Get to know the players stepping up for the Browns against the Raiders

By Chad Porto | Dec 17, 2021

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) walks off the field following an interception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns 6 /

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Cleveland Browns offensive guard Blake Hance (62) celebrates with Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) after a rushing touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio.Chubb Hance 1 /

The Line

Out: Jack Conklin (INJ), Wyatt Teller, Jedrick Wills

In: Blake Hance, Michael Dunn, James Hudson

Some people really don’t get how offensive lines work. Having one bad player makes an offensive line ineffective. The team had issues getting time for Baker Mayfield with Jack Conklin out and Blake Hance in. How many times do you see quarterback stake five-step drops out of shotgun formations? Not often. That’s what was happening when Hance was in for Conklin.

Now Jedrick Wills, himself far from a useful tackle, is out, as is the Browns best-run blocker with Conklin out; Wyatt Teller. So in their stead will be Hance at left tackle, Michael Dunn in for Teller, and rookie James Hudson in for Conklin.

Hance and Dunn showed they can be good run blockers and Hudson is just a rookie so his play isn’t exactly predictable. It’s very possible that the Raiders’ weak run defense can’t in fact stop the Browns from carving them up. Yet, people have to realize just how necessary an offensive line is. It doesn’t matter if Nick Chubb is healthy, if the line can’t open up blocks for Chubb, Chubb isn’t going to be able to do anything.

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