Packers vs. Browns: Interview with Dawg Pound Daily
We caught up with Steven Kubitza of Dawg Pound Daily to take a look at the Green Bay Packers’ opponents in the preseason opener, the Cleveland Browns.
Football is finally here, Lambeau Field playing host to the Packers’ preseason opener, just five days after the Hall of Fame Game was canceled.
MORE PACKERS-BROWNS: Five Packers to watch in preseason opener
To get a better understanding of the Packers’ opponents on Friday night, I spoke with Dawg Pound Daily site co-expert Steven Kubitza.
Change has been the theme of the Browns’ offseason. Have they done enough to move the franchise in the right direction?
SK: It is tough to gauge potential in Cleveland because of all the turnover seen both on and off the field since 1999. New coaches and front offices consistently come in with great promises, only to be out of a job in one or two years.
But this group does seem different. Drafting 14 players and passing on taking a QB early showed fans that this new group was committed to building the team as a whole instead of trying to find a savior. The hiring of Hue Jackson is also a nice change from the past, as Jackson is proven to work well with NFL players, especially offensive players.
He was a big-name hire for a franchise in need of a central figure, and Browns fans are excited to see him lead this team out of the basement of the NFL. So the progress is there on paper, but it is hard to make any declarations until the games begin.
Finding a solution at the quarterback position is no easy task. Did the Browns make the right call opting for RG3, or should have they stood firm with the second overall pick and drafted a Carson Wentz or Paxton Lynch?
SK: The Browns passed on Wentz at the second pick because they did not see him as worthy of a No. 2 overall pick. Because of that, they traded down twice and acquired wide receiver Corey Coleman, picking up more draft picks in the process.
This was a smart strategy because the Browns are still a few years from competing for a playoff berth, and that is if everything goes according to plan. They brought in RG3 to lead this young team, attaching no expectations to his performance. Bringing in a rookie would put too much pressure on a young player who should be focusing on development instead of facing the pressures of trying to lead a rebuilding team.
The word on Corey Coleman is that he has been turning heads at training camp. How do you think he will fare as a rookie, and how big of a player can he be for Cleveland?
SK: Corey Coleman has one of the highest ceilings of any Browns draft pick since 1999. He is already set as the team’s number one receiver in 2016, although Packers fans won’t get to see him tonight as he is being held out due to some hamstring issues.
This is seen as more of a precaution than a serious injury, so he should be fine for the regular season. He will open it as the team’s top receiver, and will benefit from the extra attention paid to both Gary Barnidge and breakout receiver/former quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
Josh Gordon is set to come back Week 5, meaning the field will continue to open up for Coleman. If he can stay healthy, Coleman should lead the team in every receiving category this year and become a top-10 receiver in just a few years.
Packers fans have high expectations of their team year in year out with hopes of another Super Bowl. As a neutral, how far do you think the Packers can go this season?
SK: From an outsider’s perspective, the Packers are virtually a lock to make the postseason every year. There is no reason why they should not win the NFC North this season, as none of the other three teams in the division seem to be at that elite level.
The Lions lost Calvin Johnson to retirement, the Bears still have Jay Cutler, and the Vikings will have a tough time repeating that 11-5 record in 2016. The playoffs are a whole different monster, but the Packers will be there once again.
Who are the top Browns players to watch in Friday’s game with the Packers?
SK: The obvious one to watch is RG3, but the most interesting to watch is Terrelle Pryor. The former quarterback was listed as a starting receiving on the team’s first unofficial depth chart, and tonight will be his first chance to show off to the rest of the football world.
Also be on the lookout for Ricardo Louis, Rashard Higgins and Jordan Payton. All three are rookie receivers trying to make the roster, but there may not be room for all three, which means they will be giving it their all tonight in Green Bay.
Next: Five Packers to watch in preseason opener
We’d like to thank Steven Kubitza for taking the time out to speak to us. Be sure to check out Dawg Pound Daily for great coverage of the Cleveland Browns.