The Opening Drive 8/27: Browns Turn Roster in Favor of UDFA Approach
What the organization liked most about each young talent selected for the 53.
Late Opening Drive today, and I apologize for that. Some deep evening podcast editing, a guest appearance on another show, and breaking down some film delayed this one but I promise it is worth your time. The Browns may end up claiming another player or two today and altering their UDFA list on the roster, but that initial 53-man drop had me itching to share with you why I thought they kept the UDFAs they did and provide that analysis I know you all prefer.
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With the Browns approach to youth on the roster, you can’t just have the desire to get younger, every team wants that, there also has to be skill. As we discuss the options the Browns decided to keep on the initial roster, looking at a rep for each of them can paint the picture of why the Browns preferred to have them around. Let’s do that here.
Dom Jones
The lanky Jones will be a fun one to track. There are some skill in coverage that caught my eye and it started against the Panthers in Week 1. He’s facing Jalen Coker here at the bottom of the screen — who the Panthers love and traded away Adam Thielen to give more snaps to this year — and watch how well Jones reads this deep hinge route and breaks on it to force the PBU. He had some nice moments fitting the run against the Rams as well. I see the appeal.
Adin Huntington
It has been well-documented on this site how rare some of Huntington’s tools are at his size. The production never totally landed in college to match but his early NFL experience is showing confidence. I have documented his pass rush traits but the run defense is what has to improve to be a major contributor. This run rep, beating the center outside on the reach block, pursuing down the line, and finishing the tackle with power is where he will have to survive in his early career. Promising play.
Donovan McMillon
The newest safety addition played primarily in the free safety role, normally in centerfield, and worked in the back half of coverage. He showed instincts in single-high and competent enough tackling when filling late run lanes. This rep against the Panthers, in Cover-0 where he has no help, stood out. He’s aligned over No.3 (closest WR to the hash on the three man side) reads the in-breaker and jumps the route, gets a hand in the catch pocket and breaks it up for a PBU.
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold
EMA (that just has to be the nickname here) is a thumper, man. He will come up and hit and he will hit you with some power. He won’t win any agility or flat line speed races at linebacker but he will fit the A, B, or C gap and land shot on you that you won’t forget — that will also play well in special teams. Watch him read this Y-Counter scheme from Eagles from his MIKE linebacker role, dissect and get downhill, beat the late peel block from 74 and finish with a powerful tackle. Yeah, this plays. He will most likely be a base down SAM linebacker ready to play run first and that works well.
Gage Larvadain
Larvadain is just a good receiver. He has enough quickness, burst, agility, and spatial awareness to make it happen and he did so all camp. Just really consistent. This play against the Eagles embodies who I think he is for this team as you will see him win his route (aligned off the ball to the botton of the screen) on the vertical burst but then realize his quarterback is scrambling, work downhill back toward and haul in a 26-yard pass. He understands the scramble drill so well. So many receivers quit on this play.
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Browns Film Breakdown will return later today with updates from the waiver wire and practice squad.
