Week 5 Browns at Chargers Pregame Discussion

[like54ninjas]

[like54ninjas]

[blueman]

If we can’t stop their running game, pass rush won’t matter. Time for the beef to show up.

[Critty]

Not too excited about Kelley. I wish the Chargers would just cut Jackson and move on. And also draft a complementary back to help out Ekeler.

TG

Yes.
All they have behind Ekeler are bodies.

Roundtree is basically a guy who runs hard and can get you a yard.

Jackson if he could stay healthy could spell Ekeler for a few snaps a game. But only a few.

I would Not draft a so called complimentary back.

They need to draft a duplicate back that has similar traits like CJ Verdell.

[Xenos]

Popper answers some Browns related questions:

https://theathletic.com/2878037/2021/10/08/how-chargers-are-game-planning-for-browns-rushing-attack-and-pass-rush-mailbag/

Do you think the defensive game plan will/should change now that we’re facing a team whose run game is more threatening than its passing game? — @davidanagy3
Staley’s overarching defensive philosophy of, first and foremost, preventing explosive passes will not change from week to week. However, each week’s game plan is specifically tailored to the opponent. For instance, last week against the Raiders, Staley expected Jon Gruden to attempt to run the ball. The Chargers had struggled to stop the run in their first three games, particularly against the Cowboys. They made defending the run a priority in the game plan and practice all week. Defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill said he and the coaching staff put extra emphasis on executing run fits during walk-throughs. And the Chargers performed, holding the Raiders to just 48 yards on the ground.

More than anything, the Chargers just played with more physicality, especially along the defensive line. Linval Joseph and Christian Covington were outstanding. Jerry Tillery played a lot better and showed more want-to against double teams. On top of that, linebackers Drue Tranquill and Kyzir White tackled extremely well. It was a cohesive showing from the first and second levels of the run defense.

The Browns are an elite rushing team. They have one of the best offensive lines in football. They have perhaps the best one-two backfield punch in the league in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. And coach Kevin Stefanski is one of the best run schemers of any offensive play caller in the NFL.

Staley is keenly aware of how effective the Browns are on the ground. And that will surely factor into the game plan. But Baker Mayfield is still a very capable quarterback when playing well, even with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, and Odell Beckham Jr. is still a major threat at all three levels of the field.

“You can’t ignore the pass against this team because they’re very dangerous,” Staley said. “You have to treat the passing game with the same amount of attention that you normally do, but what’s different about this team is the way they run the football and how they run it. They have a lot more types of runs than most teams, and they run it out of a lot of different personnel groupings. So you multiply the amount of runs that you’re facing.

“This week’s just a little bit different because of the volume of runs and quality of the runs, and then the quality of the runners. And that’s why they’re a very balanced team, and I think that’s what makes them a dangerous team, because this guy throwing the football can really throw it.”

Mayfield is coming off one of his worst games as a pro. He completed just 15 of his 33 passes in an ugly win over the Vikings. But over the first three weeks of the season, Mayfield ranked 12th among quarterbacks in expected points added per dropback, according to TruMedia.

“When they’ve needed to throw it with Baker Mayfield, they can throw it, and we have so much respect for their weapons,” Staley said. “For us, that’s been our approach this week, is that the run game is a big part of what they do, but the passing game and how they throw the football is also unique because of their keepers, screens, play-(action) pass. They throw the ball different than a traditional dropback team that’s 40 to 50 high-volume throws. The quality of their throws is different, and it’s dangerous because their pass design goes a long way without there being a lot of risk.”

Make no mistake about it, though: The Chargers will have to limit the run to win this game. Chubb and Hunt are particularly adept at breaking tackles. Hunt is second in the league in yards after contact per rush this season at 3.84 yards, according to TruMedia. Chubb is fifth, 3.49 yards.

This is especially the case in the fourth quarter. Chubb is averaging an outrageous league-best 8.35 yards per carry in the fourth quarter since the start of 2020. Chubb also leads the league in yards after contact per rush in the fourth quarter since the start of 2020 at 6.54. No other player is averaging more than 5 yards after contact per rush in the fourth quarter over that span. This season, Hunt leads the league in yards per rush after contact in the fourth quarter at 5.29.

They are a formidable duo. The Browns lead the league in EPA/rush this season, according to TruMedia.


What can the Chargers possibly do to limit Myles Garrett from absolutely owning Storm Norton? — @mattyb530
There is plenty the Chargers can do schematically to help out right tackle Storm Norton against Garrett and Clowney. Norton, to his credit, has rebounded admirably from a tough game against Micah Parsons and the Cowboys. He allowed only two pressures against the Chiefs, according to Pro Football Focus. And while Norton allowed six pressures against the Raiders, only one of those resulted in a hit on Justin Herbert. And watching the tape, I thought Norton held his own against Maxx Crosby and Carl Nassib.

Garrett is on a different level, though. He might be the best pass rusher in football. So the Chargers will need to help Norton, which they have been doing regularly over the past two weeks. That means keeping a tight end inline to chip on a rusher or sending a running back to the right side after the snap to double team a rusher and take some of the weight off Norton.

Slater’s solid play in pass protection so far this season on the left side gives the Chargers more flexibility. He can be trusted on an island, even against pass rushers as good as Garrett and Clowney. The Chargers can divert their chipping resources to the right side to help Norton avoid disaster.

And just like last week, Herbert will be getting the ball out quickly to mitigate the rush. Checkdowns to running backs. Quick flat routes to tight ends. Slants and shallow stop routes to wide receivers. I expect you will see a lot of that from the Chargers passing attack this week.


What are your thoughts on the Chargers play in the third quarter? — @manthony9494
The Chargers’ third-quarter stats are pretty ugly. They have been outscored 35-3 in the third quarter through four games, including 28-0 over the last two weeks. And yet they are still 3-1 on the season.

The issues, to me, are more defensive than offensive. I know they have scored only three third-quarter points, but the Raiders and Chiefs each executed two touchdown drives against the Chargers in the third quarter. The Chargers offense had only one full possession in the third quarter of each of the past two games. And the numbers support this. In the first, second and fourth quarters this season, the Chargers defense ranks second in the league in EPA/play, according to TruMedia. In the third quarter, it ranks dead last.

This comes down to defensive lapses coming out of halftime. A big part of that is the Chargers have built big leads against the Chiefs and Raiders, two high-powered offenses. And those offenses have come out firing to get back in the game.

But this is a concerning trend. We will see if it continues Sunday against the Browns.

[Caslon]

Jackson and Roundtree are situational RB’s. It’s how Lombardi sets up the situation that yields them more than 2 yards. The Browns ain’t buying “we’re coming at you” with them two. Ekeler with his strength at least gets a respectable 3 yards on such plays.The other two? 1.5 yards, if that. The Chargers are at least a year away drafting top O-line talent to change this. Meanwhile, the pass will still have to set up the run threat. That can happen too, with these new coaches, unlike in the past. The Browns simply have a better power running game than the Chargers.They can imply ”we’re coming at ya with a running play” and succeed, more so than the Chargers can do against them, at this point. The Chargers are one or two draft picks away from being like the Browns running attack. A high pick O-lineman, and other than some 4th round RB. Jackson is gone after this season. Rountree to PS maybe, unless he ignites somehow.

[Caslon]

Another thing I’m pondering. Dallas and da Raiders have huge road fans. Someone somewhere said the Browns have a sizable traveling fan club. It’ll be interesting to see if, for once this season, it’s a full house with overwhelmingly Charger Blue in the stands. Actually, the only reason for sellouts are other teams fans buying a lot of seats. Looking to see if it’s any different this Sunday. Wins don’t hurt.

[UglyTruth]

Another thing I’m pondering. Dallas and da Raiders have huge road fans. Someone somewhere said the Browns have a sizable traveling fan club. It’ll be interesting to see if, for once this season, it’s a full house with overwhelmingly Charger Blue in the stands. Actually, the only reason for sellouts are other teams fans buying a lot of seats. Looking to see if it’s any different this Sunday. Wins don’t hurt.

If the Chargers keep winning then opposing teams will stop coming.

No person wants to travel all the way across the country to come watch their favorite team get whooped.

[wu-dai clan]

Wrap up.
Finish tackles and we will win.
It's that simple.

[Parcells]

If the Chargers keep winning then opposing teams will stop coming.

No person wants to travel all the way across the country to come watch their favorite team get whooped.

It’s LA. There’s a ton of transplants out there. So they don’t have to travel. They’re already there. But then LA is a place with plenty of cool stuff so it is a destination. Add in that amazing stadium, and people will travel to see their team play there.

The crazy thing is that the Raiders have a strong fan base, but being in Vegas means that every team’s fan base will want to have a road trip there to see their team play.

[Heatmiser]

Right on Parcells. The Browns have a backers club with chapters every where. So most of the fans coming wont be flying from clevburg. They are people who live in the area already. Probably the same for the Cowboys, the Steelers, Packers, etc. Chargers don’t have this going for them. I would be happy if there was a Charger backers chapter in LA!

Also, for those who maybe are flying in to see the game from their hometown, San Diego and now LA are much more attractive as a vacation destination that includes going to the game than Clev or Pittsburgh or Green Bay. Some people plan their vacation around going to the game and then enjoy the weather and the area before or after. That ain’t happening here, I can tell you that!

We will always be fans, always have been. But if the Chargers keep up what they are doing, you will see a lot more ‘fans’ coming especially celebs who want to be seen in LA. I also think the Chargers have a lot of fans who are closet fans or the Chargers are their second favorite team, the one they root for unless their favorite is playing. And it is really, really hard not to like Staley and Herbert. I mean you have to work at it. So this is all trending up.

TG

[wu-dai clan]

One of my sports bars is NorCal Browns headquarters.

I will be in a sea of 50 of their fans Sunday, rockin' The Powder Blue.