Category: Game Breakdown

New Panthers offense creates some unknowns for Browns

Will the Browns face a Panthers offense that is more McAdoo or more what Mayfield does well? @WardOnSports takes a look at the unknowns with Carolina:

After what has felt like the longest NFL offseason since I have been alive, we have finally reached game week. The best thing about game week is that we can turn our attention toward football. The Cleveland Browns have not won a season opener since 2004 and they have a distressing 1-21-1 record since their return to the NFL in 1999.

It is safe to say that the 2022 opener looms rather large for a multitude of reasons.

One aspect of the game that leaves the Browns at a potential disadvantage is the Carolina Panthers offense being somewhat of an unknown. During the offseason, they hired Ben McAdoo as their new Offensive Coordinator and then traded for QB Baker Mayfield. This is one of those instances where there isn’t a lot for the Browns to reference when attempting to get a feel for what a McAdoo/Mayfield offense will look like.

Update: Stefanski noted the unknowns in his press conference on Wednesday:

The Browns know Mayfield well and during his time in Cleveland, Head Coach Kevin Stefanski did a good job of making things as easy as possible for the young quarterback.

Stefanski used an under-center, run-the-ball, play-action structure with Mayfield. The heavier personnel, tight formations, and elite run game he deployed aided in limiting Mayfield’s workload and playing to his strengths.

In 2020 and 2021, the Browns ranked bottom-five in single-back formations while also ranking bottom-three in plays with at least three receivers, staying in the low 40% range in both years.

Furthermore, The Browns ranked 32nd and 29th in 2020 and 2021, respectively, in passing rate while ahead in games, as well as top-six in run rate on first down. These aspects of Stefanski’s offense helped get the most out of Mayfield while alleviating complex progressions, pocket management and a high volume of passing.

McAdoo’s past offensive style is dissimilar to Stefanski’s starting with personnel disposition. In three of his four seasons as the Giants offensive coordinator or head coach, McAdoo’s offense used three-plus receivers on at least 80% of snaps and even led the league in 2016 at 94%. In 2017, that figure fell to 62% most likely to a rash of injuries to his wide receiver room.

McAdoo has shown the propensity to work from the shotgun, spread things out, and attack the short to intermediate areas of the field. McAdoo also hasn’t been known to use play-action much. From 2015 to 2017, McAdoo’s play-action rates were 17% (23rd), 15% (29th), and 21% (21st). His offenses have relied on the quarterback’s ability to be good in the true dropback pass game. This is distinctly different than Stefanski’s system.

So, what will the 2022 Panthers offense look like?  A couple of things could be happening here. McAdoo could deploy an offense that looks nothing like what he has run in the past or they may lean on Mayfield to be a considerably better drop-back passer than he has shown thus far in his career.

The answer likely lies somewhere in the middle. McAdoo will certainly modify things to help his new quarterback, but it is unlikely he will morph two very different styles into an offense that entirely accommodates Mayfield. McAdoo comes from the Mike McCarthy coaching tree and ran a similar variation of McCarthy’s offense during his time in New York.

So, it’s true, the Browns don’t know what to expect from the Panthers offense on Sunday, but history suggests they should expect a similar variation of the offense McAdoo ran in New York. It’s not common for an NFL coach to adopt a new offense and it’s a whole different thing to install, execute and call said offense after acquiring your starting quarterback just before training camp.

Certainly, they will do what they can to make it work to Mayfield’s strengths, but at a base level they should expect the same philosophies McAdoo has lived by in the past.

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Browns fall to Bears 21-20: A few key takeaways

Browns fall to Bears 21-20: A couple of immediate takeaways from @joshkeatley16 #Browns

The Cleveland Browns dropped to 1-2 in the 2022 preseason with another 21-20 loss, but this time to the Chicago Bears. While the Browns had a few highlights, most of them occurred in the second half as the bottom of the roster turned their play up a notch to earn a roster spot.

For the Browns, some of the same issues we have been seeing continued, but overall there were enough positives to allow me to sleep soundly throughout the night.

In the end, the Chicago Bears outlasted Cleveland, but we did finally get a look at Jacoby Brissett

A few key takeaways for the Browns from Sunday:

Browns highlights in third preseason game versus the Bears

Highlights galore (hopefully) all together for you here in one place:

The Chicago Bears roll into town to face off with the Cleveland Browns for both teams’ final preseason action before the kickoff to the 2022 season. After DE Myles Garrett dominated the Bears last year, QB Justin Fields may wish he was sitting on the sidelines for this game.

Instead, Cleveland and Chicago are both expected to play many of their key contributors using the third preseason game to help ramp up to the season. For the Browns, this will be the first chance to see many of the starters including QB Jacoby Brissett.

While the outcome of the game is not important, Cleveland needs to look good against a rebuilding team while also coming out of the game healthy.

Here we collect some of the best highlights from the game:

Grant Delpit leaves Browns game vs. Bears with hip injury

Delpit walked off under his own power and appeared to be smiling as he headed to the locker room

The Cleveland Browns could not avoid getting an injury scare in the final preseason game. Safety Grant Delpit left the Browns matchup with the Chicago Bears in the first quarter of Friday night’s game at FirstEnergy Stadium with a hip injury.

The Browns officially listed Delpit as questionable to return. He walked off the field under his own power and was escorted by trainers to the locker room.

Our own Jared Mueller captured video from the stands of Delpit’s departure. The third-year safety appears to be smiling and not in obvious distress as he heads for further evaluation.

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Browns Vs Bears: A few things to look forward to

A few things we are looking forward to in tonight’s Browns game versus the Bears:

The Chicago Bears roll into town to face off with the Cleveland Browns for both teams’ final preseason action before the kickoff to the 2022 season. After DE Myles Garrett dominated the Bears last year, QB Justin Fields may wish he was sitting on the sidelines for this game.

Instead, Cleveland and Chicago are both expected to play many of their key contributors using the third preseason game to help ramp up to the season. For the Browns, this will be the first chance to see many of the starters including QB Jacoby Brissett.

While the outcome of the game is not important, Cleveland needs to look good against a rebuilding team while also coming out of the game healthy.

Here are a few things to be on the lookout for as the game goes along:

What the Browns are getting in Mike Harley

Harley showed well in preseason Game #2 against the Eagles. @JoshKeatley16 took a look at what Harley brings to the table:

The Cleveland Browns signed a number of undrafted free agents and it is no secret that the Cleveland receiving corps is only slightly better than ugly, but among the many undrafted players trying to make an impact is Mike Harley.

We continually discuss this front office and their ability and willingness to overturn every rock to find available talent, but Harley played at a Power-Five school in Miami.

Perhaps I’m being too harsh about the receiver group because Amari Cooper is a legitimate star, Donovan Peoples-Jones is full of untapped potential and Anthony Schwartz is fast, but they showed us very little so far in training camp and the door will be left open for an underdog to breakthrough.

HC Kevin Stefanski has liked what he has seen so far:

Let’s dive into whether or not Harley is that dog that the Browns need:

Browns fall to Eagles 21-20: A few key takeaways

Despite very few key players on the field, we learned a lot of key things from the Browns loss on Sunday:

The Cleveland Browns dropped to 1-1 in the 2022 preseason with a 21-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. While the Browns had a few highlights, the game was limited by very few starters or key contributors playing for either side.

After two days of joint practices, neither team wanted to risk their players being hurt. Cleveland had four players miss the game due to injury.

For the Browns, RB D’Ernest Johnson, WR Anthony Schwartz and WR David Bell saw time on the field for the offense while the defense as led by the likes of Richard LeCounte III and Tony Fields II starting.

In the end, the Eagles backups (and the backups’ backups) outlasted Cleveland’s.

A few key takeaways for the Browns from Sunday:

Browns Vs Eagles: Some highlights from the backups

Browns Vs Eagles highlights for you to watch and rewatch:

The Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles face off in the second preseason game of the year for both teams. After two shared practices this week, neither team is playing their top players but a game still happened.

For the Browns, four players were ruled out due to injuries.

A lot of interesting storylines for the home team despite not playing their top guys. Who will be the backup quarterback to Jacoby Brissett? Who will make the team at receiver and tight end? Which young guy will join the team’s great defense?

With all that in mind, we will keep track of highlights for you right here. Who makes an explosive play on either side of the ball?

We will update as more highlights happen:

Browns Vs Eagles: 10 players to watch in preseason game #2

10 (technically 11) players we are looking forward to seeing versus the Eagles today:

The Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles are set to square off Sunday at 1 PM. With a majority of the Browns games set for the same time this year, fans can use today as a way to get used to how much of their fall will go.

Cleveland HC Kevin Stefanski made it clear that a majority of their key players will not be suiting up today but that doesn’t mean it won’t be interesting. With an 85-man roster, the Browns are using the first two games to get a better look at the bottom of the roster.

There are quite a few very interesting players on Cleveland’s roster including some rookies fighting for a role on the team in 2022.

Here are 10 players, some on the roster bubble, that we are looking forward to seeing today:

What the Browns are getting in D’Anthony Bell

In the first preseason game, Bell made a big play. In prep for the game against the Eagles, @joshkeatley16 looks at the undrafted DB’s strengths and weaknesses:

The Cleveland Browns signed a plethora of undrafted free agents after the 2022 NFL Draft and although expectations are usually held in check for undrafted players, every now and again a diamond in the rough emerges. We discussed previously how I admire that this current front office leaves no stone unturned and taking chances on small school guys that weren’t provided the attention of an FBS program is another example of this regime turning over another stone.

The defensive backfield is set to be a fairly strong positional group in Cleveland, but there is opportunity and a player that may get an opportunity to earn a roster spot is D’Anthony Bell. Let’s dive into what he can do!