CLEVELAND, Ohio (TheOBR.com)- Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
THE DAILY BLOVIATION
Here in Cleveland, with our heavy winters and outdoor football (for now), we love to see a smashmouth running attack from our offense. Browns fans fall in love with powerful runners like Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, and one-year-wonder Peyton Hillis.
The little-reported news that the Browns hosted FB Michael Burton yesterday might be enough to get some of us excited that a bruising fullback will be on the roster to help open holes for Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson, and Rocker Sanders next year. So far, we haven’t heard anything about Burton being signed – he’s 34 and was on the IR all last season – but the visit is a sign of what Todd Monken wants to do.
Monken seems to want the Browns’ run game to be more physical and establish some run-heavy looks. It’s just that he has a history of being pretty flexible in how he does it. In Georgia, where he had some really good tight end talent, including Brock Bowers, he relied on a lot of 12 personnel looks and featured huge TE Darnell Washington (6’8”, 280 pounds) as an extra blocker, with Bowers often lined up wide or as a slot receiver. Versatile tight ends allowed him to run power concepts, but didn’t require a fullback.
In Baltimore, of course, Monken walked into a situation with Patrick Ricard on the roster as a Pro Bowl fullback, and, showing his flexibility, he used him aggressively. Monken would frequently use Ricard as an extra tight end (in 2023, he played more snaps there than at fullback) and would move him around a lot. That use continued in 2024 as Ricard had his best season and was named first-team All-Pro. Last season was injury-marred, with Ricard missing six games, but he was still named second-team All-Pro.
In Cleveland as head coach, it’s clear that Monken is striving for a similar approach – it’s just that it looks like he’s evaluating his options about how exactly he’s going to do it. In addition to the Burton visit, the Browns chased Ricard himself in free agency, but the fullback signed with ex-head coach John Harbaugh and the New York Giants.
What seems less likely is Monken repeating Kevin Stefanski’s use of Nick Harris and Adin Huntington as pseudo-fullbacks in special situations. I would imagine that using Huntington in this way would still be an option, but the extra blockers are more likely to be off-season acquisitions, given the team’s behavior to date this off-season
Monken’s search for a “power” component and blocking help for his running game is just another sub-plot in a Cleveland Browns off-season full of them. Keep an eye open at these positions during the draft.
IN OTHER NEWS:
The Browns’ busy offseason continues with some intriguing visitor news. WR Denzel Boston, the Washington receiver, visited with the Browns yesterday, and Makai Lemon visited the team on Thursday, per Mary Kay Cabot.
On the defensive line, the Browns have made it official, re-signing DL Sam Kamara. Kamara provides veteran depth up front.
NBC Sports reports the new dome will put fans closer to the action than anywhere in the league. I’m not sure that great sight lines will be enough to dissuade drunken fans from running onto the field. Drinking will probably still be needed unless the play on the field improves, but, for God’s sake, remain in your chair and make appropriate noises rather than embarrassing us all.
On the broader NFL front, CBS Sports breaks down the free-agent winners and losers through two weeks, with the Browns listed as losers, as one would expect from a national outlet.
Also worth noting: Mike Florio floats the idea that under an 18-game schedule, players might only actually play 17.
And finally — RIP to Chuck Norris, who passed away at 86. A legend in every sense of the word.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
OBR GOODIES
OBR ARTICLES
– Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 03/20/26: Keeping the Spastic Gerbils Under Control
FROM THE FORUMS
– Jack: Cap Question re: team building
– So, a Fullback may be back in play with Coach Monken
– Penn St. and Georgia Pro Day workout
– 5 first round draft pick trade question
– This Side Up – Joe Goodberry as Guest
THE LIFT
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond…
Space – the final frontier. Humans are going to orbit the moon again in preparation for a return to the lunar surface, and Project Hail Mary looks like a must-see for a nerd like myself.
– NASA’s Artemis 2 moon rocket arrives back at the launch pad
– ‘Project Hail Mary’ is an optimistic look towards the stars, and we need that right now (review)
WRAPPING UP
When not quietly enjoying bourbon, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride or write him at barry@theobr.com if you are so compelled.
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