The Cleveland Browns may have a goose egg in the win column, but defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said they pose multiple challenges. One of the taller tasks will be preparing for whoever lines up under center as the Browns have played six different quarterbacks this season. Rodgers highlighted former Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor, whose primary position is wide receiver — he leads the team in receptions (35), receiving yards (431) and touchdowns (4).
"The unique thing is when we met with the advanced scouts, they were praising how fast he's taken on the receiver position," Rodgers said. "He's got a real quality grade when we looked at him. When we watched him, he's fast, he's big and a lot of the times in jump ball situations, he goes up and gets it. With us preparing for him, we have to be ready if he's on the field because he lines up at quarterback some. And then they move him around. You have to prepare for him at quarterback, outside at receiver and inside. He's a hard matchup."
Rookie WR Robby Anderson made a big splash in the preseason, leading the NFL in receiving yards. Known as a raw receiver with top-end speed, Anderson has been polishing his game since making the team in early September. The Temple product's role has increased as of late due to injury, playing in 74% of the offensive snaps last week against the Ravens while posting a career-high 41-yards on three catches.
"Words don't describe the growth that he's had," offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said. "He's really come a long way and he's still learning. I mean, he's got a long way to go, but he was a free agent guy that came here and nobody really knew about him. You knew he could run, but that's really all anybody knew. The way he's developed, he's done a nice job, he really has."
Nearing the halfway point of the season, first-year special teams coordinator Brant Boyer offered an assessment of his unit thus far, a group that ranks No. 6 in the league in kickoff return yards allowed (19.1).
"I would say that we've done some very good things," Boyer said. "I've been really happy with our coverage most of the time. I think certainly our punt return could do better, we have to do some things like getting gunners blocked and holding down up front. Kick return we're doing a great job and last week we had a couple slipups, but again, it's a learning process. Guys are learning exactly how we want things done and certainly it can improve and I'm confident we can get that done."
