PUSKAS: At last, there’s a promising future in Cleveland

Some thoughts on the Cleveland Browns in the wake of their most exciting season in more than a decade:

LOOKING AHEAD

When was the last time you were sad to see a Browns season come to an end? It has been a while.

Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, who set the NFL’s single-season touchdown pass record for rookie quarterbacks with 27 in just 14 games, gets a lot of the credit for the good feelings about the Browns’ 7-8-1 season.

But interim head coach Gregg Williams and offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens, who took over after the midseason firings of Hue Jackson and Todd Haley, showed an ability to motivate and scheme that their predecessors could only dream about.

And general manager John Dorsey’s moves were big factors in a sweeping cultural change on and off the field.

There is still plenty to do, including hiring a full-time head coach, but 2019 looks as promising as any season since the Browns returned in 1999.

MOVING FORWARD

Dorsey confirmed Monday during his end-of-season presser that Williams and Kitchens both will be interviewed for the head coaching job. As great a job as both did in their interim roles, I’m not sure either gets hired.

It’s nothing that they did or didn’t do, although I think the last four plays against the Ravems — three incompletions and the interception — probably didn’t help.

The Browns were nearly in field-goal range with more than a minute to play and probably should have used their last timeout before the fourth-down play. A 57-yard field goal by Greg Joseph probably wasn’t going to happen, but that final sequence seemed a bit frantic and a timeout and conversation might have led to a better outcome.

Dorsey plays it close to the vest. He probably had a short list of head coach candidates in his head when he was hired. I’m not sure the late-season success — as enjoyable as it was — will be enough to change the GM’s mind.

MORE GREAT ROOKIES

Nick Chubb got overshadowed a bit by Mayfield, but the running back from Georgia quickly made people forget about Carlos Hyde after he was traded.

The difference in speed was stark. Chubb would have had a 1,000-yard season if not for a 5-yard loss when he reversed field and tried to make something out of nothing on his last carry.

Do not underestimate what a legitimate threat at running back did for Mayfield and the rest of the offense.

Cornerback Denzel Ward missed the last two games in concussion protocol. but his play at cornerback was stellar all season. The Ohio State product needs to improve his technique on tackling to minimize the possibility of more head injuries, but that’s fixable.

Wide receiver Antonio Callaway showed flashes of brilliance. His talent is not in question.

LAYING IT ON THE LINE

The individual performances of Mayfield, Chubb, Jarvis Landry and fellow wide receivers Rashard Higgins and Breshad Perriman were largely made possible by an offensive line that settled in nicely.

Greg Robinson’s play at left tackle was big as the Browns were unsettled there after first handing the job to Desmond Harrison out of training camp. Free-agent right tackle Chris Hubbard improved during the year.

But the interior trio of left guard Joel Bitonio, center J.C. Tretter and right guard Kevin Zeitler might be among the best in the NFL. That’s especially true considering Tretter played half the season with a severe ankle sprain.

This groundup did a fantastic job of keeping defenders away from Mayfield and providing lanes for Chubb and Duke Johnson in the running game.

ON THE DEFENSIVE

Defensive end Myles Garrett had a Pro Bowl season and the scary part is that he can be even better. He gave himself a B-minus for the season after finishing with 13 1/2 sacks — a half-sack short of the Browns’ franchise record.

“I had a couple of TFLs to go along with it,” Garrett said. “It is a good year. It Was not great. It was not bad. Right there in the middle.”

Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, safeties Jabrill Peppers and Damarious Randall and linebackers Jamie Collins and Joe Schobert all had their moments, but the Browns’ tackling was abysmal.

Season-ending injuries to linebacker Christian Kirksey and cornerback E.J. Gaines didn’t help, but this unit has to make strides similar to those of the offense if the Browns are to be a playoff team next season.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

The Browns finished 7-8-1 and victory was within their grasp in several of the losses and, obviously, in the tie with the Steelers.

After going 0-16 last season and 1-15 the year before that, seven wins had Browns fans ready for another parade — this one in celebration of the team’s efforts instead of derision.

But with that stunning improvement will come ramped-up expectations for the continued development of young stars like Mayfield, Chubb, Ward and Garrett and maybe double-digit wins.

BUT FIRST ...

The Browns have to hire a head coach. There has been a groundswell of support for Williams to get the job and Kitchens to remain, but aside from confirming both will be interviewed, Dorsey didn’t reveal much about the search Monday.

That is Dorsey’s style. His desire to draft Mayfield remained secret almost until NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced his name as the No. 1 pick, so don’t expect much in the way of leaks as this plays out.

No matter who gets the job, the Browns are relevant again and perhaps on the verge of something their fans haven’t experienced in decades.

Write Vindicator Sports Editor Ed Puskas at epuskas@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @EdPuskas_Vindy.