The Opening Drive 10/23: Vrabel's Familiarity With Browns Is Factor In Pivotal Matchup, Plus Things I Think I Know
The Browns have a great opportunity to remain relevant with a win in New England this week.
The Cleveland Browns will be on the road this Sunday for their fourth away game in five weeks. They will face the New England Patriots, who have gotten off to a strong start this season under new head coach Mike Vrabel, boasting a record of 5-2. The Patriots have an elite passing attack, ranking 11th in offensive DVOA and first in the league in EPA per pass. However, they have struggled with their running game, ranking 28th in EPA per run.
On the defensive side, the Patriots present a mixed picture. They are ranked 28th in defensive DVOA but 11th in overall team defense. Their defense is more effective against the run, ranking third in defensive EPA per rush, while they sit at 22nd in EPA per pass.
The Patriots’ second-year quarterback, Drake Maye, has been outstanding in his first seven games, amassing 1,744 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and only two interceptions, while completing 75.2% of his passes.
Four of their victories have come against weaker opponents: the Dolphins, Panthers, Saints, and Titans. However, their notable win over the Bills in primetime stands out as their marquee victory of the season. They are currently riding a four-game winning streak heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Browns.
For the Browns, this game holds significant importance as it presents them with an opportunity to demonstrate that they have successfully navigated the toughest part of their schedule and remain a competitive team in the wide-open AFC North division. Following Sunday’s game, the Browns will have a bye week, and they will face the very beatable Jets in their next matchup. A win on Sunday would make a powerful statement, showing that they are not going to go away quietly after a challenging start to the season and could potentially thrive in the much easier second half of their schedule.
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One of the most intriguing aspects of this matchup is the coaching dynamic. Mike Vrabel spent the entire 2024 season with the Cleveland Browns in an advisory role that eventually became more involved as the season unraveled. He played a significant part in the Browns’ staff, stepping into a key position in the offensive line room as issues continued with the newly hired offensive line coach, Andy Dickerson. Vrabel was present on the sidelines for many games and occasionally traveled with the team, even though it was initially thought that his role in Cleveland would not involve on-field duties.
Vrabel and Stefanski have a relationship, and there were certainly moments that they came together to try and fix the mess that was the 2024 Browns.
This is a key factor in the game. Vrabel has a deep understanding of Stefanski’s scheme and how the rest of the Browns staff operate. The Browns will need to be intentional about breaking their tendencies, and they must do so frequently. On defense, Schwartz will also need to get creative. There is no doubt that Vrabel will have his team prepared to exploit any weaknesses in Schwartz’s defense, drawing from their extensive experience working together(Titans, Browns) and insight into how Schwartz teaches his scheme.
We have been anticipating some adjustments and creativity on offense. With Vrabel coaching on the opposing sideline, Stefanski will need to dig deep into his bag. Given how crucial this week’s outcome is for the Browns’ chances of remaining competitive, along with Stefanski’s familiarity with Vrabel, he will need to adopt a different offensive game plan. This could involve attempts to exploit Vrabel’s knowledge of their scheme by incorporating timely wrinkles or unexpected adaptations in his play calling.
Things I Think I Know:
Jamari Thrash and Malachi Corley outperformed Isaiah Bond on Sunday. Expect a committee approach at wide receiver opposite Jerry Jeudy this week.
The return of David Njoku is crucial this week. Facing the Patriots’ defense, the Browns will rely on Njoku’s physical presence for blocking as well as his ability to run routes, which creates mismatches for opposing defenses. Fannin benefits from Njoku’s presence when they use 12 personnel. Blake Whiteheart doesn’t have the same impact on how defenses play against them. Regardless of whether Njoku gets the ball or not, defenses must pay more attention to him, which opens up opportunities for Fannin.
Dylan Sampson received just four touches against the Dolphins, which has been an ongoing trend since Week One. Quinshon Judkins is the engine of the Browns’ offense, but Sampson can create with the ball in his hands. Would love to see him get the ball in space with some creativity.
Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns Grant Delpit is playing at an elite level and should get all-pro consideration if he continues to perform at the top of his game.
Tyson Campbell plays a physical style of football and has been a strong addition and good fit since arriving from Jacksonville. He has seamlessly transitioned into the Browns defense and played almost every down since arriving.
Myles Harden has been performing surprisingly well in the nickel position, but it was Rayshawn Jenkins who truly stood out during Sunday’s game. Jenkins played 23 snaps as the third safety on the field and made a significant impact. Watching the dime package with Jenkins positioned in the box against the Dolphins was fun. He appears very comfortable in that role and played an excellent game.
Browns Film Breakdown will return later today with some fresh All-22 content.
This feels like a season defining game.
This win would be so huge.