Houston Texans vs. Cleveland Browns: What Are Experts Saying About Cleveland?
Ladies and gentlemen, your Cleveland Browns (6-3) sit all alone atop the AFC North as they welcome in the Houston Texans to FirstEnergy Stadium this Sunday.
The last time Cleveland was in first place after Week 10 was way back in 1994.
In 1994, Bill Belichick was Browns head coach, Vinny Testaverde was quarterback, Bill Clinton was president, and Boyz II Men were topping the billboard charts. Yes, plenty has changed since the Browns held a division's top spot in November.
The orange helmets put the nation on notice last Thursday when they decimated the Cincinnati Bengals 24-3 on the road in the most recent edition of the Battle of Ohio. How will this team handle success?
In their previous domination of a divisional opponent (a 31-10 romp over Pittsburgh in Week 6), the Browns followed it up with an embarrassing uninspired loss to the then winless Jacksonville Jaguars.
This club has a chance to prove that they are for real against the Texans.
Let's see what a variety of experts and analysts are saying about the Browns leading into this weekend.
R.J. White, CBSSports.com: Cleveland's Three Running Back System
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Having options and depth is definitely a benefit at running back, but the Browns have the problem of sorting through three starting caliber rushers this season.
Will head coach Mike Pettine keep this three-man rotation? R.J. White of CBS Sports explains with quotes from Pettine:
""We have options, and we can steer it a couple different ways," Pettine said. "(The versatility) can be problematic for a defense, as well, but I’m not going to sit here and say 'we’re committed to a three-running back system, here’s how we’re going to do it.' I would still put it in the week-to-week category."
The three backs combined for 169 rushing yards on 48 carries Thursday, with each receiving at least 10 carries and all three reaching the end zone.
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When each back gets double-digit attempts the player can get into a flow during the game. The problem is that if the ball is spread around too thinly, then no one gets in a groove and the ground attack as a whole suffers.
At times this season offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has elected to go with two rushers. When all three backfield weapons have been healthy, there have been outings where Terrance West or Isaiah Crowell were benched.
The Browns are ranked 11th in rushing, yet no one RB has been able to clearly separate themselves as the feature back. Ben Tate, West and Crowell have obviously had success in 2014, but they are not consistent enough to earn Shanahan's complete trust on an ongoing basis.
However, when the offensive line is clicking all are having success both in yards per carry (YPC) and in reaching the end zone. The trio combines for an average of 3.87 YPC and 12 touchdowns.
Sunday certainly brings an opportunity for success in whatever combination the Browns trot out. The Houston Texans are 21st in defending the run, giving up an average of 117.3 yards per game.
One of the keys for Cleveland's offense overall will be to stay away from Houston's unstoppable force known as J.J. Watt and depending on the day, inconsistent rookie Jadeveon Clowney.
Mary Kay Cabot, the Plain Dealer: Concussion Confirmed for Tashaun Gipson
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Cleveland safety Tashaun Gipson has been playing at a Pro Bowl level since the end of last season and is no doubt playing the best out of anyone in the team's defensive backfield.
The Browns may not have him Sunday against the Houston Texans. Gipson was complaining of headaches on Tuesday and sure enough a concussion was the diagnosis.
Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer outlines the situation:
"Coach Mike Pettine said Gipson likely suffered the concussion in the second quarter in Cincinnati when he stripped rookie running back Jeremy Hill of the ball. He said Gipson got knee'd in the head.
He added that Gipson hasn't been ruled out yet for the Texans, and that it's a tight window to get him back on the field by Sunday. If Gipson can't play, it will be a huge blow for the Browns.
He leads the NFL with six interceptions and is a major reason the Browns are 6-3 and in first place this season. What's more, he has four in the last four games.
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Facing Houston quarterback Ryan Mallett in his first NFL start is a tasty matchup for the ball hawking safety. Mallett's lack of mobility could cause him to toss up some panicked passes if he can't escape pressure in the pocket.
On the Browns team website depth chart, Jordan Poyer officially backs up Gipson and Jim Leonhard is behind Donte Whitner at the other safety spot. Johnson Bademosi is the other center fielder on the roster, but he missed practice time from a concussion, as well.
Neither Leonhard or Poyer have the proven game-changing abilities that No. 39 has demonstrated in the secondary.
Leonhard is a 10-year veteran and is usually technically sound, but he doesn't compare to Gipson's turnover-creating potential.
Poyer is interesting in that he's primarily been a special teams contributor since entering the league in 2013. He had a solid collegiate career at Oregon State, which included seven interceptions and 2.0 sacks in his final year.
The same message will apply to the safeties as it did to the club when they had to replace Pro Bowl center Alex Mack and tight end Jordan Cameron, while also waiting out Josh Gordon to return from suspension. It's next man up. No excuses, just go out and get the job done.
Jeff Schudel, News-Herald & the Morning Journal: Will Center Nick McDonald Play?
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Browns fans collectively gasped at the news of replacement center Nick McDonald being placed in a walking boot following Cleveland's romp over the Cincinnati Bengals last Thursday.
A calf injury was the revealed ailment and the boot was supposedly more of a precaution. McDonald did not practice on Tuesday, but he did on Wednesday and Thursday.
Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald & The Morning Journal helps to break down where the 6'4" snapper is at:
"“We’re going to take it day-by-day. It’s feeling good,” McDonald said. “We’ll talk to the trainers and coaches and see how it goes.
“The more reps you get, the more time you get with the guys, you get comfortable with them. We’re working hard. We’re going to keep on doing that.”
Alex Mack never missed a snap in five-plus seasons until he suffered a broken left fibula in the game against the Steelers on Oct. 12. John Greco started at center against the Jaguars the next week. McDonald started the last three with Greco back at right guard. The Browns won all three games with McDonald at center.
“It’s easy for (general managers) to fit someone in a position that fits, but it takes time learning a new system and it takes time working with the guys next to you to get ready to be in game shape and play football.”
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Getting comfortable with his linemates and the offensive line working together as a cohesive unit are incredibly important for the Kyle Shanahan offense to be successful. Pass protection, play-action and the zone-blocking running scheme all hinge on the big men up front working off of one another.
Another upheaval at center could be disastrous for the Browns, especially with Houston's defensive monsters J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney trying to get after quarterback Brian Hoyer.
Both John Greco and Ryan Seymour have been getting some reps at center during the work week in the event that McDonald does not dress Sunday.
If Greco gets the nod, then that means either Paul McQuistan or Vinston Painter would move in to take his spot at right guard. In the embarrassing road loss in Jacksonville four weeks ago, it was Greco in the middle and McQuistan at RG.
The safer bet for the Browns may be to go with the unknown Seymour if McDonald is unavailable. That way only one position change occurs and the O-line as a whole remains in place.
The Dawg Pound should be hoping that McDonald's calf quickly progresses over the next two days and is healthy enough to start. However, just being medically cleared won't be good enough to handle the Texans defense. He'll need to continue to improve as he has in each of his first three games.
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Scott Petrak, Elyria Chronicle-Telegram: Jordan Cameron Unlikely for Sunday
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Cleveland's high-profile tight end Jordan Cameron last appeared in game action during the victory over the Oakland Raiders in Week 8. He was injured on a penalized hit to the helmet at the end of a diving catch.
A concussion was the diagnosis and No. 84 has been going through the NFL protocol to recovery ever since.
Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram updated his status Tuesday:
"Jordan Cameron (concussion) is not practicing Tuesday.
It's not a good sign for his Week 11 status. Cameron has been sidelined the last two games, and remains in the concussion protocol. Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray will continue to start if he doesn't return this week. Cameron's history here is concerning, as he's had three concussions since the 2012 season. For what it's worth, coach Mike Pettine did say Tuesday that Cameron has been doing OK for the past couple days and will update the situation Wednesday."
The Pro Bowl TE missed Wednesday and Thursday practices as well. At this point it seems likely that the 26-year-old will miss his third straight game since he has been unable to participate in any on-field activities.
This trend of head trauma, and a shoulder injury earlier in the season, is concerning and it couldn't come at a worst time for Cameron who is in a contract year.
The Browns obviously miss Cameron's elite athleticism, but they have fared pretty well leaning on Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray for tight end relief.
Dray is 6'5" and has been surprisingly effective as an under-the-radar free-agent signing in 2014 with 10 receptions on 14 targets, averaging 14.4 yards per completion and a touchdown.
When called upon to catch passes, the 6'6" Barnidge is also a reliable big body who's shown over the past two years with the Browns that he can rattle off large chunks. Both of them are very good blockers as well.
Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has to be used to planning for opponents without Cameron by this point. He'll have his hands full against an explosive Houston Texans defense on Sunday.
Jason LaConfora, CBS Sports: Brian Hoyer's Contract Situation
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As Brian Hoyer continues to win, the Johnny Manziel should start talk dies down. The conversation has now turned to Hoyer's expiring contract and if the Browns will/should re-sign him and at what dollar figure.
Cleveland's hometown boy's record in games he's started and completed is 8-3. Impressive, but as it stands now is it good enough to earn a big money extension?
This Sunday versus Houston is the next chapter in that discussion where Hoyer and the Browns are first place favorites that are expected to win.
How No. 6 handles success and high expectations against the Texans becomes another piece to the puzzle of deciding whether he is the real deal or not as a franchise quarterback.
Hoyer has become frazzled at times this season when the pocket collapses, which has resulted in ill advised pass placement and inaccurate throws.
Houston's ruthless star defender J.J. Watt will surely be bringing the pressure early and often, while rookie Jadeveon Clowney can flip the switch to dominant pass-rusher at times as well. To be a very good or great starting QB in the NFL you must be able to make plays when being harassed.
We'll likely get to see on multiple occasions if Hoyer has improved in this area.
Ultimately the Cleveland native's future contract with the Browns, or anywhere, will be decided on how the rest of this season finishes up.
Making the playoffs would elevate the price tag and winning a round would do so even more. Finishing above .500, but missing the postseason could drop him down a level, and the scenarios go on and on from there.
Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports has a theory on a possible contract comparable for Hoyer:
""The Browns have yet to make a contract offer to quarterback Brian Hoyer since the spring, according to a league source, despite the 29-year-old leading Cleveland to massive upsets over the rival Steelers and Bengals.
Despite having one of the worst group of skill players in the NFL and with the running game and pass protection hurt massively by the loss of All-Pro center Alex Mack, Hoyer has continued to get results even with the Browns' defensive woes. To this point it has yet to provoke a new contract offer from management, and league sources suggested Hoyer would likely look to Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton as a comparable player in negotiations.
Dalton's contract is essentially a series of one-year deals with significant flexibility for the team, but Dalton did land $12 million to sign and $17 million guaranteed."
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The Browns certainly have the salary cap room to handle a signing bonus and guaranteed cash similar to that of Dalton. A performance-based, team-friendly contract that would allow Hoyer to earn big cash if he succeeds seems like a win for both sides.
There are a slew of variables of course. What if another team makes an outlandish offer to secure Hoyer? How does the Browns' front office feel about sitting Manziel for at least another season? Is slapping on the franchise tag a possibility to have Hoyer prove himself one more time?
So many questions, but the only thing that matters right now is Sunday and the Texans. That's the next test and the next step in determining Hoyer's financial future.
Final Score Prediction:
Houston takes a slim lead into halftime, but Hoyer once again marches the Browns back to a victory. This time to the tune of 27-19.
Andy McNamara is an international sports broadcaster and journalist.
Follow Andy on Twitter @AndyMc81
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