Browns Film Breakdown Morning Newsletter: 11/7/2024

We need to keep talking about Cedric Tillman.

(Photo - Cleveland Browns)

In the midst of the bye week it’s easy to just ignore the Browns. The disappointment of the season, the rough nature of conversations about decisions looming, and the success of others in the division once again. Well, that’s the easy path and I’m not into the easy path. What I want to hit on today, and moving forward through the bye, is what is going right for the team.

Perhaps this has been discussed the proper amount, or maybe not, I don’t know. It’s all about your perspective. The emergence of Cedric Tillman is something I’ve been trying to keep proper perspective on as his usage and production have jumped the last three weeks post-trade of Amari Cooper. We’ve broken it down well (particularly John HERE) but I’ve been trying to discuss how his production has been largely “right time, right place” and less making plays above the average expectation. While just getting receivers who can do the average expectation is meaningful, the Browns need more in a world where Cooper is gone.

I think we’re going to spend a few minutes on this topic today as Tillman is building a profile of evidence. There is something meaningful here.

Reminder on what we’re doing with these Newsletters each morning:

We will aim to do with this Morning Newsletter — give you something new to know. This Newsletter won’t be over-saturated with links to click on or anything useless but rather something small, concise, and meaningful that has to do with the Browns each morning. Topics will vary but normally it’ll be something I watched on film review, or something I noticed about the next opponent, or a college player I think you should know ahead of the off-season. Just a piece of information I think is worth your time and definitely won’t waste your time. That is what you can expect. And with a nice and direct link to your daily podcast as well.

Take your spot on the backside of the formation and let’s talk about an emerging presence at receiver.

A big focus for us with Tillman is checking to see the types of plays he makes at the position. Less running routes into empty space for catches and more making those plays above expectation. He was the only receiver with a positive EPA per target on Sunday and these two routes stood out.