Browns: Seeing who’s the better squad, 2007 or 2020

Special Teams

Phil Dawson, Dave Zastidil, Josh Cribbs vs. Cody Parkey, Jamie Gillan, Donovan Peoples-Jones

The Browns special teams in 2020 can’t hold a candle to 2007. Cody Parkey isn’t the worst kicker ever, we’ve had much worse, but Phil Dawson’s name was actually spelled “Dawesome” because he was. He’s a genuine Browns Hall of Famer in my mind. Dave Zastidil and Jamie Gillan are a wash, they’re both largely inoffensive punters. Donovan Peoples-Jones, as good as he could be or might be, will never be the playmaker Josh Cribbs was.

Winners: Phil Dawson, Dave Zastidil, Josh Cribbs

Coaching

Romeo Crennel (HC), Rod Chudzinski (OC), Todd Grantham (DC) vs. Kevin Stefanski (HC), Alex Van Pelt (OC), Joe Woods (DC)

This one is a bit hard to suss out. Easily, Kevin Stefanski is better than Romeo Crennel. Stefanski turned around the Browns in a season, it took Crennel three. Stefanski’s turn around was expected, and dare I day, demanded. Crennel’s came out of nowhere, highlighting that his year may be more of a fluke. It’s obvious Stefanski wins that matchup. Yet, here’s where it gets funky. We don’t know how good Alex Van Pelt is, but we do know that Rod Chudzinski was the play-caller for 2007. So he gets the automatic win for making Derek Anderson into a Pro Bowler. We can also say, with the power of hindsight, Todd Grantham got the most out of the defensive players that he had. Can we say the same for Joe Woods? I don’t think we can say for sure one way or another. Woods doesn’t have the personnel needed to succeed, at least that’s the going opinion. So if we accept that as fact, what we also accept is that Woods can’t be properly evaluated, which means the edge goes to Grantham because we know what he is.

Winners: Romeo Crennel, Rod Chudzinski, Todd Grantham

Final Opinion:

On paper, each team wins five categories. Each team has an obvious/potential Hall of Famer as well (Joe Thomas/Myles Garrett). Each team has a big-armed quarterback and a defense that’s full of holes. Yet, there is one major factor that one team won, that changes the outcome of the matchup. The 2020 squad has the better offensive line. The offensive line is the most important group in sports; full stop. While 2007 had a very good one, 2020 had a very great one. That’s part of the reason why the Browns are never out of a game – if their offensive line is healthy That’s the deciding factor. So that’s why I give the winner to the 2020 squad.

Winner: 2020 Browns