CLEVELAND, Ohio — Luke Floriea is not just a feel-good story about a local kid from Mentor trying to make his hometown team. The former Kent State wideout who finished his college career with 100 receptions, 1,321 yards, and 12 receiving touchdowns, is showing he belongs at the next level.
And if you’re getting Julian Edelman vibes, you’re not alone. Both excel in the slot, both are undersized, both play with a chip on their shoulder, and both rely on quickness, toughness, and sharp route-running to make plays, not just NFL Combine measurables.
After watching Browns rookie minicamp, voluntary OTA’s, and mandatory minicamp this summer, I think Floriea may just find himself on the 53-man roster, or at least the practice squad. What stands out, to me, is Floriea’s ability to release off the line scrimmage, read defenses and just get open.
Here are three reasons Floriea can make this Browns roster:
1. His ability to work against linebackers and safeties from the slot
The Browns offense is in desperate need of a true slot receiver that can work against linebackers and safeties. With the Browns having Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman, if healthy, as true outside receivers, Floriea’s skill set fits perfect in the slot.
His short-area burst, elite lateral quickness and twitchiness with his change of direction make him a nightmare for linebackers to cover. He can also push vertical, close the distance between himself and the safeties, and create a two-way go (inside or outside) that challenges the change of direction skills of the longer, bulkier NFL safeties.
Below is a look at a sample slot route tree Floriea could run with the Browns.
A look at a sample slot route tree quarterback Luke Floriea could run with the Browns.
A look at a sample slot route tree wide receiver Luke Floriea could run with the Browns.cleveland.com
Option routes are a key weapon in modern NFL offenses and could be very successful for a guy like Floriea. These option-route concepts offer flexibility that focus on attacking linebackers with short-area burst and quickness, Floriea’s best traits.
One of the most well-known examples of an option route is the “Hoss Y-Juke” concept, which was made famous by Wes Welker and Julian Edelman during their time with the New England Patriots. This concept gives the slot receiver freedom to choose his route after the snap. In the Patriots’ version, outside receivers typically run hitch or fade routes, based on coverage, to stretch the defense horizontally and vertically. The inside receivers will run seam routes to stress the middle safety. The slot receiver runs an option route at about 5-7 yards against underneath coverage.
If the defense is playing zone, the receiver will find the soft spot in coverage and settle down away from the linebackers, as indicated by the solid red line in the diagram. Against man coverage, represented by the dotted line, the receiver will simply run away from linebacker with speed.
Option routes are a key weapon in modern NFL offenses and could be very successful for a guy like Luke Floriea. Against man coverage, represented by the dotted line, the receiver will simply run away from linebacker with speed.
Option routes are a key weapon in modern NFL offenses and could be very successful for a guy like Luke Floriea. cleveland.com
Below is a look at Edelman executing an option route for a 13-yard gain against a zone linebacker. At the snap, Edelman identifies zone coverage and attacks the space between defenders. As he enters the linebacker’s zone, the coverage effectively turns into man, forcing the linebacker to matchup with Edelman one on one.
This creates a clear mismatch due to Edelman’s quickness and precise route-running. Recognizing the leverage, Edelman snaps off his route into an open window, creating easy separation. Tom Brady delivers the ball in rhythm for an easy completion.
Here is a look at Julian Edelman executing an option route for a 13-yard gain against a zone linebacker.
Here is a look at Julian Edelman executing an option route for a 13-yard gain against a zone linebacker.cleveland.com
Here is a look at Julian Edelman executing an option route for a 13-yard gain against a zone linebacker.
Here is a look at Julian Edelman executing an option route for a 13-yard gain against a zone linebacker.cleveland.com
2. Be an extension of the run game
With Kevin Stefanski returning as the play-caller, the power run game will also return. Floriea can help lighten the box and keep that seventh or eighth defender honest as an extension of the run game.
Below is an example of how this could work with Floriea in the slot in 12 personnel against a two-safety look, two linebackers, one nickelback, and four defensive linemen.
This particular example would give the quarterback a choice before and after the football is snapped, depending on what the defense decides to play. Before the snap, the quarterback can target Jeudy on the hitch or fade route if he gets man coverage with no safety help over the top. After the snap, the quarterback will read the nickel defender. If he helps on the run, the quarterback will throw it to Floriea on the bubble screen. If he stays and covers Floriea, the quarterback will simply give the ball to the running back on the counter play.
Below is an example of how this could work with Luke Floriea in the slot in 12 personnel against a two-safety look, two linebackers, one nickelback, and four defensive linemen.
Below is an example of how this could work with Luke Floriea in the slot in 12 personnel against a two-safety look, two linebackers, one nickelback, and four defensive linemen.cleveland.com
3. Help on special teams
Football is comprised of three phases: offense, defense, and special teams. With the Browns being really strong on defense and a work in progress on offense, the special teams need to make a positive impact on winning for the them to be successful.
Floriea can use his short-area quickness, raw speed, and burst to create winning plays on special teams. One of the best statistics in football, at all levels, is that teams that block a punt win 90% of the time. Floriea’s short stature and burst make him a great candidate to block punts. His skill set will allow him to return punts and be a gunner on the punt team. The more he can do, the better chance he has of making this roster.
What we learned
While the odds are long for any undrafted or late-round hopeful, Floriea isn’t riding on a sentimental story. He’s competing on skill and earning every rep.
Lance Reisland is the former coach at Garfield Heights High School, where he spent 18 seasons as an assistant for his father, Chuck, and four as head coach, from 2014 to 2018. In 2018, his team finished 11-1 and appeared in the OHSAA Division II regional semifinals. That team went 10-0 and made history as the first Garfield Heights team in 41 years to have an undefeated regular season along with beating Warren G. Harding for the first playoff win in school history.
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