Issues for Browns to Improve on Offense
Deshaun Watson's impressive performance against the Tennessee Titans allowed the offense to stabilize and produce 27 points a week after being the reason they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Watson's continued success is critical because it helps to cover up issues on that side of the ball and provides the necessary breathing room for improvement over the course of the season.
Against the Titans, Watson was more decisive, getting rid of the ball, finding open receivers. He also navigated the pocket in a way to maximize his protection. His offensive line didn't have to block as long and by getting rid of the ball and finding open receivers, the offense stayed on schedule. As a result, the defense had to respect the possibility the Browns would run the ball even if that was a struggle for the entirety of the game.
Despite the offense being able to score 27 points, the void left by Nick Chubb was significant. Hardly a surprise, this will continue to present a challenge for the rest of this season.
Against the Titans, the Browns utilized Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt, Pierre Strong Jr., Elijah Moore, Harrison Bryant and Watson to run the ball. Bryant was utilized in the Jacoby Brissett role as the short yardage option, but the other four attempted to combine to replace the presence of Chubb.
The Titans, like the Steelers, started the game by trying to bring pressure and throw bodies at the line of scrimmage in an effort to pressure Watson and suffocate the run. The Steelers had success and then were able to mix things up like simulating pressure. Watson was overwhelmed and had a horrible game.
This past game, Watson was able to deal with that initial wave. He found targets quickly and in a few cases, simply shrugged off would be tacklers in the backfield. After weathering the initial storm, Watson and the Browns started to stabilize. Watson gained confidence over the course of the game and started to apart the Titans defense in the second half.
The Titans front seven is effective at stopping the run, so even when the Titan backed off from sending schemed up pressure packages, they were still able to stop the run. Certainly concerning, if Watson is able to continue to have success throwing the ball, it should help to open up running lanes.
The next step is going to be hitting more passes down the field. Amari Cooper's 43-yard touchdown certainly helps and the Browns had three explosive passing plays in the game; two to Cooper, one to Donovan Peoples-Jones. Keeping up that pressure on the secondary down the field not only gives them more opportunities to create explosive plays, but will create better spacing on offense overall. And because Watson was able to pick apart the defense with underneath passing, when the Browns want to push the ball downfield, it may be easier to protect.
The Browns still want to get Marquise Goodwin the ball down the field. Even though Elijah Moore is predominately an short to intermediate receiver with YAC ability, his deep speed has to be respected. They need to get David Njoku involved more consistently as well.
This is a good problem to have. The Browns have weapons and they need to keep expanding the ways they can attack the defense with them. All of this should happen as long as Watson continues to gain confidence and play with more consistency.
That should also help the running game. If teams are forced to play two-high because they are worried about the passing game, that should create space in the running game. However, there are additional issues.
The Browns tackle play in the running game has left plenty to be desired to this point. Jack Conklin was a major loss. Dawand Jones, as a rookie, is a terrific pass protector, which is more important, but he's currently offering little in the running game.
The challenge for Dawand Jones is being quick enough to adjust to moving targets. His straight line speed at his size is outstanding, but at times is as nimble as an aircraft carrier. That can make it challenging not only for outside zone or on plays where might be asked to pull.
Jedrick Wills was slightly better against the Titans than in either of the two previous weeks, but it's a long way from where it needs to be. Wills has more natural ability in that area of the game, something that will need to improve if the Browns want to be able to run the full gamut of running plays in their offense.
Currently, it's a a poor fit to run outside zone, the concept that this offense was originally built on. It's difficult with their tackles, though Wills can do it, but it's not a great fit for Jerome Ford or Kareem Hunt. Ford may learn and evolve to be able to do it, but Hunt's lack of vision made it a bad play call even when the Browns had great blocking.
The Browns will still utilize it in part because they really like to run playaction off of it. They got away from it with Jacoby Brissett, but it's a great fit with Watson's mobility. For the time being, it seems like a concept they need to deemphasize unless Pierre Strong is going to get more run with his speed.
Fortunately, the Browns made the decision to implement inside zone when they acquired Watson. It's a great way to block in front of their RPO game. It also allows them to highlight the interior of the line, which is where they are the strongest.
Additionally, the Browns will need to lean into their gap concepts in the form of their pin and pull, counter game.
The good news is that Jones is built to down block. Along with Wyatt Teller, that's an area where the Browns must excel. Wash down defenders with pullers like Joel Bitonio and Jedrick Wills coming through. This dovetails with where Ford and Hunt excel as runners. It's also the concept where Watson was able to get a first down in the red zone.
The run game isn't quite as desperate as the statistics from the Titans game might seem. There were plays to be had with better execution, more focus on details. Nevertheless, they need to find success in that area of the game beyond the broken plays Ford had against the Steelers.
The Browns coaching staff did a good job of pivoting into using the backs in the passing game to supplement the run. For all the aspects of Ford's game that are promising, the area where he's arguably at his best is as a pass catcher. A former high school receiver, Ford showed off his route running on the great play design, beating a defender with a sluggo route for the team's first touchdown against the Titans.
They used Hunt in the screen game effectively, taking advantage of space they were able to create. With the defense having to defend deeper, there was a void left in the middle of the field they were able to exploit.
On just four combined receptions, Ford and Hunt combined for 55 yards. It makes their combined 31 rushing yards on 15 carries slightly less awful. Even with a healthy Nick Chubb, this was something the team wanted to do. The goal now becomes to continue finding ways to create yardage in the passing game while also getting production on the ground.
Ford fits really well with Watson, so it should be interesting to see how those two grow with improved chemistry, so they don't miss on opportunities like a check down early in the game that would've converted a third down, extending a drive.
Everything the Browns want to accomplish is more attainable as long as Deshaun Watson plays at a reasonably high level. He is the offense. Even with issues to improve, his strong performance helped the offensive line and allowed Amari Cooper to dominate the game.
The Browns have an opportunity to build some momentum against the Baltimore Ravens before they hit their bye week. That could allow them to continue to refine the passing game as well as further adapt to their offensive reality without both Nick Chubb and Jack Conklin.
