Dawgs By Nature
The Browns will attempt to turn the narrative on their season beginning Sunday versus Saints in Week 11
The Cleveland Browns will board their flight for New Orleans to travel for their Week 11 matchup against the Saints. Fresh off of a bye, Cleveland has made it clear this week that their top priority is to win football games moving forward.
The Browns head in relatively healthy despite losing Mike Hall to injury during practice on Thursday. The offensive line will be rested and at full strength to incorporate any changes that head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey wish to make schematically.
While the defense has played inconsistent at times this year, it is the offense that should have our attention moving forward. After all, the offense is what Stefanski was hired for, and cut his teeth on his way to two Coach of the Year awards.
There are huge questions with the staff on that side of the ball moving forward and potentially into the offseason. Significant improvement will be needed over the next eight games in order to bring them back as currently constructed in 2025.
The following are three questions that the offense needs to answer on Sunday to bring the picture into focus for the rest of the season.
Which version of Jameis Winston can we expect?
The answer to this will be critical. Will it be the three-touchdown Jameis that showed up against the Ravens or the three-interception version that sunk their chances against the Chargers?
If Winston isn’t decisive and accurate with his throws on Sunday, there shouldn’t be anything holding the Browns back from going to Dorian Thompson-Robinson sooner.
Does Nick Chubb look more explosive?
I already discussed the line being the healthiest it has been in two years. That will certainly help, but as expected, Chubb hasn’t looked as explosive as he was prior to the injury.
While I don’t think it is reasonable to expect that he gets back to that this year, I do think it would be a positive sign if he shows improvement two more weeks after he last played.
The nonexistence of a ground attack has kept the Browns behind the sticks all year on second and third downs. Having Chubb back at an efficient clip could lift the offense to a higher level down the stretch.
What adjustments have been identified and made?
The bye week provided Stefanski and his staff an opportunity to self-scout and make alterations. I will be watching for both personnel and schematic differences in what we’ve seen so far.
Will they play more under center and have the quarterback turn his back to the defense or will they lean heavier into the shotgun and spread-game?
The answers to these questions could help us forecast our expectations for the remainder of the year. Let’s hope that we see improvement and, even better, a win on Sunday against the Saints.
***What do you expect to see or think will...
