3 Keys to Win Against the Titans

Following a tough loss to the Steelers on Monday Night Football, this team awaits another physical matchup against the Tennessee Titans. While most of you probably want to move past the last game as soon as possible, there are some valuable lessons for this team to learn. Here are some critical factors that will determine if Cleveland can win against the Titans.

1. Dominate the line of scrimmage on defense

The most impressive feat by the Cleveland Browns’ defense against the Steelers, was them consistently winning the battle in the trenches. Numerous plays were disrupted right from the start, which severely hinders an offense, and especially a quarterback, to get into a rhythm. This will be especially important in the run game, given that Derrick Henry is not a quick accelerator but becomes extremely challenging to stop once he hits his stride. Additionally, control of the line of scrimmage will allow the secondary to play more aggressive, as reduced coverage time allows a more physical coverage approach and ball oriented play style.

However, the Titans have two players, in Treylon Burks and Chig Okonkwo, who are legitimate threats with the ball in their hands. Given the occasional missed tackles by the defense, it will be important for the linebackers and secondary to strike a balance, avoiding to play overly aggressive and allow big gains after the catch. It’s worth noting that Tennessee is going to be without their first-round rookie, Peter Skoronski, who delivered an exceptional performance in his sole appearance in week one, particularly in run blocking. If the defense manages to apply the same pressure as it did against Pittsburgh, we can anticipate another dominant defensive showing in an effort to win against the Titans.

2. Improve pass protection

While it is fair to critique Watson’s performance against Pittsburgh, it’s important to note that his offensive tackles, in particular, let him down in pass protection. Jones was struggling with speed rushes, which will be featured by both Harold Landry and Arden Key. To be clear, this is not a problem that you solve overnight. Jones is only making his second career start against the Titans, and he will need some time to acclimate to NFL talent. On the other hand, Wills has been struggling for some time now, and awaiting significant improvement from him might be hopeless.

Nevertheless, there are still options to reduce pressure on Watson. These include employing more double teams and chip blocks on the line involving tight ends, or rolling him out of the pocket by design. Utilizing bootlegs, the Browns additionally simplify the reads for Watson by taking away half of the field, and make it easier for him to decide when to run. This approach could further help him to get back on track and provide him with some easy completions without the need to navigate the pocket and evade rushers. If these tactics are not working, Cleveland should focus on improving his time to throw by emphasizing quick passes. In the past two games, he occasionally held on to the ball for too long and took unnecessary hits.

3. Trust the running game

Another key to win against the Titans, will be the running game. Even without Nick Chubb, it still remains a key component in this offensive scheme. As long as Watson’s struggles continue, the Browns need to be able to rely on Ford, Hunt, and Strong to give this team opportunities to score. A functional running game can fatigue defenses, impacting the pass rush as well as the ability to control the clock. While some fans pushed for a bigger move at running back, signing Hunt was the best possible solution for Cleveland. He’s familiar with this offense and won’t take on a role that steals too many carries from Ford and Strong.

However, the offensive line plays a more substantial role in determining the run game’s success. The two tackles, in particular, present a weakness again due to their less than ideal run blocking. While Stefanski is one of the more accomplished run game designers in the NFL, he won’t be able to protect them on every play. Yet, this interior group stands as one of the league’s strongest and most versatile, enabling Cleveland to run a plethora of different concepts. I would love to see somewhat of a complementary offense in this game, to get this team back on track.


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