Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns came into this season with their defensive backfield in really good shape. The cornerback and safety room has always been a pet project of Browns GM Andrew Berry since he is a former college defensive back himself. Every year in the NFL draft, he has taken either a safety or a corner, until this year, when he didn’t select either.
Which meant he was satisfied with where the cornerback and safety rooms were going into training camp.
But you know the Browns. There is always some sort of upheaval that rears its ugly head. Usually, it is either the quarterback or the offensive line that struggles to maintain healthy bodies. Suddenly, it was cornerback, and the season hadn’t even begun yet.
After last year, regarding safeties, Juan Thornhill was shown the door with a year left on his contract, while seasoned veteran Rodney McLeod retired. D’Anthony Bell was signed by the Seattle Seahawks in free agency. Undrafted rookie free agent Donovan McMillon from Pitt was signed after the draft.
With the cornerback group, Mike Ford signed with the Atlanta Falcons, while after the NFL draft, Berry signed some undrafted rookie free agents such as Dom Jones of Colorado State and TCU’s Lamareon James.
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Then slot cornerback Anthony Kendall of Baldwin-Wallace was injured and subsequently waived with an injury designation. Next, starting corner, M.J. Emerson tore his Achilles and was ruled out for the season.
The defensive backfield was supposed to feature Denzel Ward on the left, Emerson on the right, and Greg Newsome in the slot position. Now what?
The coaches love Cameron Mitchell and are happy with the development of last year’s rookie Myles Harden, but are either ready for a starting role?
DC Jim Schwartz requires his cornerbacks to cover their receivers in man coverage with little help from the safeties. This frees up the safety to help stop the run as well as coverage of the tight end. But in order to cover in man, the cornerbacks have to have exceptional coverage skills, and be quick enough to stay glued to their pass catcher.
Right now, the depth chart lists Newsome moving from the slot to Emerson’s spot, and Mitchell is now the new nickelback.
Is that the plan? Or perhaps, the Browns need to bring in a seasoned veteran.
CB Mike Hilton of the Miami Dolphins was just waived and won’t be part of their 53-man final roster. Should Berry go after Hilton? Would he solve Cleveland’s problem with the cornerback situation due to Emerson’s injury?
Hilton (5’-9”, 184 pounds) went undrafted in 2016 after a fine college career at Ole Miss, where he was given the #38 jersey in his senior year. For that program, the 38 jersey is reserved for a player who embodies the spirit of former Rebels defensive back Chucky Mullins.
Coming out of Ole Miss, Hilton’s 40 time was 4.55 with a vertical leap of...
