Cover 2 - A Podcast on the Cleveland Browns

Our group of reporters break down the Browns' 41-16 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. In the first game post-Odell Beckham Jr., the Browns put together a complete game with strong performances by the offense and the defense.

Steve Doerschuk, Marla Ridenour, George Thomas and Nate Ulrich take a look back at Sunday's Cleveland Browns loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even in a game where Baker Mayfield returned and the defense allowed just 15 points the Browns couldn't get a win. What's next?

It seems like every time Baker Mayfield's injured shoulder gets brought up, there's something worse going on. First it was a partially torn labrum. Then it was a fully torn labrum. Now it's a shoulder fracture in addition to the labrum tear.

And yet, there are still questions about whether or not the Browns quarterback should try and play through it. 

On the latest Cover 2, Nate Ulrich and Dan Kadar continue to talk about Mayfield and what direction he and the Browns should take. 

If the Browns sit Mayfield for the rest of the season, can veteran backup Case Keenum lead the team to the AFC Championship Game? Dan thinks so, but Nate isn't so sure.

The guys also play the schedule game on this week's podcast. Cleveland has 10 games left in the regular season with a Week 13 bye in the middle of them. Six of the 10 games come against AFC North opponents. How many games do the Browns need to win the rest of this season? 

The show concludes this week by talking some NFL trade rumors. Will the Browns be players before next Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline? If so, Nate has some ideas on the positions the Browns could target.

Steve Doerschuk, Marla Ridenour, George Thomas and Nate Ulrich take a look back at Thursday night's Cleveland Browns win over the Denver Broncos. The game featured unlikely heroes for Cleveland like quarterback Case Keenum and running back D'Ernest Johnson.

To play or not to play? That is the question when it comes to Baker Mayfield and the Browns.

The quarterback told the media on Tuesday that the labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder is fully torn. That is worse than expected. Mayfield said the decision on playing Thursday against the Denver Broncos will be up to him.

But what is the best option for both he and the Browns? On the latest Cover 2 podcast, Nate Ulrich and Dan Kadar talk about the decision that has to be made and what's best for both parties. 

There's plenty at play here. Is an injured Mayfield better than a healthy Case Keenum? How does Mayfield's pending contract loom over everything?

After plenty of injury talk, Nate and Dan take a look ahead to Thursday night's Browns/Broncos game. 

Like Cleveland, Denver is faltering in the midst of a 3-3 season. The game is a bit of a mirror matchup. Both teams have injuries, struggling defenses, secondaries that give up big plays and inconsistent offenses. 

One thing is known is that it's a must-win for the Browns.

Steve Doerschuk, Marla Ridenour, George Thomas and Nate Ulrich break down what went wrong for the Browns in their 37-14 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday.

Look around any position group on the Browns and you'll see an injured player. 

The offensive tackles are hurt. The defensive ends are hurt. There are injuries with the cornerbacks. 

On this week's Cover 2 podcast, Nate Ulrich and Dan Kadar break down the biggest injuries on the team. Arguably the one that hurts the most is wide receiver Jarvis Landry. Nate explains what the Browns are missing with the reliable veteran missing time.

Against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, the Browns will need their cornerbacks to be healthy. This week's show closes with a look at the potent Arizona wide receiver group and why they could give the Browns some problems at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Just like last week when the Browns played the Chargers, Nate and Dan disagree on who they pick to win this one.

The Cleveland Browns lose to the Los Angeles Chargers in a shootout, but who bears the blame for this "L." There's plenty to go around.

Who could've seen this coming? The rebuilt Browns defense, and not the vaunted offense behind quarterback Baker Mayfield, is carrying the team.

On this edition of the Cover 2 podcast, Nate Ulrich and Dan Kadar talk about how the defense has carried the team the last two weeks. That included a dominant showing against a Minnesota Vikings team with a strong offense. 

The defense for the Browns hasn't just been pass rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett, either. Second-round pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has been dynamic. Safety Grant Delpit is finally healthy and playing well. The "Maliks in the middle," Malik Jackson and Malik McDowell, are playing well at defensive tackle. 

Nate also does his best to talk Dan off the ledge on the play of quarterback Baker Mayfield. But there may be some explanation about why the quarterback has had some issues of late.

This week's show concludes with a deep dive into Sunday's game against the Chargers in Los Angeles. Nate explains why Browns fans could factor into this one and Dan picks a player on defense who can stand out.

Writers for the Akron Beacon Journal and Canton Repository break down the Cleveland Browns 14-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Through three weeks of the NFL season, no team runs the ball more times per game than the Browns. 

With Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt — arguably the best running back tandem in the league — it's understandable.

Against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4 of the season, the Browns may have to rely on the passing game a little more. The Vikings run a high-octane offense that lets quarterback Kirk Cousins take advantage of wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and the upstart K.J. Osborn. 

Over the last two weeks, the Vikings have averaged 32 points per game. Can the Browns keep up with them? Without cornerback Greg Newsome, that will be a challenge.

On this week's Cover 2 podcast, Nate Ulrich and Dan Kadar discuss those topics and what a return to Minnesota will mean for head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Writers Nate Ulrich, Steve Doerschuck, Marla Ridenour and George Thomas of Gannett break down the Cleveland Browns 26-6 win over the Chicago Bears.

On this edition of the Cover 2 podcast, hosts Nate Ulrich and Dan Kadar take a look at the issues facing the defense for the Browns.

Is it a scheme problem? Does the rebuilt defense need time to gel? They have some thoughts.

But first, the guys cover the news of wide receiver Jarvis Landry landing on injured reserve. His absence on the field will be obvious. But it's Landry's intangibles that will really be missed.

This week's Cover 2 closes with some thoughts on Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears. This is a sneaky tough game for the Browns, and Nate and Dan explain why.

Reporters Nate Ulrich, Marla Ridenour and George Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal and Steven Doerschuck of the Canton Repository talk about the first win of the season for the Cleveland Browns.

What's next for the Cleveland Browns after losing in Week 1 of the NFL season to the Kansas City Chiefs? 

The Browns were once again competitive against the Chiefs, but a series of turnovers in the second half resulted in a 33-29 loss. 

On this edition of the Cover 2 podcast, Nate Ulrich and Dan Kadar give a big-picture overview of the Browns and what they need to work on going forward. They also have some thoughts on rookie wide receiver Anthony Schwartz, who contributed more than expected against Kansas City. Was that a symptom of Odell Beckham Jr. sitting out the game or is Schwartz going to be a factor in offense? 

The second half of this episode is dedicated to previewing Week 2 against the Houston Texans. Tyrod Taylor and the Texans feature numerous former Browns players and are coming off a Week 1 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Will they give the Browns any competition? The guys have some predictions.

Beacon Journal Cleveland Browns beat writer Nate Ulrich, columnist Marla Ridenour and sportswriter George M. Thomas on the Browns vs. Kansas City.

At long last the 2021 season for the Cleveland Browns is here. On this episode of the Cover 2 podcast, Nate Ulrich and Dan Kadar preview the season, touching on the biggest storylines, how far the Browns can go and they make several fun predictions about the team. 

What is the next step for the Browns,? Are the Browns a Super Bowl team? Can Baker Mayfield finish in the top three of MVP voting? Is this the year Myles Garrett wins Defensive Player of the Year? Who has more yards from scrimmage, Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt?

The guys also make their guess at what record the Browns finish with this season.

The podcast this week closes looking ahead to a difficult Week 1 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. What can the Browns do to beat arguably the best team in the AFC?

NFL cut down day has come and gone and the Browns made a few unexpected moves to get down to the required 53 players.

Which move was the most surprising? Nate Ulrich and Dan Kadar are here to talk about, the impact it could have on the Browns.

They also talk about how rookie sixth-round pick Demetric Felton stepped up and stole a roster spot on the team, and the veteran he knocked down to the practice squad.

And speaking of, the 16-man practice squad shouldn't be ignored. The Browns managed to get several quality players on their practice squad and Nate explains the importance of it. 

Marla Ridenour, George Thomas and Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal break down the 19-10 win by the Cleveland Browns over the Atlanta Falcons to close out preseason. 

Steve Doerschuk, Marla Ridenour, George Thomas and Nate Ulrich check in with their thoughts on the Browns beating the Giants 17-13 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.