Burning Questions for Week 1 vs. Panthers
The largest questions the Browns face as they head right all the way down to Charlotte
The ordinary season has in the end arrived.
The Browns are beginning the 12 months on the street in Charlotte, wherein they`ll kick off in opposition to their former QB, Baker Mayfield, and start a season that has observed an offseason and not using a scarcity of storylines main as much as Week 1. Jacoby Brissett will appearance to begin his first of eleven video games because the Browns’ beginning QB on a crisp note, and the Browns could be turning to their robust run recreation and regular protection — a collection that includes the various equal faces from a 12 months ago — to maintain them in advance in Charlotte.
What are the largest questions for the Browns in Game No. 1? Let’s dive in.
- How will the Browns deal with the matchup in opposition to their former QB?
Players and coaches have stated all week that they may be now no longer permitting themselves to get snarled in one of the pinnacle storylines in their first recreation — not anything has modified of their pregame prep paintings due to the fact they may be gambling in opposition to Mayfield.
It’s the Browns as opposed to the Panthers. Their protection as opposed to their offense. The concept of preventing any kind of “revenge” isn’t always withinside the dialogue for why a win might be big this week.
“My matchup is definitely the left tackle, the left shield and center,” protecting stop Myles Garrett stated. “I do not suppose I’m going available after one guy in particular … There’s plenty of men we’ve the bullseye on. It’s now no longer a count number of going after one man.”
Sure, the Browns have as a minimum rather of a hold close on what to anticipate from Mayfield, and Mayfield has an concept of what the Browns will do to prevent him. The Browns ought to be clever in disguising their protecting coverages and feature achieved their due diligence in how the Panthers have tailored their offense to Mayfield’s strengths, however preventing him manner prevailing battles in opposition to a number of the opposite pinnacle men on Carolina’s offense — like 2022 sixth-ordinary select out OT Ikem Ekwonu, All-Pro RB Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore, a receiver who is crowned 1,000 yards every of the closing 3 seasons.
“We cannot recognition at the uncontrollable, that is what they do with (Mayfield),” LB Anthony Walker Jr. stated. “We can most effective manipulate what we do and the way we execute in opposition to the premise in their offense, and play off of that.”
Photos: Panthers Week Practice
Check out pics of gamers and coaches running to put together for the groups first ordinary season recreation in opposition to the Carolina Panthers Sunday
- How rapid can the offense begin with Jacoby Brissett?
The Browns are not going to invite Brissett to be a celebrity QB.
They recognise their largest power could be their run recreation, which they may sincerely appearance to apply early to construct a lead and assist make the sport extra doable from Brissett’s perspective.
By beginning rapid and constructing that lead, the Browns could be capable of preserve to apply their run recreation even extra to fatigue Carolina’s protection and positioned Brissett in positions to byskip the ball in secure situations — in different words, minimizing the quantity of instances the offense faces third-and-long.
“(Head Coach) Kevin (Stefanski) has been preaching to us that we need to make certain we pop out and get off to a quick begin,” Brissett stated. “This is our first one. We need to be geared up to go.”
A rapid begin and early lead is constantly essential to win video games comfortably.
It’s specifically essential whilst a brand new QB is gambling his first recreation.
- How does the protection prevent McCaffrey?
A robust argument may be made that the maximum essential aim the Browns ought to obtain to win Sunday is slowing McCaffrey.
He’s one of the maximum flexible strolling backs withinside the league and the pulse in their offense, however he is precisely the form of participant the Browns have designed their protection to prevent — mainly at linebacker.
Speedy men inclusive of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Jacob Phillips have been added to Cleveland to patrol the sector from sideline to sideline. They recognise their tackling angles ought to be sharp to prevent McCaffrey from breaking tackles and strolling unfastened alongside the egde, and the onus will in large part fall on them, in addition to Walker and LB Sione Takitaki, to maintain McCaffrey contained.
Owusu-Koramoah is aware of the men are up for the challenge.
“I suppose it’s miles constantly an exhilaration with regards to gambling men of excessive caliber, gambling withinside the NFL, period, going in opposition to men who’re pinnacle-rated and going in opposition to men who also are getting paid such as you have become paid,” he stated. “It could be an thrilling process, and it will likely be an thrilling recreation to watch.”
- What’s the scenario at returner?
The very last roster conflict the Browns had to kind out earlier than Sunday become formally determined this week at returner.
Demetric Felton Jr. could be the number one man for kick and punt returns. The function become first of all speculated to visit Jakeem Grant, a Pro Bowl returner the Browns signed this offseason who unluckily suffered a season-finishing Achilles harm in education camp.
Felton averaged 7.1 yards according to go back on 32 punt returns and 19.1 yards according to kick go back in 9 tries closing season as a rookie. He had no earlier revel in in punt returns earlier than 2021, however after he located a heavy emphasis on enhancing in that vicinity this offseason, unique group coordinator Mike Priefer believes he is geared up for the function.
“He has labored extraordinarily difficult in his ball security, monitoring punts, catching punts and simply the little nuances of wherein your arms are, your elbows, your ft, your frame role and the way to tune it, get to the spot and circulate your ft to regulate and people little things,” Priefer stated. “Hundreds and loads of reps considering that closing 12 months in phrases of the spring, education camp after which this beyond week. He is, I do now no longer need to mention snug due to the fact I in no way need my returner to be snug, however I need him to be assured. I suppose he’s a good deal extra assured than he become a 12 months ago.”
- Will Conklin
