CLEVELAND, Ohio — Scribbles in my notebook as the Browns face the Chicago Bears. Before looking at the game, I wanted to write something upbeat.
1. The Browns’ best rookie is … before you shout Shedeur Sanders … let’s take a more rational view. Sanders has started three games at QB this season. Assuming he stays healthy, he will have seven starts. That will give everyone a better idea about his future. That said, early returns are very promising.
2. The Browns’ best rookie is … I was going to quickly say Carson Schwesinger. But wait a minute, what about Harold Fannin Jr.? Nah, it has to be Schwesinger, he probably will win the award as the Defensive Rookie of the Year. He is the type of linebacker Browns fans have wanted for ages.
3. The Browns’ best rookie is … Fannin, maybe? He is on pace to break the team’s rookie record of 66 receptions. That’s by Kevin Johnson in 1999. That also was the first year of expansion and he was catching passes for Tim Couch. Fannin has 59 catches. He is the only other Browns rookie tight end besides Ozzie Newsome to have a 100-yard receiving game.
4. The Browns’ best rookie combination is … Fannin and Sanders. In their three starts together, Fannin has caught 15 passes for 197 yards and a pair of TDs. Sanders is starting to look for Fannin more often, which is smart. Fannin is terrific running the ball after the catch.
5. Browns offensive cordinator Tommy Rees on Fannin: “We thought he was pretty good when we drafted him. The guy’s a football player. He’s been an impressive rookie, I’ll say that. He doesn’t play like a rookie. He makes a ton of plays for us. He’s competitive. He’s tough.”
Harold Fannin has a chance to become a Pro Bowl tight end.
Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
6. Mason Graham was the Browns’ top pick in the draft. He has been solid at defensive tackle, a spot where it’s hard to gain a lot of attention. Pro Football Focus has a category called hurries. That means how many times does a defender make a QB hurry to make a throw. Myles Garrett leads the team with 31. Graham is next with 24. Coaches like the hurry category because it means the player is pressuring the QB.
7. Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz on Graham: “He’s a very instinctive player. He’s a very smart player. I’m really proud of what he’s done and the contribution that he’s made, but I would say that his best game is yet to come. Would love for it to be Sunday.”
8. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins has shown a lot of promise. He has run for 784 yards, but his 3.7-yard average is so-so. Part of it is because the offensive line is bad. Part of it is due to injuries. The other part is lack of talent, especially at tackle. Judkins has shown speed, such as catching a screen pass last week vs. Tennessee and running it 58 yards for a TD.
9. Pro Football Focus rates the Browns’ offensive line at No. 30 out of 32 teams. They have been near the bottom most of the season. Joel Bitonio will probably be the only opening day starter on the field for Sunday’s game against the Bears.
10. Dylan Sampson was drafted in the fourth round. He is averaging only 2.6 yards per carry. The running back is better as a receiver. He’s caught 28 passes.
Illustration by Ted Crow for Crowquill. The Browns play the Chicago Bears in Chicago where rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will try for his second win of the season.
Ted Crow
11. Should Sanders have started earlier? Given how the Browns have played in a season where they are 3-10 … does it matter? If the rookie had started Game 6 instead of Game 11 (which he did), what difference does it make? The goal was for Sanders to be ready to play in terms of understanding the offense and the NFL.
12. At Colorado and Jackson State, he seldom was in the huddle. Nearly every snap was with him in the shotgun. That system is designed with few plays and a simple approach. The Browns went to work teaching Sanders how to play in the typical NFL system, and Sanders embraced it. He met with coach Kevin Stefanski three mornings a week to study film and learn the offense. He stayed after practice several days a week for the “Hungry Dawg” practices — designed by the coaches for rookies and veterans who aren’t playing much.
13. Several NFL executives have told me having a rookie wait longer to play does no real damage to his career. Patrick Mahomes started one game as a rookie. Putting a rookie into action too soon can cause problems in terms of confidence and feeling overwhelmed.
14. Once veteran Joe Flacco was traded after the fourth game of the season, the plan was for Dillon Gabriel and Sanders to play. Owner Jimmy Haslam said as much before the season. Gabriel was drafted higher. He played six years in college for three different head coaches in several different offenses. Gabriel started six games. Yes, he suffered a concussion vs. Baltimore and Sanders took over in the second half, but I know the Browns were ready to make a switch after that game because of Gabriel’s problems. They also wanted to see Sanders.
15. Sanders will face Chicago in frigid weather. He’s done a good job in cold conditions in his last two games in Cleveland. The Bears lead the NFL in interceptions and have also recovered nine fumbles. Let’s see if Sanders can stay away from turnovers.
PREDICTION: Bears 20, Browns 13. My record is 7-6.