The Opening Drive 8/24: Joe Flacco Will Feed His Tight Ends
12-personnel should feast well in 2025.
Waking up to review and discuss the Browns on a Sunday morning is something I’ll never get used to. Normally, this is a quiet Monday routine — coffee in hand. But on Sunday, it’s chaos: kids running around, and let me tell you, distractions everywhere. It takes every ounce of focus just to string thoughts together. Thankfully, there’s enough caffeine in the house to survive. Honestly, it feels a little like being a rookie quarterback trying to survive a collapsing pocket.
Speaking of quarterbacks trying to survive pockets, that’s exactly where today’s work takes us. The All-22 is in, and I’m combing through it. Since the walk-off kick yesterday, plenty has been said about who was slighted, who was favored, and what the coaching staff was thinking. But as always, much of that chatter comes without watching the only version of the game that truly has the answers.
That’s where we come in. At Browns Film Breakdown, we dive into the tape first — and before anyone else. So, grab your own coffee, block out that Sunday “to-do” list, and let’s dig into the film together.
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One of the underlying factors in why Joe Flacco made the most sense for the Browns’ roster this year is his willingness to push the ball downfield. One-on-one chances, tight windows, progression-based throws—he’ll take them all. Sometimes to his detriment, Flacco will give his guys a chance in the passing game. The Browns might not have the league’s deepest skill-position group, but their top-end talent is strong. That means plenty of opportunity for Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, and the tight ends.
Focusing on the tight ends in particular after what Flacco and the offense did on Saturday: the veteran gunslinger has been throwing to them for 15 years, feeding the likes of Todd Heap, Owen Daniels, and Dennis Pitta. Yeah, that’s a blast from the haunted Baltimore past—I know.
When Flacco arrived in Cleveland in late 2023, he connected immediately with David Njoku, and that relationship continues to bear results. But the Browns are also leaning more into two–tight end sets, something that stood out throughout the early afternoon yesterday. I want to highlight two of the best throws on the day and, fittingly, both went to tight ends.
The first touchdown was a 12-personnel glance “alert” concept where the frontside (trips side) is running a variation of a man-beater (double square in routes with a deep corner route) and the solo side occupied by Harold Fannin Jr. is running the glance. Flacco is simply eying the backside safety to see if he rolls off that hash. If he does, rip the glance behind him. If he squats, read the three man side.
Once he notices the safety going low, watch him check quickly to ensure no rotation is happening over to the right side. All clear, and let it rip.
The second key throw of the day was off a concept the Browns used plenty in late 2023. You will see them sell power (backside guard pulling) in order to get the run influence. That causes the backside EDGE to crash inside and helps create the void in the pocket to throw. I like the “exit” motion to swap receivers (in order to mess with the coverage process) and Flacco has time to read it out.
Once he notices the field pressure (slot corner coming from the wide side of the field) he knows to let Njoku clear the linebacker and the window will be open. The pressure forces him to drift slightly but he trusts the concept. Good anticipation and a chunk play.
It’s easy to see how Flacco can help the offense find success if they protect him. Mistakes will be made and Flacco will be who he always is, but it’s all about damage control. Can he minimize the mistake and find ways to amplify his weapons. It won’t be for a lack of courage to let it rip, that’s for sure.
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Browns Film Breakdown will return later today with some All-22 from the rookies!
