As Week 1 Approaches, Browns Offensive Identity Still TBD

Every NFL coach hopes to know what their team does well this time of year.

When Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken wasn't navigating the QB1 battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders during training camp, he was trying to figure out exactly what the identity of his team is, particularly on offense.

The preseason is supposed to help uncover those things. But as Week 1 commences in the NFL, even Monken admitted he won't know the full picture of who his team is until they're in the thick of real games.

"I think we probably have more of an idea in terms of our personnel, per se, because we still go against each other. I think we're pretty good on defense, we went against the Bills," Monken explained. "But until we actually play, until we actually see it come together. I'm not sure we're there yet, but I like where we are at."

Essentially, Monken has a pretty good grasp of what personnel groupings his team operates best in. But their true strengths will reveal themselves once games start being played and the bullets are really flying.

It's not entirely uncommon for teams to need a few weeks of the regular season to really understand what its strengths and weaknesses are. Especially with the preseason often becoming a balancing act for coaches to keep their players healthy, while still trying to get them some valuable reps.

For Monken, his starters only saw minimal snaps in one preseason game, while also getting valuable work against the Bills during a joint practice. Otherwise, he chose to treat the third preseason game as an opportunity for the backups rather than a final dress rehearsal for his ones.

Monken downplayed the notion of a warm-up phase of the regular season.

"Our first two years in Baltimore, I'll just speak offensively, were a little sluggish, and then last year against the Bills, we were not," the former Ravens OC said. "Jacksonville didn't play their starters a heck of a lot more than we played ours, so it's equal. We're going to go into the same game, basically practicing against other teams, and I feel like we're going to be fine."

There are some context clues as to what the Browns will try to major in under Monken. For example, in each of the last three seasons Monken spent in Baltimore, his offense ranked top three in rushing. That's bound to be something he prioritizes here in Cleveland.

Ultimately, everyone will have a better sense of who the Browns are, Monken included, following Cleveland's Week 1 road showdown with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A r eturn trip to Florida to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looms in Week 2.