Over the last couple weeks, I have been reviewing and discussing the performance of the 2014 Cleveland Browns position by position. It was a tough season for the Cleveland Browns, falling in five straight games to end the season at 7-9. The team showed some glimpses of promise and some other areas of concern. So lets get to the next position!
The Browns had one of the best offensive lines in the NFL early in the season, but the huge season-ending injury to center Alex Mack unsettled the line for the rest of the season. The line had a lot of great individual performances this season, but as a whole, the continuity and play of the whole line lowered after losing Mack. Last offseason, the Browns drafted Joel Bitonio in the second round of the NFL Draft. The selection of Bitonio proved to be the best draft pick of last year’s NFL Draft. The team allowed 31 sacks, which was the 13th fewest sacks allowed in the NFL. The running game was improved this season from its horrible 2013 season, rushing for 108 yards per game this season. ProFootballFocus ranked the offensive line as the sixth best unit in the entire NFL. The switch to the zone-blocking scheme definitely was a good change, matching most of the players’ skills very well.
So let’s take a look at the players who made up the 2014 Browns’ offensive line.
Joe Thomas
Joe Thomas had another Pro Bowl season and continued his unbelievable career towards the Hall of Fame. He only allowed two sacks, three quarterback hits, and 12 quarterback hurries, along with being called for nine penalties the whole season. He tied for sixth in fewest sacks allowed, tied for sixth in fewest quarterback hits allowed, and third fewest in quarterback hurries allowed of all offensive tackles with at least 75% of their team’s offensive snaps. ProFootballFocus gave Thomas the third highest grade (+33.5) of all tackles and the highest of the entire Browns’ team. He is a great pass blocker with athleticism to face any kind of pass rusher. With the change to zone blocking, Thomas played extremely well in run blocking. He is the team’s best player by far.
Thomas will be the starting left tackle for the Browns next season, just like the past eight seasons. He has been the constant and solidifying player on a team with so much upheaval and change.
2014 Grade: A+
2015 Outlook: Starting Left Tackle; Major Contributor
Joel Bitonio
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Joel Bitonio was the best rookie for the Browns and one of the best rookies in the league. He gave up one sack, three quarterback hits, and 11 quarterback hurries, along with being called for just five penalties. He was tied for fifth in fewest sacks allowed, tied for 16th in fewest quarterback hits allowed, and eighth in fewest quarterback hurries allowed among all offensive guards with at least 75% of their team’s offensive snaps. ProFootballFocus graded him as the fifth best offensive guard (+22.4) this past season. His transition as a college tackle went smoother then anyone could have expected. He has great size, athleticism, and mentality to be one of the best guards in the league.
He will be the starting left guard for the Browns next season and for many years to come. With Bitonio and Thomas on the left side of the line, the Browns will have a great duo to block the blind side of the quarterback.
2014 Grade: A+
2015 Outlook: Starting Left Guard; Major Contributor
Alex Mack
Alex Mack’s value and production this season was seen clearly when the team lost him for the season. In his shortened season, Mack played in five games, allowing only one quarterback hurry in that time. When he left with a season-ending injury in week six, ProFootballFocus graded his five games with the third best grade of all centers in that time frame (+6.9). He, just like Thomas and Bitonio, is very athletic and a great fit in the zone-blocking scheme. His leadership and ability to put the line in the right play call is a very big plus for him. As I noted above, the true value of Mack was seen after he was lost for the season. The offensive line was never the same when Mack was out of the lineup.
Mack will be the starting center for the Browns next season, given he is healed from his injury. As we saw this season, he will have a huge part in the success of the offensive line and the offense as a whole.
2014 Grade: A
2015 Outlook: Starting Center; Major Contributor
John Greco
John Greco was good when he played his best position, right guard. This past season he played right guard for 15 of the 16 games, allowing two sacks, six quarterback hits, 12 quarterback hurries, and committed five penalties. He tied for 12th fewest sacks allowed, tied for 29th fewest quarterback hits allowed, and tied for ninth fewest quarterback hurries allowed among all offensive guards with at least 75% of their team’s offensive snaps. ProFootballFocus graded him with the ninth best grade of all offensive guards (+15.6). Greco struggled when he had to move to center the game after Mack got hurt. He is a tough run blocker who can force defenders back to make holes in the run game. He is a solid pass blocker, but he is much more affective in run blocking.
Greco should be the starting right guard next season for the Browns. He played very well to earn a spot next season at right guard. He was definitely not the problem for the offensive line and so he should be back starting next season.
2014 Grade: B+
2015 Outlook: Starting Right Guard; Major Contributor
Mitchell Schwartz
Mitchell Schwartz is an average tackle, who had an up and down season. He allowed seven sacks, six quarterback hits, 22 quarterback hurries, and committed seven penalties. ProFootballFocus graded him a +0.5 grade for this season, which ranked 23rd among all offensive tackles with at least 75% of their team’s offensive snaps. He had glimpses of good pass blocking, but then would look very bad trying to block speed rushers off the edge. In run blocking, he was not good because of his lack of athleticism to fit into the zone-blocking scheme. He was very inconsistent for the Browns offensive line.
Schwartz is in line to be the starting right tackle, but I believe he will be replaced by either a draft pick of a free agent. He just does not play consistent enough in either run or pass blocking to be assured of a starting spot next season.
2014 Grade: C-
2015 Outlook: Backup Tackle; Backup Contributor who could be released
Ryan Seymour
Ryan Seymour received playing time in four games at center from week 13 to week 16. In that time, he allowed two sacks, one quarterback hit, two quarterback hurries, and committed two penalties. He is an athletic lineman rather then a strong blocker, so he fits the zone-blocking scheme.
Seymour is an exclusive rights free agent this offseason. His status for next season will be based on what kind of system the Browns run next year and who they add this offseason to the offensive line. He could be a good young backup option for the Browns because of his versatility to play guard, too.
2014 Grade: C-
2015 Outlook: ERFA; 50/50 Chance of Returning
Nick McDonald
Nick McDonald received playing time at center in eight games this season, starting in seven of the games. In those eight games, he allowed three sacks, two quarterback hits, 10 quarterback hurries, and committed one penalty. He struggled mightily in his time replacing Mack at center. He is not the strongest lineman, so he can get manhandled by opposing bull rushers. He is more adept at pass blocking because of his athleticism rather then run blocking.
McDonald will compete next preseason for a spot on the roster. I believe it is highly unlikely that he makes the team. The Browns will likely bring in a younger and better option this offseason.
2014 Grade: D
2015 Outlook: Preseason Tryout; Unlikely to make the team
Paul McQuistan
Paul McQuistan received extended playing time at right guard in two games in week 6 and 7. In those two games, he allowed two quarterback hits and three quarterback hurries. The veteran lineman was not productive in replacing Greco when Greco moved to center for two games. He is not very athletic so he struggled in the zone-blocking scheme this season.
McQuistan is entering the final year on his contract next season. He could be a candidate to be a veteran cut this offseason. He did not play well enough to be a valuable backup for the Browns.
2014 Grade: D
2015 Outlook: Could be Cut; Backup Contributor
Other Offensive Linemen on the roster with too little playing time: Karim Barton, Michael Bowie, Andrew McDonald, and Vinston Painter
Overview and Outlook to 2015
The Browns have the makings of one best offensive lines in the entire NFL. The line played very well in the zone-blocking scheme. I hope the team sticks with this scheme, even with a change in offensive coordinator, because the offensive linemen they have on the roster fit the scheme very well. Zone blocking also matches the running styles of the Browns young running backs. It also would give the offense a little bit of continuity.
Along with the scheme, the biggest task this offseason is getting center Alex Mack healthy. The effect of his loss this season was immense and quite frankly stalled the offense for the rest of the year. Mack will be a huge addition to the line and hopefully will help it return to its early season form from last year.
The only areas I would try to improve on the offensive line is right tackle and the overall depth of the line. Mitchell Schwartz was too inconsistent this season and so the team should look to find a better option at right tackle. In the draft, La’el Collins of LSU and Ereck Flowers of Miami (FL) are two options in the first round to replace Schwartz at right tackle. In free agency, Doug Free of the Dallas Cowboys and Bryan Bulaga of the Green Bay Packers are two options to add this offseason to be the starting right tackle. The team will also need to look to find quality backups so that an injury does not devastate the line like Mack’s injury this season. If the team can find a better right tackle, the starting offensive line could be the best in the league.
All stats have come from ProFootballFocus.com, except for team sack totals, which came from ESPN.com
The post WFNY’s 2014 Cleveland Browns Position Review: The Offensive Line appeared first on Waiting For Next Year.