Browns Preview 10/27/17: Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns, In London

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The Cleveland Browns and the Minnesota Vikings travel to England to play their game this week. The Browns still winless on the season after losing in overtime to the Tennessee Titans. The Browns will also be without Joe Thomas in the starting lineup for the first time since the 2006 season. Kevin Shaffer was the last guy not named Joe Thomas to start at left tackle for the Browns. The Vikings are leading the NFC North with a 5-2 record.


Browns Offense vs Vikings Defense

The Browns will be starting DeShone Kizer at quarterback after benching him in the second half of last weeks game. The Browns game plan this week is pretty simple, protect the ball. Kizer needs to take care of the ball especially in the redzone. The Browns will start Spencer Drango at left tackle in place of Joe Thomas this week.

The Browns running game is probably the most important key to the game this week. The Browns need some type of a running game to protect Kizer from throwing the ball too much. In my opinion Duke Johnson should get the majority of the carries but that's unlikely because we know Hue Jackson likes to run Crowell instead. Johnson and tight end David Njoku need to be on the field more and those are the only two consistent playmakers Kizer has had this year.



Browns Defense vs Vikings Offense

The Browns will be without Myles Garrett who is suffering from a concussion. The Browns could be without Jabrill Peppers and Jason McCourty this week too.

The Browns will be going up against Case Keenum this week. The goal for the Browns defensively is to limit Adam Thielen. Thielen is one of the leading receivers on the year. If the Browns can limit him and force Keenum to dink and dunk his way down the field the Browns defense could have a pretty good day. The Vikings running game isn't really a threat after rookie Dalvin Cook injured his knee and is out for the season.

The Browns are going to have a tough time getting pressure on Keenum and forcing him into bad throws so I almost expect for them try and force him into quick throws like they did week one against Pittsburgh.




Five Guys to Watch


1. DeShone Kizer: This one is pretty simple. Like every other week he starts he is the number one guy fans should watch. Kizer hasn't really developed as we all hoped and with the injury to Joe Thomas he will probably get hit a lot more.

2.  Duke Johnson: Johnson is the only dynamic playmaker on the team. It is inexcusable that Johnson doesn't get the ball more. I say this every week. Duke needs to be the number one running back going forward for this team.

3. Carl Nassib: With Garrett out this week Nassib will be starting in his place. Nassib has played okay when Garrett was out. The Browns need him to get pressure on Keenum in order to create a potential turnover.

4. Jamar Taylor: With McCourty being questionable this week Taylor is the number one corner again this week. Taylor did a good job last week against the Titans but with have a tough challenge this week with the weapons the Vikings have.

5. Any Receiver: The Browns need one of their receivers this week to step up. Britt has been a cancer on this team, but if Bryce Treggs or Kasen Williams can have a decent game hopefully it will be something Kizer and his receivers can build upon.


Injuries

Weather


Prediction: Vikings 35 Browns 10

With a potential blowout in England, Hue Jackson going 1-23 in his tenure, and the bye week next week this could be Hue Jackson's last game as the Browns head coach. Unless the owner and front office come out and say we are going to keep Hue Jackson for the rest of the season and go into 2018 with Hue also. This upcoming bye week could be interesting for a number of reasons. A fired head coach and/or a potential new hire to the front office...Stay Woke.

Krunch Time With Katelin: Browns Fans Should Focus On The Bigger Picture

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


We are heading into the seventh week of the season and the Cleveland Browns are still without a victory.  They've played really well at times and have also played like an inexperienced young team. Now dating back to the preseason we all knew that the Browns weren't destined for anything great this year, and that this was a "try-out" for many young guys on this roster. So to the vocal people Browns fans who are already calling for Hue Jackson's job, and the fans that get all frustrated when they lose every week...

You all need to REMAIN CALM!!!

*NOTE: I understand the irony of "remain calm" in caps

Yes, its difficult to do that and still watch every Sunday...I completely understand that and I'm with you, I won't even repeat some of the names I called Cody Parkey when he missed those kicks in Miami. But if we all as fans look at the bigger picture each week, instead of being so reactionary on each play I guarantee that Browns games on Sunday's will be a lot better. 

So what is "The Bigger Picture?" Well...its a few things:

First, its developing the young players on this team. Yes, I've said that a handful of times before but its the most important part of the rebuild. The Browns and fans are seeing guys like Terrelle Pryor, Cody Kessler, and Carl Nassib become solid NFL players. 

Pryor is the perfect example of the "try-out" year. Someone who only played in three games last season as a receiver and he cam into this year with an actual opportunity to show that he can play the position. Honestly did anyone expect him to rank ninth in targets with 58, 11th in catches with 33, and tied for 17th in yards with 413 with Emmanuel Sanders? No, of course not...but Pryor is must watch tv at this point. And the Browns need to consider re-signing him ASAP. 

Second, Hue Jackson needs to lay down the foundation. Its one of those things that some overlook, but Hue Jackson and company needs a year or so to build the type of program they think that can be successful. Now I know some will get upset that I used the term "program" especially since they have Former Baylor head coach Art Briles working as a consultant, but the really good team are successful because of their foundation. We can see the foundation building every week when the Browns take the field. The Browns seemed prepared every week they've played. And that doesn't mean they haven't been over matched, because they have (i.e. vs. New England). But it really is the small things at this point: Making sure everyone is prepared, embracing the "next-man-up" mentality, and finally/hopefully learning how to finish out games and win. 

Last, is to understand that we needed to be terrible (record wise) this year. This upcoming draft might be the most important draft for the Browns since...I don't know when. But if the Browns end up having the number one overall pick this year is a success by default. It doesn't become one of those years like 2011 where we win irrelevant games against the Colts and the Seahawks costing us the chance to draft a franchise quarterback. Even if we don't go with a quarterback number one overall, its all about the opportunity to have any one player in the draft. Not hoping one guy isn't taken or having to package picks to jump up a few spots. 

This year is a time to embrace 0-16 and embrace having a young team learning to fly.

Browns Preview 10.7.16: New England Patriots @ Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The 3-1 New England Patriots travels to Cleveland to take on the 0-4 Browns. Both teams lost last week. The Patriots lost 16-0 to the Buffalo Bills at home. The Browns lost to the Redskins 31-20 in Washington. This week marks the return of Tom Brady, who was serving a four game suspension for "Deflate Gate".

Browns Offense vs Patriots Defense

The Browns running game is ranked first in the league with 142 yards per game. So we should expect the Browns to continue to run the ball since the Patriots are giving up 100 yards per game on the ground this year. Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson should get 30 carries between the two. The Browns need to control the time of possession. Like last week, the Bills ran for 134 yards on 32 carries but most importantly they controlled the ball for 36 mins.

The passing game with Kessler should continue to do what they do. A lot of slant routes with Terrelle Pryor, check downs passes to Duke Johnson, and find his "ole' reliable" target Gary Barnidge. The Patriots are going to bring presser at times and stack the box, so expect more passes down field. Kessler is getting more comfortable in the NFL and its his first home start of his young career, so Hue Jackson might bring out all the stops to upset the Patriots.

The last key for the Browns to win is to continue to convert on third down. Last week the Browns were 8/12 on third down and they have a 42% conversion percentage this year, which ranks 13th in the NFL. Converting third downs help the time of possession and obviously helps the Browns get into scoring position.

*Note John Greco is the starting center this week, Alvin Bailey is projected to start at right guard this week.


Browns Defense vs Patriots Offense

Tom Brady is back. Rob Gronkowski is close to 100%. And LeGarrette Blount is third in rushing yards just behind Isaiah Crowell.

Tom Brady is a question mark this week. Everyone expects him to throw for 500 yards and 4 touchdowns, but he hasn't played since the preseason. The Browns need to get pressure to Brady and knock him down so he doesn't get into a rhythm early. But Brady has all of his offense weapons this week: Gronk, Julian Edelman, and Martellus Bennett. This might be one of those games where the Browns need to force the Pats to run the ball.

LeGarrette Blount is a top rusher in the NFL and he's also one of the biggest backs in the league. Blount should get a ton of touches so the Pats can ease Brady into the game. Blount is averaging four yards per carry and he has four touchdowns. James White is the pass catching back for the Pats. White has 13 catches this year and is a really good change of pace back to spell Blount.

The Browns need to force the ground game and get pressure to Tom Brady. The Browns are going to have to pick their spots like always because of the youth of the defense.


Five Guys to Watch

Isaiah Crowell: Crowell should get an increase in carries this week. If he can go for at least 80 yards against the Patriots defense, when they know the run is coming, Crowell should be in the discussion as one of the better backs in the league. And like stated before, Crowell's success this week should keep the Browns in this game.

Gary Barnidge: Barnidge has caught 16/18 passes to him this year. This week he should get a ton of targets and have a breakout game this week since the Pats will try to take away the running game and Terrelle Pryor.

Carl Nassib (Hopefully): Nassib was back to practice this week. He is still questionable for this week but if Nassib can play limited snaps he will really help the pass rush with Ogbah and Cam Johnson.

Derrick Kindred: Kindred will be matched up against Gronk or Bennett. It could be a long day for him. But as long as he does his job Kendred shouldn't be exposed to badly this week. This match up personifies the term "tryout year".

Joe Haden: Haden will be up against Edelman this week. Haden has to lock down the lake this week and help force an interception. Haden will be up against not just Edelman but the tight ends too while in the redzone. As the superstar player on defense Haden needs to step up against the elite playmakers of the Patriots.




Injury Report 
Weather Report
Betting Line: Patriots -10.5

Prediction: Patriots 34 - Browns 21

This game can go either way. But expect the Browns to lose and the Patriots to cover the spread late. The Browns will play well like the first four weeks but they just can't pull it out. Another morale win for the Browns but another frustrating game to watch for the fans...at least the Tribe plays at 4pm.

Krunch Time With Katelin: Cleveland Browns Quarter Season Report

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE


The Browns are 0-4 with 12 games left. The first quarter of the season has been tough for the Browns. Just on offense they lost their two quarterbacks Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown, first round pick Corey Coleman, two centers Cam Erving and Austin Reiter. Then on defense they lost rookie pass rusher Carl Nassib, their starting defensive tackle John Hughes (who was released), and their secondary has been banged up. And lets not start on the kicking situation.


Browns Offense Ranks: 12th in yards per game, 25th in passing yards per game, 1st in rushing yards per game, 13th in third down percentage, and 26th in points per game.

Quarterbacks

Robert Griffin III is a lost cause because of injuries. He suffered a shoulder injuring at the end of week one and was put on IR with a possibility of return. Griffin didn't play bad during week one but he did look lost at times. Griffin was 12/26 for 190 yards and one interception. Fans and the coaching staff would love to see more of Griffin but with him being out for most of the season its highly unlikely he becomes the quarterback of the future.

Josh McCown along with Terrelle Pryor might be the MVP of the first quarter. McCown played one game which was against the Ravens in week two. He went 20/33 for 260 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions. The guy played most of the game with a fracture in his non-throwing shoulder. Yeah the Browns ended up losing the game, but with McCown under center the offense played extremely well. Even with the shoulder injury, McCown is projected to be back some time in the middle of the year.

Cody Kessler started week three and four. The guy did exactly what the Browns need him to do, and that is not lose the game. Kessler in the two games went 49/73 for 467 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The offense with Kessler has been run heavy, and a ton of short passes. What's interesting about Kessler is that he has almost the exact same stats as Carson Wentz through their first two games.

Kessler: 49/73, 467 yards, 1 touchdowns and 1 interception
Wentz: 43/71, 468 yards, 3 touchdowns and zero interceptions

Quarterbacks Grade: B-


Running Backs

Isaiah Crowell is another bright spot on this team. Crowell is second in the NFL in rushing yards. Crowell is averaging 6.5 yards per carry. (61 carries/394 yards) and three touchdowns including a 85 yard run against the Ravens. Another positive about Crowell is his ability to hold onto the ball. He has yet to fumble this year and hasn't had a fumble since his rookie year in 2014. Crowell like stated in previous articles is the "Jeremy Hill" of Hue Jackson's offense. Also he is projected to have just under 1600 yards on the ground.  

Duke Johnson, the "Gio Bernard" of Hue Jackson's offense, is a playmaker. He's only gotten 24 carries but he's got 124 yards on the ground for 6.2 yards per carry. Where Johnson does his most damage is in the passing game. Johnson has 18 catches, which is second behind Terrelle Pryor, for 115 yards. Not really sure if Duke Johnson will get an increase in carries with Isaiah Crowell balling out, but Duke has an important job in this offense.

Running Backs Grade: A


Wide Receivers

Terrelle Pryor looks like a NFL wide receiver. Pryor is first on the team in catches (19) and receiving yards (290). In week three Pryor had eight catches for 144 yards, he ran for 21 yards and a touchdown, and threw for 35 yards on 3/5 passes. Pryor at 6'4 is a matchup nightmare. He's played really well in week four catching his first career touchdown pass against Josh Norman.

Corey Coleman unfortunately got hurt in practice after having a breakout game in week two. Against the Ravens, Coleman had five catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns (which ranks first on the team). Coleman is expected to be back by mid-season after breaking a bone in his hand. Its unfortunate that he got hurt but he did show he can play in this league.

Other Receivers like Andrew Hawkins and Ricardo Lewis have done an okay job trying to replace Coleman. Its extremely hard to judge these other receivers since the offense changed with Cody Kessler under center.

Wide Receiver Grade: B-


Tight End

Gary Barnidge has been underwhelming but when he's been thrown too he's delivered. Barnidge has 16 catches on 18 targets, 160 yards, 10 first downs, and a two point conversion. Barnidge hasn't been productive but he's been reliable for rookie quarterback Cody Kessler. What's odd about Barnidge is that week one he didn't have a catch. Its odd because he was projected to be a target for Robert Griffin III and he was coming off a season where he caught 79 passes for just over 1000 yards and nine touchdowns.

The other tight end Randall Telfer is mostly used as an extra blocker. He was targeted once and doesn't have a catch yet this year.

Tight End Grade: C+


Offensive Line

The Offensive line has been solid this year even though they have used three different starting centers in four weeks. The Browns are ranked first in the run game and its not just because of Isaiah Crowell. Guys like John Greco and Joel Bitonio have done a fantastic job clearing up space in the middle. Joe Thomas is the G.O.A.T. and we all know this. He's the anchor of this offensive line and the guy is unbelievable. The only weak spot seems to be right tackle with Austin Pasztor. Pasztor against the Miami Dolphins had six penalties for over 70 yards loss. Now the pass blocking has been average since the group has given up 11 sacks in four games which is tied for seventh most. Which caused Josh McCown's shoulder injury. Obviously sacks happen and with the constant changes its hard to get a rhythm but group has been solid overall.

Offensive Line Grade: B


Defense Ranks: 22nd in opponents total yards per game, 19th in opponents third down percentage, 16th in opponents passing yards per game, and 24th in opponents rushing yards per game.


Defensive line

Guys like Carl Nassib, Danny Shelton and Jamie Meder are really growing. Nassib broke his hand after a promising first week but is projected to practice and might play in week five. Guys like Danny Shelton and Jamie Meder are playing really well. Shelton doesn't look lost like like year and isn't getting out played by Meder who was an undrafted free agent. Meder and Shelton are starting in the Browns 3-4 along side of Xavier Cooper. Meder took over for John Hughes who started week one but was scratched in week two and then released. The Browns went really young on the defensive line which is most likely the reason for the higher opp. rushing yards per game.

Defensive Line Grade: C+


Linebackers

The Browns linebackers are really solid. The four starting linebackers are Demario Davis, Christian Kirksey, on the inside and rookies Emmanual Ogbah and Joe Schobert on the outside. Davis and Kirksey are really good in pass coverage. Kirksey ranks second on the team in total tacks (29) and Davis ranks third (25). Ogbah and Schobert doesn't have a sack yet but they have a couple pass deflections. Pass rush wise the Browns are lacking with only six sacks, but Cody Lemonier and Cam Johnson have three sacks and two forced fumbles between them. Injuries have also hit the linebacker position in last years second round pick Nate Orchard being placed on the IR with a ankle injury.

Linebacker Grade: B-


Defensive Backs

Joe Haden had a terrible game in week one, but redeemed himself in week two against the Ravens. Joe Haden locked up the Ravens top guy and had two interceptions.  The injury bug hit Haden which made him miss week three against the Dolphins. Haden came back in week four and played okay while still nursing his groin injury.

Jamar Taylor, who is a former second round pick of Miami, has really played well. He has reinvigorated his career in Cleveland. He has 16 tackles and two interceptions. Taylor has been the constant at corner with the injuries of Joe Haden and Tramon Williams. Taylor seems to be one of those guys that could be here in Cleveland long term. The Browns really seem to like him and again he's flourished in his opportunity.

Jordan Poyer is first on the team in tackles with 31. He's an average free safety who really hasn't impressed. He's below average in the passing game which is why he has a lot for tackles. This is the first time Poyer is the full-time starter, but through four week free safety is a position of weakness on this team.

Shifting to the strong safety position, Derrick Kendred looks like a player. He is fourth on the team with 20 tackles and he's played over 80% of the snaps on defense which is crazy for a fourth round rookie. But with Ibraheim Campbell out Kendred has stepped up and shown a lot of progress through the first four weeks.

Other DBs:  Briean Boddy-Calhoun played really well considering he was an undrafted rookie and was a late pick up for the Browns. Boddy-Calhoun has an interception which he returned for a touchdown against Miami and he also has a sack which was against the Redskins. Tramon Williams on the other hand was hit with the injury bug in week three which caused him to miss week four against Washington. Williams struggled against Jordan Matthews and Steve Smith Sr and seemed to be slow at times. But Williams is the lone vet on the defense along side Joe Haden.

Defensive Backs Grade: B


Special Teams

The Special Teams have been awful. The Kicking game with Cody Parkey and Patrick Murray have been terrible. Murray had two kicks blocked in week two which ended up being the difference in the game (a blocked PAT that was returned for two points and a blocked field goal). And Cody Parkey who missed three field goals in week three against Miami including a game winning field goal at the end of regulation.

But it not just the Kicking game that has struggled, the punt return game has been equally as bad. The Browns only have five punt returns for 33 yards and Duke Johnson has one of them for 18 yards. The Browns need to find a punt returner and stick with him. Jordan Poyer is the only guy to have more than one punt return. As of right now the Browns just have a punt catcher not a returner.

As for Punter Britton Colquitt has done a fine job as punter. He's a seven year pro and was part of the Super Bowl winning Denver Broncos last year. Colquitt only has one touchback. He has an average of 47 yards with a long of 59 yards. Not much else to say about Colquitt, the guy is a solid punter.

Special Teams Grade: D


Coaching

Hue Jackson has done an amazing job the first four weeks. The team is in every game and looks prepared. Jackson's play calling seemed to be a bit pass heavy but other than that there really isn't much to complain about. He made this offense competitive even thought they are on their third quarterback. Hue Jackson gets the most out of his players and in a tryout year of sorts that's all you can hope for. Also guys want to play for him you can see how he reaches players and they trust him.

Ray Horton is basically doing the same as Hue but on the defensive side of the ball. Horton has put these guys in a position to win and be successful. He's been aggressive at times which is his MO but not as much because of the injuries to Joe Haden and Tramon Williams.

Coaching Grade: A

Browns Preview 9.16.16: Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The (0-1) Cleveland Browns hosts the (1-0) Baltimore Ravens in this week two matchup. The Browns lost in week one 29-10 against the Philadelphia Eagles and lost their starting quarterback Robert Griffin III. The Ravens on the other hand won against the Buffalo Bills 13-7. The Browns will be starting Josh McCown at quarterback. Last year McCown threw for 669 yards and three touchdowns in two games last year against the Ravens.


Browns Offense vs Ravens Defense

Baltimore's defense last week completely shut down the Bills offense, only allowing 160 total yards on 48 plays. The Browns have some work to do offensively since they only had 288 total yards and their time of possession was only 20:40 compared to the Eagles' 39:20. But there is some hope with Josh McCown under center. Like stated earlier Josh McCown put up some great stats last year against the Ravens. Also, with Josh McCown starting that means Gary Barnidge will get a lot more targets than the two he had last week. Barnidge was one of McCown's favorite targets last year, being thrown to 22% of the time and also catching six touchdown passes from him.

The running game with Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson will be extremely important. Its important because the Browns need to keep Josh McCown upright. The backup quarterback is Cody Kessler and he is not ready to play in the NFL yet. Having a consistent running game throughout the game will keep the Ravens' defense honest and prevent them from dropping everyone into coverage or blitzing as much. Last week the Ravens only gave up 2.7 yards per rushing attempt so the Browns will have some work to do. But they can't give up on the run like they did vs the Eagles.

The most important thing the Browns can do offensively is convert on third down. The Browns went 2/10 on third down and 0/2 on fourth down. Increasing the conversion percentage will also increase the time of possession.


Browns Defense vs Ravens' Offense

The Browns struggled last week giving up 403 total yards last week. Their main problem was not forcing any turnovers against the rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. But the young guys like Carl Nassib, Demario Davis, and Emmanual Ogbah played really well. The Browns struggled in the secondary. Joe Haden and Tramon Williams didn't play well. And against the Ravens' offense they need to have a big game. The Browns must prevent Joe Flacco from throwing the ball deep down field to either Mike Wallace, Steve Smith Sr, or Kamar Aiken. Last week Flacco threw for 258 yards and a touchdown which was a 66 yard bomb to Mike Wallace. Flacco was sacked four times last week so the Browns will be able to get to him, but its extremely important to prevent the deep ball.

The Ravens averaged 3 yards per rushing attempt last week. Justin Forsett and Terrance West slit the majority of the carries, Forsett having 10/41 and West having 12/32. Compared to last week the Browns gave up 133 yards on 34 attempts and a touchdown. The Browns need to keep both these running backs at bay and force Joe Flacco to live up to his "Elite" status.

Last but not least, for the Browns to win they need to force a turnover or two so the offense can have a shorter field. Flacco is prone to throwing picks at times so its key for the Browns to bait him into some aggressive throws.


Five Guys to Watch

Jordan Poyer: Poyer is the starting free safety for this defense and will be the last line of defense when the Ravens try to throw the deep ball down field. Poyer might have a few opportunities to pick off Flacco. If Poyer can do his job it will shorten the field for Flacco and the Ravens which could result in the ability to blitz a lot more than last week.

Cam Erving: Erving had a rough week against the Eagles. He had an terrible snap the resulted in safety and a nine point swing. Erving will be matched up against Brandon Williams a former third round pick in the 2013 draft. If Erving can have a bounce back game and make sure Josh McCown can stay upright it will be considered a successful game for Erving. Yes, its the little things to help build this young guys confidences.

Josh McCown: McCown is taking over for injured quarterback Robert Griffin III. If McCown can do what he did last year against the Ravens and not have any dumb throws like he is prone to have the Browns will stay in this game.

Gary Barnidge: For obvious reasons Barnidge is going to get a lot of targets this week against the Ravens. I don't expect him to only have two targets like he did last week. If the Browns want to improve on their third down conversion percentage,  Barnidge is going to have to be the main target for McCown.  

Carl Nassib: Nassib showed an ability to get into the backfield. And last week went up against one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. If Nassib can repeat what he last week he should help the Browns force Flacco into a turnover.

Injuries:
Weather:
Betting Line: Browns (+6.5)

Prediction

The Browns will fall to (0-2). The Browns' secondary isn't that good so I don't expect them to be able to stop Joe Flacco and company. They will need to prove to me that they can "lock down the lake" before I pick them in anymore game.  Now the offense will play fine, but its really hard to imagine Josh McCown having a 350+ yard passing game which is the type of game the Browns will need to stay in this game.

BOOOO Ravens Win... 35-24.

Browns Preview: Cleveland Browns @ Phiadelphia Eagles

By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The Cleveland Browns led by new Head Coach Hue Jackson take on the Philadelphia Eagles and their new Head Coach Doug Peterson. This game has a lot of first considering both teams are in the process of rebuilding. Also this is the first game for rookie quarterback Carson Wentz who was taken number two overall by the Eagles after completing a trade with the Browns last April.

Browns Offense vs. Eagles Defense

The Browns offense will be based on the run game. Isaiah Crowell is expected to get a huge chuck of the carries this Sunday. Now against the Eagles and their wide 9 defensive scheme the Browns might have some trouble with stretch runs on either side of the ball. The Eagles have a solid defensive line highlighted by Fletcher Cox and Connor Barwin. Cox is arguably one of the best defensive tackles in the game and just signed a 6yr/103 million dollar extension this off-season. How and why are these two guys a problem for the Browns to have success in this game? Look at who they are matched up with: Cox and John Greco will be matched up and the same with Barwin and right tackle Austin Pasztor. On paper, the right side of the Browns offensive line will struggle against these two so it will b up to Crowell to take advantage of every hole they can create. The Eagles are also very athletic. Barwin and Brandon Graham are former outside linebackers in a 3-4 defense and since the wide 9 in now implemented they are now defensive ends. And along side of Cox and Bennie Logan the Browns could struggle to start the game.

Where there is hope offensively, is the passing game. If quarterback Robert Griffin III can stay upright the Browns could have a field day. Yes the starting receivers Corey Coleman and Terrelle Pryor are making their first starts, but the threat of Pryor down the field and ability of Duke Johnson to catch the ball out of the back field will give the Browns some balance. By balance I mean the way the Eagles will have to defend the passing game. Whether that is having a safety over the top and RGIII dumping down to Johnson or Gary Barnidge or its press-man coverage and throwing the ball down the field for Pryor or Coleman to run it down. Now saying all this the key is keeping RGIII upright. If the Browns O-line can give him some time RGIII will make the right decisions, whether its checking down or just throwing the ball away.

The last key for the offense is to prolong drives. The Browns were terrible converting third downs during the preseason. They won't be able to bank on the big plays down field all the time this year.

Browns Defense vs Eagles Offense

The Eagles are starting rookie quarterback Carson Wentz, who only played in one preseason game before injuring his ribs. The Eagles have a really good offensive line even without right tackle Lane Johnson. Expect a high dose of running back Ryan Mathews this game. The Browns defense during the preseason couldn't stop the run. It will be the most important thing to do it this game. They need to force Wentz to pass the ball so defensive coordinator Ray Horton can call up the blitz. Blitzing Wentz and forcing him into mistakes will give the Browns a great opportunity to win this game. Now some of the other weapons for the Eagles are tight ends Brent Celek and Zack Ertz. Tight ends are the safety blanket for quarterbacks so expect a lot of dink and dunks to those two.

Also backup running back Darren Sproles (yes that Darren Sproles). Sproles is still really good catching the ball out of the backfield and for the same reason as the tight ends expect him to catch a handful of balls this game. I won't expect the Eagles to throw the ball down field as much even though they have solid receivers in Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor. Passes down field will give the Browns an opportunity to get to Wentz which is what the Eagles might want to avoid for many reason including his inexperience, lack of practice time, and the injury he is recovering from.

Wentz will try and be a game manager on Sunday. The Eagles want to see what they have in him but if he can't get it done there is a possibility backup quarterback Chase Daniels gets into the game.   Yes it is a long shot but if  the game is close and Wentz isn't playing well the Eagles might go to Daniels for the win...yes, Chase Daniels for the win.

Five Guys to Watch

Joe Haden: This is Haden's first game back since the middle of last year. This is also a put up or shut up year for him. If he want to reclaim his spot as an elite cornerback it starts this game going up against Wentz.

Cam Erving: This will be his first game as a full time center. Can he control the o-line and make the correct adjustments? Well time will tell which is why he's a guy to watch.

Corey Coleman: The first round pick out of Baylor and the first pick of Hue Jackson and company. Coleman has a ton of talent and balled out during training camp but he did struggle during the preseason games. If he can catch 5-8 passes and go for 70 yards it will be a solid debut. Its important to get him into a rhythm early so he doesn't get discouraged.

Carl Nassib: Can Nassib continue to ball out as he did during the preseason. Yes he won't be starting but on passing downs he will be on the field because he has a nose for the quarterback.

Robert Griffin III: This will be his first regular season game since 2014. Griffin looked solid during the preseason. Lets hope he continues to develop and can correctly read defenses. Also like stated before its important for him to take what the defense gives him and throwing the ball away is ok.


Injury Report 
Weather
Line: Browns +3.5 *subject to change

Prediction

The Browns are going to win this game 27-21. They will create havoc for Carson Wentz which will force him into some bad throws. The Browns who finally have some weapons on offense will take advantage of the takeaways. Griffin will throw for 250+ yards and two touchdowns. And Crowell will run for a touchdown. Also expect a trick play with Terrelle Pryor either throwing the ball or running it out of the "wildcat" formation. Its important for Hue Jackson to start out 1-0 and if the Browns win it will be their first opening day win since 2004.

Krunch Time With Katelin: Browns vs. Falcons, Preseason Week 2 Recap

Browns Lose To The Falcons, But There Are Some Positives
By Katelin Marshall, @KatelinKnowsCLE

The Cleveland Browns lost to the Falcons 24-13, which by itself is disappointing but after watching the game (mostly the first half) there are some positives to build on.

First and foremost, the Cleveland Browns might have found their quarterback. Robert Griffin III went 6-8 for 96 yards and two touchdowns. The first one was to Terrelle Pryor for 50 yards, who got separation from pro-bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant. The second TD pass was to pro-bowl tight end Gary Barnidge. Griffin placed a beautiful ball down the side line for Barnidge. Besides the two touchdown passes Griffin also ran the read option for 22 yards and then executed a nice slide to avoid the hit. RG3 has shown enough to earn the label "starting quarterback" and all speculation from fans and media of Hue Jackson's decision is a moot point.

Another positive from the offense was the running game. Isaiah Crowell hit the holes with good speed and wasn't hesitant in his decision making, He also displayed good vision while finding holes, which also gives credit to the offensive line. With the success of the running game it did open up the passing game which resulted in Pryor's touchdown catch.

Now to list a negatives.

The Browns offense was 1/8 trying to convert on third down.

The Browns defense was shaky. Yes individual players did well, guys like Carl Nassib, Demario Davis, Derrick Kindred, and Jamal Taylor. But overall the defense wasn't great. They gave up big gaps in the rushing game giving up 225 yards. Now I understand that will happen in the preseason and the Browns were  going up against the zone blocking scheme but at the same point it did seem like the guys up front weren't doing their jobs correctly.

Another down with the defense was the overall tackling. It was horrible. Justin Gilbert couldn't rap up the running back Devonta Freeman who had a big run for a touchdown.

Travis Coons missed a extra point, so that's that.

On The Clock: NFL Draft 2016: The Real Journey Begins #NFLDraft2016 #Browns

By Alex Hale, @DaSportsGenius7

At long last the NFL Draft is behind us and now NFL teams can get back to developing their teams.  For fans like myself and many other people, we love to analyze what happened throughout the NFL Draft.  One thing was for sure with the 2016 NFL Draft, it was completely unpredictable.  After Jared Goff/Carson Wentz went #1 and #2, the entire 2016 Draft was full of twists and turns that nobody saw coming.  So with that said for our Browns fans, we’re going to go over each of the picks by the Browns with a grade, plus a few stories of the draft that caught my attention.

The Browns and their new regime tied an NFL Draft record with 14 draft selections.  The Browns also set a modern day draft record of selecting 5 WRs.  Hue Jackson, Sashi Brown and Paul DePodesta focused their energy on finding themselves playmakers and efficient defensive players.  What also stands out about the Browns draft class is their character and Football IQ.  It’s very clear that outside of the Analytics the Browns are using, Character and Football IQ will be very highly valued in future drafts.  As I grade the Browns picks, please be aware these are just initial feelings of the picks, I’m not going to just write off anyone as a failed pick like a lot of other Draft writers.  So let’s jump into what the Browns did in the NFL Draft.

1st Round (15th Overall)- WR Corey Coleman, Baylor- The Browns ideally wanted Oregon DE DeForest Buckner to be on the board at #8, but he went to San Francisco and the Browns almost immediately traded down.  At 15, the Browns had their choice of any WR in the draft and choice Coleman.  What Coleman lacks in size at 5'10", 195, he makes up for with his speed and ability to catch the ball.  What surprised me going back and watching him is his ability to attack the ball in the air even though he doesn’t have the size.  The kid is fearless and exactly the kind of playmaker the Browns need to send fear into defenses.  While I personally preferred TCU WR Josh Doctson or Ole Miss WR LaQuon Treadwell, after taking a few days to re-evaluate Coleman, I’d put Coleman right up there on the best WRs in this class.
My Grade: B+

2nd Round (32nd Overall)- DE/OLB Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma St.- With Myles Jack on the board most people not only were surprised but criticized the pick.  My question to them is why?  While Ogbah doesn’t have the motor you look for that can be picked up over time.  Ogbah is perfect to play the OLB in the 3-4 and gives the Browns a big, explosive, and powerful pass rusher going forward.  This was rumored to be Dallas’ pick so the Browns weren’t alone with where they ranked him.  Ogbah to me was a 1st Round talent who slipped due to motor concerns, but in time I think will be an impact pass rusher for Cleveland.  More importantly this sends a message to Barkevious Mingo to either take the next step or he’s gone.
My Grade: B+

3rd Round (65th Overall)- DE Carl Nassib, Penn State- After selecting Ogbah, I sort of question the selection here, but the talent is worth taking here.  Nassib is quite the physical specimen at 6'7", 275 who I had as more of a 4-3 DE.  Nassib plays with a relentless motor and it helped him come from a walk on to a Nagurski Trophy finalist (Nation’s Top Defender).  Nassib is very raw as a player still and really needs to bulk up a bit more.  I think the Browns are viewing him as a 3-4 DE with some OLB ability, much like JJ Watt.  Extremely talented player with big upside, but I question the pick after taking Ogbah with other pressing needs.
My Grade: B-

3rd Round (76th Overall)- OT Shon Coleman, Auburn- Great value for the Browns in Round 3 as they snag their potential starting RT this year.  Coleman has a great story overcoming cancer and developing into a Day 2 NFL prospect.  He is on the older side (25 years old) but the talent is there.  One big thing to remember, he kept Texas A&M and Top 2017 NFL Draft prospect DE Myles Garrett in check when Auburn faced the Aggies.  He knows how to utilize his size and long arms, might need some refining on moving around on the line, but a very strong pick here.
Grade- A-

3rd Round (93rd Overall)- QB Cody Kessler, USC- Guys… let’s not panic.  For the record, I’m not a fan of the pick, but I get the pick.  It’s obvious that Hue Jackson sees a lot of Andy Dalton in Kessler.  First off Kessler gets the Browns and the fan base after going through the disarray at USC over the past few years.  He’s been through multiple coaching regimes and still finished at USC throwing 88 TDs to 31 INTs.  Remember there once was a time he was going to be a 1st Round pick.  While arm strength is a downside, he has everything else you look for in a QB.  Accurate, Poised, ran a Pro style offense in college.  And remember, Cody Kessler probably isn’t your QB of the future, if anything he’s your backup of the future.
My Grade: C+

4th Round (99th Overall)- LB Joe Schobert, Wisconsin- Just a productive LB at Wisconsin that was a Pro Football Focus favorite.  That should tell you why the Browns liked him.  He’s very instinctive and fluid with his movement and ability to get to the ball.  Does have pass rushing ability, but his size will probably limit him in the 3-4 scheme to more of a ILB role.  Overall good pick, adds a solid player to the defense.
My Grade: B

4th Round (114th Overall)- WR Ricardo Louis, Auburn- This is the one pick that confused me the most even after thinking it over.  Louis is the one guy that does have the size/speed combo unlike the other WRs drafted, but his hands are inconsistent.  He did show improvement at Auburn but at Auburn, WRs are very limited in what they do there.  I’m confused by the selection, especially when Pharoh Cooper was right there.
My Grade: D

4th Round (129th Overall)- S Derrick Kindred, TCU- Tough competitive leader that the Browns will need in their secondary.  Broke his collarbone going into his final season at TCU and Doctors recommended surgery, but Kindred played through it.  What stands out on the film is he’s an aggressive player who loves to play the game.  Unfortunately, he lacks a bit in tackling and in coverage.  He could develop into a starter and maybe even a leader for the defense, but he’s going to need time.  Fortunately, Kindred is the kind of guy who will work his butt off to get to that point.
My Grade: B-

4th Round (138th Overall)- WR/TE Seth DeValve, Princeton- Played WR at Princeton, Browns look to be moving him to TE.  Quite an interesting pick as a lot didn’t even have DeValve getting drafted.  What he has going forward is he understands routes and how to run them, which could benefit him at TE.  He’ll need work on blocking and will need to get more consistent catching the ball.  What impresses me the most is he’s great after the catch.  Browns might’ve found themselves a poor man’s Gronk.
My Grade: C+

5th Round (154th Overall)- WR Jordan Payton, UCLA- The Bruins’ all-time receptions leader is a solid get at this point.  He’s got good size at 6'1", 207, and good but not great speed.  What concerns me is his release off the line and his acceleration as it leaves a lot to be desired.  At the very least the Browns are getting a productive WR who knows how to catch the ball which is something you can’t have too many of.
My Grade: B-

5th Round (168th Overall)- OT Spencer Drango, Baylor- The LT for Baylor, the Browns get a solid value pick here.  He’s athletic for the position, but lacks a lot of strength.  Some see him as a potential Guard, but he’ll need to add strength.  Browns have said he’s going to be a RT for now and that makes sense.  He has short arms and as long as he can add some strength he’s great depth to have for the Browns O-Line.
My Grade: B

5th Round (172nd Overall)- WR Rishard Higgins, Colorado St.- How did "Hollywood" slip this far?  Higgins was at least a 4th Round guy to me.  Coming from a Pro-style offense in Colorado St., Higgins thrived as their #1 WR.  While the loss of Garrett Grayson hurt his numbers, it was more of teams adjusting to him.  He doesn’t blow you away with speed but he’s got great ball skills and can easily come into Cleveland and make an impact right away.  Just a consistent player who will catch the ball and makes plays.
My Grade: B+

5th Round (173rd Overall)- CB Trey Caldwell, Louisiana Monroe- I didn’t even have this guy ranked at all.  A shrimpy CB who runs well, but not great.  The best you can hope for is he turns out to be another K’Wuan Williams.  He seems to always have a good eye on where the QB is looking to throw and tends to be right where he needs to be.  Take into effect he didn’t play against the best competition, but Caldwell seems to be a tough, gritty CB who will work to get better.
My Grade: C+

7th Round (250th Overall)- LB Scooby Wright III, Arizona- How did Scooby last here is beyond me.  I would’ve targeted Wright in the 5th Round, but the Browns luck out and get him with their final pick.  Yeah he was banged up last year, but in 2014 you saw an instinctive talent that was the anchor for the Arizona defense.  He comes into a situation where he won’t be thrusted into starting but in time there’s no doubt Wright will start one day for the Browns.  Absolute steal in Round 7.
My Grade: A

Biggest Draft Storylines

Jacksonville Jaguars- Only a few short years ago, you could say the Jaguars were one of the biggest jokes of the league, but the past few years, the Jags ain’t messing around anymore.  David Caldwell did an excellent job, staying patient at #5 and landing FSU CB Jalen Ramsey.  Then in the 2nd Round stealing UCLA LB Myles Jack.  Even on Day 3 landing Notre Dame DT Sheldon Day.  Their other selections were very solid and will continue to build the Jaguars into a big time threat in the AFC.

Reaching for QBs- We all knew the first 3 QBs off the board were going to be Jared Goff, Carson Wentz and Paxton Lynch.  The question was who was going next?  The Jets started the craziness by selecting Penn St QB Christian Hackenberg.  The Patriots and Browns followed up by shocking critics everywhere by selecting Jacoby Brissett and Cody Kessler.  That led to a surprising slide for Michigan St QB Connor Cook who would end up a 4th Round pick by the Raiders.  Cardale Jones would go in Round 4 to the Bills as well.  This brings up a future trend of drafting backup/developmental QBs early even if they are reaches to have on longer, cheaper contracts.

Did Mike Mayock get Moritz Boehringer drafted?- During the NFL Network’s Draft coverage, NFL Draft insider Mike Mayock along with Rich Eisen, Charles Davis, and Daniel Jeremiah interviewed the German sensation WR Moritz Boehringer.  During the interview, Boehringer mentioned his favorite team to watch was the Minnesota Vikings because of Adrian Peterson.  This led to Mike Mayock to look into the camera and call out Vikings HC Mike Zimmer to draft Boehringer.  Soon after, Mike Zimmer actually called Mayock himself and while the conversation wasn’t really revealed, soon after the Vikings selected Boehringer.  Coincidence?  I think not.

The Laremy Tunsil Saga- We got to end with the biggest story of them all.  Almost 30 minutes before the NFL Draft started, a video and photo was posted online of Ole Miss OT Laremy Tunsil wearing a gas mask with obviously fumes coming from it.  This led a whole saga of where the video came from, when was it and more importantly who posted it.  But because of it, Tunsil would slide all the way to the Dolphins at #13.  The Ravens would later admit if it wasn’t for the photo/video, he was their selection at #6.  But you would think it was over after Draft Day…well then Tunsil got to Miami for his introductory press conference and then suddenly come down with an, “allergic reaction”.  While Tunsil did do his press conference later, this whole saga should be its own 30 for 30 one day.


I know people will pick "Winners and Losers", but let’s be honest, unless you had a draft like the Jaguars were you draft 2 of the top 5 players on the board in the first 2 rounds, no Draft Class should be called anything.  We won’t have an idea on who did well in this draft for another 3-4 years.  So to fans for all teams, whatever anyone says about your team’s draft, don’t let it get to you.  You can grade picks off of initial reaction, but you can’t call anyone a winner or a loser.  The 2016 NFL Draft was one of the most exciting ones in recent memory with its unpredictability.  For NFL fans everywhere, we can only hope the 2016 NFL season will be as unpredictable as the draft has been.  It’s been fun to write about the NFL Draft and the next time you’ll see me chime in about the 2017 NFL Draft class will be in the College Preseason to give everyone my Top 10 prospects for next year. 

Hey…it’s never too early to look forward to next year's draft!