The Browns have been a laughing stock since they reentered the NFL landscape in 1999. You can put all the lipstick on a pig you want, but it’s still a pig. 142-282-1 with a 1-3 playoff record is a swine of epic proportions. You have to feel bad for one of the best fanbases in all of Sport. 41 different quarterbacks and 12 head coaches over that timespan. Forty One. How many have the Pats gone through since TB12 left town? Four QB and Two head coaches. That’s it…how insufferable has it been around here over the past three seasons. That wasn’t a question. Can you fathom a quarter of a century of futility? It almost hurts to do this.. almost . Sorry Cleveland, I’m about to put your dick all in the dirt. I’m not taking your team lightly, and I know Josh McDaniel and Mike Vrabel aren’t either. Here are my monster Keys to beating the Browns.
Don’t Break the Drake
Reggie White – Willie McGinest – Jim Marshal – Decon Jones – Leroy Selmon – Myles Garrett – Chris Dolemen – Charles Haley – Ed Too Tall Jones. Did you see how effortless it was to put Myles Garrett in with these all time greats? You aren’t even arguing with me. Will Campbell has more on his plate Sunday than he has ever seen. Get wide and drop those hips kid – get inside position and recover on the rips kid. Do not allow this man to get past you with his dip kid. Doug and Josh – help your man child out. I know you’ve been doing it all season but this week is special. I need to see tight line splits, I need good chips, move that pocket and slide that protection. Don’t Break the Drake
Flip The Script
The Pats have had a horrible time in stopping the opposition on first and second drives this season. We’ve all seen it. I don’t need to show you the numbers. But I will anyway. On Five of seven opening drives the Pats have allowed their opponents to score. Patriots are 30th in expected points added per play, 32nd in success rate and 30th in explosive plays given up on their opponents first three dives of a game. Those are scripted plays. Flip the Script. Do not let this Browns team get up early. Come into this with a plan and shut them down.
How?…..
Match Quarters
My plan? Going match quarters this week will allow the Pats to cover the entire field, and confuse young Dillion Gabriel. Match quarters will allow close coverage on Jeudy – Bond and Thrash while keeping help over the top. While giving the pressure upfront time to get to the quarterback and keep the Browns running game in check. Quinshon Judkins is feeling it after last weeks 3 TD game vs the Phish , shut him down
Win The Turnover Battle – The Pats have been taking care of the ball in a way that has me in awe. Guess who else doesn’t cough it up? I mean at all. The Browns. Again this may be the most important key this week. Take care of the damn ball. The Browns turned over the Phish last week 4 times (I typed that in my Ed Rooney voice).
Limit the Laundry – the Browns are getting flagged at just under 7 a game and that has been trending downward. While the Patriots are over 8 per contest and 65 yards per game. Don’t give it away.
Own the Late Downs – third down is not the end of the road – it’s not do or die anymore. The Pats are top ten in the league converting 3rds – 41% and second in the league on 4th down – 80%. Keep it up and keep the chains moving. The Browns are an anaemic 34% on the season.
Own The Red Zone – after last week’s bump of 66% the Patriots are approaching a respectable Red Zone rate of 66%. Still nowhere close to the NFL leaders Philly, Washington and Detroit.
Stretch it Out
Last week the Patriots almost turned my outside zone run key. They ran some of it but inside zone run was more prevalent. This week is different. Get outside, get up field and get into second and third and SHORT. This Cleveland Front is not who you want to pick a fight with.
Motion – Hot Reads & Bootaction Oh My
While the Browns are the dad joke that never stops giving on offense, defense is another story. Bootlegs and boot-action have done their opponents well over the first seven weeks of the season. The Pats are going to have to once again use a ton of motion to help Maye identify what’s coming, and hit the quick slants and shots to the flat. get that bubble screen and wheel rolling, Negate their corner and delayed blitzes and get me YAC. Create RPO with Boot Action and hit the open spot when the corners come – and they will come.
That’s it, my rabid readers. If the Patriots turn these keys you all get to be homecoming Kings and Queens. If they don’t – well mom still loves you. As always you can follow / give me grief on Twitter at Tmurph207s
