would be adequate to make Jackson’s offense succeed. In my defense, I believe Jackson is correct when he says that fans have not seen his offense yet.

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So far the pass protection has not held up under pressure. Fingers can be pointed and rightfully so. But I am not sure how much that will help. The power-run scheme necessitates a strong run blocker at right tackle. Part of the sacrifice a team makes in securing that run blocker is pass protection. If the Browns had started the season with a quick passing attack, the right tackle’s weakness would be hidden more than they are.

However, the Browns became enamored with deep passing attack with Terrelle Pryor and Josh Gordon in the preseason. A deep passing attack takes longer to develop and puts more pressure on the offensive line to hold their blocks longer. As a result, a right tackle whose primary purpose is to run block is being asked to pass block longer than their skill set allows.

Thus, the result in pass protection is almost identical with the 3-13 offensive line featuring Mack and Schwartz. The starting quarterback and the backup are both injured. Robert Griffin III’s injury cannot be placed on the offensive line. But the beating Josh McCown took can be blamed squarely on the offensive line. It seems no matter who is playing right tackle or center, Browns quarterbacks are getting killed when they drop back to pass.

Last week against the Washington Redskins, the Browns executed a quick passing attack. Consequently, their quarterback remained healthy. By going to a quicker passing game, the Browns might be able to better protect their quarterbacks.

But I admit I was wrong when I stated the drop off in pass protection when using primary run blockers on the right side of the offensive line would be minimal. In some ways the drop off is minimal, but in other ways it looks far worse than last season.

The pass blocking has not been adequate for the offense played so far.

The next four games will bring changes for the Browns. The offense is morphing from a long passing attack to a quick passing attack. Adding Corey Coleman to the attack will benefit the offense in many ways. The growth of Cody Kessler will be interesting to watch.

But most importantly, it is time for the Browns to get a win!

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