The expectations are high for Browns fans. Peruse any website that covers Cleveland and you’ll notice a different vibe. It’s different than when the Browns showed promise with Brian Hoyer and it’s different than when the Browns were one game away from a playoff birth with Derek Anderson.
The no-nonsense attitude of Jarvis Landry rubbed off on his teammates and it was fueled by Baker Mayfield’s emergence. The team survived the conflicts between former head coach Hue Jackson and former offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Gregg Williams steered the ship and the Browns were in the playoff hunt late in the season. They even got a taste of a hostile playoff environment in Baltimore to end the season. It was a great experience for such a young team with so much talent.
Now the Browns have expectations. Some are expecting them to be legitimate contenders for a Super Bowl, but those are the more optimistic ones. Many are saying division winners or bust and reasonable. The general consensus seems to be that the Browns should make the playoffs and anything after is just icing on the cake.
The Super Bowl expectation isn’t too crazy — on paper. The Browns now have arguably one of the best offenses in the league. The WR room is stacked, the RB room is stacked, they have a talented TE room, and a QB with attitude. They’re also strong on the opposite side of the ball. If the Browns end up signing Gerald McCoy, they will have a starting defensive line of Pro Bowlers only. Pair that with a young, talented secondary, and you really start to wonder how good this team can actually be.
General Manager John Dorsey created an offensive juggernaut in his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. Their downfall last season was their defense. It appears that Dorsey is finishing the job in Cleveland by drafting guys like Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams. He has created a ridiculous level of depth in the Browns secondary which should pair well with Steve Wilks scheme. Less linebackers, more defensive backs. You should expect to see the nickel and dime package featured quite a lot this year for the Browns.
All of that is just on paper. The expectations of the Cleveland Browns are on paper. The organization knows it. It was during a Cleveland Browns fan event that John Dorsey made sure to illustrate to the Cleveland faithful that they shouldn’t buy into the hype. This came shortly after Cleveland’s local media wanted to crown the team. Longtime Browns play-by-play announcer Jim Donovan made mention of setting up a parade now, which shows the expectations of those who are on the outside.
On the inside, the organization knows it’s just on paper and that’s exactly the attitude you’d want the team to have. When you have players who realize that it’s going to take work and grit to meet expectations, you know they’re not complacent.
