Cleveland Browns
Keys to the Week 9 clash with the Cowboys
Cleveland Browns

Keys to the Week 9 clash with the Cowboys

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:34 p.m. ET

Oct 16, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler (6) makes the call front he line against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Tennessee won 28-26. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Stadium. What must the team focus on to keep the game competitive?

The Cleveland Browns are halfway to an 0-16 season. While discussion begins to escalate regarding this, the team would love nothing more than to put this very real possibility to rest this Sunday. To do so, they will need to pull off an unlikely upset against the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys.

The difficult task serves as just Cleveland’s second matchup against a current division leader. This is very revealing, as it speaks to the light schedule early on in 2016, which will get much tougher. However, Sunday’s matchup is only Cleveland’s fourth home game of the year, and it begins a stretch of five games in which they play four on their home turf. Fans are hoping that these two factors offset as much as possible, so that the Browns can remain competitive as they have in recent weeks.

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This week, home-field advantage will not offset the talent the Cowboys come in with. The Browns will have to be on top of their game in every facet and pay very careful attention to detail in order to have a chance. In more detail, the following is an analysis of the five most important areas for the Browns in week nine.

Oct 16, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell (34) runs past a tackle attempt by Tennessee Titans linebacker Avery Williamson (54) in the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Offensively, the Browns enter the game 13th in the NFL in total yards. However, most of their production comes through the air with chunk passing plays. This leads to flashes of dramatic increases in productivity, but extreme inconsistency.

They key for the Browns’ offense this season has been balance. This is something they have failed to achieve, as they rush for only an average of 114 yards per game, running the ball less than 30 percent of their plays.

This doesn’t bode well for Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson this week, as they are opposed by the NFL’s ninth-ranked rushing defense. With no clear standout, the Cowboys excel in closing the gaps and effectively limiting opposing running backs. For an offense whose rushing attack has been virtually nonexistent in recent weeks, a defense like Dallas presents a challenge which the Browns may once again elect to avoid altogether.

Hue Jackson shouldn’t though, as failing to balance out an offense will never work for an entire game. They must be persistent in running the ball, and the running backs must take what is given to them. The Cowboys are not very aggressive on defense, so it may merely be a matter of taking the two or three yards on the ground to keep the defense honest.

Most importantly, Crowell and Johnson cannot go backwards. Negative plays on the ground have been detrimental to the Browns the past three weeks against Tennessee, Cincinnati and New York. Even if it is one or two yards, running the ball on first down, lowering the shoulder and putting Cody Kessler in a position where he can throw the ball in manageable situations is Cleveland’s best shot.

Oct 16, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (11) spikes the ball after scores a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Tennessee won 28-26. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Clearly, the Browns aren’t going to move the ball down the field against the Cowboys’ defense on the ground. The identity offensive-minded head coach Hue Jackson is trying to establish is an exciting, play-making offense which moves the ball through the air. While Kessler isn’t quite as effective throwing the deep ball as Robert Griffin III, the rookie has been given opportunities to air it out in recent weeks.

On Sunday, expect nothing different. The Browns must put pressure on a solid secondary of the Cowboys which ranks ninth in football. Doing this will require another incredible performance from wide receiver Terrelle Pryor. Excelling in man-to-man coverage, Pryor will more than likely get five or six shots to make a play on a deep ball.

Of course, this play is ideal for second or third down and short. While the Browns have aired it out on first down in past weeks, this has gotten them behind the sticks. It would be best this week to try to create situations where a deep ball could be thrown by taking the yards the Cowboys’ defense will allow. This will put the Browns in an ideal down-and-distance, and will keep the defense on their heels.

If the Cowboys are able to shut down Pryor, Cleveland must find another source of play-making ability down the field. This could come in the form of 2015 Pro Bowl tight end Gary Barnidge, or Andrew Hawkins, who caught two touchdown passes last week.

Regardless of who the target down the field is, the Browns need to have solid pass protection and avoid turnovers. If they are able to do this, Kessler and his receivers will have an opportunity to finish drives, which will keep the Browns close in what could be a high scoring game.

Aug 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Carl Nassib (94), defensive linemen Danny Shelton (55) and Nick Hayden (71) during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Even with as dominant of a defense Dallas has, their dynamic offense will most likely be Cleveland’s biggest challenge in Week 9. The Cowboys rank only 11th in total yards, but lead the league in rushing yards per game at 164.9.

The Browns surrender the second most yards on the ground, so this matchup seems lopsided. Dallas rookie sensation Ezekiel Elliot is largely responsible for a potent rushing attack, as well as an offensive line which excels in run blocking.

Of course, like any football team, the Cowboys are more likely to hand the ball to Elliot on first or second down. What makes them so successful is their ability to stay ahead of the sticks, and sprinkle an explosive run in the mix as well.

In order to disrupt the smooth rhythm Dallas plays with offensively, the Browns must find a way to keep the Cowboys from gaining chunks of yardage on first and second down. This means that they must slow Elliot, and create negative plays at times. Doing this will force Dallas into obvious passing situations, and allow for Cleveland to put more pressure on rookie quarterback Dak Prescott by attacking the elite offensive line with exotic blitzes.

Aug 12, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Carl Nassib, right, applies pressure against the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

It is a fine line for the Browns when it comes to bringing extra blitzers, as their secondary needs all the help it can get. But against a team like the Cowboys, putting the quarterback under unbearable pressure is the only plausible way to slow their offense down.

One of the challenges the Cowboys present Cleveland with is their offensive line, whose lightest starter weighs 310 pounds. In response to this, the Browns must take advantage of the line’s biggest weakness, pass protection. They ought to place emphasis on the right side of the line, as right tackle Doug Free has experienced issues. Exploiting this slight crack in an otherwise solid unit is the only way for the Browns to break through.

On the right side, Cleveland’s options include Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib. If these rookie defenders are sent, they will have an opportunity to expand on already impressive rookie seasons. Jamie Meder and Danny Shelton can also help out on the defensive line, as they can oftentimes occupy multiple linemen and open up opportunities for linebackers or safeties to penetrate and collapse the pocket.

Most importantly though, the Browns must remember to keep containment and not allow Prescott to burn them on the ground. Broken plays for opposing offenses have often ended up working against the Browns this season, ruining all the effort made to break the play in the first place. To ensure that this does not occur against Dallas, outside linebackers must be on the top of their game. Christian Kirksey and Demario Davis will be critical, but it will also come down to how well the secondary can hold up against the Cowboys and their explosive receiving threats in Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley.

Prescott will most likely rollout to the left side when the Browns attack the right. This is a major concern for the Browns as left tackle Tryon Smith has been the most dominant for Dallas thus far. This underscores the need for the outside linebackers to contain the pocket and not allow Prescott to run free. If the Browns can do this, they will be able to pressure the quarterback without losing containment. This aggressive but not reckless approach is the best way to go.

Clearly, this involves quite a risk. Many are upset by this, as it opposes everything they are told in analytics. But the bottom line is, the Browns are 0-8, and the Cowboys are 6-1. The Browns allow 29.8 points per game, and the Cowboys are ranked seventh, scoring 26.9.  The Browns aren’t going to win with a conventional game plan.

Oct 16, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Cleveland Browns punter Britton Colquitt (4) punts the ball out of the end-zone against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Tennessee won 28-26. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Even if the Browns can surprise many by playing a solid game on offense and defense, they still may not be able to get over the hump against a very formidable opponent. This is why it is paramount for Cleveland to find an advantage over Dallas some other way.

One way the Browns could do this would be by winning the turnover battle. This, however, is unpredictable and hard for a team to control at times. What Cleveland would be better off focusing on is field position.

In the past three weeks, the Browns have suffered from poor field condition offensively. This is often due to their defense which usually bends but often doesn’t break. A punt from midfield is common, pinning the Browns deep. Eventually, this catches up.

Fortunately, the Cowboys also play a style of defense which allows opponents yards and oftentimes first downs. If the Browns can take advantage of this and grasp what is given to them, they could find themselves improving in the area of field position.

For a team that has struggled to close out games, strong field position down the stretch is necessary in order to pull off a victory. Also, with a rookie quarterback who has been a victim of long fields, beginning closer to an opponent’s territory would maximize his ability as well as the playbook.

Field position doesn’t come easily. Still, it should be a point of emphasis for the Browns this week, along with a more productive offense and more aggressive defense. If the team plays a clean game in all other areas and makes a few extraordinary plays, they could clinch themselves a long-awaited number “1” in the win column.

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