Steelers vs. Browns: 5 questions with the enemy ahead of Week 6

The Steelers (3-1) and Browns (1-4) face off later today in Pittsburgh. Ahead of the matchup, I chatted with the site manager of SB Nation’s Browns website, Chris Pokorny, to preview Pittsburgh’s upcoming opponent.

You can read my questions and his answers below:

1. Currently 1-4, I’m sure it hasn’t been a great season to be a Browns fan. What’s one bright spot on the team through five weeks?

Although the defense has been good overall, I will single out running back Quinshon Judkins. Taken near the beginning of the second round, he missed pretty much all of training camp due to an off-the-field issue. After missing the opening game, he has looked strong in four straight starts. Some running backs have that natural ability to always grind forward for tough yardage, and he does that on every play. He also has the natural instincts needed for the position, to where you feel he can break a big run at any moment. Last week, he had a 60+ yard touchdown run called back due to a holding penalty that may not have made much of a difference.

While every other position on offense — quarterback, wide receiver, and offensive line — has had a lot of question marks after each game, Judkins has done everything asked of him and looks like the type of player this offense should be built around.

2. The Browns spent a top-five pick on defensive tackle Mason Graham and the first pick of the second round on linebacker Carson Schwesinger, adding both to a defense that already has some big names. Has that group performed up to expectations this season?

The Browns have the top-ranked run defense in the NFL, allowing just 2.98 yards per carry. I think Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger have both contributed to that drastic improvement in the team’s run defense, but it’s been Schwesinger who gets more of the press because he racks up the tackles and can fly in on the quarterback. Pro Football Focus hasn’t been so kind to Graham with the grades he’s receiving, marking him as more of an average defensive tackle.

My perception is that I think his presence up front is helping the rest of the defensive line get more rushing opportunities, but that Graham does mostly look like “just another guy” at the moment. By that, I mean if you watch the Browns-Steelers game, you’re not going to think, “Holy cow, look at Graham, he looks like a top-5 pick from the draft.” We’ll give it time to see how he continues to develop with reps.

3. Dillon Gabriel is now the Browns’ starting quarterback, and the team showed some confidence in him with this week’s unexpected Joe-Flacco-to-the-Bengals trade. How has Gabriel looked? Do you think he can be a long-term starter in the NFL, or is he just a placeholder?

It’ll be interesting to see what Dillon Gabriel can do when he is asked to open it up and...