The Cleveland Browns have finally hit 10 wins in a season for the first time since 2007, but how does the 2020 squad stack up against that 2007 team?
The Cleveland Browns of 2007 were a random anomaly that didn’t make any sense. A sixth-round pick claimed off of the Ravens, a head coach who had just 10 wins in two seasons, and had two-fewer wins in 2006, and a motley crew of defensive players that fans have a hard time remembering. They weren’t built to win, and they did.
Compare them to the team in 2020 and it’s a radically different vibe. These Browns were supposed to end the decades-of-suck. They were supposed to be the team that returned the Browns to their former glory. A highly touted first-year coach, a quarterback that was taken with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. A defense with two Pro Bowl talents. They weren’t your 2007 team, but like that 2007 team, the 2020 team came out of nowhere. No one expected the team would be on the verge of 11 wins.
Most expected this team to be 7-9 or 8-8 after how the 2019 season went.
Both teams, unexpected in their own unique ways. Both teams secured ten wins and were in the hunt/just missed the playoffs. Both teams will serve as a reminder for a year, and for a generation, of Browns football that may not have told its final tale just yet.
So which team is better?
Quarterbacks
Derek Anderson (2007) vs. Baker Mayfield (2020)
Derek Anderson was a 2007 Pro Bowler and the last quarterback to go to the Pro Bowl representing the Browns in decades. He threw 29 touchdowns, 19 interceptions for 3,878 yards but on some pretty rough efficiency, completing just 56.5% of his passes. Baker Mayfield on the other hand threw 3,367 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions while completing 62.7% of his passes. Even if they finish with the same record for the year, 10-6, Mayfield has already shown more consistency and accuracy than Anderson ever did.
Winner: Baker Mayfield (2020)
Runningbacks
Jamal Lewis & Jason Wright (2007) vs. Nick Chubb & Kareem Hunt
Jamal Lewis was a big-time back for that Browns’ team in 2007 and rushed for 1,581 yards between the team. Wright had 510 total yards on the year and one touchdown. Lewis had 1,552 total yards on the year. Big numbers, but are they big enough? Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt have rushed for 1,763 yards, with Hunt having 1,104 total yards and Chubb having 1,109 total yards. The 2007 rushing game was good, but the 2020 one was legendary.
Winners: Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt (2020)
Wide Receivers
Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicius, Tim Carter (2007) vs. Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr., Rashard Higgins
Now to be fair, this is less about stats. At his peak, Braylon Edwards was every bit the playmaker he needed to be. Joe Jurevicius was a reliable option who didn’t cause drama. Edwards had 80 receptions, for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns. Landry has never had stats like that. Jurevicius and Odell Beckham were both acquired after spending time (at some point) with the New York Giants. The difference is that Jurevicius was bigger, and a better blocker. He also wasn’t a primadonna nor did his talents decline as he aged. The point goes to both of them as being better fits, not being “better talents”. The lone holdout is that Rashard Higgins is better than Tim Carter but that makes the score two to one.
Winners: Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicius, Tim Carter (2007).
Tight Ends
Kellen Winslow & Steve Heiden vs. Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant, David Njoku
We all know David Njoku is a headache, however, Kellen Winslow Jr. is a headcase. That headcase though went 82 receptions for 1106 yards for six touchdowns. Steve Heiden wasn’t a good pass-catcher, but he was a hell of a blocker and would’ve been a dream come true for Kevin Stefanski. While Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant, and Njoku may all be better than the 2007 team in talent, they haven’t been near as consistent enough with being productive or healthy enough to be on the field to block.
Winners: Kellen Winslow & Steve Heiden (2007)
Offensive line
Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach, Hank Fraley, Seth McKinney, Kevin Shaffer vs. Jedrick Wills, Joe Bitonio, J.C. Tretter, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin
Let’s hit this position vs. position. Joe Thoms is over on Jedrick Wills, Eric Steinbach is just slightly a better guard than Joel Bitonio but just barely; remember, Steinbach was the best guard in football during his prime. J.C. Tretter tops Hank Fraley, Wyatt Teller is more talented than Seth McKinney but more injury plagued too. Lastly, I’d argue that Jack Conklin has the edge over Kevin Shaffer.
That means the 2020 Browns offensive line win three-to-two.
Winners: 2020 offensive line
Defensive Line
Shaun Smith, Ethan Kelley, Robaire Smith, Orpheus Roye vs. Myles Garrett, Sheldon Richardson, Larry Ogunjobi, Olivier Vernon
This is a bit uneven for the most part, due to the Browns running a base 3-4 defense in 2007 and a 4-3 base in 2020. In 2007 your starters were Shaun Smith and Robaire Smith at the ends, with Ethan Kelley at nose tackle. Orpheus Roye, a forgotten gem, played multiple positions as part of the rotation. In 2020 you have Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon at the ends, with Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi at the tackles. It’s not even close, the 2020 line is absolutely better.
Winners: 2020 defensive line
Linebackers
Willie McGinest, Andra Davis, D’Qwell Jackson, Kamerion Wimbley vs. Sione Takitaki, B.J. Goodson, Mack Wilson
The strength of the 2007 defense was their linebackers. Andra Davis and D’Qwell Jackson were the heart and soul of this team. Both men had multiple seasons of 100+ tackles for the Browns before and after the season. Kamerion Wimbley was coming off of 11 sacks as a rookie, a number he’d never hit again, and Willie McGinest was a good defensive end for Bill Belichick but his time as a linebacker was never as productive. The 2020 Browns have the worst linebackers imaginable. Made worse by the fact that they cut their two best ones, and didn’t bother replacing them to any real degree.
Winners: 2007 linebackers
Secondary
Eric Wright, Leigh Bodden, Sean Jones, Brodney Pool, vs. Terrence Mitchell, Ronnie Harrison, Andrew Sendejo, Denzel Ward
The 2007 secondary should win in the eyes of many, but Eric Wright and Leigh Bodden were never the cornerbacks that many believed them to be. On a better unit, they were arguably the weakest links. They aren’t half as good as Denzel Ward. Ronnie Harrison and Andrew Sendejo are better tacklers than either of the 2007 safety’s as well but none of the four are great in coverage. Neither safety from 2007 was on the team two years later, so you have to take the upside of Ward any day over the unit from 2007.
Winners: 2020 secondary
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