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CLEVELAND, Ohio – It looks like Rashard Higgins is behind the “emergency shattering” glass. The Browns don’t use it unless they have to.
My colleague Scott Patsko spoke a little bit about how the coaching staff “hate” Higgins. It’s his most concise way of explaining why the sixth-year wide receiver who has spent his entire career at Cleveland continues to play back-up roles for an ever-changing receiving group.
Even after establishing himself as a reliable NFL receiver last season, Higgins has just two targets in two games. The two came last week against Houston, likely because Jarvis Landry left after two games.
It’s time for Kevin Stefanski to get Higgins out of his window.
In week 1, Stefanski deployed Higgins to a team of four snaps. Rookie wide receiver Anthony Schwartz (31 games) edged out Higgins, and for good reason. Auburn’s burner looked great. However, this league learns quickly. Schwartz’s reluctance to cross the middle is recorded after he bailed out a deep post against the Texans. This second quarter play comes down to a Mayfield interception, but it’s on Schwartz.
Mayfield no longer targeted him despite Schwartz playing a lot after that.
Donovan Peoples-Jones was also not targeted after his first quarter fumble on a 10-yard slope that Texans defenseman Justin Reid hit in another bang-bang play. DPJ won 75% of the offensive snaps in Week 2. Against the Chiefs, he played 47 of 59 snaps (80%). All that action for two catches and 14 yards. Understanding its lack of production is not easy.
Peoples-Jones dazzled at training camp. Every day a new climax surfaced with DPJ burning a defensive back on the sidelines. I saw most of them live. He looked great. It wasn’t just the deep bullet. He worked on intermediate tracks, short shallows and hitches. All of this, looking lively and mature.
Peoples-Jones clearly won the third position behind Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. But what’s the difference between a camp and a regular season ball? Hit. Maybe the second year catcher isn’t quite ready for an endless workload. Its production last year was all about efficiency, not volume.
Several things have already changed for the reception hall. On Tuesday, Landry landed on the casualty reserve. He will miss at least three games. Beckham is yet to play despite appearing to be ready for week one. Even with Beckham playing against Chicago, expecting him to take on the No.1 duties seems odd. He has nine months of withdrawal from an ACL injury and has not played a game since October 25.
Step into the ever reliable Hollywood Higgins. In the last few seasons, when the Browns needed a play down the receiver, he was there. His chemistry with Mayfield is undeniable.
Last season, Higgins hit 37 of 52 regular season targets. That’s a 71 percent catch percentage, like Landry, who grabbed 72 of 101 targets.
Higgins improved over the year, playing his best playoff game against Kansas City. He led the team with five catches for 88 yards. Higgins provides an experience that DPJ and Schwartz do not yet have. He earned his battle-scarred orange and brown stripes in battles with Pittsburgh and Baltimore. His touchdown on Monday Night Football last season against Ravens corner kick Marcus Peters proved his ability to win against the league’s top corners.
It’s not multidimensional, which is why the offense likely continues to leave it on the shelf. Higgins does not threaten the defenses laterally behind the line scrum. It will not flare up by the safeties and does not require double coverage. But he’s consistent and the Browns need him right now.
Back in the days of the NFL, training camp ended some time ago. The jobs won in August should no longer be secure. The limited production of Peoples-Jones is expected to allow Higgins to re-establish himself as a prime target for Mayfield until Landry returns.
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