Six ideas on the Cleveland Browns’ post-holiday journey (and quarterback) plans, Sunday’s recreation at Denver and the push for the playoffs.
1. There’s an extended solution to go. Maybe Dorian Thompson-Robinson will proceed to get extra comfy and the offense will finally be extra aggressive and extra explosive. Or possibly each recreation shall be a first-to-13 type of battle, like final week.
If the Browns (7-3) preserve enjoying suffocating protection, keep away from large turnovers and Dustin Hopkins retains making large kicks, they might find yourself profitable 11 or 12 video games. If some bounces don’t go their approach, the offense doesn’t create any large performs and the opponents lastly shut what’s at present the league’s widest margin in offensive performs run, possibly issues get a little bit furry on Cleveland’s quest to get to 10 wins. At this level, neither could be particularly shocking.
The Browns are in a great place, although, and 10 feels just like the goal quantity for making the playoffs. On digital paper, the Baltimore Ravens have a a lot more durable remaining schedule than Cleveland in the meanwhile, so profitable the division stays in play. The Browns are about to take off on an prolonged highway journey, and so long as they win one of many two highway video games towards the Broncos and Los Angeles Rams, they’ll keep in a great place so far as the postseason and large image are involved.
The protection actually is that good. Jim Schwartz’s stress packages are persistently profitable, and a protection that’s arduous to dam is one that may preserve profitable its battles. The important thing to profitable this week shall be rushing up Russell Wilson and forcing him to show it over, and although the Browns have the personnel to try this, this week they face what Professional Soccer Focus grades as a top-10 pass-blocking offensive line. The Browns ought to head to Denver feeling like they will run the ball, play for subject place and attempt to win one other shut one.
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2. In September, the Broncos gave up 70 factors — sure, 70, — to the Miami Dolphins and fell to 0-3. Now, they’re 5-5 and using a four-game win streak that features victories over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Buffalo Payments. They haven’t scored over 24 factors in a recreation since Oct. 1, however they’re forcing turnovers and retaining themselves on the fitting aspect of late-game variance.
The Broncos have a plus-13 turnover margin within the 5 video games they’ve gained. Of their 5 losses, they’ve a minus-seven turnover ratio. They had been plus-three final week in a wild, last-second win over the Minnesota Vikings that noticed Wilson lead his fourth game-winning drive of the season.
It’s by no means so simple as saying simply don’t flip it over and also you’ll win, however primarily based on the best way Kevin Stefanski known as the sport for Thompson-Robinson final week — and the best way the Broncos have clawed out their current wins — it’s not a stretch to assume each coaches envision a 17-13 or 13-10 kind of recreation. Each kickers have the complete belief of their groups and training workers. Over the past 4 weeks, each Hopkins and Broncos kicker Wil Lutz are 10-of-11 on subject aim tries. Lutz made 5 subject targets final week alone. Wilson’s cross to Courtland Sutton with 1:03 left was the Broncos’ solely landing of the sport.
3. The Browns have dominated cornerback Denzel Ward out of this recreation because of a shoulder harm. That’s a big loss, as Ward is having most likely his finest season and is enjoying in addition to any nook within the NFL.
Doubtlessly, the Browns could possibly be with out some main expertise on protection. Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) and security Juan Thornhill (calf) are listed as questionable, and earlier within the week the Browns needed to put security Rodney McLeod on season-ending injured reserve. Most groups must play not less than 10 defensive backs over the course of the season and have to construct their rosters accordingly — now Cleveland is at that quantity.
When Ward is wholesome, the Browns have the league’s finest cornerback trio in him, Greg Newsome II and Martin Emerson Jr. This week, particular groups demon Mike Ford doubtless will transfer as much as grow to be the first slot cornerback, and the Browns may name A.J. Inexperienced III up from the apply squad. Undrafted rookie Ronnie Hickman needed to play security final week following McLeod’s harm. Hickman and D’Anthony Bell are subsequent in line even when Thornhill can play. McLeod’s loss is a big one given his expertise and flexibility.
Emerson figures to attract the first matchup with Sutton, a big-framed receiver who’s scored a landing in 5 straight video games. Take into account that Newsome turns into extension-eligible after this season, and that’s going to be one in all many necessary monetary selections the Browns face. Newsome has been good this season when wholesome, and his interception return in Baltimore stands as one of many large causes Cleveland is using a three-game win streak into its Denver-LA highway journey. A number of defensive coordinators throughout the league would completely be superb with a Newsome-Emerson beginning duo, however Ward has performed at such a excessive stage that the Browns will clearly miss him.
The Browns shall be with out Professional Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward of their matchup with the Broncos. (Scott Galvin / USA As we speak)
4. One of the simplest ways to assist a rookie quarterback is to run the ball. Per week after their run recreation kind of stalled, the Browns will look to get again to using the Jerome Ford–Kareem Hunt mixture on Sunday in hopes they may help transfer the chains.
The Broncos have the No. 31 rush protection by DVOA (defense-adjusted worth over common). They’re final by a big margin in opponent yards per rush try (5.5) and yards per recreation (160). The gashing by the Dolphins considerably skewed these numbers, however the Browns must look to rev up their dashing assault and hope Ford can get again to creating the massive runs he’s made at numerous factors of the season.
In any other case, count on extra protected passes from Thompson-Robinson early and Cleveland to maneuver the pocket for the rookie. The Browns don’t need Thompson-Robinson to run a bunch and expose himself to many hits, however he’s cell sufficient to increase performs and sometimes take off by design. The hope is the passing recreation can develop with extra reps — the truth is the Browns are largely superb with Thompson-Robinson persevering with to attempt to feed Amari Cooper and David Njoku, who had 15 targets final week.
Loads of these video games will proceed to be determined by which group can get that monstrous yard in key third- and fourth-down conditions. The Browns belief Hunt to at all times get a yard, they usually belief their protection to get its share of stops. I’m to see how typically the Browns are prepared to let Thompson-Robinson throw downfield, both to maintain Denver’s protection trustworthy or attempt to catch it getting grasping.
5. Stefanski wouldn’t share his considering on the quarterback depth chart, however Joe Flacco simply accomplished his first week with the group. Although the apparent expectation is Flacco will go from the apply squad to the lively roster sooner or later, the open spot from McLeod going to injured reserve could be for veteran linebacker and particular groups participant Jordan Kunaszyk this week. Cleveland has till Saturday afternoon to finalize its roster for the sport in Denver.
Flacco has stated he’s simply right here to assist the Browns, and that he’s grateful for the chance. He sounded a little bit peeved that he was nonetheless obtainable in late November, however he stated he’s carried out his finest to stay in form and keep prepared. It’s my perception that the Browns may wait not less than per week earlier than viewing Flacco as any type of life like choice, but it surely’s Flacco’s expertise that led to this new partnership. The plain hope on the Browns’ half is that Thompson-Robinson continues to develop into the beginning position and enhance with extra work.
The thought that the Browns ought to — or must — have a brief leash on Thompson-Robinson isn’t essentially proper or fallacious. They’re enjoying for a postseason berth and enjoying in high-stakes video games. Stefanski has confirmed that he can recreation plan and coach round a quarterback’s inexperience, and there’s definitely an opportunity Thompson-Robinson will proceed to get higher. If defenses can rattle the rookie or drive him into unhealthy spots, and the Browns really feel they will’t work round his weaknesses, then they’ll have to make a change.
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I don’t assume Flacco needs to be considered as a savior. A number of groups have handled quarterback crises this season, and nobody beforehand signed Flacco. I feel he made excellent sense because the emergency choice and the type of participant who’s been by plenty of necessary NFL Decembers. I’d guess that Stefanski hopes the Browns don’t have to search out out what Flacco actually has left.
Nothing in regards to the Browns’ first 10 weeks tells us that the subsequent seven shall be particularly predictable, so let’s see what occurs — and proceed to look at this protection work.
6. The Browns fly to Denver on Saturday. They’ll fly to Southern California after the sport and apply subsequent week at UCLA, Thompson-Robinson’s alma mater, forward of their recreation towards the Rams.
Stefanski put plenty of thought into these journey plans, and he in the end selected this for each sports activities science and group chemistry causes. The Browns will look to avoid wasting their legs, take pleasure in seeing the solar a bit and focus — win or lose this week — on the stretch run. Clearly, group possession has spared no expense in constructing this roster or OK’ing earlier highway journeys to the Greenbrier Resort and Philadelphia, so the Browns will hope to learn from the time away.
Will they be utilizing the week to get Flacco prepared? Will they’ve Ward again subsequent week? May they prolong this win streak and be enjoying for first place within the AFC North after they face the Rams? It’s been a wild experience, and that ought to proceed. Stefanski solely talks about specializing in the subsequent one, and Cleveland’s protection ought to see one other recreation it has an opportunity to dominate.
(Prime photograph of Dorian Thompson-Robinson: Jason Miller / Getty Pictures)
