<![CDATA[NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters]]>AFC North projected starters
By Gregg Rosenthal

Cleveland Browns
QB: Cody Kessler RB: Isaiah Crowell
WR: Corey Coleman WR: Kenny Britt WR: Ricardo Louis TE: David Njoku
LT: Joe Thomas LG: Joel Bitonio C: JC Tretter RG: Kevin Zeitler RT: Shon Coleman


DE: Myles Garrett DT: Danny Shelton DT: Larry Ogunjobi DE: Emmanuel Ogbah
OLB: Jamie Collins MLB: Christian Kirksey
CB: Joe Haden CB: Jamar Taylor CB: Briean Boddy-Calhoun
S: Jabrill Peppers S: Ibraheim Campbell

(Notes:)

» Cody Kessler, Brock Osweiler and rookie DeShone Kizer should all get a spin at the starting quarterback job before the 2017 season is up. Kessler is the best bet to succeed Robert Griffin III as the team's Week 1 starter because of Kessler's sneaky-effective rookie year in Hue Jackson's system.

» The Browns drafted four receivers in 2016, and they combined to gain 21 more yards than former Browns receiver Travis Benjamin did with the Chargers. Corey Coleman will be counted on to step up as a star, and veteran newcomer Kenny Britt will be the team's WR2, but the wide-open battle for the No. 3 job between second-year players Ricardo Louis, Jordan Payton and Rashard Higgins could be just as crucial.

» There is a notable lack of depth of proven receiving talent if injuries strike, which is why it was so surprising that the team cut veteran tight end Gary Barnidge.

» Kessler and the running game will benefit greatly from Cleveland's fortifications on the offensive line. Perhaps underrated third-down back Duke Johnson should be listed as the third wideout, because he's a safer bet for production.

» The transition to Gregg Williams' 4-3 defense will force a lot of Browns defenders to change roles. I'm particularly curious to see how he deploys Jamie Collins and rookie safety/linebacker hybrid Jabrill Peppers.

» This still looks like a roster at the beginning of a rebuild, with two rookies competing to start at defensive tackle and at least four starting jobs available on defense overall.

Nothing earth-shattering excepting possibly in the 2ndary...

Other AFCN (and AFCE) here: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000807353/article/afc-north-projected-starters-good-luck-stopping-steelers

]]>https://brownsboard.com/topic/46788/nfl.com-s-gregg-rosenthal-projects-afc-north-startersRSS for NodeFri, 02 Oct 2026 06:36:45 GMTWed, 10 May 2017 14:34:39 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Sat, 13 May 2017 13:29:59 GMT]]>Des certainly was one of our better players on the D-side in 2015.

Hopefully will not be the case in 2017... by virtue of the rising talent added during his absence.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/706226https://brownsboard.com/post/706226Sat, 13 May 2017 13:29:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Sat, 13 May 2017 01:58:23 GMT]]>Our FO believes in the old saying, "Don't trust anyone over 30". And they don't care to wait and find out if the guy they want to replace you with is any good.

I always felt that our D was better when Bryant was on the field.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/706187https://brownsboard.com/post/706187Sat, 13 May 2017 01:58:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Fri, 12 May 2017 20:15:46 GMT]]>

@topdawg31 said:

So a 4 2 5 alignment?

Collins and Kirksey better have pro bowl seasons. D is going to be a little scary. Again.]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/706128https://brownsboard.com/post/706128Fri, 12 May 2017 20:15:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Fri, 12 May 2017 13:47:12 GMT]]>

@tour2ma said:

Bryant's future is pretty firmly in the hands of Gregg Williams now... and the Brantley investigation. But assuming a full recovery from his pec tear, I expect to see him on our squad... and starting.

OK, but I see that it is possible that his position is a lot like Gary Barnidge's. 31 year old veteran who had an off/down season. Plus, they did pick 2 potential replacements for him in Ogunjobi and Brantley. This FO has not been adverse to dumping veterans that previous administrations brought in.

Its not like Des is like Joe Thomas or Joe Haden.....perennial all star.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/706076https://brownsboard.com/post/706076Fri, 12 May 2017 13:47:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Fri, 12 May 2017 12:01:55 GMT]]>Bryant's future is pretty firmly in the hands of Gregg Williams now... and the Brantley investigation. But assuming a full recovery from his pec tear, I expect to see him on our squad... and starting.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/706059https://brownsboard.com/post/706059Fri, 12 May 2017 12:01:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Fri, 12 May 2017 00:15:59 GMT]]>

@the-gipper said:

@orion said:

The way things are going, this FO could dump Bryant...

I have that feeling too...

More often than not: Duke Johnson..out of the backfield or in the slot.

Says a lot for our receiver bunch. Hopefully someone makes an improvement in year two and shows in camp. Maybe even that Hall kid from last preseason. The league pretty much squashed any pipe dream of having Josh Gordon return to us.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/706022https://brownsboard.com/post/706022Fri, 12 May 2017 00:15:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Thu, 11 May 2017 14:04:36 GMT]]>

@orion said:

My lineup's got some spots that are up for grabs.(and I'm none too sure about the TE spot going to the rookie for game 1).

LT – Joe Thomas

LG – Joel Bitonio

C - JC Tretter

RG – Kevin Zeitler

RT - ? Hopefully Shon Coleman or possibly Drango. Cam Erving a candidate....but who expects him to come through? Not I.

QB – Cody Kessler

WR – Kenny Britt

WR – Corey Coleman

WR - ? More often than not: Duke Johnson..out of the backfield or in the slot.

TE - David Njoku

RB – Isaiah Crowell

DL – Myles Garrett

DL – Desmond Bryant...The way things are going, this FO could dump Bryant...Then you would have Meder or Ogunjobi

DL – Danny Shelton

DL – Emmanuel Ogbah

LB – Jamie Collins

LB – Christian Kirksey

LB - ? Joe Schobert slated here. But I have said we need upgrade...which the Browns did not address.

CB – Joe Haden

CB – Jamar Taylor

SS – Gerbil Peppers

FS - ? Kindred top candidate...otherwise we have Ed Reynolds

Obviously other players will get in the game....FB, blocking TE, RB, 4 WR's, nickle & dime defenses....

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705893https://brownsboard.com/post/705893Thu, 11 May 2017 14:04:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Thu, 11 May 2017 11:40:46 GMT]]>

@tiamat63 said:

Who you got? Coleman taking the spot?

Where you bean, man? Hell to the yes on Shon... 😉

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705873https://brownsboard.com/post/705873Thu, 11 May 2017 11:40:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Thu, 11 May 2017 11:37:47 GMT]]>

@tiamat63 said:

By the by that's only a 10 man defense you have listed, Orion.

....umm...I don't think that you do the 'guzintas' too well. 🙂 (1 guzinta 2, 2 guzinta 4)

Now, if you wanna 'ding' me for screwing up Jabrill's name, I'm fair game for that. 🙂

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705868https://brownsboard.com/post/705868Thu, 11 May 2017 11:37:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Thu, 11 May 2017 04:14:48 GMT]]>

@tour2ma said:

RT ain't "up for grabs"... BOOK IT! 🙂

Who you got? Coleman taking the spot?

By the by that's only a 10 man defense you have listed, Orion.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705850https://brownsboard.com/post/705850Thu, 11 May 2017 04:14:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Thu, 11 May 2017 03:59:52 GMT]]>RT ain't "up for grabs"... BOOK IT! 🙂

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705849https://brownsboard.com/post/705849Thu, 11 May 2017 03:59:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Thu, 11 May 2017 03:48:34 GMT]]>My lineup's got some spots that are up for grabs.(and I'm none too sure about the TE spot going to the rookie for game 1).

LT – Joe Thomas

LG – Joel Bitonio

C - JC Tretter

RG – Kevin Zeitler

RT - ?

QB – Cody Kessler

WR – Kenny Britt

WR – Corey Coleman

WR - ?

TE - David Njoku

RB – Isaiah Crowell

DL – Myles Garrett

DL – Desmond Bryant

DL – Danny Shelton

DL – Emmanuel Ogbah

LB – Jamie Collins

LB – Christian Kirksey

LB - ?

CB – Joe Haden

CB – Jamar Taylor

SS – Jabrill Peppers

FS - ?

Obviously other players will get in the game....FB, blocking TE, RB, 4 WR's, nickle & dime defenses....

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705843https://brownsboard.com/post/705843Thu, 11 May 2017 03:48:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Thu, 11 May 2017 01:54:28 GMT]]>Expectation for the secondary are average with low expecations. Looking forward to the front seven though

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705826https://brownsboard.com/post/705826Thu, 11 May 2017 01:54:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Wed, 10 May 2017 23:12:10 GMT]]>4-2-5 and the nickel will be the 3rd safety/backer. Be it Peppers or Kindred/Campbell.

Tyvis has shown more in the deep 1/3 than the others and I'm sure working under the best (Earl) has given him some pointers... but even with that I'm still very concerned about his ability to consistently hold up back there.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705809https://brownsboard.com/post/705809Wed, 10 May 2017 23:12:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Wed, 10 May 2017 22:10:09 GMT]]>

@gumby73 said:

If Brantley clears hes another beast.

He wasn't in the half dozen or so snaps where he met our new OT, Roderick. Caleb supplied our new, OL apprentice with some of his best moments on the tape I saw.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705796https://brownsboard.com/post/705796Wed, 10 May 2017 22:10:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Wed, 10 May 2017 19:29:11 GMT]]>lot will depend on how long are we in actual coverage before the GW QB heat comes. If Brantley clears hes another beast. We got no better than Haden covering the #1 Wr's at CB game day. His concussion issues ended a possible safety move imo. If Harvard did not draft them? Than talent better shine in Campbell & some others. Those numbers will be interesting getting to 53

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705773https://brownsboard.com/post/705773Wed, 10 May 2017 19:29:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Wed, 10 May 2017 19:17:16 GMT]]>

@topdawg31 said:

So a 4 2 5 alignment?

Semi-base nickel with Peppers as the hybrid... I presume...

Campbell doesn't look like an intimidating single-high, but Boddy-C did spend time at Safety last season... reviews weren't great, but I don't think he had any experience before being pressed into Safety service.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705771https://brownsboard.com/post/705771Wed, 10 May 2017 19:17:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Wed, 10 May 2017 19:14:27 GMT]]>FS looks like a weak link, but we do have Powell and UDFA Nacua as understudies.

Plus it was not as if we were going to fix everything this off-season.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705769https://brownsboard.com/post/705769Wed, 10 May 2017 19:14:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Wed, 10 May 2017 19:12:36 GMT]]>So a 4 2 5 alignment?

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705768https://brownsboard.com/post/705768Wed, 10 May 2017 19:12:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Wed, 10 May 2017 18:52:43 GMT]]>Not if we can't cover on the back end.

Going to need Haden healthy and in pro bowl form this year.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705762https://brownsboard.com/post/705762Wed, 10 May 2017 18:52:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Wed, 10 May 2017 18:09:47 GMT]]>IMO not so much the safety but just the miss tackles in general. That has been a problem forever but really was way too much to watch last season. If we learn to tackle we will win more than 7 games this season.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705750https://brownsboard.com/post/705750Wed, 10 May 2017 18:09:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Wed, 10 May 2017 18:04:50 GMT]]>Safety just scares the shit out of me. Neither of those two are suited to play deep center field and putting them back there might yield some disastrous results.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705748https://brownsboard.com/post/705748Wed, 10 May 2017 18:04:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal Projects AFC North Starters on Wed, 10 May 2017 17:50:12 GMT]]>You and me both noted a CB to go opposite Joe was a high priority. Calhoon had better step up, and if there's any injuries in the secondary- we're up shit creek. Zero depth.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/705741https://brownsboard.com/post/705741Wed, 10 May 2017 17:50:12 GMT