How the Browns Beat the Texans
The Cleveland Browns are coming off their bye week in position to make a run and qualify for the playoffs, but it starts with beating the Houston Texans.
The Texans are 2-2 in their last four, which is the best stretch of their season. They are feisty enough to get a win in Cleveland, despite the preparation and talent advantages of the Browns. The answers to how the Browns win are relatively simple, but the question of how they accomplish it may not be, particularly on defense.
When the Browns have the ball.
The Browns have to locate J.J. Watt every play, much as they did with DeForest Buckner when they played the Indianapolis Colts. He's not playing at nearly the level Buckner was, but he still has the ability to disrupt an opposing gameplan.
The difference with Watt is he moves around more than Buckner, so it's important for Baker Mayfield to check into the right play. The Browns may opt to run at him when they run counter to get a double team on him and may be more inclined to go away from him when they run zone or trap.
The other player they have to account for up front is P.J. Hall. The Las Vegas Raiders dumped him and he's a far better fit in this gap penetrating scheme the Texans run. He wants to beat the opponent to the spot, so if the Browns can get blockers on him, they can take control, but that is the entire battle.
So when they run double teams that are designed to have one of them release to a linebacker, they have to pay attention to detail when it comes to blocking both Watt and Hall.
The Browns have a decisive advantage in the middle against Brandon Dunn, so when he's on the field, they should run right at him.
When the Texans get into their nickel and dime looks, it's all about penetration because they give up a significant amount of size. They aren't trying to overpower anyone with the exception of Watt, because they can't. If they can get into the backfield and bubble running plays or get pressure on the quarterback, they can be successful. Failing that, the Browns will dominate the line of scrimmage and can march down the field.
Everything about this matchup suggests the Browns should run trap to create explosive plays. Whether it's a traditional inside trap or they opt for the wide trap that they've had a ton of success with, particularly with Wyatt Teller on the field, it can take advantage of these super aggressive defensive lines and enable to vicious kick out blocks to wear on the opposition.
It's a similar situation with counter, running at Watt. They may end up getting penetration and the play is already past them with blockers in front. Double Watt to the second level, have a tackle or tight end lead up through and let these running backs be playmakers.
There is a little bit of a risk running play-action against this team, simply because of the style this defensive line plays. If they are successful, they can end up in position to hit the quarterback immediately. That doesn't mean the Browns can't utilize play-action, but it does mean that they need a check down or hot on them so Mayfield can get the ball out quickly if necessary.
The secondary features a pair of familiar names. Phillip Gaines, who was often the fourth or fifth corner when he was with the Browns is starting for the Texans Eric Murray was signed to a lucrative contract as a free agent, playing free safety. Both are pretty average. However, Gaines and his counterpart Vernon Hargreaves III, who is downright awful, are incredibly fast.
The Browns will presumably feature Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins as their top two receivers. Both win with attention to detail in route running, which is exactly what will give the Texans corners problems. Isolating either against Hargreaves should enable them to create first downs consistently and keep drives alive.
The Texans really don't have a good answer to deal with opposing tight ends. None of their players are excelling in coverage this season and they don't have much size. If the Browns want to transition to a heavier reliance on Austin Hooper or their tight ends as a whole in the passing game, this is a great game to do it.
Taking advantage of the middle of the field where they found success with Harrison Bryant against the Cincinnati Bengals seems reasonable, but the Browns haven't taken many deep shots, whether it's working down the seam or in the corners. This could be an opportunity to enable Mayfield to take some shots.
There's no good reason the Browns shouldn't be able to move the ball at will on the Texans defense and should be able to put up points. Three of the team's best defenders in Whitney Mercilus, Zach Cunningham and Justin Reid haven't been this season. Two of the three in Mercilus and Cunningham have been massive liabilities and should be targeted as a result. Run at Mercilus whenever possible. Throw at Cunningham.
When the Texans have the ball.
Everything with the Texans offense revolves around Deshaun Watson. He's having a terrific year despite the lack of protection he has up front and the amount of hits he takes.
The offense they have built around him in terms of weapons gives him a ton of options to throw the ball and enables them to attack all areas of the field. Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks can test the defense deep while Randall Cobb can attack the intermediate areas of the field.
All of that puts significant pressure on the secondary, which enables tight ends Darren Fells and Jordan Akins to find holes in the defense and keep drives going. David and Duke Johnson at running back are both able to catch passes out of the backfield and pick up yardage.
It all creates space so Watson can then run if nothing's open, which is a blessing and a curse. He is the second leading rusher on the team, but whether he's trying to extend plays or run, he ends up taking some vicious hits in the process.
The Browns will likely end up running a ton of quarters coverage to try to avoid getting beat deep by the Texans vertical threats, but the unfortunate side effect, which has always been the case this season, is it enables teams to then pick on their linebackers. It's an incredible difficult matchup for the Browns linebackers to cover the Texans tight ends or backs, which always puts pressure on the defensive line to deliver.
The offensive line is bad, save for left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Save for their center, they are all huge, at least 318 pounds per man with significant ballast. They pass protect better than they run block, but they don't do either particularly well.
Myles Garrett will likely be lined up almost exclusively against Tytus Howard at right tackle, but this would be a game where lining him up against their guards would be beneficial.
The biggest problem with the Texans offense is the Browns saving grace. The Texans can't run the ball. They are second to last in rushing yards per game with 87.6 and Watson accounts for 24.6 of them, which is largely a result of scrambling.
In other words, the Browns have an advantage in they can prepare as if the Texans are throwing on almost every play. That gives their pass rush an advantage, particularly Garrett. If he basically never has to account for the run, he can focus entirely on getting after the quarterback, which is terrifying to consider.
It's then about chasing down and tackling Watson, but this could be a game where Garrett puts up absurd numbers. Fresh off of a bye week, he might be able to have a three sack game. Perhaps more. It would be disappointing if he doesn't have a big game, at least as it relates to pressures given the circumstances.
That bye week hopefully enables the rest of the defensive line to do more. Players getting healthier and getting some of their stamina back will be key, because they will be trying to corral Watson most of the game.
The potential for sacks is high, but it also can simply wear a team out over the course of a game. This has been a problem in other games such as the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals where the Browns are exhausted from pass rushing against a mobile quarterback so much.
It's imperative the Browns contain Watson, so he can't escape the pocket, forced to work forward or keep dropping back. Once again, the lack of a running threat allows the Browns to be creative in how they do it.
The Browns should utilize a large number of stunts for two reasons. The Texans are stronger on the outside than they are the inside, so ensuring contain with their defensive tackles while freeing up Garrett and their ends to focus on getting the quarterback against a weaker blockers.
Additionally, it just forces the Texans to stay on their toes in terms of how they block Garrett and the rest of the defensive line. It also impacts Watson's thought process, because he has to be aware of where Garrett is at all times.
They should also incorporate some blitzes that attack Watson at specific angles. Speeding up his clock or forcing him to try to extend plays is an inherent advantage to the Browns in coverage. If a blitz from the slot or linebacker up the middle impacts his timing or forces him to evade, that benefits the Browns. There will be occasions he beats the blitz and the Browns get punished for it, but mixing some blitzes in should help prevent him from getting into a groove where he can beat what amounts to be a predictable defense.
The Texans offense goes as far as Watson can take them, so it's all about working to make him uncomfortable and ultimately putting hits on him. They may score their share of points in the process, but a key turnover may be all it takes in a game like this.
Special Teams
The Browns continue to be solid in coverage and Cody Parkey has been consistent. Perhaps the bye week can help Donovan Peoples-Jones to be more effective as a return threat. So much with him is being decisive.
The Texans have a pretty mediocre return game DeAndre Carter as their main return threat. They have a solid kicker and punter combo with Ka'imi Fairbairn and Bryan Anger.
It's pretty even in this matchup, save for the fact the Browns had more time to prepare.
