2021 Cleveland Browns Training Camp Preview
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…
No, I’m not talking about a white Christmas in Cleveland. I’m talking about the official start of the Cleveland Browns 2021 season.
The Cleveland Browns will open their 2021 training camp beginning next week.
There’s always a set of questions to ask yourself regarding training camp…
What position battles will you have an eye on? Who will the breakout training camp player be? Will there be a surprise player cut from the roster?
Let’s start with the position battles.
The Browns completely revamped their defense this offseason. The team made significant additions to the defensive line, secondary and line-backing corps.
For me, the battle for the second corner back spot on this roster is paramount to any other decisions made during training camp. Will a healthy Greedy Williams reclaim his spot on the Browns roster? Will first round draft pick, Greg Newsome, have an immediate impact on the Browns secondary?
The answer is Greg Newsome. Why?
First off, Greg Newsome was a first-round pick of this current Browns’ front office – Andrew Berry and Paul DePodesta, in particular. Greedy Williams is the draft pick of another regime, the John Dorsey regime. Front offices tend to be loyal to the player that they drafted, in the hopes of proving themselves right.
Furthermore, Greg Newsome contains a set of attributes that will compliment his fellow cornerback, Denzel Ward. Newsome is a versatile cornerback that can play multiple coverages and adapt to various schemes brought forth by Joe Woods. Newsome’s ability to demonstrate strength and physicality from a press-coverage standpoint will set him apart from Greedy Williams and earn him a starting cornerback role on the Browns defense.
Every year an “under-the-radar” player makes a name for himself and forces his way onto the 53-man roster.
Who will be the "under-the-radar" player this year?
The answer is Curtis Weaver. A name you might not be familiar with.
Weaver, a 2020 first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins, saw his rookie season come to an end with a brutal toe injury. The Browns, however, did not let the injury deter their pursuit of Weaver. The Browns picked up Weaver just one day after his injury and waiver designation.
When Andrew Berry believes in a player, I believe in a player. So, keep your eye on Curtis Weaver as a potential training camp standout for the Cleveland Browns.
Now, who will be the Browns surprise cut of training camp?
The Cleveland Browns linebackers can be looked at as the weak spot on this roster. There are, however, some young players who could steal a spot away from one, Mack Wilson.
Sione TakiTaki, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Jacob Phillips are Browns’ linebackers poised for breakout years in 2021.
So, where does that leave Mack Wilson?
It’s no secret that Mack Wilson struggled immensely during the 2020 Browns campaign.
In 2020, Mack Wilson played in just 13 games – starting only eight. Wilson registered just 24 tackles, with only one tackle being for a loss.
If Mack Wilson fails to make the 2021 Browns roster, will I be shocked? No. Disappointed? Yes. We don’t know how the roster will look come September 12 but one thing is for sure, I’M READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL.
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