DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Starters on O

Just what I’m projecting so we can launch a discussion.
I’m naming Chubb our Game 1 starter at RB. Hope nobody minds.

QB: Watson
OL from left to right: Wills, Joel, Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Jones.
WR: Cooper, Jeudy
TE: Njoku
RB: Nick Chubb, Ford

Who do you have starting at RT?

Dawand Jones

Was there in the first post, pdawg.

I’m not sure Jones gets the nod. Conklin I believe is owed a bunch of money and I’m not sure if they will bench him because of that.

Maybe not, and I root for Conklin, but Dawand just might earn his way into taking over at RT. Good plan B to have.

Cleveland will use 11 personnel to start the game to score quickly and often.

QB: Watson
OL: Wills, Bitonio, Pocic, Teller, Conklin.
WR: Cooper, Jeudy, Moore
TE: Njoku
RB: Chubb or Foreman (Ford is a better third-down back).

Still some question marks that need addressed

QB: Watson
OL: Jones, Bitonio, Pocic, Teller, Conklin (the way Jones has out played Wills thus far, no way Wills plays out 5th year option without a long extension deal before October - player suicide if he does)
WR: Jeudy, Moore, Tillman (don't believe Cooper shows without a new 30M plus per yr long-term extension deal inked before season)
TE: Njoku
RB: likely Foreman in the beginning (Chubb won't even see the field until November at best)

I suppose it's a very good thing that Jones played lights out as a rookie and may not even start at the beginning of the season. I think Conklin has also played LT. I wouldn't mind him swinging over there with Jones at RT. Wills has lapses of being a liability.

With where Conklin is at in his career, and with his body being beat to heck, not sure if want him moving over there.

Agreed. Conklin should remain at RT. No question about it.

Jones may beat him out as starter, he might not, but Conklin is a RT and I'd be surprised if that changed.

If they don't use 11 personnel on O they're either going to be short some players or have too many men on the field.

I would actually love to see Jones win out at the RT position. I tend to think the possibility of that happening is better than what some people tend to think.

Conklin did sign a contract extension through 2026. But I think what people are missing is just how team friendly that contract is. Out of that four year, 60 million dollar deal, less than 29 million is guaranteed. And half of that contract has already been fulfilled going into this season. I think the team knows Conklin's productive days are about gone and it may be time to move into the future at the position now. Time will tell I suppose.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Browns give Jones every opportunity to beat out Jed Wills at LT. Wills isn't as bad as some claim here, but if Jones can unseat him, then so be it, Then Wills goes to the bench and it's Jones and Conklin as the bookends. Conklin goes down again?....move Jones over to RT and Wills to LT.

Highly plausible. Wasn't Wills RT in college? Could he beat out Conklin on the right?

Easier said than done, but I'm really wondering if we could flip Jones and Wills... depending on how Jones takes to LT.

https://www.si.com/nfl/browns/news/4-burning-browns-questions-how-theyll-handle-jack-conklin

With Jack Conklin making his way back from injury and tied to the team through a difficult contract to get out from right now, how will the Browns juggle their newfound depth at tackle?
Conklin's contract is an albatross. Trading him before June first would still leave the Browns with a cap hit of $21 million this season. Doing so after June 1 would allow them to split that up into $7 million and $14 million chunks over the next two years. Ultimately, I think the dead money makes Conklin a thought candidate to be traded right now so he's probably here to stay.

That's not necessarily a bad thing though, even with the emergence of Jones this past season. For starters, Cleveland was ravaged by injuries in 2023, particularly along the offensive line. It doesn't hurt to have depth at any of those spots. Conklin and Wills will likely be your starters at the tackle spots come Week 1 with Jones as the top reserve. Perhaps the Browns can try to test Jones out as a swing tackle who can play either side of the O-line. If he takes to that well maybe he even becomes Wills replacement at left tackle if this ends up being his last season with the franchise.

If Jones is clearly the better option at RT, or LT, then to me Conklin’s money shouldn’t matter.

If history repeats, the back up QBs will be starters most of the season.

Jones was really good in Pass pro but horrendous in run blocking. Conklin is a big upgrade in that regard (when healthy obviously)

But we aren't moving on from Jones in the next decade hopefully. Conklin or Wills will be traded or the 6th OL

Is that something that will linger with Jones, or an effect of being a rookie pushed to start too early?

Jones over Conklin- Jones younger and better NOW....JMHO, Chubb shocks everyone except himself ready by first game. Go Browns!!!!

I'm really excited to see Jones after his first pro offseason.