The Opening Drive 10/10: More Mailbag Answers and Friday Special Teams Analysis
Let's get to all those subscriber questions and then look at the specials from London.
Welcome in, and happy Friday to all of you. Today we do our usual special teams deep dive but I also want to get to all the unanswered questions from the mailbag podcast we just dropped this morning. The timing of questions can be tough to get each and every one of them in the audio form so I thought I would take to the Newsletter to finish the group. Here they are, and there are some great questions in here. Thanks to all of you who participate in these.
Assuming, and I know it’s a big assumption, that Dillon Gabriel can perform at an above average level, married with our defense; is the offensive line and receiving core really bad enough to hold us back from a run at the AFC North? (Zach)
Let’s see how this weekend plays out. I do think it will tell a clear story about the current state of things and whether they have what is needed to make some kind of miracle run. To answer your question, I do fear they are just not quite good enough at those positions to become a consistent offense weekly. But I would love to be proved wrong.
Is there any chance they look to boost WR room in a trade? And if you were GM is there anyone you’d be looking at? (Rees Batley)
I don’t have any particular wide receiver in mind, but they should be continuing to look for ways to make that room better. They have found strong trades there so if the right one opens up, they would take interest. Hard to expect it but I am sure they would be looking around the league.
I’m kind of numb with the trades and I’m afraid of what is coming next. Was the CB move just a money deal? Or is Tyson (great name) Campbell better. Do you feel we are weeks away from a move of David Njoku? I would really hate to see that. (Tyson Dailey)
It was about locking in a cornerback for 2026 at a reasonable number who is comparable to Newsome. They know Newsome might walk, or need overpaid, and made a judgement call off of that. It makes sense to me but we will see how performance shakes out. I would just say be prepared for anything with these moves. They have no fear of taking the right deal if it shows up. I mentioned three names on the Mailbag Pod last night.
Any chance that the Campbell trade was solely because they are looking for a bigger more physical man corner? (Joe)
I do not think it was solely about that but I do think that plays a bigger role than folks think. He is a willing tackler and big body so he will come up and tackle as the force defender, but he is also a better press man corner than off zone player. This fits him better even if I think he is less twitchy than Newsome overall. Money and the future of the position and 2026 played a role, but the scheme fit had to be there to really have this deal come together.
Hey fellas, big fan of everything y’all been doing, sure would be nice to have a few more dubs to talk about to lighten the mood. In the interim, here’s my question. What sort of things would you be looking for from the offense that would re-establish your faith in Stefanski. You’ve documented the poor use of motion. Would a more thoughtful use of motion be enough or are there schemes being used around the league that we simply never get to? It feels like for the past 3 years of watching your offensive breakdown that the only thing we reliably run is stick, smash, and flood. (Ryan L)
Great question. It would be having more diverse alignments and releases for routes against man coverage, using motion in ways that truly stresses a defense 80% of the time, and then creating a play-action game under-center that builds off you run success. Right now they cannot find any of those things. I would also prefer their players start getting the minor details right and show signs of progress in those details to make schemes work. They have their hands full!
What is the path to utilizing the middle of the field? I understand why it favors Gabriel to have the easy options to the flats and speed outs, I just feel like at a team we don’t threaten the middle of the field. (Jeff Kopache)
I would say, Jeff, that it takes protection and route development. Quick hitters to the outside having a high open tendency because of defensive alignment. If you want to throw those deep in-breakers or find the backside dig over the intermediate middle, you need time in the pocket. They have not been able to find that. It remains their single biggest issue that has to be resolved or we will keep on the current path.
How realistic is it that we’ll see a completely new offensive line next year? Would there be a benefit to keeping Wyatt Teller and Ethan Pocic around to help with continuity or is it better to start things from scratch? (Eren Taner)
I think you have young players ready to step into those interior roles and the Browns need to sort out the future there. I do think you could see Cam Robinson back here if he plays well or Jack Conklin because it is brutal to replace two offensive tackles in the same cycle, but the interior has players ready and waiting.
I know it’s not productive to play “Monday morning QB” regarding Baker but has he seen Baker film for this year? How has Baker improved from an on field perspective? Could have it been developed if given time in Cleveland or does he feel Baker’s off field issues played a part and/or the new offense in TB a better fit for him? I was big in Baker and still am. Does the leadership not give him enough time or was it just bad timing for our Browns? (Matthew Wattenberger)
The biggest thing for this year’s version of Baker Mayfield is that he’s making people miss in the pocket, keeping plays alive at an alarming rate, and making plays out of structure. He currently has the highest throwing EPA on scrambles and the highest missed tackle forced rate in the pocket. Those things are usually not stable year over year and he is still making the “Turnover Worthy Plays" that have tracked across his career. However, he is playing really well within what they’re asking him to do and he is taking advantage of his pass game weapons there for three years. The offensive line is also among the best since his arrival there.
He has turned it around and is playing good football but he was also surrounded by things that prop him up and I am unsure of Cleveland’s ability to do that consistently had he stuck around and was still here. But, make no mistake, if you could go back and re-write history you probably just keep him around.
With trading Flacco and acquiring more picks to help us move up to draft a quarterback next year, it seems to me like that is a guaranteed outcome at this point. If that is the case what quarterback would you pick if the draft was today and you had the number 1 draft pick? Is Mendoza the best or do you see anyone else that you would consider at this point? (Brian Troyer)
It would come down to your process of identifying which of the four between Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore, Ty Simpson, and LaNorris Sellers fits best. Who checks the boxes in the personality and off-field and you think fits your scheme. Right now, I think Moore is the leader in the clubhouse for me with Mendoza on his heels. Cannot wait to see them face off this weekend.
1. Whats the current odds that the “free Sanders” voices will be quieted after Gabriel becomes the first QB since 03 to beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the regular season? +500?
2. Since Stefanski has been here, have we ever seen him call or have a “quick pass game” when needed, outside of the week one influx of RB targets? (Dave)
To answer question one, maybe. That group of devoted fans will ride the wagon until the wheels fall off but if Gabriel is a key piece that leads the Browns to a win in Pittsburgh then some of those who stay in the middle will lean his direction. But the Sanders group will never ride quiet into the good night.
For the second question, there have been times where the “West Coast” staples have worked well for the Browns but I would say it has not been consistent enough. I am disappointed they have not found ways to get Sampson involved on the perimeter again after Week 1. It would benefit them.
I can’t remember a NFL team that is providing as much “on the job training” as this year’s Browns - playing 8+ rookies in near full time roles. Isn’t that a pure sign that they are playing for future, damn the present? And doesn’t this exonerate Stefanski/Berry from firing? In other words Browns aren’t intentionally tanking - it’s “unintentional tanking!” (JC)
They are certainly walking that middle ground between trying to do right by the veterans in-house and compete week-to-week while also knowing they need to turn the roster over and get youth in the building. I think they are doing a solid job of both as they have been competitive for the most part and the young players are playing big roles.
We’re starting to hear rumblings of discord between GM and coach. As much as I want to dismiss this as fan fiction I also know that at times “where there is smoke, there is fire”. We’ve seen this movie before in Cleveland and thus we are forced to at least consider it a possibility. Your take? (Jason)
I see where you are coming from Jason, but I need to see more than just the presser from the abrupt trade of Flacco. I think there would need to be some leaks to bigger media names and we know those things happen toward the end of a season. I think noticing this is not wrong, but I don’t think we are quite there yet. If there is a feeling the Browns would keep one without the other, then you will start seeing leaks. But I would be surprised by that.
Now, let’s dig into the film and details from each special teams unit.
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Punt
For the day, Corey Bojorquez averaged 45 yards per punt with the outlier of a missed one that only went 33 yards out of bounds. Otherwise his kicks, and hang time, we strong and the Vikings didn’t muster much in returns. The Browns had a huge chance to down the ball inside the 1-yard line late in the 4th quarter but the heel of Rex Sunahara went over the end zone line and forced a touchback. Mistake, sure, but also so hard to stop that foot. But also, what a ridiculous rule.
Bubba Ventrone talked about that play yesterday during his time with the media. “Yeah, that was a tough one. We talk about that quite a bit, honestly, especially in our Friday meetings where we’re talking about more like situational type plays and just understanding, like the scenario there. It’s like you get a nice play from the gunner to bat the ball back. Just having an understanding and awareness that the ball’s coming back, and it’s not rolling toward the goal line to be under control on the recovery and just having that instinct and awareness to not dive on the ball and really just let the ball go and down it. I know he feels bad about it. He’s showing good effort, but we just need to better aware of the situation.”
Punt Return
Gage Larvadain handled return duties and did a nice job on several of them. He is smooth catching the ball and does well getting vertical on his returns. The 16-yard effort in the first half was his best of the day overall.
He did, however, let two balls bounce on his and that can’t happen as it can rush field position if you let it roll out. Something to work on and Ventrone mentioned this on Larvadain’s big miss that led to a ball downed inside the Browns 2-yard line.
“I thought he did a good job. I did. The one ball that we did not field, I thought that (Ryan) Wright made a nice play. He showed like he was going left, brought the ball back to our right. That was the one play that I know Gage would like to have back. He got a late jump on the ball. He was over playing the offset too much and was late to get over there and, you know, was unable to catch the ball.”
Kickoff and Kickoff Return
Nothing crazy noteworthy here other than the Browns returned each of their three returns for exactly 26 yards. The first kick landed before the “landing zone” so they got it out to the 40-yard line, so that is always nice. Then they almost broke the first returned ball up the right sideline. Sampson just has to finish his block. This unit is improving.
The Browns kickoff team was fine after the first kickoff of the day was returned out past the 40-yard line but there was a clear holding on the return so it was brought back. They covered well and closed down the Vikings right side return plans all day.
Field Goal
The Browns only kicked one meaningful kick on the day and it was just from 31 yards but it nearly got blocked. they moved two offensive lineman to the wing positions this week in Teven Jenkins (74) and Cam Robinson (68) to try to get some wider bodies in there protecting after the two tight ends the previous weeks had some leak issues that nearly led to blocks. On the attempt below, you will see the Vikings overload the Browns’ left side and Jenkins ignores the inside rusher with the best path to the ball. It nearly leads to a block. Cannot happen, you have to protect inside and get a hand wide for the edge rush.
Field Goal Block
Nothing to add here other than Denzel Ward is going to get one of the these. On the Vikings 3rd quarter miss he was once again just inches away from the ball. He turns that corner as well as anyone in the NFL.
Overall Special Teams Grade: (B) No big plays allowed and they handled their business for most of the day. But they didn’t unlock anything hidden in yardage or win in any particular way.
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That Vikings punter was launching bombs last week. I have no faith in Bubba to make this a functional special teams unit, he just seems very aloof.