Road to success: Cleveland Browns need Watson to step it up this season

(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The Cleveland Browns are about to embark on their 2024 season and expectations are as high as they’ve ever been in recent memory. The team is coming off a good season that saw them win 11 games and get to the playoffs. Their coach Kevin Stefanski is coming into his fifth season with the team after securing a new contract extension. Something is to be said for consistency especially in the coaching department when you are talking Browns football.

If this squad wants to expand on its success, many things need to happen this next season. Let’s look at three areas that this team needs to really hone in on if it wants to score wins.

Deshaun Watson has to have a good and healthy season

Deshaun Watson has only played in 12 regular season games in the last two seasons. He’s battled off-the-field suspensions and injuries in those last two years. That must change if Cleveland wants to get beyond a single playoff game appearance.

There’s been a lot of chatter about Watson looking good in preseason practices but that’s all those are and it’s not the real game. We don’t know how Watson will respond to having been out again for an extended time after the season-ending shoulder injury. I hope we aren’t using the “rusty” word again. We are giving Watson a break as fans and analysts. It’s time for Watson to step up and be the leader of the team. If the Browns season goes south, much of that blame will, for better or worse, be given to Watson.

The Browns offensive line has to stay healthy

The Browns offensive line has gotten a lot of attention over the last several seasons. By most accounts, the unit has been considered one of the team’s strengths. However last season was a real struggle as Jack Conklin, Wyatt Teller, Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, and Jedrick Wills all saw lost time with injuries. Going into this season Wills still isn’t healthy and Conklin will likely start at Will’s left tackle spot.

The whole season could ride on how healthy this group can be and that’s a big worry amongst fans.

The run game has to produce

The Browns won’t have their best player and running back Nick Chubb on the field probably until mid-season as he recovers from a serious knee injury suffered a year ago. That will mean that the other guys in the running back room will need to produce. Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong and D’Onta Foreman will all need to step it up.

Ford finished with 813 yards rushing and four touchdowns on the ground. He added five touchdowns through the air on 44 receptions for 319 yards. If he can be more consistent with running north rather than west or east, then he could be a bigger asset to the Browns.

Strong added 291 yards on the ground as well as returning kicks a year ago. Adding more touches and passes for the former South Dakota State Jack Rabbit should spell more success for the Browns.

Foreman could also help out this part of the team more than we know. His best season statistically was back in Carolina in the 2022 season while playing for the Panthers. That year he had 203 carries for 914 yards and five touchdowns.