Last year only 6 teams scored fewer offensive touchdowns than Cleveland (29). With the bulk of free agency behind us, it doesn't look as if the Browns will be climbing up those rankings in 2015.
If anything, scoring might be even more of a challenge this season. The Browns should be fielding a lineup of players who simply aren't known for their ability to get in the end zone. Here are their likely starters at the offensive skill positions, along with their touchdowns scored the last three years. It's an ugly picture.
| SCORING, CURRENT BROWNS RECEIVERS (2012-2014) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | 2014 Gs | 2014 TD | 2013 Gs | 2013 TD | 2012 Gs | 2012 TD |
| Dwayne Bowe | 15 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 13 | 3 |
| Brian Hartline | 16 | 2 | 16 | 4 | 16 | 1 |
| Andrew Hawkins | 15 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 4 |
| Gary Barnidge | 13 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 16 | 1 |
| Jim Dray | 16 | 1 | 16 | 2 | 13 | 0 |
| Totals | 75 | 5 | 71 | 13 | 72 | 9 |
Collectively, that's 27 TDs in 218 games, or about 1 TD every nine games. Barnidge and Dray weren't starters for all of that span, and Cleveland will probably try to find someone else to play tight end. Still, a worrisome history for this offense.
--Andy Richardson