Cleveland Browns: Final roster prediction comes with a few surprises
By Caleb Baum
Offensive Line (9)
This position group is the one that should cause the most anxiety to Browns fans, John “The Legend” Dorsey, and Freddie Kitchens.
Both tackles can be worrisome. Greg Robinson has bounced around the league but clearly possesses the requisite talent to play the position. Most of Robinson’s issues have been technique related. If he can get the technique cleaned up and improve his footwork, he could be the lorn term answer at the position — but then again, he has been in the league for 5 years and still hasn’t cleaned them up.
Chris Hubbard was a career backup with the Steelers prior to joining the Browns. While he wasn’t awful last year, he left more to be desired at times.
The good news about the tackles — they played great last year after Freddie took over the offense and the Browns transitioned into a quick passing game with inside screens and draws. Expect the Browns to ease the pressure on Hubbard and Robinson by doing much of the same.
Joel Bitonio and JC Tretter should once again anchor the line. Their interior presence will propel Nick Chubb and help get the offensive line into the correct protections.
It appears that Eric Kush will get the first opportunity to start at right guard. Obviously this is a disappointing revelation regarding Austin Corbett. Corbett was supposed to win this job. He was the first pick of the second round, taken ahead of Nick Chubb, and lauded as a versatile, high potential offensive lineman. He lost the job to a journeyman.
The Browns will fill out the position group with Kendall Lamm, Brad Seaton, and Drew Forbes. These players will essentially add depth. Forbes almost certainly has t o take a roster spot because the Browns would lose him to another team as opposed to adding him to their practice squad.
PREDICTION: Greg Robinson, Chris Hubbard, Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Eric Kush, Austin Corbett, Kendall Lamm, Brad Seaton, Drew Forbes