Acme Packing Company
Thank you to Dawgs by Nature’s Chris Pokorny for stopping by and answering a few questions about the Cleveland Browns that I had before their matchup with the Green Bay Packers in Week 3. If you guys have any other questions that you felt like were unaddressed, Dawgs by Nature’s site manager, Jared Mueller, is in The Feed answering questions for Packers fans, so go ahead and check that out.
Without any further ado, here’s this week’s edition of 5 Questions With the Enemy.
1. The Cleveland Browns have some really impressive numbers against the run so far this year. The Packers haven’t really been able to get their running game going in first halves. Do you think that continues in Week 3?
The numbers through two games have been impressive indeed (45.5 yards rushing allowed per game, 2.07 YPC). While the numbers are probably a bit too strong because of the small sample size, I think it is indicative of some of the changes made to the defense this offseason with the selection of DT Mason Graham at No. 5 overall, LB Carson Schwesinger at No. 33 overall, and even DE Myles Garrett making more nifty plays against the run. I haven’t seen anything to say that Cleveland will suddenly allow gaping holes, but I also don’t get the feeling that Cleveland’s defense is so dominant against the run that opposing teams should forget about it.
2. The Browns’ defense leads the NFL in man coverage rate versus the pass. The Packers are coming off two successful games against top-5 defenses in terms of man coverage rate. Generally, their answer seems to be to throw the ball deep. Does that worry you?
This is another challenging question, based on small sample size and other factors. Cleveland prevented the big play for all of Week 1, shutting down Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. In Week 2, the defense was on pace to be lights out against the Ravens as well, but then CB Denzel Ward left the game early with cramps. With the likes of CB Cameron Mitchell and CB Myles Harden thrust into top duties, Lamar Jackson found some openings when he was able to buy time. Before you knew it, with the short fields that Cleveland’s offense kept giving to Baltimore, the scoreboard showed 41 points for Baltimore. That must have been one frustrated unit, because their effort was not matched by what was on the scoreboard. Right now, I’m not worried about the Packers throwing deep, because it’s another area that hasn’t shown to be a problem area, yet. Now, if you ask me about our offense, it’d be a different answer.
3. Just looking at some pass blocking stats, it seems like your tackle duo has struggled this year. How big is the worry that the Packers’ edge defenders take over the game?
This is another one that is hard to discuss, although yes, overall, the tackle position hasn’t been the best. However,...
