Kirk Irwin/Associated Press
The Cleveland Browns have put together a fair bit of star power over the last couple of seasons. From Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb to Denzel Ward and Myles Garrett, the Browns feature plenty of household names. However, the best unit on Cleveland’s squad is the offensive line.
Against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, the offensive line put on a clinic. According to Next Gen Stats, Mayfield was not pressured on any of his 34 dropbacks.
To be fair, Cleveland’s line does feature standouts like Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Jack Conklin and rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. However, this unit is an X-factor because of its depth, versatility and how well it is coached by Bill Callahan.
Bitonio and Callahan were both absent from Sunday’s game because of COVID-19. Conklin left the game with a hamstring injury, and Bitonio’s replacement, Michael Dunn, also left the game. He was replaced by recent addition Blake Hance, who hadn’t even practiced with Mayfield before the game.
“A guy named Blake, who I introduced myself to literally in the locker room before the game, stepped up in the fourth quarter,” Mayfield told NBC’s Michelle Tafoya after the game.
If Cleveland is going to have a chance against teams like Buffalo and this Sunday’s opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s going to be because the line keeps Mayfield clean and opens holes for Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.