Cleveland Browns are putting all their money on rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. His addition is expected to have a transformative influence on the Pirates’ offensive approach. Fannin certainly had his moments during training camp. He was very much the center of attention on each of his 17 snaps with the starting offense in the preseason. His impressive versatility across the formation only adds to his value as an asset for the Browns. They are hell-bent on improving their passing game while maintaining a strong run offense.
Fannin showed his versatility when he lined up at running back, wide receiver and even quarterback in practice and games. He lined up like a fullback and a receiver and even as an inline tackle, displaying a unique skillset. He lined up in the slot, out wide and even in the backfield. This multifaceted approach reflects the Browns’ commitment to utilizing his skills effectively within head coach Kevin Stefanski’s offensive scheme.
As the Browns prepare for the upcoming season, they expect Fannin to play a pivotal role in their offensive structure. It’s a significant departure from how the Browns have traditionally used 12 personnel—using two tight ends—on 23.8% of their plays during Stefanski’s first two years. David Njoku should step into that starting TE role. In the interim, Fannin will function as a de facto starter, allowing for a potent two-tight-end alignment that promises to present coverage mismatches to enemy defenses.
“His physicality, his contact balance, the way he runs with strength is something I’ve seen in Nick as an example,” said Catherine Hickman, who highlighted Fannin’s potential impact on the team. The Browns drafted Fannin specifically for that unusual skillset. They used to call him a “queen on the chessboard,” referring to his unique skill to line up anywhere on the field and score.
The Browns are clearly deep on the run game upgrades, 94.6 YPG ranked 30th last year. This addition is key to building a more diverse offense. With Fannin’s introduction to those formations, it should create huge lanes for their running backs and make their ground attack all the more menacing.
Joe Flacco, the veteran quarterback of the Browns, thought it added a whole different element to the offense with Fannin. “I feel good about these guys, man. They’re talented players, and I think you all know we’re pretty talented up front. I think if we can have everybody rolling, everybody feeling good, I think we should be pretty confident going into Week 1,” Flacco said.
Fannin’s speed has drawn praise from Flacco, who noted that “he’s a guy that has the home run ability at any moment’s notice with his speed.” This threat can open up the defensive strategy by changing matchups and opening up space for other receivers.
The thrust of Fannin’s role can hardly be overstated. He should make for a terrific complementary weapon to Njoku, creating more opportunities to use heavier sets that could trick opposing defenses. As Flacco mentioned, “Run game, short passing game. I think when you have a guy like Jerry on the other side who we have a lot of confidence can win against anybody, it makes it harder for defenses to pay more attention to him and things like that. So yeah, it can open up all kinds of possibilities.”
Browns preparing for their own season opener. They understand that a dynamic player like Fannin is crucial to running their game plan to its fullest potential. His ability to adapt to various positions on the field gives Stefanski more options to exploit weaknesses in opposing defenses.
Leave a Reply