The Browns are heading into Week 9 with a new face set to start at quarterback, a head coach still drawing mixed reviews, and a defense that may have a very specific weak spot for the Saints to attack.
Chris Pokorny of Dawgs By Nature said Todd Monken’s first season in Cleveland has been uneven but generally encouraging after a rough opening. The Browns were “blown out with no answers” in Week 1 against the Jaguars, but Pokorny said the team has looked much better since then, enough that Monken was even getting coach of the year buzz before last week’s second blowout loss to Pittsburgh.
“I wouldn’t say he’s an amazing coach, but he’s gotten some good out of Deshaun Watson, which not many people thought was possible,” Pokorny said. He also pointed to the Browns’ week-to-week and in-game adjustments as a major plus, especially compared with the previous staff.
The issues, though, are still hard to miss. Pokorny said Monken has not solved the Browns’ sack problem or cleaned up the penalties.
Even so, he didn’t pin all of that on the coach, noting that the offensive line has been “at what I would call a fair level” and that Cleveland has also benefited from an “easy schedule.” His overall grade for Monken: “like a B- so far in his first year as a head coach.”
Sunday’s injury situation could push the Browns into a different look at quarterback. Pokorny said it is “looking like Deshaun Watson will be out as he is in the concussion protocol.” He added that Cleveland has been relatively healthy overall this season, but singled out second-year linebacker Carson Schwesinger as a player the Saints could potentially target if he’s not at full strength.
Schwesinger has dealt with an ankle injury, and Pokorny said last week against the Steelers he had “an awful day in coverage,” grading out at 30.5 by Pro Football Focus. He said Schwesinger posted low marks in run defense, tackling, pass rush, and coverage. Still, Pokorny warned that attacking him could backfire if that performance was just an outlier.
If the Saints are looking for a cleaner path, Pokorny believes it starts on the ground. He said Cleveland’s run defense “has become a real liability lately,” with the Titans and Steelers both having success against it.
The Browns’ staff has already discussed what went wrong from a strategic standpoint, and Pokorny is expecting adjustments. At the same time, he called Cleveland’s pass defense “very sound,” making the run game the area New Orleans should try to lean into despite its own struggles there.
With Shedeur Sanders in line to start in New Orleans, Pokorny said he has “like an average level of confidence” that Sanders will handle the offense well. He doesn’t expect a dramatic rescue act, but he also doesn’t think the Browns’ offense can be much worse than it has been at times with Watson.
Watson, Pokorny said, has been better this season than in previous Browns seasons and has delivered game-winning drives in all five victories. But he still described him as “a below average quarterback” because the offense often moves too slowly and lacks rhythm. He also noted that Watson hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in three straight games.
That opens the door for Sanders, who Pokorny said played behind a much worse offensive line last year and now gets a look with Cleveland’s young weapons. One concern is Sanders’ tendency to backpedal too much on third downs to avoid pressure, which can create even more sacks.
Pokorny said Sanders improved on that during the regular season last year, but after so long without live game action, those habits could return. He also said Sanders showed some chemistry in training camp with rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion.
One Browns player Saints fans should keep an eye on is tight end Harold Fannin. After a stretch in which he had only 2 catches in 2 games, Fannin has 16 catches for 245 yards over the last 2 games.
Pokorny praised his hands and his ability to pick up extra yards after contact. He also pointed to Fannin’s connection with Sanders last year, when Fannin had 4 touchdown receptions in 7 games with him at quarterback.
As for how Sunday might unfold, Pokorny said the betting line may have shifted to +3 with the Watson news. He noted that this is Cleveland’s third straight road game and that the Browns are coming off a bad loss. He also pointed out that none of Cleveland’s five wins this season have come by more than 4 points.
Still, he thinks the Browns can find some offense against a Saints defense allowing nearly 28 points per game. If Cleveland can keep New Orleans from becoming one-dimensional, Pokorny said the Browns’ pass defense should make life difficult. His prediction: Browns 20, Saints 17.
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