Browns vs. Titans: Breaking Down Cleveland's Game Plan

A 1-2 start to a season is nothing new for the Cleveland Browns. Winning records are very hard to come by around here. The difference this year, however, is the level of optimism the Browns have heading out of the bye week.

They will travel to Tennessee to face the Titans and kick off a stretch of their schedule that includes five winnable games.

“That conjecture is for fans. That’s for media,” head coach Mike Pettine told the media on Wednesday. “There is way too many good payers and too many good coaches in this league that you have to be prepared physically and mentally to play every single week at a high level, or you will get beat.”

Before they can blaze a trail into the playoff race, they will have to take on a fledgling Titans team. Last week starting quarterback Jake Locker missed their blowout loss to Indianapolis with an injured wrist. He did practice Wednesday, and things look good for him to return against the Browns on Sunday. Tom Reed of The Plain Dealer shared Locker's assessment of his injury and the team's projection for his return:

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#Titans Jake Locker says his injured wrist feels good. #Browns expect him to play.

— Tom Reed (@treed1919) October 1, 2014"

The Browns game plan Sunday will involve a ton of pressure on Locker. He has thrown just three touchdowns to his four interceptions, and his line has given up the third-most interceptions in the league.

It will also have to be focused around something the Browns have failed to do this season: stop the run. The Titans have the fifth-best rushing-yards-per-play average in the NFL, and the Browns are 25th against the run. That could be a deadly combination for Cleveland.

The Titans defense is pretty mediocre, and thus the Browns should be able to exploit them on the ground. Realistically, the Browns should be able to win this game if they can stay on the positive side of the turnover ledger. They are currently tied for fifth in the NFL with a plus-four turnover ratio.

Let’s take a look through the positional groups which will try and execute a winning game plan come Sunday. 

The Competitive Edge

Quarterback

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to one of the few weeks the Browns will have the advantage at quarterback. Brian Hoyer played well above everyone’s expectations through the first three weeks and that has made their offense dangerous. His 97.5 quarterback rating is currently 11th in the NFL, and Hoyer has yet to turn the ball over.

Edge: Cleveland

Running Back

The Browns have talent at running back but have struggled to commit themselves to the rushing game so far this season. The Titans on the other hand have to run the ball, or they have no chance of winning. They have three backs with double-digit carries and two backs with 120 or more rushing yards. Veteran Shonn Greene carries the workload, but that will slowly shift over to rookie Bishop Sankey as the year progresses.

Edge: Tennessee

Receivers

There have been trade rumors swirling around the Browns and Titans this week, according to Jimmy Morris of SB Nation's Music City Miracles, and they involve Tennessee receiver Justin Hunter.

Whisenhunt shot down the trade rumors in his conference call with the Browns media on Wednesday, and it seems they were nothing more than Twitter speculation. Still, it speaks to the talent difference between the two groups. The Titans' third receiver would easily be the Browns' primary target.

Edge: Tennessee

Tight End

It’s not that Titans tight end Delanie Walker is more talented than Jordan Cameron, it is just that he is the feature receiver in their offense. Walker has already caught 22 passes for 317 yards and a touchdown. He is currently 10th in the NFL in receiving yards and just 23 yards behind Jimmy Graham for the league lead among tight ends.

Edge: Tennessee

Offensive Line

The Browns' offensive line has quickly become one of the best in the NFL. It has allowed just four sacks and has a very respectable 4.4 yards-per-rushing-attempt average. Its pass protection has allowed Hoyer to be effective and make it through his progressions on nearly every down.

The Titans, on the other hand, have allowed 11 sacks. Their run blocking is among the best in the NFL, but when Locker has to drop back, he is always under duress.

Edge: Cleveland

Defensive Line

David Richard/Associated Press

The inexplicably bad play of the Browns' defensive line cannot continue past the bye week, or this could be a long season. It is currently ranked 31st in the NFL, allowing 5.2 yards per run play.

The Titans, on the other hand, are fifth in the league, allowing just 3.9 yards per run play. The Browns have bigger names on their line, but the production of Sammie Hill, Jurrell Hill and Ropati Pitoitua has been very solid for Tennessee.

Edge: Tennessee

Linebackers

The Browns would win this category if it were strictly based on outside linebackers. The Titans would get the edge if it were based on the work of their inside guys. Combining the two units would make for one hell of a team. The Titans have just eight sacks in four games, and the Browns can’t stop the run to save their lives. One of the two will have to excel at its weakness to win on Sunday.

Edge: Push

Defensive Backs

The Browns and Titans have nearly identical numbers in opponent’s completion percentage, interceptions and yards per passing attempt. The Titans, however, rank higher in passing defense because they have given up fewer touchdowns and yards.

Neither is very good right now, but the Browns are younger and more talented. They were once the biggest strength of the team and need to bounce back in a big way after the bye week.

Edge: Push

Special Teams

This is a battle of two of the worst special teams units in the NFL. Both teams rank among the bottom of the league in just about every category. This is best illustrated in punt return average, where Tennessee ranks 31st, and the Browns rank 32nd.

Both kickers have been shaky early on as well. Ryan Succop has missed two field goals, and the Browns have had all kinds of issues with their field-goal unit. It has been so bad that Pettine said they brought in another long-snapper to compete for the job this week.

Edge: Push

Browns Offense vs. Titans Defense

The Titans have an average defense, which the numbers say can be exploited on the ground more so than through the air. The numbers are lying in this case.

The Titans have been blown out in three straight games which have forced opponents to rush the football late to kill clock. Realistically, the Titans defense seems to have gotten worse every week and has allowed more points each time it has taken the field.

There is quite a bit of old age on the Titans defense, so athletic, speedy offenses give it fits. The Titans have seven players in their regular defensive rotation who have played at least six seasons in the NFL. Last week Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck attacked the inside, the outside and underneath the Titans defense with ease.

The Browns will have to try and get Andrew Hawkins into space as he could be the guy who gives them the most trouble. They also have to try and get Travis Benjamin behind the Tennessee secondary which few have been able to do this season.

They have given up chunks of yards but the longest pass play against their defense was just 37 yards. If the Browns can establish the run and use Hawkins off of play action then the deep ball will become available.

Browns Defense vs. Titans Offense

If the Browns used their bye week wisely, then they should have a better run defense. It stands to reason that the struggles against the run are much more about scheme and execution than skill. They have one of the most talented defensive lines in the NFL.

To win on Sunday the Browns have to limit Green, Sankey and Dexter McCluster. Those three are as potent a trio in the NFL as you will find. If they have success on the ground, then the Browns will have trouble getting pressure on Locker.

If they can limit the run, however, then they should eat Locker alive. He is probably on his last leg as a starter in the NFL, and an eventual move to Zach Mettenberger seems inevitable. Locker has been sacked eight times and panics every time pressure situations arise in the pocket.

So the first step is stopping the run, and the next step is getting to Locker. If the Browns can rattle Locker, who is one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL, then they should have no problem creating turnovers.

Special Teams

This could be ugly. Both of these teams have pitiful special teams units and won’t be making tutorial videos anytime soon. Travis Benjamin has been a non-factor for the Browns, and until he proves he trusts his knee on returns, then he should be replaced.

The Titans and Browns both rank near the bottom of the NFL so it will come down to the team that makes the least amount of mistakes. Don’t expect too many explosive plays in this department.

What They’re Saying

“People are going to look at the Browns, and if they want to pencil it in, it’ll be penciled in as a win more often than not. That’s what we’re out to change.”—Browns head coach Mike Pettine on everyone saying the team's next five games are easy.

“I just was told—I walked off the field—about this. I don’t have any idea where that’s coming from. There’s no basis for that.”—Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt on the Justin Hunter trade rumors.

Browns’ Wednesday Injury Report

Did not participate: Wide receiver Marlon Moore (illness)

Marlon Moore might not be the biggest name on the roster, but he certainly makes an impact. Moore is the starting kick returner and would be replaced by Benjamin if he cannot play. With how ineffective Benjamin has been, that would be a huge step backward.

Limited: Defensive lineman Desmond Bryant (wrist); cornerback Buster Skrine (thumb); running back Ben Tate (knee); offensive lineman Joe Thomas (rest)

The outlook is good for Bryant, Skrine and Tate to play on Sunday. Tate’s return would also bring an increase in passing out of the backfield, something the rookie running backs have not been trusted with just yet.

Thomas got a veteran’s day off and will play on Sunday.

Full Participation: Tight end Jordan Cameron (shoulder) and linebacker Barkevious Mingo (shoulder)

Both Mingo and Cameron should play on Sunday, but Cameron did not heal up completely through the bye week. He told the media on Wednesday that he will have to learn to play with the pain, which, unfortunately, is not going anywhere this season.

This Week’s Game Stats and Facts

The Browns are the only NFL team that has not turned the ball over this year.

After an incompletion on his third attempt during the last game’s opening drive, Hoyer completed 14 consecutive passes, tied for the fourth-longest streak in Browns history and the team’s longest stretch since 2003.

Titans’ head coach Ken Whisenhunt served as the special teams coordinator for the Browns in 1999. Tennessee defensive coordinator Ray Horton held the same position with the Browns in 2013.

Browns quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains spent the past eight years (2006-2013) with the Titans.

All quotes and observations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Game stats and facts are courtesy of the Browns’ communications department.