By Dale Armbruster
The Cleveland Browns enter their second training camp under head coach Hue Jackson on Thursday.
The offseason saw the front office staff add starters or depth at nearly every position on offense through the draft and free agency. Major question marks exist at the quarterback and wide receiver positions, but fans should expect growth and improvement from a unit that finished 30th in total offense in 2016.
Here’s an overview of how the Browns could look on offense when they open the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10.
Quarterback
Cody Kessler will enter camp as the top name on the depth chart. The USC product set a Browns rookie record for completion percentage (65.5%) during an injury-shortened campaign. In eight games, his lack of consistency was an issue, but a complete evaluation was limited by the concussions he suffered against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.
DeShone Kizer, like many rookies, has drawn considerable hype since being selected in the second round. The 6-4 Kizer has the measurables that fans look for in a quarterback, but was criticized frequently during a 4-8 season that saw him benched at times. At Notre Dame, Kizer’s poor mechanics were initially hidden by a big arm. Many evaluators believed Kizer should have spent another year in school.
Brock Osweiler comes to Berea with a chance to rebuild his career, but with a price tag of $16 million. The 26-year old threw for 2,957 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions in 2016. He frequently clashed with Texans coach Bill O’Brien, and was relegated to the bench in the final weeks before reentering due to injury. With Kessler’s familiarity and a rising Kizer challenging him, Osweiler’s road back to starting will be difficult.
Prediction: Kessler feels the pressure from Kizer and Osweiler during camp, but he will start week 1 against Pittsburgh.
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