Dawgs By Nature
This Sunday, the Cleveland Browns take on the Detroit Lions. Below, we analyze a few advantages, disadvantages, or general thoughts about the two teams before getting to our predictions for the game.
After three straight games, we’ve seen the same primary theme with the Browns: the defense looks like it could be the best in the NFL, and the offense looks like one where the game flies by and they haven’t been able to achieve something. Both areas have been lacking in something, though.
For the defense, creating turnovers has been difficult. For the offense, finding some form of an identity — even for a drive — has been a challenge. Last week, in the second half of the fourth quarter, we saw the elements that can really turn this into a different football team week in, and week out. On offense, it involved what I said the team’s best chance of an identity is: running the ball with Quinshon Judkins. He broke two big runs, and nearly finished with 100 yards rushing on the day. That happened with the Browns’ top two offensive tackles out. At best, we hope to get Jack Conklin back, which still can help a lot if he’s able to go.
On defense, it obviously involved the interception by Grant Delpit. For as intimidating as the defense has been, they need to generate some turnovers to take that next step. Great defense should help lead to easy offense, and if you pair that together, Cleveland can start being a team that opponents dread coming up on their schedule.
Unfortunately, the Detroit Lions are the last team you want to face this week (or any week, for that matter). Despite their Week 1 struggles against the Packers, they are the best team in the league at mixing it up on offense, having movement, and being aggressive (including going for it on fourth down on what might normally be key stops for the defense). Cleveland has been very impressive with their discipline over these first few weeks, so it’s a very compelling battle of great units. I just fear that we’ll see a similar scenario of what happened against the Ravens: the defense will hold strong, but eventually, you’re going to give us something, especially if the offense doesn’t hold their end of the bargain.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz talked about the Lions going for it on fourth down often, and how the defense needs to be prepared for the mentality of a third down stop not meaning their job is done:
The fact that Detroit goes for it so much on fourth down, where they’re just like an aggressive team in all phases.I think they’re at seven-for-eight on fourth down. Does that change your approach, and how important is it from a mental standpoint for players to realize that even when you get that third down stop, you might not be getting off the field?...
