This season, the Browns’ special teams imparted three valuable lessons to us: Ashley Bastock
Ohio’s Cleveland — The Browns’ 2023 on-field performance was indicative of a rejuvenated special teams unit.
Naturally, Dustin Hopkins, who has made numerous career kicks and was exceptionally clutch, standing out as the unit’s most notable member. Hopkins scored four game-winning field goals.
But Hopkins’ work and the group as a whole are more complex than first glances suggest.
Three things that the Browns’ special teams taught us in 2023 are as follows:
On August 28, the Browns acquired Hopkins through a trade, shortly after the nine-year veteran was defeated by Cameron Dicker, a capable player who was also the less expensive and younger option for the Chargers, in the kicking contest. A year after being selected by the Browns in the fourth round of the draft, Cade York’s time in Cleveland came to an end with this move.
This season, Hopkins was among the NFL’s best kickers, going 8 for 8 on kicks of 50 yards or more and nailing four game-winning attempts. Along with making 24 of 26 extra points and 33 of 36 field goals, he also set a record for the Browns. Sadly, Hopkins’ hamstring injury sustained in Week 16 against the Texans forced him to miss the Browns’ final three games, including their rematch with Houston in the wild card round.
But Hopkins was as clutch as they come for the majority of the season. After years of uncertainty at the position following Phil Dawson’s departure, it appears that the Browns have at last found a solution at kicker.
2. An unsung hero is Corey Bojorquez.
Although it’s not common to discuss punters, Bojorquez’s season merits special attention.
At 79.0 at the end of the season, Bojorquez’s Pro Football Focus punting grade was the fifth-highest. His longest punt was 73 yards, and he was seventh in the league with 35 punts inside the 20.
He and the defense played a crucial role in the Browns’ ability to control field position for the majority of the season.
Bojorquez is a lefty who can put the ball out there, elevate it well, and understand how to play the game. Ventrone said last month of Bojorquez, “He makes it difficult on returners for sure. It’s hard to catch a lefty like him. He can definitely put it out there and he can also get it up, elevate the ball pretty well and he’s really been a great player for us right now. So really excited about how he’s come along and gave our unit and our team, I would say an advantage to be able to control the field.”
The Browns finished 11th overall in Rick Gosselin’s 2023 special teams rankings, the gold standard for the metric; in 2022, they finished 18th, and in 2021, they were 30th. As expected, Ventrone brought the energy that everyone expected as special teams coordinator. Yes, he helped bring out the best in Bojorquez and Hopkins, the latter of whom was just 15 of 30 on 50-plus yard kicks in his career prior to coming to Cleveland. Additionally, he got key contributions from veterans like Mike Ford Jr. and Matthew Adams, veterans who came in and made big tackles and stops.
