Cleveland Browns bracing for ‘a lot of new faces’ next season

On Jan 9, 2023

PITTSBURGH — The last view of the Browns as they walked off the field after Sunday’s 28-14 loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers will be much different than the first view of them when training camp opens in July.

“I think I heard one time, I think I was a rookie or something, that every year the turnover is like a 30 or 40% change,” receiver Amari Cooper said after the game. “You know, always see new faces in the building. That’s personnel and player. So I’ve been in the league long enough to know that there will be a lot of new faces next year. I guess everybody will just have to wait and see, including me.”

When training camp opened for the Browns last July, Cooper was one of those new faces. He turned into one of the bright spots on a team that ultimately finished 7-10, including 3-3 over the final six games once quarterback Deshaun Watson — another new face — returned from an 11-game suspension.

Bernie Kosar off radio show:Sports betting costs Browns legend team-paid radio gig

Deshaun Watson:Six-game ‘learning curve’ for QB with Browns ends in loss to Steelers

Although Watson and Cooper are almost assuredly back next season, there’s little doubt that changes are coming. That’s both on the roster and on the coaching staff.

“I think every season you go assess that,” safety John Johnson III said. “Take a step back from the game. Obviously you don’t have a game the following week, so you can really get a good look at things, but I’m not sure. I guess we’ll see.”

The roster turnover is normal, considering there will be free agents coming — and draft picks — and free agents going. The coaching turnover, though, will be the more immediate change.

Defensive coordinator Joe Woods remained in his role after the loss in Pittsburgh. However, there remains a strong sense that he, along with likely several defensive assistants, will be let go at some point in the near future.

Pittsburgh continued a trend that carried over the Browns’ final 14 games in which opponents ran seemingly at will on them. The Steelers rushed for 148 yards, while also converting 9-of-15 third downs.

“Yeah, the third downs, you got to get off the field as we know and something we’re able to do the first game versus them. Just didn’t do it enough today on some longer distances, like you mentioned,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “But the guys fought like crazy and I’m not going to go there on really any of our coaches. This is about today, and I know we’ll talk tomorrow (Monday) about the season, all those things.”

Future of Browns special teams coach Mike Priefer in question

Another question mark to return is special teams coordinator Mike Priefer. The Browns seemed to discover an answer returning kicks over the second half of the season in rookie Jerome Ford, and Donovan Peoples-Jones seemed to do the same for punt returns.

Rookie fourth-round pick Cade York — who was the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after his season-opening game-winner at Carolina — made both point-after kicks against the Steelers, but finished the season 24-of-32 on field goals. Punter Corey Bojorquez averaged 48.5 yards with a net of 38.5 on four punts against Pittsburgh, one week after he was AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance at Washington.