Steelers vs. Browns: What Are Experts Saying About Pittsburgh?

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns used to be one of the best rivalries in the NFL. In recent years, the luster has faded as the Steelers have dominated this series since the Browns returned to the league.

However, this rivalry may once again be picking up some steam with a resurgent Browns team, which has been very competitive every week, including its three-point loss in the opener against the Steelers.

As these two teams clash in this Week 6 matchup, the winner will get a huge boost in the race for the AFC North. Though they may not be the favorites to win the division, the Steelers and Browns are going to do everything in their power to remain in contention.

Already with one loss in the division, this game is particularly important for the Steelers. They are coming off a hard-fought victory against the winless Jacksonville Jaguars and do not want to have another setback.

With the Steelers still a mystery as a team, here is a look at what the experts are saying about the Steelers ahead of their Week 6 game against the Browns.

Scott Brown: No More Jersey Swap

Marc Serota/Associated Press

Mike Tomlin took a hard stance with the Steelers when he banned games in the locker room in 2013. Now he wants to get rid of jersey swapping, per Scott Brown of ESPN.com:

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Brown autographed the jersey and gave it to Streeter, a childhood friend, after the Steelers’ 17-9 win at Jacksonville. 

It will apparently be the last Steelers jersey Brown gives to an opposing player following a game – at least on the field. 

“Jersey switching has been banned by the Steelers,” Brown said on Wednesday. “Coach [Mike Tomlin] doesn’t want us doing it anymore.” 

The edict Tomlin handed down Tuesday apparently stems from his wanting players to be more discreet if they exchange jerseys – or not to do it at all.

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The emphasis on winning is fine and is the priority for the Steelers, but chalk this one up as a move that I don’t understand. It is one thing if it distracted players—specifically Brown—from doing their jobs, but that has not been the case. Brown is one of the top receivers in the league.

Rather than ban jersey swapping, Tomlin may want to focus more on the issues on the field, such as tackling, red-zone production and penalties. Cleaning up those areas will have a greater impact on wins and losses than jersey swapping.

Scott Brown: Browns’ Running Backs Present a Challenge

Don Wright/Associated Press

The Steelers rush defense isn’t what it used to be, but a series of strong performances in recent weeks has Pittsburgh ranked 11th against the run. Over the past three games, opponents have averaged only 53.7 yards per game on the ground. That ranks well below its season average of 101.8 yards per game.

Even with the improvement against the run, Dick LeBeau and his defense still must be concerned about the Browns’ rushing attack. It was one of the key factors in their comeback against the Steelers in Week 1.

Scott Brown of ESPN.com spoke with Cameron Heyward and acknowledged that the Steelers must prove they have an answer for Cleveland’s three-headed monster at running back.

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Heyward said the Browns will encounter a different run defense than the one they gashed in the second half on Sept. 7 at Heinz Field -- and the one that gave up 348 rushing yards in the Steelers' first two games. 

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Stopping the run will be the primary goal of Pittsburgh’s defense on Sunday. The Steelers cannot allow the Browns to rush for 191 yards with an average of 6.2 yards per carry again. Another successful day on the ground will keep the defense off balance and allow Cleveland to dictate the tempo of the game.

A change with the defensive scheme is a necessity, as the Browns can throw a lot at you with Ben Tate, Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell. It will all start up front with Pittsburgh’s defensive line against Cleveland’s strong offensive line. As long as the Steelers can win the battle in the trenches, they should be able to limit the ground game of the Browns.

Ed Bouchette: Justin Brown Better Than Lance Moore

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Lance Moore appeared to be one of the Steelers' best signings during the offseason while Justin Brown was a young player on the rise. Both players had terrific training camps, but it has been the younger Brown who has seen most of the playing time.

Brown has struggled with inconsistent hands at times during the season, which has led some to call for Moore to see the field, but the coaching staff is still sticking with the younger option. Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (subscription required) has the answer why:

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A popular question on my chats and in Ask Ed (send your questions to [e-mail]) is why Justin Brown is ahead of Lance Moore in the pecking order at slot receiver. They believe he is a better receiver, is why. Remember, Moore was not an unrestricted free agent. He was a street free agent after the New Orleans Saints released him.

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Brown is clearly the better blocker, but the coaching staff clearly feels better with him as an option in the slot. He has a four-inch edge in height and nearly 20 pounds in weight. He also has the edge on production, with 10 receptions for 85 yards compared to just two for 38 yards for Moore.

Though he may not be lighting it up in the stats column, Brown has played on 67.4 percent of the offensive snaps compared to only 7.8 percent for Moore, per Football Outsiders.

Barring some unforeseen circumstances, Brown will continue to get a majority of the snaps and continue to grow as an offensive weapon as the season progresses.

Bob Labriola: Problems in the Red Zone

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Heading into the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a 30-plus point effort from Pittsburgh’s offense was almost a certainty. Jacksonville had one of the worst defenses in the league and had not allowed fewer than 33 points in a game all season.

Rather than light up the scoreboard, the offense struggled and only scored 10 points. One of the issues with the offense has been its production in the red zone, per Bob Labriola of Steelers.com:

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Through the first five weeks of the 2014 season, the Steelers offense ranks 26th in the league in red zone efficiency, with seven touchdowns in 16 trips for a percentage of 43.8. To provide a little perspective, the best red zone offenses in the NFL this year belong to the Broncos (76.9 percent), Falcons (75 percent), Packers (72.2 percent), Bears and Chiefs (tied at 70.6 percent). Twenty-two of the 32 teams are at 50 percent or better in red zone efficiency so far.

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One possible solution will be for Todd Haley to call more run plays in the red zone. Last week, the offense ran 11 pass plays inside of the 20 with zero runs. That is inexcusable when Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount are available.

Bell is arguably the Steelers' best offensive player so far this year, while Blount has the ability to power through defenders to pick up yards in tight spaces. To not give either player a carry deep in an opponent’s territory is a mistake, so expect a heavy dose on the ground when the Steelers are in scoring position this week.

Ray Fittipaldo: Get the Ball to Bell and Blount

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

It is too early to declare that the Steelers running game is back, but there is reason to be excited. Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount have combined for 646 yards and an average of nearly 5.6 yards per carry. As a team, Pittsburgh ranks eighth in the league with 137.2 rushing yards per game.

Even with all of the success on the ground, the Steelers could do even more, particularly in the red zone. Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (subscription required) believes that Bell and Blount are the key to improved production in terms of points:

They are two of the team’s most dangerous offensive weapons. Bell can take it the distance from anywhere on the field, and he has proved to be one of the most elusive players in the NFL in 2014.

But of the 10 snaps in the red zone on Sunday there were only two times they touched the ball. Look for them to be more involved in the red-zone offense, starting this week in Cleveland. If Tomlin keeps his word, that is. 

As previously pointed out, Bell and Blount are effective runners and need to be used more in the red zone. The Steelers move the ball very well on the ground, and positive plays help keep the offense in manageable situations.

It is understandable that the Steelers want to be a passing offense, but if something is working well, they must stick to it. In this case, it is running the ball, and they cannot abandon it in the red zone. This will especially be the case in Cleveland. Nothing can take a team—and a crowd—out of a game like a dominant rushing attack.

The Steelers have the ability to dominate on the ground and must game-plan for it.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, all stats are courtesy of ESPN.com, and all roster information is courtesy of Steelers.com.  

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