Hey Northside Dawg Pounders! It’s always hard for me to write a post after such a devastating loss… I try to keep it positive around here.
If you haven’t joined the official BBC you should jump onto that! Our buddy Stephen posts a weekly recap which he email-newsletter’s out. That’s a word, right? Anyways, here it is for those of you who aren’t on his email list:
“Hi Browns fans welcome to week 3, Thursday night football edition. Thursday night the Browns welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers to First Energy Stadium, game time is 7:15 CDT. The game will be shown exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. If you don’t have Prime Video the game will be shown in the main bar at the home of the Chicago Browns Backers, Burke’s Public House 5401 N. Broadway. The good news is that All Pros guards Jack Conklin and Joel Bitonio and DE Myles Garrett are scheduled to start the game.
At the beginning of the season the popular wisdom was that the Browns would need to count on their defense and running game to keep the team in playoff contention until Deshaun Watson returned to the team in week 12. After the first 2 weeks of the season the running game has thrived while the vaunted defense has been the victim of two late game meltdowns, giving up 34 fourth quarter points to the likes of Joe Flacko and Baker Mayfield.
The Browns offense which was supposed to be the weak point of the team is averaging 28 points per game (7th in the NFL) and 380 total yards per game (9th in the NFL). The Jacoby Brissett led offense is converting 8 third downs per game (#2 in the NFL) and converting 53.3% of their third down attempts (#4 in the NFL). The offensive line, even without All Pro guard Jack Conklin, has given up only 1 sack per game (#2 in the NFL). The Browns rushing game has so far shown itself to be one of the best in the NFL. The tandem of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are averaging a league leading 200.5 yards per game on 38 rush attempts per game while averaging 5.3 yards per rush despite opponents knowing that the Browns are going to run over 50% of the time.
The Defense on the other hand has been anything but special over the past 2 games. They are giving up 27.5 points per game (26th in the NFL) and 331.5 total yards per game (15th in the NFL). One indicator of defensive efficiency is points per play and the Browns are giving up .470 points – the 27th worst in the league. Opponents are scoring TD’s on 71.4% of their red zone possessions and converting 46.1% of their third down attempts.
Fun Fact; in quarters 1 thru 3 in the first 2 games the Browns have given up only 21 total points. Looking a little bit closer you see that it appears that the pass defense is the primary culprit in the defensive problems. The front 7 are giving up only 73.5 rushing yards per game good for 4th in the league and yielding only 3.8 yards per rush (#8). Browns’ opponents are completing 59.7% of their passes which is 9th in the NFL and the defense is getting sacks on 7.7% of pass attempts. However the multiple blown coverages on long passes have resulted in the Browns giving up 12 yards per pass completion good for 31st in the NFL.
Looking at the Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades you see that 3 of the 5 primary defensive backs, Denzel Ward (43.8), Greg Newsome II (57.7) and Grant Delpit graded out as “replaceable” while only rookie CB Martin Emerson (74.8) graded out as a starter and S John Johnson III graded out as a back-up over the first 2 games. Linebackers Anthony Walker (90.8) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (91.4) and DE Miles Garrett (91.9) all graded out as elite players with DE Jadeveon Clowney (89.2) grading out as Pro Bowl quality.
Thursday the Browns take on the hated Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) led by former Bear QB Mitch Trubisky. Although the Browns ALWAYS have to be worried anytime they play the Steelers so far this season despite being 1-1 the Steelers’ offense hasn’t lived up to anywhere near expectations. The Steelers are 19th in scoring at 18.5 points per game and averaging only 1.5 offensive TD’s per game. PFF has Trubisky grading out at 62.2 which is back-up status and he has thrown for an average of only 172 yards per game. The Steelers are 30th in total offense (255 yards per game) and yards per play (4.3 yards per play). A couple of points of concern are that they are converting 50% of their red zone possessions into touchdowns and 40% of their third down attempts. Pittsburgh, so far, is having problems running the football averaging only 83 rushing yards per game and 3.8 yards per rushing attempt with no rushing TD’s over the first 2 games.
Their difficulties running the football have led them to throw on 63% of their offensive plays. They are completing 59.2% of their passes for a league worse 5.1 yards per pass attempt. Trubisky’s 76.1 QB rating is 26th among NFL starters. As usual the Steelers are playing quality defense giving up 18.5 points per game (#12) and they are #3 in points per play (.231). Opponents are scoring TD’s on only 37.5% of their red zone possessions. Despite holding opposing QB’s to a 68.8 QB rating (4th in the NFL) they are giving up 275 passing yards per game which is 30th and opponents are completing 61.4% of their passes. The defensive backfield, led by safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has 1 pick six and the defense is averaging 3 takeaways per game third best in the league. On a positive note for the Browns the Steelers are giving up 128.5 rushing yards per game which is 22nd in the league.
GO BROWNS……..GO GUARDIANS “
Don’t forget to check local Quincy Carrier on his YouTube page…