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

Sometimes things just don’t live up to their billing, and that way certainly the case with Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel’s debut last Sunday. This week, with the playoffs out of the question, Manziel and the Browns will travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers. The overall game plan this week is to show improvement and much more effort than what they did against Cincinnati.

Integrating Manziel into the Browns' offensive game plan was much more difficult than anyone on the coaching staff expected, and it resulted in a 107-yard output. This week, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and head coach Mike Pettine need to find a way to simplify things for Manziel so he can produce on the field.

The Carolina defense will be fired up, as it too saw the Bengals have their way with Manziel last week. Every player on that side of the ball is dying to register a sack and throw up the money sign in Manziel’s face. However, the Browns defense should be just as fired up.

They were gashed last week for 347 yards total and 244 on the ground. Carolina is not quite as powerful as Cincinnati and may still be without quarterback Cam Newton, per Steve Reed of The Associated Press, via Yahoo. There is a real opportunity for a bounce-back game.

So the game plan for the defense is the same as the offense: Keep it simple. When the defense simplified its scheme early in the season, it quickly elevated to one of the best in the league. This week it needs to do the same, as it cannot be sure which quarterback for Carolina it will face.

The Browns will also need to block out the noise coming from outside the building. This is highlighted by former quarterbacks Bernie Kosar and Tim Couch both taking shots at the organization and how it operates to Cleveland's WTAM 1100 and ESPN respectively.

“I get people are going to have their opinions and say what they say, but a lot more of that happens when you’ve lost three in a row. I didn’t hear a lot of that when we had just gotten our seventh win. We want that stuff to go away. It still comes back to bottom-line business. You’ve got to win games.”

Pettine is right. This is a bottom-line business. Since the playoffs are out of the question, the Browns' new bottom line is to win and make Manziel look good. Sunday will hopefully be the first step toward that goal.

Let’s take a look at each position group for these teams and see who has the edge in deciding whether or not that will happen.

The Competitive Edge

Quarterback

It has only been eight days since Newton wrecked his truck, but he was back at practice on Wednesday. Whether or not he can play does not matter, however, as Manziel looked lost in his first start. He led the Browns to just three first downs that were not a product of penalties, and until he proves he can lead an NFL offense he will not get the nod over anyone.

Edge: Carolina

Running Back

The Browns running game took a nosedive last week and managed just 53 yards on 17 carries. I expect the talent of Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell to rebound this week against a bad Panthers run defense. Carolina’s DeAngelo Williams was limited in practice on Wednesday and may return after missing two straight games with a broken bone in his hand.

Edge: Cleveland

Receivers

Is Josh Gordon the most talented receiver in this game? Yes, probably, but not by much. Rookie Kelvin Benjamin has made a huge splash this season and has already caught 67 balls for 952 yards and nine touchdowns. The Browns have more depth but have played poorly the last few weeks, so they don’t deserve the edge in Carolina.

Edge: Push

Tight End

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Greg Olson continues to chug along and has one of the most underrated careers at tight end ever. He has eight catches for 961 yards and six touchdowns. This makes three straight years he has had over 800 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Jordan Cameron, on the other hand, still does not look like his old self after missing over a month due to a concussion earlier in the season.

Edge: Carolina

Offensive Line

The Panthers line has given up 40 sacks, which is ninth-worst in the NFL, though it's probably a little better suited for running the ball than Cleveland's line. The question this week becomes which Browns line shows up on Sunday. Will it be the one that was obliterated last week or the one averaging over 125 yards per game on the ground the four weeks prior?

Edge: Push

Defensive Line

This should be a landslide in the Browns' favor, but last week was embarrassing for the defensive line. It was manhandled the entire game and allowed drives of 7:07, 6:39 and 8:44. The Bengals rushed for 5.4 yards per carry and took away the will of Cleveland's defensive line. If it does not come out motivated this week, then it has mailed it in for the year.

Edge: Cleveland

Linebackers

Luke Kuechly leads the NFL in tackles and is one of the best all-around linebackers in the league. He also has three sacks and nine passes defended this season. While Carolina’s unit is better as a whole, it is nice to see Barkevious Mingo coming into his own for the Browns. He had five QB hits two weeks ago and 10 tackles last week.

Edge: Carolina

Defensive Backs

The Browns get the edge in this department, but that is only tentatively. Both Joe Haden and rookie Justin Gilbert left the game last Sunday. Haden did not practice with a shoulder injury on Wednesday, but Gilbert did. They are also still without K’Waun Williams and Tashaun Gipson. If Haden cannot go, the Browns will go from one of the better secondaries in the NFL to one of the least experienced overnight.

Edge: Cleveland

Special Teams

Both squads are pretty bad in the return game and neither has a weapon who has proven they should be feared this year. The Panthers get the edge because at least their kicker has kicked a field goal in their uniform this season.

Edge: Carolina

Browns Offense vs. Panthers Defense

This is really the great unknown. What are we going to see from Manziel this Sunday? Against Cincinnati he posed zero threat with his legs and looked erratic and out of control with his arm. I have a feeling things will look a little better this week. I mean, could they really look worse?

The Browns will probably come out with a heavy dose of run against the 21st-ranked rush defense in the NFL and hopefully will take out some of those read-option looks that seemed so forced last week. The best part of Manziel is that he can use his legs when nothing is there in the passing game; he is not a running back.

In the passing game, Manizel needs to be much more decisive. As I explained Wednesday, that was a major factor in his inability to move the offense. He needs to trust what he sees, which will allow him to take some easy throws from the defense.

“I think it’s just…and what I told myself throughout the week is when you see something and your eyes see it, trust it,” Manziel told the media on Wednesday. “Whenever you trust it, then go out and let it fly. That’s what I did all week in practice. I felt like I was decisive in everything I did, and I threw the ball extremely well with a lot of juice on it.”

If he starts to take the easy things the defense gives him, it will open up the big plays and things won’t seem so forced for him and the offense.

Browns Defense vs. Panthers Offense

The Panthers offense will vary greatly depending on who plays quarterback. If Newton is able to go, he obviously adds an element of mobility to extend the play. He is essentially a poor man’s Ben Roethlisberger.

If Derek Anderson gets the start again, there won't be any moving out of the pocket. Anderson is a statue with a big arm and tends to turn the ball over. If the Browns can create any pressure at all on either of these quarterbacks, they should have a good day.

If the Browns cannot crate pressure, however, their secondary might give up some big plays. Both Newton and Anderson can sling the ball a long way, and if Haden is out there will be opportunities to do so. This means safeties Jordan Poyer, Jim Leonhard and Donte Whitner need to elevate their game this week as well. Benjamin poses the greatest threat to the Browns secondary.

The Panthers are 12th in the NFL in rushing yards per game, but a lot of that is because Newton is their quarterback. Without him, they have a mediocre rushing offense at best. The Browns should be able to slow down the running backs but will need to be very wary of Newton leaving the pocket if he plays.

Even if Anderson starts, however, Mike Pettine knows all too well what he does and does not bring to the table.

“I think he started two games for them this year and he’s 2-0, so there’s something to be said for that,” said Pettine on Wednesday. “I was actually in Baltimore when we drafted him, so I’ve known Derek for a long time. I think we drafted him in the sixth and had him early on the roster. Then we wanted to get him on the practice squad, and Cleveland grabbed him. The rest is history.”

What They’re Saying

“That’s a theory. It could have, but I don’t have any definitive proof that that would be the case.”

—Pettine on if changing quarterbacks caused the Browns to lose their edge.

“There is a little bit of excitement, a little bit of fun the players want to have. You don’t really want to take away their opportunity to have fun, but at the same time, let’s be smart about this. Don’t get penalties. Again, it’s in fun. Guys make their signs or signals, whatever they do, and that’s, I guess, what young guys do these days.”

—Panthers coach Ron Rivera on if his guys will be pumped up to sack Johnny Manziel.

Browns’ Wednesday Injury Report

Did Not Practice: Safety Tashaun Gipson (knee), cornerback K’Waun Williams (Hamstring), cornerback Joe Haden (shoulder), wide receiver Marlon Moore (knee) and offensive lineman Joe Thomas (rest)

Limited: Linebacker Karlos Dansby (knee), tight end Gary Barnidge (rib), cornerback Robert Nelson (hamstring) and linebacker Jabaal Sheard (foot)

Full: None

This Week’s Game Stats and Facts

The Browns are leading the NFL with 20 interceptions, marking their highest total since the team notched 23 in 2008.

Sixteen rushing scores marks the most by the Browns since totaling 16 in 1987.

Paul Kruger has six career multiple-sack games, including two this year. He has eight sacks in the past eight games.

Johnny Manziel became the 14th rookie quarterback of all time to start for the Browns. He was also the 21st quarterback and sixth rookie quarterback to start for the team since 1999.

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