The Steelers (3-1) and Browns (1-4) face off later today in Pittsburgh. Ahead of the matchup, I chatted with the site manager of SB Nation’s Browns website, Chris Pokorny, to preview Pittsburgh’s upcoming opponent.
You can read my questions and his answers below:
1. Currently 1-4, I’m sure it hasn’t been a great season to be a Browns fan. What’s one bright spot on the team through five weeks?
Although the defense has been good overall, I will single out running back Quinshon Judkins. Taken near the beginning of the second round, he missed pretty much all of training camp due to an off-the-field issue. After missing the opening
game, he has looked strong in four straight starts. Some running backs have that natural ability to always grind forward for tough yardage, and he does that on every play. He also has the natural instincts needed for the position, to where you feel he can break a big run at any moment. Last week, he had a 60+ yard touchdown run called back due to a holding penalty that may not have made much of a difference.
While every other position on offense — quarterback, wide receiver, and offensive line — has had a lot of question marks after each game, Judkins has done everything asked of him and looks like the type of player this offense should be built around.
2. The Browns spent a top-five pick on defensive tackle Mason Graham and the first pick of the second round on linebacker Carson Schwesinger, adding both to a defense that already has some big names. Has that group performed up to expectations this season?
The Browns have the top-ranked run defense in the NFL, allowing just 2.98 yards per carry. I think Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger have both contributed to that drastic improvement in the team’s run defense, but it’s been Schwesinger who gets more of the press because he racks up the tackles and can fly in on the quarterback. Pro Football Focus hasn’t been so kind to Graham with the grades he’s receiving, marking him as more of an average defensive tackle.
My perception is that I think his presence up front is helping the rest of the defensive line get more rushing opportunities, but that Graham does mostly look like “just another guy” at the moment. By that, I mean if you watch the Browns-Steelers game, you’re not going to think, “Holy cow, look at Graham, he looks like a top-5 pick from the draft.” We’ll give it time to see how he continues to develop with reps.
3. Dillon Gabriel is now the Browns’ starting quarterback, and the team showed some confidence in him with this week’s unexpected Joe-Flacco-to-the-Bengals trade. How has Gabriel looked? Do you think he can be a long-term starter in the NFL, or is he just a placeholder?
It’ll be interesting to see what Dillon Gabriel can do when he is asked to open it up and throw the ball downfield. During his solid preseason efforts, and his first NFL start, we’ve seen that he can get the ball out quick on shorter patterns, and occasionally make some nice intermediate throws. It’s the type of stuff that quality NFL starters should have. My concern with him is that’s all I’ve seen, and before long, teams are going to key in on those plays. Then, it’ll be up to Gabriel to show what else he can bring to the table to counteract that. Will it be strong passes downfield? Will it be being able to escape the pocket and find someone on a broken play? Those things are to be determined. Until then, my thought is, “Alright, he looks like he can be a solid backup at the very least,” with room to the upside.
4. Who are two under-the-radar Browns players, one each on offense and defense, who might play a big role in Sunday’s game?
On offense, it is definitely tight end Harold Fannin Jr. The rookie tight end plays about 70% of the snaps each week in two tight end sets and he leads the Browns with 21 catches for 173 yards. On defense, I’ll go with defensive tackle Maliek Collins. Even though he is an established veteran playing in his tenth year (first with the Browns), I am blown away by what he’s done in his first five games here. He has 3.5 sacks and is making run stops in his sleep; I know I gave credit to the Browns’ rookies earlier, but it is really Collins who has come out of nowhere and dominated.
5. The Steelers are currently 5.5-point home favorites against Cleveland per FanDuel. What do you think of that line, and what’s your final score prediction for the game?
When the Browns have not been able to muster more than 17 points in a single game this season, are on the road, and have not won in Pittsburgh since 2003, I have no room to complain about a point spread of that nature, lol. Granted, I think because of the Browns’ defense, Cleveland can find themselves with a chance to win any game, so a win against anyone would not shock me, including against the Steelers. But that damn offense of the Browns needs to start putting points on the board before I can pick them regularly, so I’m going with Pittsburgh winning by a score of 23-17.
