00:00ESPN put out their list of their top 10 most improved units in the NFL this offseason.
00:08One, they pretty much love everything the Washington Commanders did.
00:12I think the linebackers, defensive line, and maybe wide receivers.
00:17I don't know.
00:17There was a third unit from the Commanders that I think they shouted out.
00:21That's interesting.
00:21I saw the linebackers.
00:23I was like, okay, you just really like yourself some Adam Peters there.
00:27Well, and so you can tell that they are – I mean, what they did, and they did this for
00:29the Browns too,
00:30is just like even if you end up being 15th, if you were last last year, then all of a
00:35sudden the glow-up's huge.
00:3715 spots is massive.
00:38So it was interesting.
00:39I was wondering because I knew they weren't going to mention both things for the Browns,
00:43but I did wonder.
00:43I was like when I clicked in before I scrolled down, I saw that CLE at the kind of top
00:48there,
00:48so I knew the Browns were included, and I was like, oh, I wonder if they're going to put the
00:52offensive line
00:53or the wide receivers, and they put the offensive line.
00:55And basically it is a very – their theory is it can't be worse, which is entirely true.
01:02That basically seemed like the theory, yeah.
01:04But mentioned putting significant financial resources and, of course, the draft resources on the offensive line as well
01:12and swapping in eight pieces here.
01:14And it's interesting.
01:16Like, it's not because he was the ninth pick in the draft.
01:18I kind of think Spencer Fano is – and I always say kind, I couched that.
01:23I think Spencer Fano is the key to the offensive line because if you – if he can just hold
01:28down left tackle
01:29and as a rookie step in and just be starter quality, and I think he will be because if he's
01:35not going to be,
01:36he's not going to be out there.
01:37I do – I buy that theory.
01:39Yeah.
01:39But I think that just allows you to kind of set all the other pieces in line in an easier
01:44way.
01:45Yeah, I heard one national podcast, and they were kind of discussing – they were discussing Spencer,
01:49but it was one of those things where I wondered if we should be doing more pushback on the idea
01:54that he was a right tackle in college for the final two years, and then when people were comping him
01:59out,
01:59a lot of people were comping out more towards inside stuff.
02:02As if we – we all just kind of collectively gave Andrew Barry not a pass, but the idea that,
02:07all right, he's going to be a left tackle and this is all going to work.
02:09And that is a – it's not a dangerous assumption, but it is a bold play by Andrew Barry.
02:14Oh, see, I feel like I've treated it like that 2026 is his audition to be the next 10-year
02:21starter at left tackle.
02:22Yeah, and you have mentioned that.
02:23Like, and then if not, you just kind of kick him in or you do whatever you need to do.
02:26But maybe this is the year to do that, but if we're talking about, like, Spencer being one of the
02:30pieces
02:30and if he can be that good at left tackle, it works, then we could just as easily see him
02:35not work out.
02:36He actually does need to be on the inside, and then we're kind of swimming upstream.
02:39Yeah, and I would – by the way, I'd be surprised – like, Will Campbell.
02:42I think people forget this because Will Campbell was kind of the touchstone of, well, if it doesn't work out.
02:49And then obviously, I think the Patriots – didn't they draft the tackle?
02:54Gosh, who is it?
02:55Why am I blanking on who the tackle was?
02:57Yeah, the Utah tackle.
02:58Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
02:59It was Caleb Lomu.
03:00That's why I was blanking.
03:01Oh, yeah, okay.
03:02And I was a big Caleb Lomu guy, as you guys remember.
03:04Yeah.
03:06I just – like, guys, Will Campbell was actually really good before getting hurt last – oh, sorry.
03:10Will Campbell was good enough to be a starting left tackle in the NFL before he got hurt,
03:14and then obviously he came back, and I think the NFL adjusted to him.
03:21Meaning, for one year, Will Campbell got the job done until you got in the playoffs,
03:25and you're just facing elite talent, and then they made the decision to move on from that.
03:29Well, yeah, and then it seemed like it was just a little bit too much for him.
03:31So from the regular season side of things, I think there's a chance that Spencer plays well enough
03:36to continue being on the field.
03:38I expect that, and then maybe next year you go, well, maybe he would be a better center.
03:42Yeah, one of the things in this piece, though, and there's a lot of gelling to do in the group,
03:45which I think is entirely fair.
03:47It's like just one injury could reshuffle the whole entire deck, and then they go on.
03:50There isn't one individual move here that blows me away as a clear upgrade,
03:54and that's kind of the worry I have as well is that there's not one individual move, right,
03:59Jenkins, Howard, or Johnson, where I'm like, well, this is awesome across the board.
04:03But what we do know is that if you're judging them based off the past couple years,
04:07they're going to be better than what we've seen.
04:08Yeah, and I just, it's funny.
04:10It's just a question of how much.
04:11So it's funny because I agree with the idea of if you just want to pick apart each individual guy,
04:17you can, right?
04:18There's a reason, at least from the free agent side, that those guys were available.
04:22What I look at it is, one, they have a lot of positional versatility,
04:26which I think Warhop has kind of been on the record that he likes,
04:30and two, I think you just have enough bodies.
04:33Like last year, you were already thin going into camp where you had maybe six guys,
04:39maybe six guys who could actually start, and then very quickly it all fell apart from there.
04:45I think you have eight interesting, eight, maybe nine, or even ten,
04:49depending on how you feel about KT Leveston, guys that could play.
04:53And I think that's really encouraging because basically what that allows is
04:56you can literally go, all right, who is the best man for this spot,
05:01and then have quality backup if that guy can't do it in season.
05:05They've done this in a way where we haven't even talked about DeJuan Jones, for instance.
05:08Whereas entering this offseason, I think we were all kind of living with the idea
05:12that if we entered the following year and DeJuan Jones had to be a big part of it,
05:16then that's not the greatest thing in the world.
05:18And so it's interesting how, I mean, they attacked it.
05:20They attacked it aggressive, and so you've got to give them credit for that.
05:22Now, how much better they'll be, that obviously we have to find out.
05:26But even if they're, again, if they're like, if they're 15th to 20th in the NFL,
05:30if it's DeJuan or if it's DeJuan, you're at least giving them a chance.
05:33Well, and here's the other part.
05:35You're also giving Quinshawn in the running game a chance.
05:38Yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:38And I do think there's going to be an element of this of the better you are,
05:43the less the running backs have to be great on their own.
05:46And then I think there is just kind of the cause and effect of,
05:50hey, we can run the ball with some authority.
05:52That takes the pressure off the quarterback,
05:54and then obviously it becomes the playmaker's job to kind of get in the end zone.
05:57Quinshawn's yards after contact numbers were insane last year.
06:01That's why if you look at it as like yards per attempt,
06:02it's like he didn't really have much.
06:04It's like, well, why do you think that is?
06:06It's because he just kept getting hit the moment he touched the ball.
06:08Ironically, I don't think the formula of how this team surprises people offensively
06:13is different than last year.
06:15It's just once Quinshawn, it was about seven or eight games in,
06:19Quinshawn just wasn't able to run the ball the same way.
06:21And then he got injured, obviously.
06:22And then he got injured, and then the offensive line really fell apart.
06:25They actually had a couple moments late in the season
06:27where the offensive line actually didn't play too bad.
06:31And coincidentally, by the way, those were the games you were able to win.
06:34And so, but I think this idea of, I don't want to say run first
06:39because it's 2026 and the NFL is different than this was 25 years ago.
06:43But do I think everything can be built off a stout run game?
06:47Yes.
06:48And I think it got the ponies for it.
06:50Like, I think Fano is the key, but I do think like a wild card spot
06:54is just right guard.
06:55I think Devin Jenkins is fine, but then there's a hell stuff.
07:00As you mentioned, DeJuan, if he really blows everybody away
07:03at right tackle, I think Titus all of a sudden slides into right guard.
07:07KT Leveston could factor in at right guard.
07:10Austin Barber could, like you've got four guys
07:13who could end up being your right guard.
07:15And I think that's really interesting.
07:16And again, I don't know any of them will do it.
07:18Right.
07:18But I think that at least adds of like, all right,
07:20that's the spot I'm least comfortable with.
07:22And yet you got four guys I think could end up being there
07:24depending on what happens around them.
07:25I mean, it just feels like you're giving them a chance.
07:27And that's something that didn't feel like the past couple of years.
07:29And if we go back to the quarterbacks for a second,
07:31I think a lot of people look at it and say, Shadour needs time.
07:35Like, there's just no denying that.
07:36He needs time.
07:37But even DeJuan, I mean, one of the criticisms I have on DeJuan
07:41is his decision-making is awful.
07:43If you can slow that down just a little bit,
07:44give him more of a chance to make a better decision,
07:46it just pays off in spades.
07:48We're not breaking any news here.
07:49The better offensive line, obviously, the better you're going to have
07:51as far as opportunities to be a better team.
07:54But there's going to be a jump here.
07:55Yeah, and I do think being acceptable or better,
07:59that's the linchpin for this offense.
08:01If you can be acceptable or better,
08:03and that I simply do think is just health.
08:05If the same five guys can start week one,
08:08and they're still the same guys in week 10,
08:11or even four of the five guys,
08:13if you can have continuity,
08:15you can be league average or better.
08:17And if you're league average or better,
08:19then you have a chance to really start doing
08:21some really interesting things.
08:22Yeah, no, it's going to be fun to keep an eye on.
08:24Now, you thought it might be wide receivers.
08:28Well, okay, so I think it's a really interesting conversation.
08:31What's maybe better upgraded?
08:34I mean, because I imagine a lot of the principles apply
08:36for the O-line for the wide receivers.
08:38If they did the article that way,
08:39where it'd be like, well, they were so bad last year
08:41that they can only go better.
08:43If we're talking about jumps,
08:46I think a lot of people think the offensive line
08:47is going to have a bigger jump,
08:49but I'm kind of convinced that it's going to be the wide receivers.
08:51Well, they just have a lot of wild cards.
08:53Like Concepcion and Boston.
08:56But I think it's my belief in Concepcion and Boston
08:58that are kind of guiding this.
08:59Well, but because they're rookies, they're wild cards.
09:01You just don't know until you see them on the field.
09:04100% fair.
09:05Jerry Judy's a massive wild card.
09:07If he's even an 800-yard receiver this year,
09:09I think that's a big step up from where he was.
09:12And I think Isaiah Bond also is one.
09:15I'm not a big fan of Texas wide receivers coming out anyways.
09:18I just have seen so many Texas receivers come out
09:21and be track athletes.
09:23And I know that's not exactly the knock on Isaiah Bond.
09:27He's just a little fella.
09:29But I think they like Isaiah enough.
09:32And I think they paid him the kind of money that says
09:35they thought he was a second or third round talent.
09:38And so it could end up being Denzel Boston,
09:41Jerry Judy, and Isaiah Bond
09:42that end up being your three starting receivers.
09:44Those are four guys I think all have the talent to start.
09:48Now you just got to get two of those guys to produce.
09:50Yeah, I'm a little higher in Concepcion than you are, obviously.
09:53But I love Boston.
09:54Boston was one of my favorite wide receivers in the draft.
09:56I so drastically, drastically.
09:57I so badly want to be wrong about Concepcion.
10:00You get another one of those Coach Riz texts?
10:02No, no.
10:03I think he's giving up on me.
10:04Is that it?
10:05Yeah, I think since Concepcion, no reception.
10:08Since I said it to his face, he's like,
10:10all right, this bastard's up.
10:11I want to know if something was happening there or not
10:13because it feels like every Wednesday now
10:15when they get a chance to go out there and watch him,
10:17I'm getting some text in some framework of,
10:20Concepcion's got all the talent to do this.
10:22Like he's not, and the drops are not,
10:24that's not a him issue.
10:25And I'm like, well, he's the one dropping the ball, Coach.
10:27It's not a him issue.
10:28He's got the talent to do this.
10:29He's just got to dial it in with concentration.
10:32I love how the lack of concentration
10:34is not attributed to him himself.
10:36It's like at some point we have to put that on him.
10:38Also, the concentration is a coachable thing.
10:42Well, that's what he believes.
10:42You just come up and go, hey, you didn't concentrate there.
10:46Can you?
10:46That's a conversation for Coach, not me.
10:48But just noticing here, you dropped the ball.
10:51You didn't seem to be concentrating.
10:52I'm going to need you to work on that.
10:54I noticed.
10:54Concepcion, Boston, they're both getting major glow-ups
10:57in these write-ups.
10:58But Isaiah Bond, a guy we talked about as well,
11:00and this is not just Coach Riz exclusive.
11:02It feels like most reporters that are out there,
11:04and this is something we can't make much
11:06with the quarterback part of this.
11:07I get that.
11:08Some little things with wide receivers, though,
11:10I do think matter.
11:11And Isaiah Bond has been very impressive
11:13in these little stretches that have been open to the media
11:14to the people I talk to.
11:16216-474-0092.
11:19ESPN says the Browns O-line is one of the 10 most improved units
11:23in the NFL from this offseason.
11:26Which unit upgraded more, Browns O-line or Browns wide receiver?
11:30However, I do lean O-line, but I think it's close.
11:35I think the Browns have four.
11:38Now, which will impact the offense more?
11:40Oh, it's the O-line.
11:41Oh, yeah, absolutely.
11:42I mean, I think so.
11:43I want to hear you say it, though.
11:43Because having the value of, if you can turn this into a top 10,
11:47if you turn it into a top 10 offensive line
11:49versus top 10 wide receiver unit,
11:50if you have a top 10 wide receiver unit, all of a sudden,
11:53we're not talking about what the Bengals have, obviously,
11:55with, you know, Jamar Chase and T. Higgins.
11:58But, like, you shoot up there.
12:00The quarterback obviously makes a big difference in this,
12:02but you shoot up in a pretty high way.
12:03Yeah, I mean, if you have an average quarterback
12:07or a young quarterback like Shador,
12:09the best thing you can give that guy is a quality offensive line
12:14and a quality defensive line.
12:15The best thing after that is a couple guys that can really make some plays,
12:19but, like, I just, I'm a firm believer that you don't have a chance
12:22to win in the NFL consistently if you don't have,
12:24if you're not stout in the trenches,
12:26and get at least league average at quarterback.
12:28Well, but I also don't think, going back to the Bengals side of this,
12:30I don't think either Shador or Deshaun right now,
12:32at this point in their career, can do it the way that Joe did,
12:35where he just didn't have an offensive line,
12:36but was like, give me the skill position, guys.
12:38Give me the wide receivers, and let's make this work.
12:40I just don't think it's where Shador or Deshaun are at right now.
12:42Yeah, I mean, I think with Deshaun,
12:44it's that he's been broken previously,
12:47and I think, so, there's going to be trust that he needs.
12:50Like, he needs to be able to trust his offensive line
12:52because he still didn't trust himself fully,
12:54and with Shador, he's just a young guy.
12:56He's young.
12:57He's young, and he needs more time to throw.
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