As the Cleveland Browns are days away from opening the 2017-18 season vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers, perhaps no player on offense faces more pressure than second-year wide receiver Corey Coleman.
Coleman, a former Bilitnekoff Award winner taken 15th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Baylor, caught 33 passes for 413 yards and three touchdowns, before suffering a hand injury, causing him to miss six games. Injuries have seemed to plaque the 5’11, 185-pound speedster during his time in Cleveland, as he just recently recovered from a hamstring injury, suffered during the preseason.
Now fully healthy, it appears that Coleman could become a big factor in Cleveland’s offense, thanks to his apparent instant connection with rookie starting quarterback in DeShone Kizer.
While preseason is just preseason, it was clear during Cleveland recent preseason content vs.Tampa Bay as to how in tune Coleman was with Kizer, as they connected on some deep throws downfield.
With newly-signed wide receiver Sammie Coates arriving via Pittsburgh, big free agent signing Kenny Britt and possible sleeper in Ricardo Louis all expected to contribute, Coleman will be the proverbial straw that stirs Cleveland’s drink, thanks to his blazing speed and ability to take the top off of defenses, thanks to Kizer’s impressive arm.
Cleveland has lacked a big-play and speedy wide receiver ever since their return to the NFL in 1999, and while former wideouts in Dennis Northcutt and Travis Benjamin was perhaps the closest in terms of speed,none of them have the talent that Coleman possesses.
All he has to do is put it all together in staying on the field by being healthy.
For Cleveland to succeed and have any semblance of an offense in 2017, as well as improve upon their 1-15 record, look for Coleman to be heavily involved in being a factor why.