The Browns already made one early-season statement, and they may be set up to make another.
After knocking off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last weekend, Cleveland heads into Week 3 with a defense that looks tailor-made to bother Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers. Todd Monken’s team may not look like a playoff group, but it has already shown it can spoil somebody else’s plans. Young, who has opened the season looking every bit like the No. 1 pick Carolina paid to get, is next in line.
Through two games, Young has put together the kind of start that has quieted plenty of skepticism. He leads the league with six passing touchdowns, ranks second in passing yards, and sits sixth in EPA per play. Carolina has scored 27 points against the Chicago Bears and 34 against the Atlanta Falcons, and for the first time in a while, Panthers fans have reason to think they’ve found their quarterback.
But there’s still a clear soft spot in Young’s game, and Cleveland’s defense has the exact style to attack it.
Against man coverage, Young’s production drops hard. He ranks 28th in EPA per play, 29th in success rate, and 30th in completion percentage, according to SumerSports. He has completed just 40.7% of his passes against man looks this season, a number worse than only Justin Herbert, Cooper Rush, and Jameis Winston.
That matters because the Browns have leaned into man coverage more than anyone else in the league. Mike Rutenberg’s defense has played man on 47.7% of its snaps so far, the highest rate in the NFL and nearly twice the league average. Those coverages often come with one safety deep and either a blitzer or another defender dropping into the middle of the field.
That’s a tough ask for Young. His comfort in zone coverage and his ability to find open grass are much less useful when the windows tighten and the throw has to be perfect. Cleveland’s scheme is built to make that happen snap after snap.
If the Browns keep leaning on that formula, they could be the team that drags Young’s hot start back toward uncertainty and helps Cleveland move to a surprising 2-1 record.
In Other News...
Browns Fans Will Love How Cleveland Is Closing Nick Chubbs Career
Nick Chubbs Browns chapter is set to end the way so many Cleveland fans always hoped it would. After building a standout career with the franchise as a four-time Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro, Chubb will sign a one-day contract so he can officially retire as a Brown, a fitting finish for one of the most respected players of his era in Cleveland.
The Browns also plan to honor Chubb during their home opener after his retirement announcement on Aug. 21, giving the home crowd a chance to salute a player whose time on the field was affected by injuries but whose impact on the franchise never really faded. For a fan base that embraced his toughness and production, the farewell figure to his career is shaping up to be a heartfelt one. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Rookie Is Forcing His Way Into A Bigger Role Fast
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has spent his first two weeks in Cleveland doing the kind of work that often goes unnoticed until it starts changing a roster. The Browns second-round pick has mostly been a special teams piece so far, but he has already made his presence felt with three tackles and the highest special teams grade on the team from Pro Football Focus. With a strong safety tandem in place, Cleveland has the luxury of bringing him along at a slower pace.
Even with his defensive snaps still limited, McNeil-Warren appears to be making it hard for the Browns to keep him buried for long. The early returns suggest the rookie is settling in quickly, and the team expects his defensive workload to grow as he gets more comfortable. For a defense that can afford to be patient, that is a good problem to have. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Could Face A Tempting Marvin Harrison Jr. Decision
The Browns have reason to feel encouraged about their young receiver room after rookie wideouts KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston have flashed enough promise to make the future look brighter. Even so, the conversation around Clevelands pass-catching group has not stopped there, especially with the Browns coaching staff bringing real experience developing wide receivers and a front office that has shown it will at least consider ambitious additions if the fit makes sense.
Marvin Harrison Jr. has become the name worth watching because the upside is obvious for a Browns team that could use another dynamic target to deepen its receiving corps. The Cardinals receiver still has the kind of physical gifts and work ethic that made him such a coveted prospect, but his role in Arizona has been less central than expected, which is exactly why the idea of a trade has traction in Cleveland circles. The question now is whether the Browns would see enough value in making a bold move for a player whose talent is not in doubt, even if the situation around him is. [Read more 🡒]