Titans vs. Browns: What's the Game Plan for Cleveland?

After likely burning last week’s tape, the Cleveland Browns regroup at FirstEnergy Stadium and will host the Week 1 standout Tennessee Titans.

It’s a matchup between one team searching for a quarterback and another that hopes it found that guy in rookie Marcus Mariota. His four first-half touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were certainly a good start. For the Browns, Johnny Manziel will get the start after incumbent Josh McCown failed to progress through the NFL concussion protocol and did not practice this past week, the team announced Friday.

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BREAKING: Johnny Manziel to start vs Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/8Uvqu9a3dE

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 18, 2015"

While Mariota was good, and Manziel uneven, in Week 1, neither quarterback’s performance is a definitive statement about their future. At this early stage of their careers, the future for both is written one game at a time.

Let’s take a look at how Cleveland can stop Mariota and also protect their quarterback against an aggressive Brian Orakpo-led Titans defense.

Offensive Game Plan

Improve on First Down

It’s a little early to panic about the Browns running attack. But it might be time to start questioning the team’s first-down play-calling.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Being able to run the ball on first down is huge in attempting to establish a more balanced offense. The Browns were dismal in that area in Week 1. Despite rushing 12 times on first down, they managed just 25 yards—2.1 yards per carry. They averaged 4.9 yards per attempt when rushing on second and third down, although those numbers are inflated by multiple quarterback scrambles.

Gaining more than one or two yards on first-down attempts will create more manageable passing downs for Manziel. That’s not a secret. But not being able to run the ball at all on the down will make them predictable, so they can’t abandon it altogether. There has to be balance.

So what went wrong on first down against the New York Jets?

Let’s take a look at an Isaiah Crowell run in the first quarter of last week’s game. Notice that Cameron Erving is lined up as an extra offensive lineman outside left tackle Joe Thomas. This play should have been a success.

Source: NFL Game Pass

The play looked like it was designed to stretch the Jets’ front seven, allowing Crowell to get to the edge or cut back behind Joel Bitonio’s reach block. Notice, though, that rookie Leonard Williams stood up and drove Bitonio back.

Crowell panicked when his first two options were taken away by Bitonio being bullied by Williams. He cut back, right into the backside defenders who finished him off after a very short gain.

Source: NFL Game Pass

While they were still in a position to stick to their running game, Tampa Bay was able to run the ball effectively on first down against the Titans—4.9 yards per carry on 13 attempts.

Replicating the Bucs' production seems like an impossibility after last week's effort, but Tennessee's defense isn't as talented. There will be much more running room for the Browns in Week 2.

Defensive Game Plan

Disrupt Titans’ Timing

Mariota’s rushing ability presents a multitude of problems for Cleveland’s defense. The threat of him pulling the ball on read-option plays will freeze defenders, and their subsequent hesitation opens up passing lanes for the rookie quarterback to dispense the ball quickly.

Disrupting his timing by jamming receivers would go a long way in nullifying his quick-strike passing ability. Tampa Bay tried it to a degree in Week 1, but this free release for Kendall Wright led to a 52-yard touchdown catch-and-run on the Titans’ first drive of the game.

Source: NFL Game Pass

First off, Tennessee’s 12 personnel—one running back, two tights and two receivers—dictated Tampa Bay’s personnel grouping, but the Browns didn’t need to line up a linebacker across from Wright.

If the Browns want to try that, without getting a jam on the receiver, they’ll also have problems stopping Mariota from pulling the ball on those read plays and dissecting them.

Their best bet is to play physical to prevent receivers from getting off the line of scrimmage quickly. If they can make Mariota hold the ball a little longer, they should be able to force the rookie into a few more mistakes than he made in his debut. 

Key Players and Matchups

A lot of attention will rightfully be placed on new Titans pass-rusher Orakpo. But Derrick Morgan will be a handful for Browns right tackle Mitchell Schwartz. Last week, Morgan logged two sacks and another hurry in 19 pass-rush snaps while playing primarily from the left outside linebacker position. Schwartz allowed just one pressure last week.

Wright had only four targets in Week 1 but caught all of them. The speedy Wright did most of his damage after the catch. After struggling to start 2014, Joe Haden came slow out of the gate again this year with Brandon Marshall looking like his former self. Some were calling Haden overrated last season, but he eventually evened out. We’ll see if he can bounce back in Week 2 by containing Wright, who took that short pass 52 yards for a touchdown.

Mariota wasn’t asked to do very much last week, but he didn’t have to. None of his 16 pass attempts traveled 20 or more yards down the field. He’s capable of deep passing, but it wasn’t necessary in Week 1.

One thing he didn’t do last week was take off and run. The Titans only flirted with that idea and used it as a decoy on more than a few read-pass-designed plays that created separation for his receivers. The Browns must play fundamental football and be ready for Mariota to scramble.

The Jets sent multiple looks, coverages and disguises at Manziel last week in attempts to rattle him. It did work a few times. You can bet Titans defensive coordinator Ray Horton and assistant Dick LeBeau will have a few tricks up their sleeves to try to corral the improvisational second-year quarterback before he runs wild on their defense.

Prediction

Cleveland’s defense isn’t as bad as game situations allowed it to be in Week 1. There are too many high-quality players and good coaches in the organization for that to make sense. And Mariota isn’t going to be perfect in every start. Both sides will even out, and Sunday could be the first step in that process.

Manziel adds another wrinkle to Cleveland’s offense, but it might be one of those tough ones to even out. He certainly looks better than his disastrous rookie season, but will he take care of the football and play good enough to get a victory?

Expect Cleveland to play inspired football, especially on defense, after last week’s disaster in New Jersey. The Browns’ press-man coverage will lead to the unit making enough plays to disrupt Mariota’s rhythm and will make him look more like a rookie quarterback this week.

Manziel should manage the game well enough with a revitalized rushing game, an effective, quick-passing attack and a couple splash plays. Those impact plays, either with his arm or legs, can be difference-makers.

Prediction: Browns 24, Titans 20

Unless otherwise noted, advanced statistics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

Mike Hoag (@MikeHoagJr) covers the Cleveland Browns for Bleacher Report and is the managing editor of Browns Beat.