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Pittsburgh Steelers Meet The Opponent: Cleveland Browns

By Donnie Druin

CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 09: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass in front of Larry Ogunjobi #65 of the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 09: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass in front of Larry Ogunjobi #65 of the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 21: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns reacts to a play during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 21: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns reacts to a play during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Offense

The Browns will have a new gun-slinger strutting on the field when they meet Pittsburgh on Sunday, as rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield will start his first game in the Browns/Steelers rivalry. Mayfield, the number one overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, currently sits at a 57.8 completion percentage, throwing for 1,291 yards and 6 touchdowns to 5 interceptions. Mayfield injects a pulse of confidence in Cleveland’s passing attack, while also being able to use his legs to make plays. Mayfield has led Cleveland’s offense to better success than mentor Tyrod Taylor, but still struggles with turnovers like any rookie quarterback is expected to.

Pittsburgh will also see a new face in the backfield on Sunday, as the Browns waved good-bye to Carlos Hyde in a trade with Jacksonville. The trade cleared way for rookie running back Nick Chubb to shoulder the workload on the ground, and in his first start last week against the Chargers, Chubb amounted 80 yards and a touchdown. Chubb is expected to have better success than Hyde on the ground moving forward, as fellow back Duke Johnson will continue to be utilized primarily in the passing game.

Cleveland’s starting offensive line on Sunday will be as follows: LT Desmond Harrison, LG Joel Bitonio, C JC Tretter, RG Kevin Zeitler, RT Chris Hubbard. Criticism has been heavy on Cleveland’s offensive front, as Baker Mayfield has been sacked 18 times since taking over the reins in Cleveland. Tackles Harrison and Hubbard have been wildly inconsistent in pass protection, yet the Browns have been successful rushing the football in 2018, averaging 135 yards per game on the ground.

Cleveland’s receiving corps has undergone changes since the start of the season, but Jarvis Landry remains the team’s number one receiver and will look to build off a solid performance in his last outing against the Steelers where he caught 7 balls for over 100 yards. Antonio Callaway and Damion Ratley top the Browns receiving corps. Rashard Higgins will be out due to a knee injury, so expect newly signed Breshad Perriman to get some snaps at receiver. Darren Fells and David Njoku play at the tight end position for Cleveland, with Njoku beginning to take form into the big-time receiving tight end the Browns need him to be.

The offense is ran under Todd Haley, a familiar name for Steelers fans to recognize. Haley will return to Heinz Field with his offense ranking in the bottom quarter of the league in terms of points scored per game (21.6). Haley’s offense somewhat mirrors what he did in Pittsburgh, spreading teams out to run out of shotgun and putting playmakers in different spots on the field to clear space for big plays. Will Mayfield’s moxy pay dividends for Cleveland’s offense in Pittsburgh?

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