The Dolphins are set to kick Week 12 off this afternoon against the Cleveland Browns — their 11th game of the 2019 season. We check in with Jeff Risdon, the managing editor of Browns Wire. to get the scoop on the opposition.
The Browns are one of the more disappointing teams in the NFL so far this season. What has been the primary root of their struggles?
The easiest place to point the finger of blame is at head coach Freddie Kitchens. He’s very much looked like a guy who has never even been a coordinator before, let alone in charge of everything. With all the high-profile personalities, the high expectations and the complete scheme change on defense, it’s been a rough go for Kitchens. I’d be remiss to not mention the offensive tackles. Greg Robinson but especially Chris Hubbard have been dreadful and are the biggest reason why the offense has sputtered. If you’re doing a mock draft for Cleveland and don’t have an offensive tackle in the first round, your mock is wrong.
Cleveland has several prominent former Dolphins on their roster. How have expectations been met for guys like Jarvis Landry and Olivier Vernon?
Landry has played well both seasons in Cleveland. He has stepped up as more of a leadership presence this year and it’s helped. He’s still basically the same player he was in Miami. There are Browns fans who are frustrated a bit that he doesn’t produce more based on his contract, and that’s a fair critique. But he’s been the Browns’ most consistent receiving weapon. Vernon is hurt and will miss this game. Like Landry, he gets dogged because of his contract and because he’s not the No. 1 player at his position on the Browns. Vernon started a little slow but he was fantastic in Weeks 3-9, when he got hurt. He had more QB pressures and hits than Myles Garrett during that timespan, and he is easily the Browns’ best run defender up front.
How can Freddie Kitchens get ahold of his troops and keep them from self inflicting damage each week?
Up until the brawl at the end of the Steelers game, the Browns had been more disciplined since their bye week. But then everything went out the window. They haven’t turned the ball over in three weeks and are reducing the pre-snap penalties (2 in 4 weeks), so it is getting better. Kitchens seems to be letting his assistants do more in-game coaching and that has helped.
What is one thing about the Dolphins that scares you as a Browns fan?
Talent-wise, there’s not a lot to be honest. But Coach Flores seems to have the team playing unified and to the best of their ability. That’s not always true of the Browns, and the Dolphins are definitely the mentally tougher squad in this matchup. If the Dolphins hang around, their resilience and a little FitzMagic could prove deadly for a Browns team that is forever living on the edge.
Who wins and why?
The Browns offense has too much talent and has really thrived since Kareem Hunt returned two weeks ago. I do think the Browns missing three regular starters on the defensive line will be an issue, especially if Miami can get the perimeter run game working. But Baker Mayfield and the balanced offense will prove too much. Browns by 10.